LECTURE VIII BETHANY. —PART IV - Robert Murray Mcchene
Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off; and many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. (John 11. 17-27).
I. Christ orders all events for His own glory. One day, when Christ had healed a man deaf and dumb, the multitude cried: “He hath done all things well.” Ah! this is true indeed of the Lord Jesus Christ. “He is head over all things to the Church.” He that died to redeem us from hell, hives to make all things work together for our good. “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.” (Psa. 147:3,4). The same hand that was nailed to the cross for us, brings out Areturus and the Pleiades, and guides the sun in his journey— and all for us. A striking example of this we have now before us.
1. In the time: “He found that he had lain in the grave four days already.” We saw that when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he remained two days in the same place where he was. Then slowly and calmly he left the secluded glens of Mount Gilead, and, crossing the Jordan, came on the fourth day to the village of Bethany. The shady ravines of Mount Olivet wore an aspect of gloom. The village was silent and still, and perhaps around the cottage door of Lazarus a group of mourners sat upon the ground. Jesus and the disciples halted a little way from the village, as if unwilling to break in upon tile scene of deep sorrow. At length a passing villager tells them that Lazarus is dead, and this is the fourth day he has been lying in the cold rocky tomb. The disciples looked at one another, and wondered. Four days dead! Why did our Master tarry? Why did we lose two days on the other side of Jordan? The sisters also thought Jesus came too late. “If thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” The Jews also wondered. Yet Jesus came at the right time. Had he come later, the sensation would have passed away— the death of Lazarus would have been forgotten in the whirl of the world. We soon forget the dead. Had he come sooner, the death of Lazarus would not have been known. He came in due time. He orders all things for his glory— he doeth all things well.
2. In the place: “Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem.” The place of this wonder of grace was also chosen with infinite skill. Bethany was a retired village, in a shady, secluded ravine entirely removed from the bustle and noise of the city; so that there was opportunity for Christ to exhibit those tender emotions of pity and love— weeping and groaning–which he could not have done in the bustle of a crowded city. And yet Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs, or two miles, so that many Jews were present as witnesses; and the news of it was carried in a few hours to the capital, and spread over all Jerusalem and Judea. Had it been done in a corner, men would have derided and denied it. But it was done within half an hour’s walk of Jerusalem, so that all might ascertain its reality. Christ chooses the place where he does his wonders wisely and well— all to show forth his own glorious name. He chooses the spot where to break the alabaster box, so that the ointment may be most widely diffused.
3. In the witnesses: “Many of the Jews.” From verses 45, 46, we learn that the company were far from being all friends of Christ. Perhaps they would not have come if they had known Christ was to be there. But they were friends of Martha and Mary, and though they did not like their serious ways, yet in an hour of affliction they could not but visit them, to give them such comfort as they were able. This is the way of the world. There is much natural kindness remaining in the bosom even of worldly men. Christ knew this, and therefore chose this very time to arrive. Ah, friends, he doeth all things well. You often wonder, often murmur, at the way that he takes you. Learn that if you are his, he will make all things work together for your good, and his own glory. Learn to trust him, then, in the dark— in the darkest frowns of providence–in the most painful delays. Learn to wait upon him. “It is good for a man both to hope and quietly wait for the salvation of God.” He is good to the soul that waiteth for him.
II. The weak believer. Jesus and his disciples had halted a little way from the village, under the shade of the trees; but word soon came to the ear of Martha that the Saviour was come. She immediately hastened to meet him. Ah! who can tell what hove and compassion must have appeared in his eye— what holy calmness on his brow–what tenderness upon his lips? He was the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valleys. Yet Martha is not hushed at the sight. She bursts out into this impassioned cry; “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Observe,
1. Her presumption. “If thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” How did she know this? What promise of the Bible could she name upon which this expectation was grounded? God had promised that his own shall never want bread–any good thing; that he will supply all their need— that they shall never perish–that he will be with them in time of trouble; but nowhere has he promised that they shall not die. On the contrary, “Israel must die.” David prays: “Make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days.” And Job: “I would not live alway.”
2. Her limiting of Christ: “If thou hadst been here.” Why so? Am I a God at hand, and not afar off? “Is my hand shortened at all, and have I no power to redeem?” She forgot the centurion of Capernaum: “I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only.” Matt. viii. 8. She forgot the nobleman’s son at Capernaum: “Sir, come down, ere my child die.” “Go thy way, thy son liveth.” (John 4:46). Her grief and anguish kept her from calmly remembering the works and power of Jesus.
3. Her unbelief: “But I know that even now.” This was faith, and yet unbelief. She believed something, but not all, concerning Jesus. She believed in him as an advocate and intercessor, but not that all things were given into his hands–that he is Lord of all–head over all things to the Church. Her grief, and confusion, and darkness, hid many things from her.
4. And yet she came to Jesus. Though grieved, she was not offended; she did not keep away from him. She poured out all her grief, her darkness, and complaint, into his bosom. This is just the picture of a weak believer–much of nature and little grace–many questionings of Christ’s love and power, and yet carrying your complaints only to him. It was not to the Jews Martha told her grief, it was not to the disciples–it was to Jesus himself.
Learn that afflicting time is trying time. Affliction is like the furnace–it discovers the dross as well as the gold. Had all things gone on smoothly at Bethany, Martha and Mary had never known their sin and weakness; but now the furnace brought out the dross.
Learn to guard against unbelief. Guard against presumption— making a Bible-promise for yourself, and leaning upon a word God has never spoken. Guard against prescribing your way to Christ, and limiting him in his dealings. Guard against unbelief, believing only part of God’s testimony. “O foolish, and slow of heart to believe all that God hath spoken.” Remember, whatever your darkness may be, to carry your complaint to Jesus himself.
III. Jesus reveals himself. Not a feature of Christ’s face was ruffled by the passionate cry of Martha. He was not angry, and did not turn away, but opened up more of himself than he had ever done. “Thy brother shall rise again.” He comforts her by the assurance that her brother shall rise again, and then leads her to see that all the spring and source of that is in himself. Two things lie shows in himself.
1. I am the resurrection: “He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” Christ here reveals himself as the Head of all dead believers.
(1.) He shows what he is: I am the author or spring of all resurrection. The fountain of the resurrection is in my hand. It is my voice that shall call forth the sleeping dust of all my saints. It is my hand that shall gather their dust, and fashion it like my own glorious body. All this is mine. At my command Enoch was translated. I also carried away Elijah. I will raise the myriad’s of sleeping believers also. Believest thou this? Believest thou that he who has sat so often under thy roof and fig-tree— at thy table–that he is the resurrection?
(2.) He shows the certainty that all dead believers shall live; “He that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” If I am the resurrection, then surely I will raise every one for whom I died. I will not lose one of them.
Here is comfort for those of you who, like Martha, weep over the believing dead. Thy brother shall rise again. Jesus, who died for them, is the Resurrection. That great work of gathering and raising their scattered dust is committed to Jesus. “They shall be mine, in that day when I shall make up my jewels.” Oh, what unspeakable comfort it will be to be raised from the grave by Jesus! If it were an angel’s voice we might wish to lie still; but when the voice of our Beloved calls, how gladly shall we arise!
Sweet thought to me!
I shall arise,
And with these eyes
My Saviour see.
Oh, what unspeakable terror it will give to you that are Christless, to hear the voice of Jesus breaking the long silence of the tomb!
2. I am the life: “He that liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” Christ here reveals himself as the Head of all living believers.
(1.) He directs her eye to himself: “I am the life.” this name is frequently applied to the Lord Jesus: “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4.) “For the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.”–”When Christ who is our life shalt appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (Col. 3:4). And therefore Jesus says: “Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life.” In my hand is the source of all natural, spiritual, and eternal life. Every thing that lives derives its life from me. Every living soul–every drop of living water flows from my hand. I begin–I carry on–I give eternal life.
(2.) He shows the happy consequence to all living believers. “They shall never die.” Their life suffers no interruption by the death of the body. Death has no power to quench the vital flame in the believer’s soul. If I be the life, I will keep all mine, even in the valley of the shadow of death. They shall never perish. Believest thou this?
Here is comfort to those of you who, like Martha, tremble at the sight of death. Ah! it is a ghastly sight when it comes–the terror of kings, and the king of terrors. There is something dreadful in the still features–the silent lips–the glazed eye— the cold hand, that no more returns our fond pressure, but rather sends a chill through the blood. Ah! you say, must we all thus die? Where is the Gospel now? Ans. Jesus is the life–the spring of eternal life to all his own. Believe this, and you will triumph over the grave.
IV. Martha’s confession.
1. When her faith flowed out. When the south wind blows softly upon a bed of spices, it causes the fragrant odours to flow out. So when Jesus breathed on this believer’s heart, saying: “I am the resurrection and the life,” it drew from her this sweet confession: “Yea, Lord, I believe.” This shows how faith and love spring up in the heart. Some of you seek for faith much in the same way as you would dig for a well; you turn the eye inward upon yourself, and search amidst the depths of your polluted heart to find if faith is there; you search amidst all your feelings at sermons and sacraments to see if faith is there; and still you find nothing but sin and disappointment. Learn Martha’s plan. She looked full in the face of Jesus; she saw his dust-soiled feet and sullied garment, and his eye of more than human tenderness. She drank in his word: “I am the resurrection and the life;” and spite of all she saw, and all she felt, she could not but believe.
The discovery that Jesus made of his love and power, as the head of dead believers, and the head of living believers, revived her fainting soul, and she cried: “Yea, Lord, I believe.” Faith comes by hearing the voice of Jesus.
2. Upon what her faith flowed out: upon the person of Jesus. It seems probable that Martha did not comprehend all that was implied in the words of the Lord Jesus. Something she saw, but much she did not see. Still on this one thing her faith fastens— that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. So do you, brethren, when glorious promises are unfolded, whose full meaning you cannot comprehend; embrace Jesus and you have all; “for all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen, to the glory of God by us.” Much you cannot comprehend, for it doth not yet appear what we shall be; yet take a whole Christ into the arms of your faith, and say: “Yea, Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”