D. R. Macy
In John 11 we have a touching account of a sore trial that God allows to come into the home of some very dear friends of the Lord Jesus. Now we know that sometimes the difficulties in our lives are the chastening hand of the Lord because of failure and sin that we have allowed. But this is not the purpose or the reason for the problem here. He uses this severe test to show His own more of His glory as well as the depth of His love and care for them.
What do we know about this home in Bethany? We know that it is a home where the Lord Jesus is welcome, where His presence is appreciated and enjoyed. He often goes there with His disciples. Each in that home is conscious of the Lord's love for him or her. And we know that they are active in worship and service, as we know that Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with her ointment and twice we find Martha serving Him.
It is into this home that the Lord allows a very severe trial and test. We might have thought that everything is in order, spiritually, in this home and that there is no need for such sorrow to enter this household. But, no, God has purposes of love and blessing that go far beyond human thoughts of what is good, and He will not stop short of full blessing for His own.
He allows Lazarus to become sick. His sisters send to tell the Lord Jesus, their dear Friend, so that He might help them. They don't boast of the good things that Lazarus had done, to give the Lord reason to act. Rather, they plead a known relationship of love, between the Lord Jesus and the one who was sick. "Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick.”
That touches the Lord's heart, and He gives a word of encouragement to them. "This sickness is not unto death." What a wonderful promise these words are! He's not going to die-what a relief! But that's not what the Lord is really saying here. "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." He says that the end result of this trial is not to cause death, with its deep sorrow and grief, but the purpose of this sickness is that God and His beloved Son might receive more glory from the lives of those whom He loves and who love Him. He wants our fullest blessing, and that will always result in giving honor to and exalting the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus." A trial usually affects others—close relatives and friends—besides the one who is directly the subject of the test. Very quickly the Lord assures us of His love, not only for Lazarus, but also for those who were dear to Lazarus—Martha and her sister.
That love for all three is going to motivate His every action as the circumstances of this trial unfold. It may not always seem to be going exactly as we would order, but, remember, the goal that the Lord Jesus always has before Him is the honor and glory of God. There is no higher object.
But why, when He hears that Lazarus is sick, does He remain two days where He is? This is the Son of God, and He could speak a word, right from where He is, to heal the sick. Or He could go and touch him so that he might recover. No, had He used one of those methods, we might never read those touching words, "Jesus wept." He is the Man of patience, and He waits. It's all part of His perfect plan for the blessing of His own.
The Key to Blessing in Trial
The Lord Jesus then speaks to His disciples, and at first glance His words might seem to be unrelated to the matter at hand—Lazarus's sickness. But what He says is a key to blessing in our lives, especially as we go through a trial. "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." Who is the light of this world? We know that He told us Himself earlier in this book, "I am the light of the world" (ch. 8:12). We must keep our eyes on Him if we are to have a proper perspective on the situations of life. He is the only One who can properly illuminate every step of our lives and thereby guide us through the difficult circumstances so that we do not stumble.
He then tells the disciples plainly that Lazarus had died, but mingled with these sorrowful words are words of hope and comfort.
Upon learning the Lord's intention, Thomas says, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." Every person's trials and circumstances of life are uniquely ordered by the Lord and perfectly suited to that individual person. He does not give my trials to you nor yours to me. And so we dare not think that we would do better or have it easier if we had the circumstances that He has, in perfect wisdom, given to someone else. Remember the promise in 1 Cor. 10:1313There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)—"God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." He does not promise to remove it immediately when we think we have had enough, but He can and does give grace to go through the trial for His glory.
When Jesus arrives at Bethany, Lazarus has already been in the tomb for four days and many Jews have come to comfort Martha and Mary. Martha, hearing that Jesus is in the vicinity, runs to meet Him. Relatives and friends can be a tremendous help and comfort in time of trouble and stress, but who can fully sympathize with us like our Lord Jesus Christ? The One who says, "This thing is from Me," is the One who wants to comfort us at such a time, even when no other help is in sight.
Jesus' Dealings with Mary and Martha
Martha's first words to the Lord Jesus are, "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”
Is that an expression of faith in His power, or is she scolding Him for not coming right away? The Lord alone knows her heart, and He also knows that our faith may falter at a time of severe testing. He patiently leads her along by teaching her the truth as to His Person, the resurrection, and life through Himself that is beyond the power of death. Ultimately, she makes a beautiful confession: "I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." Is not this true worship?
Worship is the out flowing of the heart in adoration, from being occupied with the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. It doesn't require perfect circumstances (according to our estimation). Some of the sweetest worship has ascended to God and His beloved Son from those who are terminally ill or in other situations that we would consider very undesirable. All that is necessary is that our hearts be completely absorbed with Him as our Object.
Once Martha reaches this point, there is no further conversation between her and the Lord. She just goes to get others to worship Him too. In John 1, two of John's disciples heard the result of his occupation with the Lord, "Behold the Lamb of God," and they followed Jesus. And when you and I spend time in His presence, we won't be able to keep it to ourselves either. Others will be affected and stirred to have similar fellowship with Him. Is not this too for the glory of God?
Mary runs quickly to meet Jesus, and her first words to Him are the same as Martha's. "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." He alone knows both of their hearts and so, in perfect wisdom, He instructs the one but says nothing to the other. Instead, the Spirit of God records for us those touching words that speak of the Lord Jesus entering into the sorrow of His own at that moment. He groans in His spirit and is troubled as He sees the power that sin and death hold over man. Then, as the great High Priest, He is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities" and He weeps with those that weep. How precious and sacred those tears are! What love they communicate to our own hearts as we realize that this same blessed Son of God loves and cares and sympathizes with us in our trials.
The awe that resulted in those who witnessed this scene was a testimony to the depth and genuineness of His love for Lazarus His love and sympathy were felt in the midst of the trial, not simply by His removing it.
In time it is the Father's will that this trial be removed and so Jesus instructs them to take away the stone. Martha says, "Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days." Sometimes it seems that trials get worse before they get better. Unbelief raises doubts about the goodness that is in God's heart by questioning why He allowed the trial in the first place: Could He not have prevented it from happening? Yes, of course; He who controls everything in each of our lives could have ordered a different set of circumstances in Lazarus's life at this time. But faith leans on Him who is over all and looks beyond the circumstances to the heart of love that is directing all for God's glory. "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”
We know 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) so well and love to quote it, at least to others, when faced with a difficult circumstance. "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." What is His purpose? The next verses tell us. God desires that we might "be conformed to the image of His Son." He wants us to be just like His Son and be with Him where He is. So He has predestinated us to this blessing. He calls us and justifies us to make us perfectly suited to His presence, and ultimately He glorifies us—He brings us to Himself to enjoy all His splendor and excellence. Let us not be shortsighted in our view of a trial, but rather enter into this goal that God has in mind when He allows these things in our lives.
The Lord Jesus in Power and Dependence
Before raising Lazarus, the Lord Jesus first prays to His Father—what a beautiful example of the perfect blending of the deity and the humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ. As God He was about to raise one to life from among the dead; as a perfect Man, He makes every movement at the direction of, and in dependence on, His Father. It is also instructive to notice that in His prayer He says, "Because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that Thou hast sent Me." It is important to be sensitive to those who are listening when we pray publicly. They, too, need to enter in to what we are saying.
The Lord Jesus calls with a loud voice, and he that was dead comes forth. What a display, not only of His power, but also of His love, compassion and grace! This causes others to believe on Him, when they see the results of His working blessing through the trials that He allows in the lives of His own.
One more word is necessary, for Lazarus is still bound with grave clothes. "Loose him, and let him go." The result is complete liberty. This suggests the final, full deliverance that we read about in Rom. 8:2121Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21). "The creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty [or, liberty of the glory] of the children of God." At the rapture, when we will be given our new bodies that are not subject to the bondage of corruption, we will forever enter into and enjoy the liberty of the glory that is ours as the children of God. Until then, may we keep our hearts focused on the greatest purpose—His glory—for which He allows the trials in our lives, and may we always remember that He also works all things together for our blessing.