The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 116

her faith stretched forth ; and here J esns meets her. "I am the Resurrection." But, aa ueua.l, he elope not on the surface with the effect, but Icade faith down to tho mmee, "And the Life." 'fhie ie complete, and faith is in the light. (2) All being all this hilm- 1e7/, "I am," etc. Not "I can raise the dead," but "I am," etc. Not "I can give life by prayer to God," but "I 8111 the Life." He ie this in himself, in virtue of the Divinay of hie l'erson nnd commission. He is the Resurrection and the Life, physically nnd spiritua.lly. (3) He is all this now. "I am," etc. Not "I eh all he at some future period," but "I am now, irreBpective of time." Thus, to Martha'e faith, what was distant is noar, what was future is present, and the resurrection and the life are embodied before her in the person of her Lord. The resurrection is not entirely future, but in Christ it is potentially now, 3. By a revelation of ehe wonderful ejfeda of fuith in him. (1) With regard to the believing dead. "He that bdievetb on me, though he died," eto, They continue to live in spite of the dissolution of the body, and shall live in union with it age.in. (2) With regard to beUe11ing swrui11ors. "Who- soever liveth," etc. Tho death of believers is not really death; to faith death is abolished. It is only o. pleasant change, a sweet sleep, and a natural departure from the land of the dying to the land of the living. The life of faith is uninterrupted. " Shall never die." It is r.ot in the least interrupted by the dissolution of the body, but suddenly advanced. What we call death is really a resurrection. with Christ into a sublimeJ 11~te of being, a. birth to a higher life and a more perfect manhood. (3) Faith in Christ. produce th03e effects with regard to all believer& without distinction. "Whosoever," etc. 4. Her faith i§c strengtlwn,_ed,. gradoo/,ly. Jes.us feeds faith as a mother feeds her babe, little by little; and he teaches faith to move as a mother teaches her child to walk, or as an eagle teaches her young to fly. She takes them on her back and soars aloft and throws them down on the kiendly air, and repeats the process till they are able to reach the highest altitndes themselves. Thus Christ taught Martha's faith gradually and helpfully. "This sickness is not unto death." His absence, the death, the disappointment and donbt; but he comes at last, and in his welcome presence and revealing and hopeful words faith obtains a resting-place. "'.l.'hy brother shall rise again." Thus gradually, by self~e1ercise and Divine support, faith is taught to soar aloft till at last she reached the grand heights of the resurrection and the life. III. liEn FAITH TRIUMPHANT. "Yea, Lord," etc. 1. Her faith accepts him fully. (1) As the Ohrist. (2) As the Son of God, (3) As the One e:z;pected to come into the world. Who would fill all the world's e1pectations and wants, and carry out his Divine purposes. Her faith accepts him as being all he had just revealed, and much more. (4) As the Lord of her faith and whole spiritu,al being, who should rule over her, and to whom she would submit. 2. Although her understanding could not fully grasp his revelaUon, her faith could fully accept him. We are not to think that she understood. all that Jesus had just told her; but, failing this, her faith embraced his Person and misRion with implicit trust and hope. 3, In accepting him she ensured all at once. What he had just said, after all, contained only a few crumbs from his rich table, a few drops from the inexhaustible ocean of his power and love, Instead of remaining with these, her faith embraced him altogether, and ensured at once his Divine &ud infinite fulness, 4. She makes a hearty and full confession of her faith. 'l'he con- fession is fuller than the request. "Believest thou this?" "Yea, Lord," and much more: "I believe that thou," etc. To believe in Christ is much more than to believe a few truths of his revelation. Probably Martha's head had become dizzy in looking down from the heights of the resurrection and the life; but faith came to the rescue,. and threw her o.rms around him who is both, and there found a safo repose and a glorious triumph. LESBONB, 1. In some directions too much may be erepected of Ohrist. "If thou hadst been here," eto. There is a slight complaint in these words, as if Christ were bound to be there. But he was unde.r no obligation to keep even La.zarllll alive. Too much often is expected of his personal presence, time, attention, and service. He had other places to visit, other things to do, other wants to supply, and purposes of his owu to acoomplish. Some are ignomnt and selfish enough to monopolize Christ aud his ministers to serve their own personal and private ends. 2. Jn the r·iyht direction11 Coo little ia ~cted of him, The appetite is often keener for the physical tha.n for the  12() 'l'lIE GOSPEL AOOORtllNG TO S'r. JOltN. ten. xr. 1-67. 11pirituR I, for the pereonel the.n for the genore.1, for the tempore.1 the.n for tho eternal. Many e.re more anxious for bee.Ith of borly the.n for health of eoul, for e. phyeicl\l rei;urrection thRn for e. spiritual one. They prefer e. dead gre.vey,ud to a Ji vlng MnctuRry, Rnd 11ome interesting tRlk from the minister during the week to a good ~ermon on the se.bbe.th. Too little is expected of Jesus in the right direction. He will not flllti11fy onr whims and low e.ppetit:cs, but will ee.ve our sonls to the uttermost. 3. 111 ihe n'ght direction too m1tch cannot be expecf,ed of him. The more the better. The more by faith we expect, the more he will give and we receive. "Accordincr to thy fe.ith be it unto thee." Expect 118 mncb ae we like, bis grace will exceed"'our hig-he~t. expectations, and will surprise us with more. Martha'e expectations were for a future resurl't'ction at the last de.y, but Jesus surprised her with e. present one in himself; and thnt very day became to her a day of resurrection. 4. The absolute neces- sity a.nd import,ance of faith in Christ. It is necessary to the gracious operations of Je1ms and to our participation of his grece. Without it even he could not do much, and we can do or enjoy nothing. But with it, in relation to our highest interest, Christ is omnipotent, and we through him are eternally happy and blessed. "He that bclieveth in me, though he were dead," eto.-B. T. Vers. 28-32.-Marlha's and Mary'afaith. Notice-- I. CBRTilN FEATURES OF MARTBA'S FAITH. 1. Tm, B(Jtis/action of Mr faith. "When she had so said," etc. Her faith was unspeakably satisfied with Jesus, with his presence, with his gracious words, and his wonderful revelations. She needed no further explanations. Her mind and heart were full to the brim. She was satisfied with her own confession, that she had been so far enabled to unbosom her heart and unburden her mind, and confess her full faith in her Lord. She could remain no longer, but, spiritually buoyant, joyous and elevated above her grief, she went her way. 2. Tiu natural affinity of her faith. She came to Mary. She went not to some of her neighbours, nor even to the Jews, who were in her house, but to her own sister. Christianit)• does not destroy nor check the natural instincts of relationship; but, on the contrary, revives, sanctifies, and uses them for the highest purposes-to bring the soul to Jesus and Jesus to the soul, and form a spiritual alliance between them. Andrew sought his brother Simon. 3. The communicativeness of her faith. No sooner was she in the house than she called her sister. Her soul was all ablaze. Her faith was full and running over. Her heart was almost bursting to communicate its joy and satisfaction, and especially with a desire that her sister share the same, and go to the fountain to drink of its living waters. Genuine faith in Christ is ever communica- tive, benevolent, and sympathetic. It partakes of the genius and disposition of its object. Having found Christ for the first time, or fo~nd him more fully, or enjoyed a clea.re!' vision of him, there is an intense desire to make it known to others, arising from the special request of the Master, and often from its own character and inspiration. We have a happy illu.stration of this in the woman of Samaria. 4. The discretion of her faith. Her faith met a difficnlty at the threshold. '!'here were in the house indifferent and unfriendly ears to Jesus, and it would be neither safe nor wise to make public her mission. But where there is a will there is a way. She called her sister on one side end told her secretly. Her message was secret and persona.I, and it was wise that it shonld be so conveyed. Faith sbo11.ld be discreet as well as bold and faithful, and encounter difliculaies with discretion as well as with valour. Much harm may be done in the transmission of the message. What is intended to be private is often made public, and what is public is made private. Faith has its secret mission as well as its public one. In this case it should be whispered. 5. The 'TMssage of her faith "The Master is come," etc. It is implied: (1) That the famuy of Bethany had Jesus aa their Master. He was their Master absolutely, and only one. He sat on the throne of their heart. He occupied that position, not on account of any worldly influence, wealth, or bearing, for he was poor. He occupied that position ae the Obrist, the Son of God, and the Saviour. 'l'he best of masters, not by usurpation, but by the choice of faith a.lone. (2) The Maa~s arrival. "The Master is come." He was their Master wherever he W&E,. It was joyous news that he had come at last. And his long delay made his arrival all the sweeter. Whatever compl.a.int there was, it wu on the 1urface. ID the depth of the heart there wu the most hearty welcome and  <lit. xt. 1- 67.J Tm~ GOSI 'EL ACCORDING TO ST..JOHN. 12l