17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Je- rusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them con- cerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sa.t still in the house.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, what- soever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know
that he shall rise again in the rosur rection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that be- lieveth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 Aud whosoever liveth, and be- lieveth in mo shall never die. Be- lievest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master ia come, and calleth for thee,
29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
There is a grand simplicity about tbis passage, which is almost spoilt by any human exposition. To comment on it seems like gilding gold or painting lilies. Yet it throws much light on a subject which we can never understand too well ; that is, the true character of Christ's people. The portraits of Christians in the Bible are faithful likenesses. They show us saints just as they are.
We learn, firstly, toJiat a strange mixture of grace and weakness is to be found even in the hearts of true believers.
We see this strikingly illustrated in the language used b}r Martha and Mary. Both these holy women had faith enough to say, " Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." Yet neither of them seems to have re-