Part 71

Glad tidings these of great joy. This should comfort us concerning our deceased, pious relations, that ere long they shall rise again, and soul and body be for ever with the LORD. Howbeit JESUS spake here of an immediate resurrection, though he did not speak plainly: For CHRIST loves to exercise the faith and patience of his disciples, and frequently leaves them to find out his meaning by degrees. It is best for us in our present state, that it should be so. In heaven it will be otherwise. “Thy brother, (says CHRIST to _Martha_) shall rise again.” She might immediately have replied, When, LORD? But she fetches a circuit as it were, and labours to find out the mind of JESUS by degrees. “I know, says she, that he shall rise again at the resurrection of the last day.” These words seem to imply, that she had some distant thought of our LORD’s design to raise her brother now, and that she spoke thus only to draw our Saviour to speak, and tell her plainly whether he meant to do so or not. Those who are acquainted with JESUS, are taught an holy art by the blessed Spirit, in dealing with their blessed master. “I know, says she, he shall rise again at the resurrection of the last day,” (a notable proof this, by the way, that the pious _Jews_ believed the resurrection of the body). It is just the same as though she had said, LORD, dost thou mean that my brother shall rise again before that time? Our Saviour wisely keeps off from giving her a direct answer, but chuses rather to preach to her heart. “JESUS said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” On this _Martha_’s faith, if in exercise, might take hold. O glorious words! How encouraging to you poor sinners lying in your blood! Though you are dead in trespasses and sins, and might justly be condemned to die the second death, yet if you believe on the LORD JESUS you shall live. He adds, “And whosoever believeth in me shall never die;” never die as to their souls, never die eternally, and consequently never finally fall away from GOD. This is an encouraging soul-comforting declaration for you, O believers, who are thus kept, as it were, in a garrison, by the mighty power of GOD, through faith, unto salvation! “Believest thou this?” says CHRIST to _Martha_, verse 26. What avail all the many great and precious promises of the gospel, unless they are applied and brought home in particular to each of our souls? The word does not profit unless it is mixed with faith. We therefore do well, when we are reading CHRIST’s words, to put this question to ourselves; O my soul, believest thou this? And well would it be for us, if upon putting this question to ourselves, we could with the same holy confidence, and in the same delightful frame, say with _Martha_, verse 27. “Yea, LORD: I believe that thou art the CHRIST, the Son of GOD, which should come into the world.” This I think is a direct confession of our LORD’s divinity. How full was her heart when she spoke these words! I am persuaded it burnt within her. What a divine warmth had she contracted by talking with JESUS! How does she long that her sister might share in her holy joy! For when she had so said, verse 28. “she went away;” full of love, no doubt, and called _Mary_ her sister, as all will labour to call their near relations, who have felt the LORD JESUS to be the resurrection and the life themselves. But _Martha_ took care, in the midst of her zeal (as we should always do) to behave with prudence; and therefore “she called her sister secretly, saying, The master is come, and calleth for thee.” The master is come. She need say no more; _Mary_ knew very well whom she meant. For holy souls easily understand one another when talking of their master JESUS. The divine _Herbert_ used to delight (when speaking of JESUS) to say, “My Master;” perhaps he learned it of _Martha_, who said here, “The Master is come, and calleth for thee.” But what is this thou sayest, _Martha_? The Master is come, and calleth for thee? Surely a woman of thy exalted piety will not tell a deliberate lie, and in order to induce thy sister to come to JESUS, acquaint her that JESUS called her, when indeed he did not. Thou needest not put thyself to such an expence, or do so much evil, that good may come of it. Only mention JESUS to _Mary_, and let her know for a certainty that the Master is indeed come, and I am persuaded she will sit no longer. _Martha_ no doubt knew, and therefore I cannot judge her as some do, as though in her haste she said what was not true. For JESUS might bid her to call her sister, though it be not directly mentioned in this chapter. And it is very probable, that our LORD did enquire after _Mary_, because she used to take such great delight in sitting at his feet, and hearing the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth. “The Master is come (saith _Martha_ to her sister) and calleth for thee.” And so say I to all poor sinners. JESUS, your LORD and Master, your Prince and Saviour, is come, come unto this lower world, and is come this day in his word, and by me, who am less than the least of all his servants, and calleth for you. O that he may also come in the demonstration of the Spirit, and by his mighty power bow your stubborn hearts and wills to obey the call, as holy _Mary_ did.