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Humble Hero
less because He delayed, but He knew that for them, for Lazarus, for
Himself, and for His disciples, there was a victory to gain.
For all who are reaching out to feel the guiding hand of God, the
moment of greatest discouragement is the time when divine help is
nearest. They will look back thankfully on the darkest part of their
way. Through every temptation and trial God will bring them out
with firmer faith and a richer experience.
Christ had delayed so that by raising Lazarus from the dead He
could give His stubborn, unbelieving people another evidence that
He was truly “the resurrection and the life.” He was unwilling to
give up all hope for the people of Israel, and He determined to give
them one more evidence that He was the only One who could bring
life and immortality to light. This was the reason that He delayed in
going to Bethany.
When He reached Bethany, Jesus sent a messenger to the sisters
with the news that He had arrived, but He remained in a quiet place
along the way. The Jews’ great outward display when friends or
relatives died was not in harmony with the spirit of Christ. He heard
the wailing from the hired mourners and did not want to meet the
sisters in that scene of confusion. Some of Christ’s bitterest enemies
were among the mourning friends. Christ knew their plans, and so
He did not make His presence known immediately.
The message was given to Martha so quietly that others, even
Mary, did not hear. Martha went out to meet her Lord, but Mary sat
still in her sorrow, making no sound.
Martha’s heart was troubled with conflicting emotions. In
Christ’s expressive face she read the same tenderness and love that
had always been there, but she thought of the brother she had loved
so much. With grief surging in her heart because Christ had not
come before, she said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother
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would not have died.” Over and over again, the sisters had repeated
these words.
Martha had no desire to go over the past, but looking into the
face of love, she added, “But even now I know that whatever You
ask of God, God will give You.”
Jesus encouraged her, saying, “Your brother will rise again.”
His answer fastened Martha’s thoughts on the resurrection of the