“Take Away the Stone”
Seeking Jesus First - June 8, 2026
“Take Away the Stone”
Please Read John 11:38–40 (NKJV)
Reflection
When Jesus arrived at the tomb of Lazarus, He gave a simple but startling command:
“Take away the stone.”
Martha immediately objected. Her brother had been dead for four days. In her mind, opening the tomb would only make things worse. The smell of death would fill the air, and nothing good could come from it.
Jesus responded with a gentle but powerful rebuke:
“Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”
This statement is deeply connected to what Jesus said in John 9 concerning the man born blind. When the disciples asked, “Who sinned, this man or his parents?”, Jesus answered that the man’s condition existed “that the works of God should be revealed in him.” In both situations, Jesus was teaching the same principle: God’s glory is often revealed after we choose to believe, not before.
Martha wanted to understand before she obeyed. She wanted to see something hopeful before she believed. But Jesus called her to believe first. Only then would she see the glory of God displayed in the raising of her brother.
This is a consistent pattern in Scripture. God often asks us to take a step of faith — to “take away the stone” — even when the situation looks hopeless, irreversible, or even offensive to our natural reasoning. The glory of God is revealed to those who are willing to believe before they see.
Application
Today, ask the Holy Spirit if there is a “stone” in your life that Jesus is asking you to remove — something that looks dead, final, or too far gone. It may be a relationship, a dream, a financial situation, or an area of personal struggle. Renew your mind with this truth: If you believe, you will see the glory of God. Choose to trust Jesus even when you cannot yet see how He will move. Take the step of obedience He is asking of you today, whether it is prayer, forgiveness, confession, or simply refusing to give up. Believe first — then watch for His glory to be revealed.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus calls us to believe even when we cannot yet see. Thank You for the reminder that Your glory is often revealed after we take steps of faith in the middle of impossible situations. Forgive us for the times we have waited to see results before we were willing to believe or obey. Renew our minds today to trust You even when the “stone” looks too heavy and the situation looks too final. Help us to “take away the stone” in obedience and to believe that we will see Your glory. May our faith bring You glory in every area of our lives. In Jesus’ name, giving thanks for the living Word of the Lord. Amen.