"I know my sheep and am known of mine."-John 10
FELLOWSHIP with Christ is the most precious thing that a heart can enjoy, whether here below by faith, or above by sight; and the more this fellowship is realized, or the more we, with open face, behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord, the more are we changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:1818But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18)). We are always formed by the object with which we are most occupied. How blessed then, when Christ, the Son of God, and the reflection of His glory, is for us this chief object! And surely a heart that loves Him and walks in His fellowship, will be rejoiced to hear from Him the words, " I know my sheep, and am known of mine." He spoke them openly before all; yes, the whole world must know that between Him and " His own" there exists an intimate relationship, and "His own" must hear it from His lips that His joy may be full in them. Precious union, that is forever secured by an indestructible love, by a love even unto death! It is true, we know Him yet but most imperfectly; but He knows us perfectly, and nothing can sever us from His love. He too is ever seeking to manifest Himself more fully to us. All His leadings have this blessed end; and the more we realize His fellowship in the manifold temptations of this wilderness, the more shall we know the beauty and perfection that is in Him. And it is only Jesus, the precious Jesus, that can truly satisfy and rejoice the heart. All the difficulties of earth are nothing when He is present; but heaven itself would be for us solitary and joyless, if Be were wanting there. We shall truly receive an immeasurable inheritance, for we are heirs of God; but the greatest of ' all gifts is. Christ Himself, and our joy will be full in that we enjoy all with Him.
In order to go somewhat deeper into what has been said above, let us tarry awhile in the lovely scene at Bethany, which is described in John 11 The Lord often stayed there. We find Him there as the days of His suffering approached, and also when He took leave of His disciples, and as He blessed them was carried up into heaven (Luke 24:5050And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. (Luke 24:50)). There was one house especially, in which Lazarus, Martha, and Mary dwelt, which He distinguished before all others by His visits. The brother and sisters were united to Him in love and confidence; and so far as it could be upon earth, His heart found in this privileged family a consolation which His love accepted. Yes, since the Lord was completely rejected by the Jews, and was revealing Himself as the resurrection, this house stood in the foreground a type of the faithful remnant, with which the Lord united Himself. What grace Jehovah Himself, who had come from heaven here below to bring redemption to His people, tarries here amidst His own, as a Friend among His friends. He comes so near them that all fear must disappear. He wills also that they should be perfectly happy in His presence, and their intercourse with Him close and confidential. He calls His disciples His friends, and says also in the chapter before us, ver 2, " Lazarus, our friend, sleepeth." He desires not only by His work to pacify our consciences, but also by His person to win our hearts, and to fill them with joy. He has given Himself entirely to us, and if we have Him as the center of all our spiritual blessings in the heavenly places, we have Him also here in the wilderness as our daily Manna, and our faithful Friend amidst our manifold temptations. But how little is He in His fullness known and enjoyed here below by His people. Many, perhaps indeed most of them, see in Him only the Savior of sinners, who delivers from death and destruction. Their conscience is pacified, but their heart is unsatisfied, and in the midst of their surrounding circumstances they are mostly restless and depressed. Jesus is wanting to them; not for their conscience as to forgiveness, but for their heart-not His work but His person. His blessed presence is not realized and enjoyed by faith., He is not the beloved object upon which the eye rests, and with which the heart cherishes an intimate and confidential intercourse. If this were the case, there would be no fear, no restless care, but joy in the Lord at all times. Paul, in the most difficult circumstances, while a prisoner in Rome, with the prospect of death before him, possessed such joy that he could exclaim to his beloved Philippians, "Rejoice with me!" His heart was filled with Christ. Not only did his conscience rest in His perfect work, his heart also rested in His perfect love. He had Christ Himself, the object of the joy and delight of God, " the express image of His person.' He knew Him and clung to Him with a devoted love; and therefore it was not hard to spend all for Him; for Him to live, to suffer, and to die. He could confess, "Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things... that I might win Christ " (Phil. 3:88Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (Philippians 3:8)); and again, " To me to live his Christ" (chap. 1. 21). Christ Himself was his object and his only aim. He was ready to lose and to suffer everything, in order that he might learn to know Him. Such an one as Paul truly leaves far behind him both the world and all that it contains, and the creature and all that exalts it. He rejoices in this one thought, I know Him and am known of Him. Yes, if Christ be really the object of our hearts, we have always enough, for the fullness of God dwells in Him, and He in His fullness is our blessed portion. And where in our sorrowful hours shall we find a friend who so bears and sympathizes with us as He, and one from whom nothing is hidden? There is no suffering so deep that He cannot comfort, no difficulty so great that He is not able to help, and even in the blackest cloud that envelopes us, He has His hidden hand. He is ever near, both in the smallest and the greatest of our circumstances; and we can ever, with all certainty, reckon upon Him. And in all His ways with us, in all the sorrows through which we have to go down here, He ever makes Himself more fully known to us. Oh! that we might more realize and enjoy His blessed presence, then would everything in our hearts and in our houses, our whole life indeed, be better ordered and more consistent with Himself.
The little family at Bethany knew well how to use the privilege of fellowship with their beloved Lord. Lazarus was sick, and his two sisters sent to Him, saying, " Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick " (ver. 3). They were convinced of His love, and made it the motive why He should help them.. They might expect every benefit from this love, and therefore they could with all freedom turn to it. Had they spoken of their love to Him, they would have expected His help as a debt. But He owes us nothing; all is free grace; far rather has He made us His debtors. Therefore, is it said, " We love Him, because He first loved us." All our blessings have their source in His love. He had given His life for us when we were still His enemies and far from God. And now nothing can separate us from His love; our wants and sins set no limits to it; there is nothing within us or without us that can weaken it. His love remains an open spring during our whole course below; it leads and bears with us through all the temptations of this wilderness, with perfect grace and patience, and we shall soon enjoy it above in all its fullness. If we love our brethren; and heartily sympathize with their weaknesses and sufferings of all kinds, we may always say to Him with confidence, " Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest...." We may be quite sure that He loves all with a perfect love, and that it is joy to His heart when we share His tender love and affection to His people, and for them as well as for ourselves make known our requests before Him by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. But how ashamed must we stand if the answer to our petitions were dependent on our love to Him! How much then should we have to expect? Let every heart answer for itself. Oh! how good is it that all our blessings here and above spring alone from His perfect love to us! He is love and He is our portion.
If we now glance at the inner life, the spiritual understanding and the loving devotedness of the two sisters, it will not be difficult to perceive a great difference. It is true Martha believed on the Lord; she loved Him and received Him into her house; but Mary's heart was more spiritual, and therefore capable of penetrating more deeply into the object of His coming and the divine fullness of His being (or person). While Martha was busied with much serving, and caring about many things, she sat at His feet and listened to His gracious words. He had come to bring the word of God, and surely it was His joy when He found an open ear. This was Mary's good part. Her choice was to hear His word, she chose Himself. And He justified Mary. Her choice should not be taken away from her. Yes, it is the good part to sit at His feet and to listen to the word of God; and afterward we may occupy the blessed place of a servant. There is so much Christian service in the world, which lacks true strength and beauty, because it stands too little connected with the source of all service, with Christ Himself, and is too little founded on the word of God. There are so many believers who, like Martha, are busied about many things, but, alas! have neither the desire, nor quietness enough, to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His precious word. To spend an hour alone with the Lord would be to them far more difficult than to labor the whole day about all sorts of things. And whence comes this? It demands a far more spiritual mind to tarry in His presence than to be occupied with service. In the latter even nature can find some satisfaction, while in His presence it must be entirely set aside. We are, however, only when we have gained the necessary strength and wisdom in His presence, really capable of serving the Lord in an acceptable manner. This we see in Mary. We read (ver. 2), " It was Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair." She gave the most precious Ming she had to testify her love to Jesus; she knew the right moment at which to refresh His heart. The Lord Himself was the one only object of her love and of her service, She was entirely dedicated to Him, and prepared to make every sacrifice for Him. It is true her conduct was not according to reason; no one understood her work, not even the disciples. They saw in, it only an unnecessary waste; according to their opinion she might have served with the ointment in a much more useful manner. They judged as men, and therefore could not understand the work of Mary, which was divinely beautiful. She alone had understood the position of Jesus; she knew that the dark clouds were gathering thicker and thicker around the head of her beloved Lord; her loving heart foresaw the approach of the day in which the wickedness of men would tear Him from the midst of those that did love Him, and therefore she saw that the suited moment had come to anoint Him beforehand for His burial. And the Lord, who could read the secrets of her heart, saw- her deep and self-sacrificing love; and as He had formerly justified her listening to His word, so He now also justifies her work. He says, " She has wrought a good work upon Me." How fully must it have satisfied the heart of Mary, when she heard from His own lips that she had wrought a good work on Him, when the token of her love was recognized and accepted by Him. Martha truly was occupied with much serving, and was so much taken up with her service that she thought the Lord must wish Mary to leave her place at His feet and assist her; but the Lord said to her, " Martha, Martha! thou art careful and troubled about many things; but one thing is needful " (Luke 10:4141And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: (Luke 10:41)). Her service was not owned by Him, because it proceeded too much from her busy nature, and had the Lord Himself too little for its source and object. It is only Mary who chose the "good part" and accomplished the "good work." 0 may we resemble her! May we also often sit at the feet of Jesus, to hear the word of God from His lips; may we cling to Him with an intimate affection, and then fully consecrate ourselves to His service I Let us not forget that one work of Mary had more worth for the Lord than all the works of Martha; and the judgment of the Lord is alone of value. But He looks at the heart. He sees the spring whence all our service proceeds. And ah it is to be feared that in our days there are many Marthas and but few Marys. There is so much Christian activity which indeed looks well before the eye of man, but has little worth in the sight of God, with whose approval we have alone to do. It often proceeds more from our own righteousness (see Phil. 3:99And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (Philippians 3:9)), from a pious nature, than from love to Christ. We may well take this to heart. Those, alas! are not wanting who have not only little interest in the Lord Himself, but also little in His service. They live to themselves and to the world, and are content that their conscience is at rest before God as regards sin. But how unworthy are such thoughts! How ungrateful is such a heart for the unutterable love of the Lord, who has given His life for us, and has chosen us to be partakers of His glory! Dost thou belong to their number, reader? Remember that one great end of the work of Christ, and therefore one great blessing for thee, is lost; for "Christ gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:1414Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:14)). " We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God bath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:1010For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)). But dost thou belong to those who, like Martha, are occupied with much serving? See to it that thy service will meet with His approval. Otherwise it is worthless, be the things with which thou art occupied ever so good and Christian, and however much care and trouble thou givest thyself about them. Our service can only be truly blessed when Jesus is the object of our hearts; when we learn in secret intercourse with Him to understand what is acceptable to Him; and our heart is only truly happy when, like Mary, it has chosen the good part- only in the measure that it can say with the Apostle, " To me to live is Christ." Yes, such a heart is happy in all circumstances, blessed in service, and glorifies the Lord in its walk below.
But the question may suggest itself to some reader: "Did not the Lord love Martha less than Mary, since her feelings towards Him were so weak and superficial?" To our great comfort we can most distinctly deny this. The Lord loved Martha with a perfect love, and Mary just as much, because He is love. His love to us finds its motive in Himself, not in us. It cannot possibly be indifferent to Him, with what feelings of love and affection towards Him our hearts are filled and manifest; but never can this
awaken or direct His feelings towards us. We may be most weak and defective; but His love to us is ever perfect. " But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in, sins, bath quickened us together with Christ" (Eph. 2:4,54But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:4‑5)). The death of Christ on the cross for us, while we were yet sinners and godless, is the most perfect proof of His love. He found nothing in us that could have excited His love; on the contrary, we were " hateful." But when it is the question of our love to Him, we have a perfectly worthy object. He it is in whom God Himself has found His whole delight, and who is the great object of the worship of all the heavenly hosts. We ought also to love Him, because He has first loved us. Yet when we look at His perfect love to us, how must we with shame cast down our eyes, when we think of our weak and imperfect love to Him! How comforting is then the consciousness, that His love is ever matched by His perfect grace I Were this grace wanting, we could never be the objects of His love; but we are, and shall be so forever. There is nothing, "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, that shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:38,3938For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38‑39)). The Holy Ghost can bear witness to the self-sacrificing love of Mary, and yet put Martha first, when He is speaking of the love of the Lord to them. "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus" (ver. 5). Adorable love! We may at all times assure every saint, even the weakest, " The Lord loves thee. Thou art a precious object to His heart. However unworthy thou mayest feel thyself of this love, and however much cause thou hast to humble thyself before Him, He nevertheless loves thee-loves thee perfectly!" Oh! how worthy is this love to be admired and adored by us! And the more we gaze upon it, the more will our heart expand in feelings of love to Him,
and the happier shall we be in the consciousness of being objects of such a love, and able to rest in it forever. And the more we know of the grace which goes along with this love, the more able shall we also be to love and bear with our brethren in all their short-comings and sins. But how useless is it to be occupied with the weakness of our love, if we would love more fully. All our efforts are in vain; the poor heart only becomes more restless and miserable, till at last, desponding and indifferent, we let our hands hang down. For the most part, such efforts and such wishes to love the Lord better are founded more or less on the righteousness of nature. We are far more inclined to bring Him something of our own, than with a thankful heart to rejoice in the gift of His grace-more inclined to rest in our love to Him than in His love to us. What folly! And yet this disposition is far more wide-spread among Christians than is generally thought; and it is with many a hindrance to joy in the Lord and to the service for His blessed name:
We read further, " When Jesus heard therefore that he was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where He was" (ver. 6). How remarkable! Why did He not go at once? Was it for want of love? No! " The Lord loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus." But would not Martha, or even Peter, have gone at once upon such a message, if they could have comforted or helped? Most probably; because they were much more inclined to follow their natural feelings than the Lord. How often are these feelings of nature mistaken for the willing service of love to Christ! But the Lord walked here below in perfect dependence on the Father. In all things he first looked upwards. His heart was surely filled with tender affection to the beloved family, and with the deepest sympathy in their grief; but to glorify the Father was His first and highest concern. And He said: " This sickness is riot unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby" (ver. 4)-His whose walk below was always perfectly consistent with the will of the Father. " Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of Himself; but what He seeth the Father do: for what things so ever He doeth, these doeth also the Son likewise." Thus, too, even His work on the cross was not only for our redemption, but also to glorify the Father, so that at the end of His blessed course He could say: "I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work that Thou gavest me to do" (John 17:44I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (John 17:4)).
The glory of God and our salvation were thus ever before the eye of our blessed Lord while He accomplished His course amidst the trials of this wilderness. And what a precious lesson may we learn from it! We are often wanting not only in this dependence, but also in the wish that the name of the Lord may be glorified. We are so inclined to make ourselves and our circumstances the chief thing. When we are in trouble, quiet resignation to the will of the Lord is not unfrequently wanting. We long to escape from it; often try all kinds of means in order to attain our object, and when everything fails, the heart is not unfrequently filled with murmurings and discontent. Oh, that we might fix our eyes more simply on the Lord, who has gone before us in the path of faith, and walk more entirely in dependence upon Him, heartily seeking His glory, then should we more willingly bear our cross and follow Him! If it be in truth our desire that the good pleasure of His will should be fulfilled in us and by us, we shall be quiet in all His leadings, and in all our trials look to Him with confidence. Paul had only one thing before his soul-to glorify the Lord, to make known His name; and therefore he was quite happy in his imprisonment, so soon as he knew that his bonds had fallen out to the furtherance of the Gospel. It was his earnest expectation and his hope that Christ should always be magnified in his body, whether by life or by death (Phil. 1:12-2012But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. 19For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. (Philippians 1:12‑20)). And this mind alone becomes all God's dearly bought saints.
The sisters at Bethany had in their trouble an opportunity of exercising patient confidence in the Lord. They knew His goodness and power, of which they had so often been witnesses; nor did they doubt His love, which they had already in may ways themselves experienced; yet now He allowed Himself to be entreated in vain. Lazarus died; the Lord did not come to heal him. How sorely was their love and confidence tried by this delay of the Lord! But they, too, needed the purifying, that the trial of their faith, being much more precious than that of gold which perisheth, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:77That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 1:7)). This is the blessed end of all God's leadings of His people below. It is true He has given the most precious promises with regard to our prayers. We read in John 14:1313And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13), " Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." And again, " This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, he heareth us ". (1 John 5:1515And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1 John 5:15)). Nevertheless He often makes us wait, that our confidence may be strengthened, and may prove itself to be a real confidence in Him. On the other hand, he also desires to render the sense of our dependence and of the importance of glorifying His name, more living in our hearts; but never is it in Him want of love or sympathy when He makes us wait. We see this so distinctly in the sisters at Bethany. He loved them most tenderly, He often stayed with them, and yet He did not come immediately to heal their brother and to turn their grief into joy. He let Lazarus die; and surely Satan was busy awakening all kinds of thoughts in their hearts. He ever endeavors at such an hour to waken our confidence and to arouse doubts and murmurs. It is then specially needful for us to look steadily to the Lord, and to hold fast by His love; otherwise we shall become restless and unhappy. Yes, the beloved of the Lord prepare for themselves many sorrowful hours when in their trials, instead of waiting with confidence for His help, they are occupied with themselves or with their circumstances.
For the disciples of the Lord there were also precious lessons to be learned from this occurrence, both as regards their knowledge of the Lord and of themselves. When His hour was come, He said to them: " Let us go into Judaea again." But the disciples replied: "Master, the Jews of late sought to stone Thee, and goest thou thither again?" (John 11:88His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? (John 11:8)). Their eye rested upon circumstances, and therefore they feared to follow the Lord. And ah! how often do we make the same experience. The presence of the light can in nowise help us, if the eye be not clear. The source of light was going before the disciples, and yet they feared to stumble on the way. The Lord answered: "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night he stumbleth, because there is no light in him " (ver. 9, 10). The Lord was always led by the good pleasure of His Father's will; according to it He stayed or He went. Never was He led by circumstances. As soon as the good pleasure of the Father's will had opened the way to Him, He feared neither the stones of the murderous Jews nor the cross. All was light upon His way, and in this light should His disciples now follow Him: But al! unbelief kept their eyes closed, and they saw on the way to Judaea nothing else than death. "Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow-disciples, Let us also go that we may die with Him" (ver. 16). How often does the fear of death seize our poor hearts when unbelief fixed the eye upon circumstances! But the good pleasure of the Father's will is also for us light amidst the temptations of the wilderness. We should never either enter or leave a place, a position, a relationship, or anything of the kind, till we are convinced that to do so is the will of our Father: and never will He leave an upright heart in uncertainty about a thing when it is needful to be certain. And if we walk according to the good pleasure of His will, we shall walk in the day. He has prepared the way for us; and whatever may meet us on it, all must work together for our good. Our heart has then comfort and certainty, and we can in quiet confidence look to Him and commend all to Him; yes, even in the heaviest trials, reckon upon His strength and help. But it is very different when we are led by the flesh or by circumstance. We soon get into difficulty, and the heart is full of fear and restless care. And how often is this the case? The boy Samuel needed to be called three times before he attended, because he did not yet know the word of the Lord; but many Christians run before the Lord has called once, and not unfrequently make the most sorrowful experiences. Therefore let us always wait till we know the good pleasure of His will, that we may never stumble, nor be disquieted and dishonor the name of the Lord by evil ways.
When Jesus came to Bethany, He found that Lazarus had been already four days in the grave (ver. 17). Death had entered. the peaceful cottage, and had made a deeply felt gap. It had torn asunder the band that so closely united the little family, and had left nothing but grief and tears behind. And not once had the Lord, the dearest friend of their hearts, been present during this sorrowful scene. He came now indeed; but death had come before Him, and had forever taken the beloved brother from their midst. " Martha then, when she heard that Jesus was come, went to meet Him... and said unto Him, Lord, if Thou hadst. been here, my brother had not died " (ver. 20, 21). She knew that He could have restored him to health; but her faith went no further. She acknowledged, however, that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, and that He so stood in His love and favor, that. whatever He should ask He would receive, and finally acknowledged that her brother Lazarus would be raised again at the last day. But however true this might be, these truths had little real worth for her, and brought her oppressed heart little satisfaction and comfort. For what consolation does the hope of resurrection give, if it is not connected with the certainty that the consequences of our sinful life and condition are forever done away? But thanks be to God, we have this certainty. The Lord said to Martha, " I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and he that liveth and believeth in me shall never die " (ver. 25, 26). In Him we have not only resurrection but also life. He has in grace become man, and as a man has taken upon Himself sin and its punishment on the cross. Now life coming through resurrection frees us from everything that death can grasp; it leaves sin, death, everything connected with our natural life, forever behind. The Lord has by His death " destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil"
( Heb 2:1414Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14)), and also death itself, and " has brought life and immortality to light " (2 Tim. 1:1010But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2 Timothy 1:10)). God has quickened us together with Him, having forgiven us all trespasses, so that we, already triumphing by faith, may exclaim, ".Death is swallowed up in victory. 0 Death, where is thy sting? 0 Grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Cor. 15:5555O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:55).) The believer even if he be. dead shall live, and he that liveth and believeth on Him shall never die; for Christ has conquered death; in His presence it can no longer exist. The whole effect of sin upon man is completely destroyed by the resurrection of Jesus by the power of life in Him. He has brought the power of divine life into the bosom of death, and it is annihilated before Him. Death is the end of the natural man, and resurrection is the end of death. What a deliverance!
But Martha, although she believed on the Lord and loved Him, is not able to enter into the Savior's words. As soon as He comes she goes to meet Him, acting upon impulse; but as soon He speaks to her of the power of divine life displayed in His person, she draws back. She feels that intercourse with the Lord is rather Mary's affair, and she therefore calls her. Her own conscience is to her the voice of Jesus. And Mary, who believes herself to be called by the Lord, immediately hastens to Him, and casts herself weeping at His feet. She might understand no more of the bearing of resurrection and of life than Martha; but under the sense of death her heart is broken down in. the presence of Him who was the life, and she now lays her need and her grief at His feet, where she had formerly sat to listen, and had learned to know the love and grace of her beloved Lord. He alone was able to understand the' deep grief of her heart; He alone was able to sympathize as no mere man could.
" When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled, and said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto Him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold, how He loved him!" (ver. 33-36). What a sight! The Lord of glory, the Creator of all things, stands in the midst of His poor creatures who have entirely ruined themselves by sin, and sheds tears. He is troubled in the presence of death, which is the wages of sin, which, cold and heartless, tears asunder the closest. bands of love, and leaves nothing but grief and tears behind. Yes, the Lord places Himself, full of the deepest sympathy, beneath the weight of the death which He had come to abolish. He fully takes part in the groans of the suffering creation, and brings death before God as the misery of man, as the yoke which he in vain seeks to escape. Jesus in His perfect sympathy makes Himself one with it. He is troubled; He groans before God; He weeps with men, and all this out of love to those who are subject to this dreadful evil. We, too, who are quickened together with Christ, take part in these groans. " We know," says the Apostle, " that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body" (Rom. 8:22,2322For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:22‑23)). The believer is now the channel by which all these groans ascend to God. But it is no groaning under the power of sin, which still, in some measure, holds us captive, or because we are in uncertainty with regard to our salvation or the love of God; no, we groan because, as partakers of the heavenly glory, we see how sin has impressed upon all around us the stamp of vanity and destruction. Yes, we shall so much the more sympathize with the groaning creation the more we are filled with the love and grace of God, the more we feel, as Jesus did, the misery which has come upon everything through sin, and the more the rays of that heavenly glory shine in our hearts.
Mary had now the opportunity of learning to know a new and lovely feature of Christ's perfection. She had often seen His goodness and His power, and had listened to His gracious words; but now she may also learn His perfect sympathy. And how could she do this save on the path of sorrow and suffering! She knew well that He had power to restore her sick brother to health; but as yet she had not experienced that when her brother had died, He could, full of the deepest sympathy, step into the gap and shed tears with her. What a perfect Jesus! In every position we have a fullness in Him; and which is more precious, which in the hour of our deepest grief is sweeter to the heart, we have to experience His unlimited power and His tender sympathy? Yes, such poor weak creatures as we are must have such a Jesus. Never is His arm too short; never does His help come too late; but also never does a sorrow, small or great, come upon us with which He has' not the deepest sympathy, and is at our side to comfort us in. What a consolation in this wilderness, in the manifold trials of life! How often do we experience that here below we are going through a vale of tears; how often does grief and pain enter our dwelling, or the cold hand of death snatch a beloved member from the closely linked circle, and leave a void behind that none is able to fill. But He is able-He alone. He can drop balm into the deep wound; He can most perfectly feel with us. We may cast ourselves with confidence at His feet, and let our tears tell forth our grief to His 'faithful heart When no one understands us, He understands; when all forsake us, He is ever near. He, indeed, often permits us to walk in the path of sorrow, not only because tribulation worketh patience, but also because it affords Him the opportunity of manifesting to us the sympathy of His heart, and letting us see a new ray of His divine perfection. Oh, how sweet are such ways, and such experiences in any grief! They are experiences for which the glory above will afford us no opportunity. There we shall need His sympathy in sorrow no more, for there all tears shall forever be wiped away from our eyes. " Therefore, beloved brethren, let us count it all joy when we come into manifold trials " (James 1:22My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (James 1:2)).
Some of the Jews, when they saw His tears, said, "Behold, how He loved him." Yes, He loved him, and He loves all His own with a perfect love. Yet it was not the loss of Lazarus which drew from Him groans and tears, but the presence of death, and sympathy with the bereaved and sorrowing sisters. He knew where Lazarus was; he was not lost for Him, for He could say, "No man can pluck them out of my hand." They remain in His hand, even when death has taken them from our midst. They live even though they be dead. He never loses them, for He has abolished death, and has brought life and immortality to light. How consoling this conviction for those who remain behind! Their beloved ones who are gone home are ever in His hand; nothing has power over them; nothing can rob Him of them. The same hand keeps them there, which keeps us here below. They are in perfect rest, and are with the beloved Lord, to whom we too shall soon go. It is only a separation for a short time.
Others of the Jews that stood by said, " Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? " (ver. 37.) Only unbelief, the unbelief that murmurs at the ways of the Lord, speaks thus. It is the source of all the sin on account of which misery has overspread creation it ever keeps man's poor heart at a distance from God. The Lord felt this, and "therefore again groaning in Himself He cometh to the grave" (ver. 38). His tears were changed into the unutterable groaning of a heart that sympathizes from its inmost depths.
Martha's heart is as ever occupied with circumstances. She says, "Lord, by this time he stinketh" (ver. 39). Jesus saith unto her, "Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldst believe thou shouldest see the glory of God? " (ver 40.) He had brought death before God, and now He could lift up His eyes and say, "Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard me. And I knew that Thou hearest me always: but because of the people that stand by I said it, that they may believe that Thou has sent me. And when He had thus spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth " (ver. 41.-44). How fully, did He here verify the words. spoken in the former chapter. " My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give unto them eternal life, and they shalt never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one " (chap. 10: 27-30). The corruption that had set in was no hindrance to His power; death must give back Lazarus as soon as He demanded him; every trace of death must disappear at His word. All is subject to His power; all has been conquered by Him; death, as well as him who has the power of death, that is, the devil. His people are ever under His control, whether they sleep or wake. They are ever in His hand, and He can at any instant call them to Himself. Every hindrance to our having part with Him in His glory is forever set aside. Yes, there is such a power of life in Him that it is not even needful for us to die. He can change us in an instant, and cause the mortal to put on immortality. (1 Cor. 15) And this will actually take place at that happy mordent of His coming, when the living shall be changed, and the sleeping raised and caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we be forever with the Lord. (1 Thess. 4)
0 what a certainty, what a consolation for all who believe on Him They are forever perfectly freed from death, and from all that is connected with it; they are forever saved; forever secured in His faithful hand. Neither the trials of the wilderness, nor death, nor height, nor depth, are able to separate us from Him, and from His love. May this precious conviction ever refresh and rejoice our hearts!
*** When a poor sinner can say to God:-The Lord Jesus Christ loved Thee with perfect love, but I-I have had no love to Thee whatsoever; and Thou hast ever found Thy delight in Christ Jesus, and I have found delight in every one and in everything except in Him!"-it is an awful reality to which he confesses. But let him not keep back the confession; it is truth, and truth in the inward parts God will not turn away from. 'Tis a confession, too, which supposes self to be in ruins;. God to be God and the Father of an only begotten Son-who is a Savior of the lost, and a Giver of eternal life and of the Spirit to those that come to God through Him.
A strange and a distant place, without Any well known and loved person in it, is heaven to the natural mind. " The Lord Jesus Christ is there," says the spiritual mind, "and to be with Him, anywhere, is enough for me. With Him in Paradise; with Him absent from the body; with Him on the cloud; with Him is all I want, and never to be without Him."