按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
en by Christ； but she confessed her faith in His divinity； and her confidence that He was able to perform whatever it pleased Him to do。
〃And when she had so said； she went her way； and called Mary her sister secretly； saying； The Master is come； and calleth for thee。〃 She delivered her message as quietly as possible； for the priests and rulers were prepared to arrest Jesus when opportunity offered。 The cries of the mourners prevented her words from being heard。
533
On hearing the message； Mary rose hastily； and with an eager look on her face left the room。 Thinking that she had gone to the grave to weep； the mourners followed her。 When she reached the place where Jesus was waiting； she knelt at His feet； and said with quivering lips； 〃Lord； if Thou hadst been here； my brother had not died。〃 The cries of the mourners were painful to her； for she longed for a few quiet words alone with Jesus。 But she knew of the envy and jealousy cherished in the hearts of some present against Christ； and she was restrained from fully expressing her grief。
〃When Jesus therefore saw her weeping； and the Jews also weeping which came with her； He groaned in the spirit； and was troubled。〃 He read the hearts of all assembled。 He saw that with many； what passed as a demonstration of grief was only pretense。 He knew that some in the company； now manifesting hypocritical sorrow； would erelong be planning the death； not only of the mighty miracle worker； but of the one to be raised from the dead。 Christ could have stripped from them their robe of pretended sorrow。 But He restrained His righteous indignation。 The words He could in all truth have spoken； He did not speak； because of the loved one kneeling at His feet in sorrow； who truly believed in Him。
〃Where have ye laid him？〃 He asked； 〃They said unto Him； Lord； come and see。〃 Together they proceeded to the grave。 It was a mournful scene。 Lazarus had been much beloved； and his sisters wept for him with breaking hearts； while those who had been his friends mingled their tears with those of the bereaved sisters。 In view of this human distress； and of the fact that the afflicted friends could mourn over the dead while the Saviour of the world stood by；〃Jesus wept。〃 Though He was the Son of God； yet He had taken human nature upon Him； and He was moved by human sorrow。 His tender； pitying heart is ever awakened to sympathy by suffering。 He weeps with those that weep； and rejoices with those that rejoice。
But it was not only because of His human sympathy with Mary and Martha that Jesus wept。 In His tears there was a sorrow as high above human sorrow as the heavens are higher than the earth。 Christ did not weep for Lazarus； for He was about to call him from the grave。 He wept because many of those now mourning for Lazarus would soon plan the death of Him who was the resurrection and the life。 But how unable were the unbelieving Jews rightly to interpret His tears！ Some； who
534
could see nothing more than the outward circumstances of the scene before Him as a cause for His grief； said softly； 〃Behold how He loved him！〃 Others； seeking to drop the seed of unbelief into the hearts of those present； said derisively； 〃Could not this Man； which opened the eyes of the blind； have caused that even this man should not have died？〃 If it were in Christ's power to save Lazarus； why then did He suffer him to die？
With prophetic eye Christ saw the enmity of the Pharisees and the Sadducees。 He knew that they were premeditating His death。 He knew that some of those now apparently so sympathetic would soon close against themselves the door of hope and the gates of the city of God。 A scene was about to take place； in His humiliation and crucifixion； that would result in the destruction of Jerusalem； and at that time none would make lamentation for the dead。 The retribution that was coming upon Jerusalem was plainly portrayed before Him。 He saw Jerusalem compassed by the Roman legions。 He knew that many now weeping for Lazarus would die in the siege of the city； and in their death there would be no hope。
It was not only because of the scene before Him that Christ wept。 The weight of the grief of ages was upon Him。 He saw the terrible effects of the transgression of God's law。 He saw that in the history of the world； beginning with the death of Abel； the conflict between good and evil had been unceasing。 Looking down the years to come； He saw the suffering and sorrow； tears and death； that were to be the lot of men。 His heart was pierced with the pain of the human family of all ages and in all lands。 The woes of the sinful race were heavy upon His soul； and the fountain of His tears was broken up as He longed to relieve all their distress。
〃Jesus therefore again groaning in Himself cometh to the grave。〃 Lazarus had been laid in a cave in a rock； and a massive stone had been placed before the entrance。 〃Take ye away the stone；〃 Christ said。 Thinking that He only wished to look upon the dead； Martha objected； saying that the body had been buried four days； and corruption had already begun its work。 This statement； made before the raising of Lazarus； left no room for Christ's enemies to say that a deception had been practiced。 In the past the Pharisees had circulated false statements regarding the most wonderful manifestations of the power of God。 When Christ raised to life the daughter of Jairus； He had said； 〃The damsel is not dead； but sleepeth。〃 Mark 5：39。 As she had been sick only
535
a short time； and was raised immediately after death； the Pharisees declared that the child had not been dead； that Christ Himself had said she was only asleep。 They had tried to make it appear that Christ could not cure disease； that there was foul play about His miracles。 But in this case； none could deny that Lazarus was dead。
When the Lord is about to do a work； Satan moves upon someone to object。 〃Take ye away the stone；〃 Christ said。 As far as possible； prepare the way for My work。 But Martha's positive and ambitious nature asserted itself。 She was unwilling that the decomposing body should be brought to view。 The human heart is slow to understand Christ's words； and Martha's faith had not grasped the true meaning of His promise。
Christ reproved Martha； but His words were spoken with the utmost gentleness。 〃Said I not unto thee； that； if thou wouldest believe； thou shouldest see the glory of God？〃 Why should you doubt in regard to My power？ Why reason in opposition to My requirements？ You have My word。 If you will believe； you shall see the glory of God。 Natural impossibilities cannot prevent the work of the Omnipotent One。 Skepticism and unbelief are not humility。 Implicit belief in Christ's word is true humility； true self…surrender。
〃Take ye away the stone。〃 Christ could have commanded the stone to remove； and it would have obeyed His voice。 He could have bidden the angels who were close by His side to do this。 At His bidding； invisible hands would have removed the stone。 But it was to be taken away by human hands。 Thus Christ would show that humanity i