345
THE KING’S BUSINESS
. Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead APRIL 8, 1917. LESSON II. John 11:17-27, 43, 44. (Read vs. 17-44. Memorize vs. 25, 26.) G olden T ex t : “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life.”—John 11:25.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS Mon., April 2—John 11 :L16. Tues., April 3—Jtihn 11:17-27. (The Lesson.)
Wed., April 4—John 11:28-37. Thur., April 5—John 11:38-46. Fri., April 6—John 11:47-57. Sat., April 7—Matt. 28:1-10. Sun, April 8—1 Cor. 15 :50-58.
EXPOSITION AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
perhaps it is vain to speculate. At all events she “still sat. in the house.” v. 21. “Then said Martha (Martha there fore said) unto Jesus, Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." Martha was quite right. It is certain that if Jesus had been there Lazarus would not and could not have died. Mary, later the same day when she met Jesus, said the same thing (v. 32). Evidently Martha and Mary had talked it all over together and said it over and over again to one another, “Oh, if Jesus had only come, dear Lazarus would have been living still/’ Probably Jesus would not have reached Bethany before Lazarus died even if he had started at once after receiving the tidings that Lazarus was sick (cf. vs. 6, 17), but He knew of Lazarus’ sickness before the message came (v. 11) and could easily have been there before his death. It did not seem kind in Him not to come, but it was kind, in fact, the highest kindness. He had in store for Martha and Mary a far better gift than the healing of their brother, viz., his resurrection from the dead. Jesus is never kinder than when He seems least kind. There seems to be a touch of reproof or complaint in the words of Martha. On an earlier occasion she had not hesitated to reprove her Lord) (Luke 10:40). We, too, are “often tempted to complain of those dealings of our Lord
vs. 17-20. “Then when. Jesus came, He found that he had lain (been) in the grave four days already. (Add, Now) Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: and many of the Jews came (had come) to Martha and Mary, to com fort (console) them concerning their brother. Then Martha (Martha therefore), as soon as (when) she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary sat still (still sat) in the house.” Our Lord had left Martha and Mary to endure four days of agony and loneliness and per plexity. At last Martha hears the long expected and.eagerly desired message that Jesus is coming. Some glad day we will hear it too. The moment the message came Martha hurried forth to meet Him. There were many Jews who had come to console Martha and Mary regarding the death of their brother, but Martha knew that Jesus alone could bring real consolation, and she hastened to Him. No matter how many our earthly friends may be who come to comfort us in the hour of deep affliction like this, there is only One who can really comfort, and that is Jesus. Before this, household cares had kept Martha away from Jesus (Luke 10:39, 40), but now her sense of need of Jesus was too deep to allow anything to keep her from Him. Just why Mary did not hasten to the Lord together with Martha we are not told, and
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker