Basic HTML Version
Raising of Lazarus
315
every pang of sorrow that they endured. He loved them no less
because He tarried, but He knew that for them, for Lazarus, for
Himself, and for His disciples, a victory was to be gained.
To 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 with thankfulness on the darkest part
of their way. From every temptation and trial He will bring them
forth with firmer faith and a richer experience.
Christ had tarried so that by raising Lazarus from the dead He
might give to His stubborn, unbelieving people another evidence
that He was indeed “the resurrection and the life.” He was loath to
give up all hope of the people of Israel, and He purposed to give
them one more evidence that He was the One who alone could bring
life and immortality to light. This was the reason of His delay in
going to Bethany.
[354]
On reaching Bethany Jesus sent a messenger to the sisters with
the tidings of His arrival, but He remained in a quiet place by the
wayside. The great outward display observed by the Jews at the
death of friends or relatives was not in harmony with the spirit of
Christ. He heard the sound of wailing from the hired mourners, and
did not wish to meet the sisters in the scene of confusion. Among
the mourning friends were some of Christ’s bitterest enemies. Christ
knew their purposes, and therefore did not at once make His presence
known.
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 outcry.
Martha’s heart was agitated by conflicting emotions. In Christ’s
expressive face she read the same tenderness and love that had
always been there, but she thought of her dearly loved brother. With
grief surging in her heart because Christ had not come before, she
said, “Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Over
and over again the sisters had repeated these words.
Martha had no inclination to recount the past, but looking into
the face of love, she added, “I know, that even now, whatsoever Thou
wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee.”
Jesus encouraged her, saying, “Thy brother shall rise again.”
His answer fixed Martha’s thoughts on the resurrection of the just,