IJ. THEIR MESSAGE TO JEsus. "Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick." 1. It was a message full qf delioocy; f« it did not urge him to come. The sisterR knew that, even from Porm11, it was possible for Jesus to put forth his power of healing; whi'e they could not but know of the perils of nn immediate return to J u,lma. 2. It emphasized the tender affection with which Jesus regarded Lazarus, and which made it right that he should ho informed at once of his friend's danger. III. Oun Lono's REMARK UPON THE MESSAGE 011' BORBow. "This sickness is not unto death, but it is for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." 1. Our Lord did not signify that Lazarus would not die, but that death would not be the ultimate result of this sickness. 2. The sickness harl a double asped. (1) It was to be borne by Lazarus "for the glory of God." (2) With an ultimate design of glorifying his Son. (a) Our Lord reiterates the oneness of the we,rk of the Father and the Son. (b) The raising of Lazarus would bring to a head that hostility of the Jews which would involve his death, and, through death, his glorification. IV. THE MYSTERIOUS DELAY OF JESUS IN PEREA. "When then he had heard that he was sick, he remained yet two days in the place where he was." 1. This delay, in so urgent a crisis, is all the more mysterious, becaUM "Je8'.Ul loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus." Yet Lazarus had already died when the messenger arrived from Bethany, Our Lord's instant departure could not, therefore, have averted death. 2. His delay might be caused (1) by the necessities of his work at Perrea; (2) but, more probably, by the necessity of making the miracle more striking and the result more fruitful. 'fhe delay of two days could make no difference to the surviving sisters in respect of their brother's death. 3. His departure for Ju<ka was the proof at once of his affectio-n, his courage, and his knowledge. "Then after that he saith to his disciples, Let us go again into Judrea." The word recalls at once the region of hostility and unbelief from which he had just escaped. V. THE REMONSTRANOE OF THE DISCIPLBS AT HIS BESOLUTIO!'I'. "Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?" 1. They think of the danger to him, and are not regardless of the danger to themselves. (Ver. 16.) 2. Men often allow their fears to stand in the way if duty. VI. OUR LoBD's ANSWER TO THEm BEMONSTRANCB. 1. Every man haa hia twelve working hours of life, "Are there not twelve hours in the day?" The work must be done in tbis time, or not at all. Each hour ought to be brimming over with work. 2. While the daylight of life lasts, the worker will not stumble. "If a.ny man walk in the day, he etumbleth not, because he eeeth the light of this world." The malice of men or devils cannot destroy him till his work is done. 3. Every man has his night coming when work must end. "But if a man walk in the night, he stum bleth, because there is no light in him." The work, therefore, must be done in the day of work. VII. THE DISCIPLES' MISUNDERSTANDING OF OUR LORD'S WORDS. .. He saith, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth, but I go to awake him. Then they said unto him, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well." 1. Our Lord knew LazarU8 was dead. 'l'his proved his omniscience. 2. Our friends must die, however dear to ns or essential to our comfort. 3. Death is a sleep; for it implies an awakening out of sleep. 4. Christ has trans- formed death into a new phase of life. The familiar description ill the catacombs is "Dormit "-" He sleeps." 5. The observation of the disciples implied that the sleep of Lazarus rendered it unnecessary for him to ezpose himself to peril ; for their friend was already on the way to recovery. VIII. OUR LORD'S FRANK STATEMENT OF THE TRUTH AND THE LOVING RESOLUTION OF THE DIBOIPLES. "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe." 1. Jesus is glad, not for the death of Lazarus, but/or its future issues. 2. He implies that if he had been at Bethany, Lazarus would not have died. He has the assured consciousness of power over death. 3. The cause of his gladness. It was on account of the disciples' faith. (1) They were believers already. (2) But he contemplated the increase of their faith as a necessity ill view of their coming trials. The disciples themselves once asked, with one voice, "Lord, increase our faith" (Luke xvii. 5). 4. The loving resolve of Thomas. "Then said Thomas, who, is called Didymus, unto his fellow-disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him." (1) Thomas's name is mostly coupled with Matthew, whose twin-brother be 11ossibly was. (2) He regards the journey with the gloomiest apprehensions. lit JOZ THE GOSPEL ACOORDING TO ST. JOHN. [on. xr. 1-67,
judgeA rightly ~bat the deal~ of Jes~& will be the end of it.. (3) Yet his love to the Lord ner,·es him to &ha.re m the nsks of the Judean journey. He will follow bia Mashir even unto death.