“Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest Thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him” (John 1:38-3938Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. (John 1:38‑39)).
A Home Where Christ Is Welcome
One further incident in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ calls for our attention. This time our thoughts travel to Bethany. Mary, Martha and Lazarus, who live in that village, have consistently furnished a refreshing home for the Son of Man. He is always welcome there, and they always appreciate and value His company with them. Away from the tension and animosity that He constantly encounters from the leaders of the Jewish nation in Jerusalem, Jesus can always count on the peace and quiet of a solid, warm friendship whenever He visits this home.
Then one day Lazarus gets sick. His sisters’ first thought is to call for Jesus. He is not there at the time, but they are confident that He would want to know that His friend is not well. More than that, they are sure that Jesus would heal their brother if He were there.
“Therefore his sisters sent unto Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick” (John 11:33Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. (John 11:3)). They present their brother’s need to the Lord on the basis of a known and enjoyed relationship of love. Surely that will tug at His heartstrings and move Him to come to their home, and that quickly. Wouldn’t the Lord desire His friend to be well and able to serve Him once again?
What does Jesus do? “When He had heard therefore that he was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where He was” (vs. 6). Are we surprised—maybe even disturbed—by Jesus’ behavior? Doesn’t it say, “Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus” (vs. 5)? Didn’t we expect that He would drop everything the moment He heard of Lazarus’s illness and rush to his side to heal him? Why then does He remain right where He is when He receives such saddening news?
All for the Glory of God
We’ll find the secret in the previous verse. “When Jesus heard that, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby” (vs. 4). The Lord Jesus always does everything—every movement, every word spoken, and every thought—for the glory of God. He never takes one step or utters one word except in complete communion and harmony with His Father. At the same time, God the Father is ever jealous for the glory and honor of God the Son.
We read in Isaiah, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (ch. 55:8-9). We look on the outward appearance; so often we judge events by sight—by what is outwardly visible to our natural understanding. And thereby we fall so far short of communion with our God and His thoughts concerning the circumstances of life. In fact, sometimes we completely misjudge Him and His thoughts of pure love towards us, and we attribute ill motives to Him who says He is working “all things” for good (Rom. 8:2828And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)).
The Ultimate Purpose for Our Lives
What is the purpose for which all things work together for good? “Whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (vs. 29). Isn’t this the very reason why we desire to abide with Him—so that we might learn from Him those moral characteristics that are befitting to His presence and that we might be more conformed to His image morally even now?
The End of the Journey
This path, on which we have embarked with Him, ends in glory. That is the promise of God, and without a doubt all of His promises come to fruition. “Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified” (ch. 8:30). “We know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him” (1 John 3:22Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)).
As we wait for that glorious moment—that “day” that shall never end—may the Lord deepen in our souls the earnest desire to abide with Him. May we treasure nothing so much as nearness of heart to Him and fellowship with His mind in everything. And may those around us, with whom we have contact from day to day, readily discern in our speech and in our behavior that we have “been with Jesus” (Acts 4:1313Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)).
D. R. Macy