BETHANY was ever a sweet spot to the self-emptied Son of God. It was one of the few places on earth where He was loved, and where His wounded spirit found rest. Lazarus and his sisters constituted a delightful home circle. They loved each other, and they were one in their faith in the despised and rejected Messiah. Sickness invaded their home, for the wisdom of divine love does not always shield its objects from this visitation. Lazarus was laid low, to the deep distress of his devoted sisters (John 11.). The Lord was at that moment in retreat beyond Jordan. There the appeal reached Him: “Lord, behold he whom Thou lovest is sick.” The sisters did not definitely ask Him to come to their aid, assuming apparently that the news would bring Him without delay. He could have healed the sick man from a distance by His word (as in the case of the centurion’s servant), but He did not do so. Nor did He hasten to Bethany, but remained yet two days where He was. Were we not persuaded that such an One as He could never err, His conduct in this instance would amaze us. He was walking in the light, and saw perfectly the course He should pursue to the glory of God. Presently He announced to His disciples that Lazarus was dead, and that He was glad for their sakes He was not there, adding: “Nevertheless, let us go to him.” Their warning that perhaps martyrdom awaited Him in Judea the Lord passed by without concern.
A stupendous miracle was to be performed. He had already restored two dead persons to life―Jairus’ daughter, and the son of the widow of Nain. The one was just dead, and the other was on the way to burial. But Lazarus had been buried four days when the Saviour reached Bethany, and his body was already advanced in corruption. Martha met Him with the remark that if He had been on the spot her brother had not died. When He spoke of resurrection, she replied: “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” She did not realize that she was addressing the Resurrection and the Life, Who has power to raise His own sleeping ones when He pleases, and to stay the march of death upon His living ones so that they will never die at all. With all the light given in the New Testament epistles since Martha’s day few in Christendom are at this hour beyond her poor notion of a general resurrection at the last day.
Mary followed her sister to the feet of Jesus. Touched by the scene of grief the Saviour groaned and wept—precious proofs of the reality of His holy humanity. Coming to the tomb, the stone was removed at His word, spite of Martha’s remonstrance. A few words of prayer to the Father were followed by the loud summons: “Lazarus, come forth,” and soul and body were united once more. Liberty followed: “Loose him, and let him go.” Wonderful outshining of the glory of God in Him whom men were about to crucify! Should not this marvel have convinced His adversaries of the futility of their designs against Him?
He is the Quickener of the dead. At the appointed hour He will raise His own for glory with Himself in the Father’s house, and at the epoch of the dissolution of all things He will call forth His foes for the resurrection of judgment. Meanwhile He quickens men’s souls. Those who heed His voice in the Gospel message pass even now from death unto life, and have the blissful assurance that into judgment they will never come (John 5:24-2924Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:24‑29)). Life and liberty are the present blissful portion of all who believe in the name of the Only-Begotten Son of God.