Lessons from Bethany ⁽¹⁾
J C Ryle

John 11 describes a miracle which is not recorded in the other Gospels - the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Nowhere shall we find such convincing proofs of our Lord's divine power. As God, He makes the grave itself yield up its tenants. Nowhere shall we find such striking illustrations of our Lord's ability to sympathize with His people. As man, He can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Such a miracle well suited the end of such a ministry. It was right that the victory of Bethany should closely precede the crucifixion at Calvary.

These verses teach us that true Christians may be sick and ill as well as others. We read that Lazarus of Bethany was one whom Jesus loved and a brother of two well-known holy women. Yet Lazarus was sick, even unto death! The Lord Jesus, who had power over all diseases, could no doubt have prevented this illness, if He had thought fit. But He did not do so. He allowed Lazarus to be sick and in pain and weary, and to languish and suffer, like any other man.

The lesson is one which ought to be deeply graven in our memories. Living in a world full of disease and death, we are sure to need it some day. In the very nature of things, sickness can never be anything but trying to flesh and blood. Our bodies and souls are strangely linked together, and that which vexes and weakens the body can hardly fail to vex the mind and soul. But sickness, we must always remember, is no sign that God is displeased with us; nay more, it is generally sent for the good of our souls. It tends to draw our affections away from this world and to direct them to things above. It sends us to our Bibles and teaches us to pray better. It helps to prove our faith and patience, and shows us the real value of our hope in Christ. It reminds us, before it is too late, that we are not to live always, and it tunes and trains our hearts for our great change Then let us be patient and cheerful when we are laid aside by illness. Let us believe that the Lord Jesus loves us when we are sick no less than when we are well.

These verses teach us, secondly, that Jesus Christ is the Christian's best Friend in the time of need. We read that, when Lazarus was sick, his sisters at once sent to Jesus and laid the matter before Him. Beautiful, touching and simple was the message they sent. They did not ask Him to come at once, or to work a miracle and command the disease to depart. They only said, "Lord, he whom Thou lovest is sick", and left the matter there in the full belief that He would do what was best. Here was the true faith and humility of saints! Here was gracious submission of will!

The servants of Christ, in every age and climate will do well to follow this excellent example. No doubt, when those whom we love are sick, we are diligently to use every reasonable means for their recovery. We must spare no pains to obtain the best medical advice. We must assist nature in every possible manner to fight against its enemy. But, in all our doing, we must never forget that the best and ablest and wisest Helper is in heaven, at God's right hand. Like afflicted Job, our first action must be to fall on our knees and worship. Like Hezekiah, we must spread our matters before the Lord. Like the holy sisters at Bethany, we must send up a prayer to Christ. Let us not forget, in the hurry and excitement of our feelings, that none can help like Him and that He is merciful, loving and gracious.

These verses teach us, thirdly, that Christ loves all who are true Christians. We read that "Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus". The characters of these three good people seem to have been somewhat different. Of Martha we are told in a certain place that she was "careful and troubled about many things", while Mary "sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word". Of Lazarus we are told nothing distinctive at all. Yet all these were loved by the Lord Jesus. They all belonged to His family and He loved them all. We must carefully bear this in mind in forming our estimate of Christians. We must never forget that there are varieties in character and that the grace of God does not cast all believers into one and the same mould.

Admitting fully that the foundations of Christian character are always the same and that all God's children repent, believe, are holy, prayerful and Scripture-loving, we must make allowances for wide varieties in their temperaments and habits of mind. We must not undervalue others because they are not exactly like ourselves. The flowers in a garden may differ widely, and yet the gardener takes an interest in them all. The children of a family may be curiously unlike one another and yet the parents care for all. It is even so with the Church of Christ. There are degrees of grace and varieties of grace; but the least, the weakest, the feeblest disciples are all loved by the Lord Jesus. Then let no believer's heart fail because of his infirmities and, above all, let no believer dare to despise and undervalue a brother.

These verses teach us, lastly, that Christ knows best at what time to do anything for His people. We read that "when He had heard that Lazarus was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where He was". In fact, He purposely delayed His journey, and did not come to Bethany till Lazarus had been four days in the grave. No doubt He knew well what was going on: but He never moved till the time came which He saw was best. For the sake of the Church and the world, for the good of friends and enemies, He kept away.

The children of God must constantly apply their minds to learn the great lesson now before us. Nothing so helps us to bear patiently the trials of life as an abiding conviction of the perfect wisdom by which everything around us is managed. Let us try to believe, not only that all that happens to us is well done, but that it is done in the best manner, by the right instrument and at the right time. We are all naturally impatient in the day of trial. Like Moses, when beloved ones are sick, we are apt to say, "Heal her now, Lord, we beseech Thee" (Num 12:13). We forget that Christ is too wise a Physician to make any mistakes. It is the duty of faith to say, "My times are in Thy hand. Do with me as Thou wilt, how Thou wilt, what Thou wilt and when Thou wilt. Not my will, but Thine be done." The highest degree of faith is to be able to wait, sit still, and not complain.

Let us turn from the passage with a settled determination to trust Christ entirely with all the concerns of this world, both public and private. Let us believe that He by whom all things were made at first is He who is managing all with perfect wisdom. The affairs of kingdoms, families and private individuals, are all alike overruled by Him. He chooses all the portions of His people. When we are sick, it is because He knows it to be for our good; when He delays coming to help us, it is for some wise reason. The hand that was nailed to the cross is too wise and loving to smite without a needs-be, or to keep us waiting for relief without a cause.

Endnotes:
1. Taken, with slight editing, from Ryle's comments on John 11:1-6 in his Expository Thoughts on John, vol 2.