The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 107

with her In her bitter sorrow. 2. The help of Jesus in her trouble--help bestowed rendily and graciously, help taking a Conn miracnlous and glorious. 3. The encourage- ment of the Saviour in her own spiritual life. His companionship became the means of strengthening her beautiful faith, and intensifying her ardent love,-T. Ver. 28.- The coming and the call of (Jhri,e. The mesBBge of Martha to Mary ie the message of the Church to every child of man. "The Master is here, and calleth thee." I. THE OOMING AND THE PRESENCE OJ' JESUS. Christ came from the Father, and hns come unto men. He came once in his ministry, and he comes ever in his gospel. He is here to welcome and to bless. He is here both in his Word and in his Chur(:h. II. THE 0ALL OF JESUS, 1. The intent of his call. (1) It is a call to salvation from sin, and from its power and consequences. (2) It is a call of sympathy addressed to those in sorrow, as in the case of Lazarus's sisters. (3) It is a call to enter upon his service. To one he says, "Follow me I" to another, "Go, work in my vineyard I" 2. The character of his call. (1) It is sincere. He always means what he says. This is not always so with the invitations men address to their fellow-men. (2) It is authori- tative. The Master calls. 'l'his is not an invitation which may be either obeyed or disregarded, according to men's caprice ; for our Lord's royal call is ever a command. (3) It is effective. '!'here is power in Christ's voice. How many times has that voice awakened men from death to life I To such as have responded to its summons, no other voice has half the charm of this. III. THE BLESSEDNESS OF RECOONIZING CHRIST'S PRESENCE AND RESPONDING TO HIS CJALL, They who act thus are as prisoners who obey the summons to liberty; as the imperilled who answer the call which assures them of deliverance and safety; as guests who accept the invitation to the banquet; as friends who are welcomed to fellowship and to immortal honour.-T. Ver. 32.-Unavailing regrets and =/OtlllUUd/ancies. It is in human nature to lean upon the presence of friends and patrons. In their absence it seems as if we could not help exclaiming, "Ah I if only we had been supported by their nearness, their counte- nance, their encouragement, then all would have been otherwise, all would have been far better with ns ! " So the soldier regrets the absence of his commander; the official the absence of his chief; the child the absence of his parent. And so, sometimes, like Mary of Bethany, the Christian laments the absence of his Lord. l. ONE BAYS, ' 1 111' THOU, LORD, HADST BEEN HERE, I WOULD HAVE BELIEVED ON THEE." To some Jesus seems so far away, in time, in space, that they feel it bard to cherish faith in him. But such should remember that faith is more truly faith when it is tried by the distance of its object. "Blessed," said Christ, "are those who, not having seen, yet believe." Il . .ANOTHER BAYS, 11 IF THOU, LORD, HADST BEEN BEBE, I SHOULD HA VE RESISTED TEMPTATION." In the absence of the mighty Master, how can the servant stand? Yet, reflection assures us that the Spirit of Christ and the Word of Christ are sufficient to enable the tempted to resist the adversary, and to overcome in the trial Peter yielded to temptation, and denied his Lord, in his very presence. The same Peter afterwards boldly confessed his Lord when that Lord was no longer present in the body upon earth. Ill. ANOTHER BAYS, "b THOU, LORD, HADST BEEN HERE, I SHOULD Ill\"E BEEN SPARED THIS SORROW, on, AT THE LEAST, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED UNDER IT." But this is not certain. Trouble is often-to the Christian it should be always-blessing, even though in disguise. If so, wisdom and love may permit it, whether Christ be, as to the body, present or absent. And certainly his Divine supports and consolations may be experienced, even though his form be not seen, his voice not heard. lV. ANOTHER BAYS, "IF THOU, LORD, HADST BEEN HERE, I WOULD HAVE BOLDLY ENCOUNTERED PERSEOUTION AND DARED DEATH." They who through timidity and faithlessness fail in witnessing to their Lord, and then make to themselves this excuse, prove how little knowledge they have of their own hearts. Some have thought, "If, like the dying malefactor, we could have hung by the side of Jesus, with his presence to encourage and his example to cheer us, then we oould have clared to die for him; but 110 THE GJSPEL A.OCORDING TO ST. JOHN, [oa. xr. 1-67,