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Raising of Lazarus
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him a clear understanding of his duty and leads him until the close
of his work. “But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because
the light is not in him.” He who walks in a path of his own choosing
will stumble. Wherever he may be, he is not secure.
“These things He said, and after that He said to them, ‘Our friend
Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.’” In thinking of
the danger their Master was about to be in by going to Jerusalem,
the disciples had almost forgotten the mourning family at Bethany.
But not so with Christ. The disciples had been tempted to think that
Jesus did not have the tender love for Lazarus and his sisters that
they thought He had. But the words, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps,”
awakened right feelings in their minds. Christ had not forgotten His
suffering friends.
“Then His disciples said, ‘Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.’
However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought He was speaking
of taking rest in sleep.” Christ describes death as a sleep to His
believing children. Their life is hid with Christ in God, and until
the last trumpet shall sound, those who die will sleep in Him. See
1
[244]
Corinthians 15:51-54
.
“Then Jesus said to them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead. And I am
glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nev-
ertheless let us go to him.’”
The disciples were amazed at Christ’s words when He said,
“Lazarus is dead. And I am glad ... that I was not there.” Did the
Savior avoid the home of His suffering friends by His own choice?
But Christ saw the whole scene, and His grace upheld the mourning
sisters. Jesus witnessed the sorrow of their aching hearts as their
brother wrestled with death. But Christ had to think of not only the
loved ones at Bethany. He had His disciples’ training to consider.
They were to be His representatives to the world. For their sake He
permitted Lazarus to die. If He had restored him from illness to
health, the miracle that is the most positive evidence of His divine
character would not have happened.
If Christ had been in the sickroom, death could not have aimed
his javelin at Lazarus. Therefore Christ remained away. He per-
mitted the suffering sisters to see their brother put in the grave. He
suffered every pang of sorrow that they endured. He loved them no