It will be our wisdom to watch against the temptations, and improve the advantages of our natural temper."
21. — [Then said Martha... if thou... not died.] This is the first ac- count of Martha's feelings. It was the uppermost thought in her mind, and with honest impulsiveness she brings it out at once. It is easy to detect in it a strange mixture of emotions.
Here is a passion, not unmixed with a tinge of reproach. " I wish you had been here : why did you not come sooner? You might have prevented my brother's death."
Here is love, confidence, and devotion creeping out. " I wish you had been here. We loved you so much. We depended so entirely on your love. We felt if you had been here all would be ordered well."
Here is faith. " I wish you had been here. I believe you could have healed my brother, and kept death from him."
Nevertheless there is something of unbelief at bottom. Martha forgets that the bodily presence of Jesus was not necessary in order to cure her brother, or to prevent his death. She must have known what our Lord did for the centurion's servant, and the ruler of Capernaum. He had but to speak the word any- where and Lazarus would have recovered. But memories often fail in time of trouble.
Ferus remarks how apt we all are to say, as Martha, "If God had been here, if Christ had been present, this would not have happened; as if Christ was not always present, and everywhere near His people ! "
Henry remarks that in cases like Martha's, " we are apt to add to our trouble by fancying what might have been. If such a method had been taken, such a physician employed, my friend had not died ! which is more than we know. And what good does it do ? When God's will is done, our business is to submit."
22. — [But I know... even now... ask... give it thee.'] In these words poor Martha's faith and hope shine clearly and unmistakably, though not without serious blemishes. " Even now," she says, " though my brother is dead and lying in the grave, I know, and feel con- fident, from the many proofs I have seen of Thy power, that whatsoever things Thou mayest ask of God, God will give them to Thee. I must therefore even now cling to the hope that in some way or other Thou wilt help us."
The faith of these words is plain and unmistakable. Martha hopes, desperately against hope, that somehow all will be right, though she knows not how. She has strong confidence in the efficacy of our Lord's prayers.
The presence of dim views and indistinct apprehensions of Christ in Martha's mind is as evident as her faith. She speaks as if our Lord was a human prophet only, and had no independent