T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S SUGGESTIVE COMMENT P asto r W. H. Rawlings Each of the Redeemer’s m iracles, in th e successive order are in the ascend ency of power. Thus, in calling the sp irit of Lazarus to again take posses sion of his m ortal body, We behold the Master of spirits revealing His omnipo tence as Jehovah Jesus. In Vs. 1-3 a dark cldud is discovered overshadowing this peaceful home of Bethany (House of P raise) which, when all other homes were closed against the Lord Jesus, always afforded Him a wel come. Now, in th e absence of th eir Divine F riend, Lazarus was overtaken w ith serious sickness and, having done all possible w ithout avail, the sisters send for the Lord Jesus (v. 3). In such times it is H im self His loved ones crave -—none else and nothing else— can take th e place of the Lord H imself (Job 23: 3; Phil. 3 :1 0 ). ' , ; v. 3 brings out an exquisite tru th . “He whom* thou lovest is sick.” It is evidence of Divine love th a t emboldens Christians to Seek the Lord’s favor upon loved ones (1 John 4:19. Also v, 10). “His love, not mine, the resting place; His tru th , not mine, th e tie .” vs. 4-6. The affection of our Lord for His favored friends affords a pre cious lesson concerning the inner circle of Divine affection to which some saints are adm itted. His love for the world is unquestioned (John 3:16)„ T hat there is an inner circle of affection fo r the Church—His body— is also tru e (Eph. 5 :2 5 ); bu t here is surely a more in ti mate love, and yet, again, in Gal. 2:20 the most essential is discovered. Again and again John, th e beloved, in speak ing of this blessed relationship empha sizes th is though t (John 19:26; 20:8; 21:7, 20). When word is brought Him of the sickness of Lazarus a great tru th is pro pounded concerning all incidents th a t happen to th e elect of God (v. 4). They are for “ the glory of God” and th a t the THE SOUL-WINNER’S
430 have been had the sisters sent such a message as this to H im: “Lord, Lazarus is sick; but it is all right. You know about it and you will do What is pleas ing in your sight.” Why did th e y 'n o t? F o r the same reason th a t we do not. We lack faith in Him. We must believe in H is love. We must believe in His ability. We must believe in His purpose. We must be lieve in His plan— for He always has a plan. We must believe th a t He doeth all things well, at th e rig h t tim e and in the rig h t way. We m u st have faith . The term which Jesus used in speak ing of the death of Lazarus is a beau tifu l one when applied to- those who die in the faith. (1 Thes. 4 :1 4 ). “F or if w e believe tb a t Jesus died and rose again, even so them also w hich sleep in Jesus w ill God brin g w ith him.” " There is no real death for believers. They simply pass out from one. sphere, untrammelled, into th e other. (2) THE BEREAVED SISTERS, vs. 14-19. When Jesus, tells the disciples plainly th a t Lazarus is dead, th e ir thoughts at once revert to th e home, th e broken ties. Lazarus is dead and Jesus is glad. Why is He glad? Because He w ants to fix the faith of His chosen ones in Himself. Mary and M artha are mourn ing. Thomas w ants to go and die w ith him (v. l(j). Many friends are g ather ing to com fort the sisters, bu t th ere is only One who can speak the words of com fort and dispel th e doubts and shed light upon it all, and -He js going. Topics fo r Study Proof of the absolute hum anity of Jesus (v. 5). Is sickness and death ever for the glory of God? P rayer and its answer. The blindness and stubborn unbe lief of th e disciples.
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