God's Time Is Best by J. S. WASHBURN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 9, 1907

God's Time Is Best

By J. S. WASHBURN

J. S. WASHBURN

One of the most beautiful, homelike pictures in the life of Jesus is that of the regard that he had for Mary, Martha, and Lazarus their brother, and his visits to their home in Bethany. Away from the hatred, the scorning, the malicious efforts of the Pharisees to entrap him, Jesus found rest and peace in this pleasant home.

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, apparently, were orphans, and the sisters naturally clung to their brother as the strength and support of the home. But Lazarus was sick, and Jesus was far away. Immediately word was sent to Jesus, “Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.” Did Jesus immediately hasten to Bethany to heal Lazarus?—No. When he, many miles from Bethany, heard that Lazarus was sick, “he abode two days still in the same place where he was.” John 11:6. It was evident that he might have gone sooner.

Finally to his disciples, he said, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” Then, in answer to their surprised question, he said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.”

When Jesus came to Bethany, the funeral was over; Lazarus had lain in the grave four days already. With seeming reproach, Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Then shortly after, Mary came quickly with the same words, as she fell down in tears at his feet: “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”

The shortest, most pathetic verse in the divine Word is this, “Jesus wept.” The wise men among the Jews queried, “Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?” They, too, reproached him for failing to do that which many believed he was able to do, that is, to heal the sick.

Why does Jesus lead to the tomb? After apparently failing to show his interest in Lazarus while living, why does he bring them to the narrow house wherein his dead friend lay?

The gentle, yet mighty Commander orders, “Take ye away the stone.”

Martha, matter-of-fact, faithful Martha, with renewed reproach, protests, and the thought seems to be, You could have healed him, but you did not. Now he has been dead four days, and by this time his loved form is corrupt. Roll not away the stone that hides all that is left of him whom we loved. Let not the last memory to us and to these lookers-on, the last thought, be unpleasant, disagreeable, terrible.

Jesus commands; the stone is removed. The body lies cold and still on the stone floor of the sepulcher. After a brief and simple appeal to his Father, Jesus cries with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The white, still form trembles, quivers, moves, rises, and comes forth. With startled eyes they look upon him. Jesus tells them to remove the grave clothes, to “loose him; let him go.” New life thrills through every vein. Lazarus is again in perfect health; he has returned from the narrow house, from the tomb, to his home, to his loved sisters, to his blessed, holy, mighty Friend. Who shall not say that God's time was best?

Dear brother, dear sister, whatever your sorrow, your trouble, remember that God's way, God's time, is infinitely better than ours; it is right. Some day we shall understand.

Nashville, Tenn.