Comfort in Sickness and Death by Robert Murray
Machein Introduction Bethany, the Tomb of Lazarus The
following description of modern Bethany is extracted from
a very interesting volume published by the Board
of Publications entitled Narrative of a Mission of
Inquiry to the Jews from the Church of
Scotland in 1839.
The authors of the volume were the Reverend
A.
Bonar and the Reverend R.
M.
Machein.
It seems to form an appropriate introduction to
this little volume.
Descending and leaving the Jericho road, we came
quite suddenly upon Bethany called by the Arabs
Azareth from the name Lazarus.
We found this ever-memorable village to be
very like what we could have imagined it.
It lies almost hidden in a small ravine
of Mount Olivet, so much so that from
the height it cannot be seen.
It is embossed with fruit trees, especially figs
and almonds, olives and pomegranates.
The ravine in which it lies is terraced,
and terraces are covered either with fruit trees
or waving grain.
There are not many houses, perhaps about twenty,
inhabited, but there are many marks of ancient
ruins.
The House of Lazarus was pointed out to
us, a substantial building, probably a tower in
former days, and selected to bear the name
of the House of Lazarus by traditionalists who
did not know how else than by His
worldly eminence such a man could draw the
special regard of the Lord Jesus.
They did not know that Christ loveth freely.
The sepulcher, called the Tomb of Lazarus, attracted
more of our attention.
We lighted our candles and ascended twenty-six
steps cut in the rock to a chamber
deep in the rock, having several niches for
the dead.
Whether this be the very tomb where Lazarus
lay four days and in which yielded up
its dead at the command of Jesus is
impossible to say.
The common objection that it is too deep
seems entirely groundless, for there is nothing in
the narrative to intimate that the tomb was
on a level with the ground, but besides,
it seems not unlikely that there was another
entrance to the tomb further down the slope.
A stronger objection is that the tomb is
in the immediate vicinity of the village, or
actually in it, but it is possible that
the modern village occupies ground a little different
from the ancient one.
However, this may be.
There can be no doubt that this is
Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister
Martha, nigh unto Jerusalem about fifteen furlongs off.
John 11, verses 1 and 18 How pleasing
are all the associations that cluster around it!
Perhaps there is no scene in the Holy
Land which afforded us more unmingled enjoyment.
We even fancied that the curse that everywhere
rests so vividly upon the land had fallen
more lightly here.
In point of situation, nothing could have come
up more completely to our previous imagination of
the place to which Jesus delighted to retire
at evening from the bustle of the city
and the vexations of the unbelieving multitudes, sometimes
traversing the road by which he had come,
and perhaps oftener still coming up the face
of the hill by the footpath that passes
on the north of Gethsemane.
What a peaceful scene!
Amidst these trees or in that grassy field
he may often have been seen in deep
communion with the Father.
And in sight of this verdant spot it
was that he took his last farewell of
the disciples and went upward to resume the
deep, unbroken fellowship of his God and our
God, uttering blessings even at the moment when
he began to be parted from them.
Luke 24, 51 And it was here that
the two angels stood by them in white
apparel and left us this glorious message, The
same Jesus which is taken up from you
into heaven shall so come in like manner
as you have seen him go into heaven.
Acts 1 11 Now a certain man was
sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of
Mary, and Mary in her sister Martha.
It was that Mary which anointed the Lord
with ointment and wiped his feet with her
hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord,
behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness
is not unto death, but for the glory
of God, that the Son of God might
be glorified thereby.
John 11 verses 1 through 4 Man is
born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.
Sickness goes round.
It spares no family, rich or poor.
Sometimes the young, sometimes the old, sometimes those
in the strength of their days are laid
down on the bed of sickness.
Remember, those that suffer adversity as being yourselves
also in the body.
The reasons why God sends sickness are very
various.
One, in some it is sent for the
conversion of the soul.
Sometimes in health, the world does not touch
the heart.
The world is all.
Its deities, its pleasures, its admiration captivate your
mind.
God sometimes draws you aside into a sickbed
and shows you the sin of your heart,
the vanity of worldly pleasures and drives the
soul to seek a sure resting place for
eternity in Christ, or happy sickness that draws
the soul to Jesus.
Job 32.3 Psalm 107 Two, sometimes it
is for the conversion of friends.
One, the covenanters went out to battle.
They kneeled down on the field and prayed.
And this was one of their prayers, Lord,
take the ripe and spare the green.
God sometimes does this in families.
He cuts down the praying child, the child
that was half ridiculed, half wondered at, that
the rest may think and turn and pray.
Three, sometimes it is a frown of judgment.
When worldly people go long on in the
course of sin against the light of the
Bible and the warnings of ministers, God sometimes
frowns upon them and they wither suddenly.
He that being often reproved hardness his neck
shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy.
Proverbs 29.1 For this cause many are
weak and sickly among you and many sleep.
1 Corinthians 11.30 Four, another case is
now before us, that of a child of
God, sick, that Christ might be glorified in
him.
One, the cause, the person.
A certain man was sick, named Lazarus.
Lazarus was evidently a child of God and
yet Lazarus was sick.
How he had come by his grace we
are not told.
His name is not mentioned before.
If we may be allowed to guess it
seems probable that Mary was the first in
the family who knew the Lord.
Luke 10.
Then perhaps Martha left her much serving to
come also and sit at Jesus' feet and
both prevailed on their brother Lazarus to come
also.
At all events he was a child of
God.
He was in a godly family.
All the house were children of God, one
in nature and one in grace.
Happy family at Bethany going hand in hand
to glory.
Yet here the hand of sickness entered in.
Lazarus was sick.
He was peculiarly loved by Christ.
He whom thou lovest.
Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
Our friend Lazarus sleepeth.
Like John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, so
Jesus had a peculiar love for Lazarus.
I cannot tell you why.
He was a sinner like other men.
But perhaps when Jesus washed and renewed him,
he gave him more of his own likeness
than other believers.
One thing is certain.
Jesus loved him and yet Lazarus was sick.
1.
Learn not to judge others because of affliction.
Job's three friends tried to show him that
he must be a hypocrite and a bad
man because God afflicted him.
They did not know that God afflicts his
own dear children.
Lazarus was sick and the beggar Lazarus was
full of sores and Hezekiah was sick even
unto death and yet all were peculiarly dear
to Jesus.
2.
God's children should not doubt his love when
he afflicts.
Christ loved Lazarus peculiarly and yet he afflicted
him very sore.
A surgeon never bends his eye so tenderly
upon his patient as when he is putting
in the lancet or probing the wound to
the very bottom.
And so with Christ he bends his eye
most tenderly over his own at the time
he is afflicting them.
3.
Do not doubt the holy love of Jesus
to your soul when he is laying a
heavy hand upon you.
Jesus did not love Lazarus less when he
afflicted him but rather more even as a
father correcteth a son in whom he delighteth.
Proverbs 3.12 A goldsmith when he casts
gold into the furnace looks after it.
2.
The place of Bethany the town of Mary
and her sister Martha.
Bethany is a sweet retired village about two
miles from Jerusalem in a ravine at the
back of the Mount of Olives.
It is at this day embosomed in fig
trees and almond trees and pomegranates but it
had a greater loveliness still in the eyes
of Christ.
It was the town of Mary and her
sister Martha.
Probably the worldly people in Jerusalem knew Bethany
by its being the town of some rich
Pharisee who had his country villa there or
some luxurious noble who called the lands after
his own name.
But Jesus knew it only as the town
of Mary and her sister Martha.
Probably they lived in a humble cottage under
the shade of a fig tree but that
cottage was dear to Christ.
Often as he came over the Mount of
Olives he drew near.
The light in that cottage window gladdened his
heart.
Often he sat beneath their fig tree telling
them the things of the kingdom of God.
His father loved that dwelling for these were
justified ones.
And angels knew it well for night and
day they ministered there to three heirs of
salvation.
No wonder he called the place the town
of Mary and her sister Martha.
This was its name in heaven.
So is it still.
When worldly people think of our town they
call it the town of some rich merchant,
some leading man in public matters, some great
politician who makes a dash as a friend
of the people.
Not the town of our Marthas and Marys.
Perhaps some poor room where an eminent child
of God dwells gives this town its name
and interest in the presence of Jesus.
Dear believers, how great the love of Christ
is to you.
He knows the town where you live, the
house where you dwell, the room where you
pray.
Often he stands at the door.
Often he puts in his hand at the
hole of the door.
I have graven thee on the palms of
my hands.
Thy walls are continually before me.
Like a bridegroom loving the place where his
bride dwells, so Christ often says, There they
dwell for whom I died.
Learn to be like Christ in this.
When a merchant looks at a map of
the world, his eye turns to those places
where his ships are sailing.
When a soldier, he looks to the traces
of ancient battlefields and fortified towns.
But a believer should be like Jesus.
He should love the spots where believers dwell.
3.
The Message 1.
They sent unto him.
This seems to have been their very first
recourse when the sickness came on.
His sisters sent unto Jesus.
They did not think a bodily trouble beneath
his notice.
2.
He had taught them that one thing is
needful, and Mary had chosen that good part
which could not be taken from her.
Yet they knew well that Jesus did not
despise the body.
They knew that he had a heart to
bleed for every kind of grief, and therefore
they sent to tell Jesus, This is what
you should do.
Call upon me in the day of trouble.
I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify
me.
Psalm 1, verse 15 Remember, there is no
grief too great to carry to him, and
none too small.
In everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let ye request known unto God.
Cast thy burden on the Lord.
Whatever it be, take it to Jesus.
Some trust Christ with their soul, but not
with their body, with their salvation, but not
with their health.
He loves to be sent for in our
smallest troubles.
2.
The Argument He whom thou lovest is sick.
If a worldly person had been sending to
Christ, he would have sent a very different
argument.
He would have said, He who loves thee
is sick.
Here is one who has believed on thy
name.
Here is one that had confessed thee before
the world, suffered reproach, and scorned for thy
sake.
Massa and Mary knew better how to plead
with Jesus.
The only argument was in Jesus' breast.
He whom thou lovest is sick.
1.
He loved him with an electing love.
Freely from all eternity, Jesus loved him.
2.
With a drawing love.
He drew him from under wrath, from serving
sin.
3.
With a pardoning love.
He drew him to himself and blotted out
all his sin.
4.
With an upholding love.
Who could hold me up but thou?
He for whom thou diest, he whom thou
hast chosen, washed and kept till now, he
whom thou lovest is sick.
Learn thus to plead with Christ, dear believers.
Often you do not receive because you do
not ask or write.
You ask and receive not because you ask
amiss, that you may consume it upon your
lusts.
Often you ask proudly, as if you were
somebody, so that if Christ were to grant
it, he would only be flattering your lusts.
Learn to lie in the dust and plead
only his own free love.
Thou hast loved me for no good thing
in me, chosen not for good in me,
2.
Waking up from wrath to flee, hidden in
the Savior's side by the Spirit sanctified.
Do not deny thy love.
Have respect unto the work of thine own
hands.
3.
A holy delicacy in prayer.
They lay the object at his feet and
leave it there.
They do not say, Come and heal him.
Come quickly, Lord.
They know his love.
They believe his wisdom.
They leave the case in his hands.
Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick.
They cast him down at Jesus' feet and
he healed them.
Matthew 15, 30 They did not plead, but
let their misery plead for them.
Let your request be made known unto God.
Philippians 4, 6 Learn that urgency in prayer
does not so much consist in veminent pleading
as in veminent believing.
He that believes most the love and power
of Jesus will obtain most in prayer.
Indeed, the Bible does not forbid you using
all arguments and asking for express gifts such
as healing for sick friends.
My little daughter lieth at the point of
death.
I pray thee, come and lay thy hands
on her that she may be healed and
she shall live.
Mark 5, 23 Lord, I am not worthy
that thou shouldst come under my roof, but
speak the word only and my servant shall
be healed.
Matthew 8, verse 8 Still, there is a
holy delicacy in prayer which some believers know
how to use.
Like these two sisters, lay the object at
his feet saying, Lord, he whom thou lovest
is sick.
4.
The answer 1.
A word of promise.
This sickness is not unto death.
2.
This was an immediate answer to prayer.
3.
He did not come, he did not heal,
but he sent them a word enough to
make them happy.
This sickness is not unto death.
4.
Away the messenger ran, crossed the Jordan, and
before sunset, perhaps, he entered breathless the village
of Bethany.
5.
With anxious faces the sisters run out to
hear what news of Jesus.
Good news!
This sickness is not unto death.
Sweet promise!
The hearts of the sisters are comforted, and
no doubt they tell their joy to the
dying man.
But he gets weaker and weaker, and as
they look through their tears at his pale
cheek, they begin almost to waver in their
faith.
But Jesus said it, and Jesus cannot lie.
If it were not so, he would have
told us.
This sickness is not unto death.
At last, Lazarus breathed his last sigh beside
his weeping sisters.
His eye is dim, his cheek is cold,
he is dead.
And yet Jesus said, Not unto death!
The friends assemble to carry the body to
the rocky sepulcher, and as the sisters turn
away from the tomb, their faith dies, their
hearts sink into utter gloom.
What could he mean by saying, Not unto
death?
Learn to trust to Christ's words whatever sight
may say.
We live in dark times.
Every day the clouds are becoming heavier and
more lowering.
The enemies of the Sabbath are raging.
The enemies of the church are becoming more
desperate.
The cause of Christ is everywhere threatened.
But we have a sweet word of promise.
This sickness is not unto death.
Darker times are coming yet.
The clouds will break and deluge our country
soon with a flood of infidelity, and many
will be like Mary broken-hearted.
Has the Lord's word failed?
No, never.
This sickness is not unto death.
The dry bones of Israel shall live.
Prophecy shall sink like a millstone.
Widowhood and loss of children shall come to
her in one day.
The kings of Tarshish in the Isle shall
bow their knees to Jesus.
Jesus shall reign till all his enemies are
put under his feet, and the whole world
shall soon enjoy a real Sabbath.
2.
The Explanation But for the glory of God,
that the Son of God might be glorified
thereby.
Some might ask, Why then was Lazarus sick?
The answer?
For the glory of God.
Christ was thereby in an imminent manner made
known.
1.
His amazing love to his own was seen
when he wept at the grave.
2.
His power to raise the dead.
He was shown to be the resurrection and
the life when he cried, Lazarus, come forth.
Christ was more glorified far then if Lazarus
had not been sick and died.
1.
So in all sufferings of God's people, sometimes
a child of God says, Lord, what wilt
thou have me to do?
I will teach, preach, do great things for
thee.
Sometimes the answer is, thou shalt suffer for
my sake.
2.
It shows the power of Christ's blood when
it gives peace in an hour of trouble,
when it can make happy in sick, poverty,
persecution, and death.
Do not be surprised if you suffer, but
glorify God.
3.
It brings out graces that cannot be seen
in a time of health.
It is the treading of the grapes that
brings out the sweet juices of the vine.
So it is affliction that draws forth submission,
loneliness from the world, and complete rest in
God.
Use afflictions while you have them.
2.
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and
Lazarus.
When he had heard, therefore, that he was
sick, he abode two days still in the
same place where he was.
Then after that, he saith to his disciples,
Let us go to Judea again.
His disciples saying to him, Master, the Jews
of late sought to stone thee, and goest
thou thither again?
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in
the day?
If any man walk in the day, he
stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of
this world.
But if a man walk in the night,
he stumbleth, because there is no light in
him.
John 11, verses 5 through 10.
Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus.
1.
These are the words of John.
He knew what was in the heart of
Christ, for the Holy Spirit taught him what
to write, and he leaned upon Jesus' bosom,
and knew the deepest secrets of Jesus' heart.
This, then, is John's testimony.
Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus.
You remember they had sent this message to
Jesus.
He whom thou lovest is sick.
Some would have said that was a presumptuous
message to send.
How did you know that Lazarus was really
converted, that Jesus really loved him?
But here you see John puts his seal
upon their testimony.
It was really true, and no presumption in
it.
Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus.
How is it saints know when Jesus loves
them?
Answer, Christ has ways of telling his own
love peculiar to himself.
The secret of the Lord is with them
that fear him.
How ridiculous is it to think that Christ
cannot make known his love to the soul.
I shall mention one way.
By drawing the soul to himself.
Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting
love.
Therefore, with loving kindness have I drawn thee.
Jeremiah 31.3 Now when I passed by
thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time
was the time of love.
And I spread my skirt over thee, and
covered thy nakedness.
Yea, I swore unto thee, and entered into
a covenant with thee, that thou becamest mine.
Ezekiel 16.8 No man can come unto
me, except the Father draw him.
John 6.44 Now when the Lord Jesus
draws near to a dead carnal sinner, and
reveals to him a glimpse of his own
beauty, of his face fair than the sons
of men, of his precious blood, of the
room that there is under his wings, and
when the soul is drawn away from its
old sins, old ways, away from its deadness,
darkness, and worldliness, and is persuaded to forsake
all, and flow toward the Lord Jesus, then
that soul is made to taste the peace
of believing, and is made to know that
Jesus loves him.
Thus Lazarus knew that Jesus Christ loved him.
I was a worldly, careless man.
I mocked at my sisters when they were
so careful to entertain the Lamb of God.
I often was angry with them, but one
day he came and showed me such an
excellence in the way of salvation by him.
He drew me, and now I know that
Jesus has loved me.
Do you know that Christ loves you?
Have you this love token that he has
drawn you to leave all and follow him?
To leave your self-righteousness?
To leave your sins?
To leave your worldly companions for Christ?
To let all go that interferes with Christ?
Then you have a good token that he
has loved you.
2.
Jesus loved all the house.
It seems highly probable that there was a
great difference among the family.
Some of them were much more enlightened than
others.
Some were much nearer Christ, and some more
like Christ than others.
Yet Jesus loved them all.
It would seem that Mary was the most
heavenly-minded of the family.
Probably she was brought first to know and
love the Lord Jesus Christ.
She sat at the feet of Christ when
Martha was cumbered about with much serving.
She was also evidently more humbled under this
trying dispensation than her sister was, for it
is said she fell down at his feet.
She seems also to have been filled with
livelier gratitude, for it was she that took
a pound of ointment of sphincter, very costly,
and anointed the feet of Christ, and wiped
his feet with her hair.
She did what she could.
She seems to have been a very eminent
believer, very full of love, and of a
teachable, meek, quiet spirit.
And yet Jesus loved them all.
Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
Everyone that is in Christ is beloved by
Christ, even weak members.
Good news for weak disciples.
You are very apt to say I am
not a Paul, nor a John, nor a
Mary.
I fear Jesus will not care for me.
Answer, he loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus.
He loves the weakest of those for whom
he died.
Just as a mother loves all her children,
even those that are weak and sickly, so
Christ cares for those who are weak in
the faith, who have many doubts and fears,
who have heavy burdens and temptations.
Be like Christ in this.
Him that is weak in the faith receive
ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
We that are strong ought to bear the
infirmities of the weak, and ought to please
ourselves.
Romans 14 1 and Romans 15 1 There
is much of an opposite spirit, I fear,
amongst us.
I fear that you love our Marys and
Pauls and Johns.
You highly esteem those that are evidently pillars,
but can you condescend to men of low
estate?
Learn to stoop low, and to be gentle
and kind to the feeble.
Do not speak evil of them.
Do not make their blemishes the subject of
your common talk.
Cover their faults.
Assist them by counsel, and pray for them.
2 Christ Delay When he had heard, therefore,
that he was sick, he abode two days
still in the same place where he was.
Here seems a contradiction.
Jesus loved them, and yet he abode two
days.
You would have expected the very reverse.
Jesus loved them, and therefore made no delay,
but hastened to Bethany.
This is the way with man's love.
Human love will not book delay.
When you love anyone tenderly, and hear that
he is sick, you run to see him,
and to help him.
These were two important days in the cottage
of Bethany.
The messenger had returned, saying, The sickness is
not unto death.
They knew that Jesus loved them, and loved
their brother tenderly, and therefore they expected him
to come every hour.
Martha, perhaps, would begin to be uneasy, saying,
Why does he tarry?
Why is he so long in coming?
Can anything have kept him?
Do not fret, Mary, would say.
You know that he loves Lazarus, and he
loves us.
And you know he is true, and he
said, The sickness is not unto death.
The dying man grew weaker, and at length
breathed his last sigh into their affectionate bosoms.
Both the sisters were overwhelmed.
He loved us, and yet he tarried two
days.
So with the woman of Syrophoenicia.
Such are Christ's dealings with his own, still.
Although he loves, he sometimes on that very
account tarries.
Do not be surprised, and do not fret.
Reasons for delay.
One, because he is God.
He sees the end from the beginning.
Known unto him are all his works from
the foundation of the world.
Although absent in the body, he was present
in the sick man's room at Bethany.
He saw every change on his pale features,
and heard every gentle sigh.
Every tear that stirred down the cheek of
Mary, he observed, put into his bottle, and
wrote in his book.
He saw when Lazarus died, but the future
was before him also.
He knew what he would do, that the
grave would yield up its dead, and that
he would soon turn their weeping into songs
of rejoicing.
Therefore he stayed where he was, just because
he was God.
So when Christ delays to help his saints
now, you think this is a great mystery.
You cannot explain it, but Jesus sees the
end from the beginning.
Be still, and know that Christ is God.
2.
To increase their faith.
First of all, he gave them out a
promise to hold by.
He sent word by their messenger, This sickness
is not unto death.
This was an easy and simple word for
them to hold by.
But, ah, it was sorely tried.
When he got worse and worse, they clung
to the promise with a trembling heart.
When he died, their faith died too.
They knew not what to think.
And yet Christ's word was true, and thus
their faith was increased ever after.
They were taught to believe the word of
Christ, even when all outward circumstances were against
them.
So Matthew 8, 18 One evening Christ gave
commandment on the sea of Galilee to depart
to the other side.
And as they sailed, he fell asleep.
Here is a simple word of promise to
hold by in the storm.
But when the storm came down and the
waves covered the ship, they cried, Master, save
us, we perish.
And he said, Where is your faith?
By that trial the faith of the disciples
was greatly increased ever after.
So it is with all trials of faith.
When God gives a promise, he always tries
our faith.
Just as the roots of a tree take
firmer hold when they are contending with the
wind, so faith takes a firmer hold when
it struggles with adverse appearances.
Three.
To make his help shine brighter.
Had Christ come at the first and healed
their brother, we never would have known the
love that showed itself at the grave of
Lazarus.
We never would have known the power of
the great Redeemer in raising up from the
grave.
These bright forth shinings of the glory of
Christ would have been lost to the church
and to the world.
Therefore it was good that he stayed away
for two days.
Thus the honor of his name was spread
far and wide.
The Son of God was glorified.
This people have I formed for myself.
They shall show forth my praise.
This is God's great end in all his
dealings with his people that he may be
seen.
For this reason he destroyed the Egyptians, that
the Egyptians may know that I am the
Lord.
If Christ seems to carry past the time
he promised, wait for him, for he will
come and will not carry.
He has good reason for it, whether you
can see it or not, and never forget
that he loves even when he carries.
He loved the Seraphim even when he answered
her not a word.
3.
Christ's determination.
After that, saith he to his disciples, let
us go into Judea again.
1.
The time.
After that.
After the two days were over, Christ waits
a certain time without helping his own, but
no longer.
Christ waits a certain time with the wicked
before destroying them.
He waited till the cup of the Amorites
was full before destroying them.
He waited for the fig tree a certain
time.
If it does not bear fruit, then after
that thou shall cut it down.
O wicked man, you have a certain measure
to fill.
When that is filled, you will sink immediately
into hell.
When the sand has run out, you will
be cast away.
So Christ has his set time for coming
to his own.
After two days will he revive us.
In the third day, he will raise us
up, and we shall live in his sight.
Hosea 6.2 1.
The conversion.
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time.
1 Peter 5.6 When God awakens a
soul by the mighty power of his Spirit,
he takes his own time and way of
bringing the soul to peace.
Often the sinner thinks it very hard that
Christ should be so long of coming.
Often he begins to despair and to think
there is something peculiar in his case.
Remember, wait on the Lord.
It is good to wait for Christ.
2.
In answering prayer.
When we ask for something agreeable to God's
will and in the name of Christ, we
know that we have the petitions which we
desire of him.
But the time he keeps in his own
power.
God is very sovereign in the time of
his answers.
When Martha and Mary sent a petition to
Christ, he gave them an immediate promise, but
the answer was not when they expected.
So Christ frequently gives us the desires of
our heart, though not at the peculiar time
we desired, but a better time.
Do not be weary in putting up prayers,
save for the conversion of a friend.
They may be answered when you are in
the dust.
Hold on to prayer.
He will answer in the best time.
Be not weary in well-doing, for in
due season we shall reap if we faint
not.
3.
In his own second glorious coming.
Christ has said to the church long ago
that in little while, and he that shall
come will come and will not tarry.
Instead, the time is prolonged.
The bridegroom seems to tarry, but he will
come at the due time.
He waits for infinitely wise reasons in the
moment that he should come, the heavens shall
open, and he will appear.
2.
The objection.
The objection was that it was dangerous to
him and to them, because the Jews had
sought to stone him before.
Another time, Peter made objection to Christ, saying,
Be it far from thee, Lord, this shall
not be unto thee.
But he turned and said unto Peter, Get
thee behind me, Satan, thou art an offense
unto me, for thou servest not the things
that be of God, but the things that
be of men.
How selfish are even godly men!
The disciples did not care for the distress
of Martha and Mary.
They did not care for the pain of
their friend Lazarus.
They were afraid of being stoned, and that
made them forget the case of the afflicted
family.
There is no root deeper in the bosom
than selfishness.
Watch and pray against it.
Even the godly will sometimes oppose you in
what is good and right.
Here, when Christ promised that they should go
into Judea, again the disciples opposed it.
They were astonished at such a proposal.
They, as it were, reproved him for it.
Think it not strange, dear brethren, if you
are opposed by those who are children of
God, especially if it be something in which
you are called to suffer.
3.
Christ's Answer The path of duty Christ here
compares to walking in the daylight.
If a man walk in the day, he
stumbleth not.
As long as a man has got a
good conscience, and the smile and presence of
God, he is like one walking in the
daylight.
He plants his foot firmly and boldly forward.
But if a man shrinks from the call
of God through fear of man and at
the call of worldly prudence, he is like
one walking in darkness.
He stumbleth because there is no light.
O, that you who are believers would be
persuaded to follow Jesus fearlessly wherever he calls
you.
If you are a believer, you will often
be tempted to shrink back.
The path of a Christian is narrow, and
often difficult.
But what have you to fear?
Have you the blood of Christ upon your
conscience, and the presence of God with your
soul?
Are there not twelve hours in the day?
Are we not all immortal till our work
is done?
3.
Page 35 These things said he, and after
that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus
sleepeth, but I go that I may awake
him out of his sleep.
Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleepeth
he shall do well.
Howbeit Jesus spake of his death, but they
thought that he had spoken of taking a
rest in sleep.
Then Jesus said unto them plainly, Lazarus is
dead.
And I am glad for your sake that
I was not there, to the intent ye
may believe.
Nevertheless let us go unto him.
Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto
his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that
we may die with him.
John 11, verses 11-16 Christ's love to
a dead Lazarus.
1.
He calls him friend.
An imminent infidel used to say that neither
patriotism nor friendship was taught in the Bible.
He only proved that he neither knew nor
understood the Bible.
How different the sentiment of the Christian poet
who says, The noblest friendship ever shown the
Savior's history makes known.
Ah, it is an amazing truth that Jehovah
Jesus came and made friends of such worms
as we are.
True friendship consists in mutual confidence and mutual
sacrifice.
Thus God dealt with Enoch.
Enoch walked with God three hundred years.
Enoch told all to God and God told
all to him.
Blessed friendship between Jehovah and a worm.
So God treated Abraham.
Three times in the Bible he is called
the friend of God.
2 Chronicles 20 verse 7 Isaiah 41 verse
8 and James 2 verse 23.
He raised up the righteous men from the
east and called him his foot.
The God of glory appeared unto Abraham and
we find God saying, Shall I hide from
Abraham that thing which I do?
Genesis 18 verse 17.
So God dealt with Moses.
The Lord spoke unto Moses face to face
as a man speaketh with his friend.
And God saith to him, My presence shall
go with thee and I will give thee
rest.
Exodus 33 verses 11 and 14.
And when Moses went in before the Lord
to speak with him, he took the veil
off.
Exodus 34 verse 34.
Thus did Christ deal with his disciples.
Though he was the Holy Lamb of God,
yet he says, Henceforth I call you not
servants.
For the servant knoweth not what his Lord
doeth.
But I have called you friends.
For all things that I have heard of
my Father I have made known unto you.
John 15 verse 15.
He admitted them to the closest fellowship so
that one lain on his breast at supper,
and another washed his feet with ointment.
He told them freely all that he had
learned in the bosom of his Father, all
that they were able to bear, of the
Father's glory, of the Father's love.
Thus he dealt with Lazarus, our friend Lazarus.
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