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 saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again. His disciples say unto 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: 5-10).
“JESUS loved Martha, and Mary, and Lazarus.”
I. 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 they know that Lazarus was really con-verted?— 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? Ans. 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.” (Jer. 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 sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, and thou becamest mine.” (Ezek. 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 fairer 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 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 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 spikenard, 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. Every one 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. Ans. 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 not to please ourselves.” (Rom. 14:1; 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.
II. Christ’s 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 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 brook delay. When you love any one 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: “ This 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: “ This 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 Syrophenicia.
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 of delay:—
1. 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 stole 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 (Matt.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 was 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 trees take firmer hold when they are contending with the wind; so faith takes a firmer hold when it struggles with adverse appearances.
3. 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—shinnings 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 honour 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 tarry past the time he promised, wait for him; for he will come, and will not tarry. He has good reason for it, whether you can see it or not. And never forget that he loves, even when he tarries. He loved the Syrophenician even when he answered her not a word.
III. 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 he destroyed them. He waited on the fig-tree a certain time. If it does not bear fruit, then, “after that, thou shalt 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, 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.” (Hos. 6:2.)
(1.) In conversion: “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” (1 Pet. 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 their 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--say for the conversion of a friend. They may be answered when you are in the dust. Hold on to pray. 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 said to the Church long ago: “Yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” And still the time is prolonged. The Bridegroom seems to tarry; but he will come at the due time. He waits for infinitely wise reasons; and 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 savourest 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 amid right. Here, when Christ proposed 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 day-light. “ If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not.” As long as a man has got a good conscience, amid the smile amid presence of God, he is like one walking in the daytime; he plants his foot firmly and boldly forward. But if a man shrink 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.”
Oh, 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?