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We were stinking in the grave of sin!
(Charles Spurgeon)
"Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with
Him." John 12:2
Lazarus is to be envied. It was well to be Martha and serve Jesus--but better to be Lazarus and
commune with Jesus. There are times for each purpose, and each is lovely in its
season--but none of the trees of the garden yield such clusters--as the vine of
communion with Jesus. To sit with Jesus, to hear His words, to mark His acts,
and receive His smiles--was such a favor as must have made Lazarus as happy as the
angels!
When it has been our happy lot to feast with our Beloved in
His banqueting-hall--we would not have given half a sigh for all the kingdoms
of the world, if so much breath could have bought them!
Lazarus is to be imitated. It would have been a strange thing
if he had not been at the table where Jesus was, for he had been dead--and Jesus
had raised him. For the risen one to be absent when the Lord who gave him life
was at his house, would have been ungrateful indeed.
We too were once dead! Yes, and like Lazarus--we were
stinking in the grave of sin! Jesus raised us--and we live! Can we be content
to live at a distance from Him? Do we omit to remember Him at His table, where
He deigns to feast with His brethren? Oh, this is cruel! It behooves us to
repent, and do as He has bidden us, for His least wish should be law to us.
To have lived without constant fellowship with one of whom
the Jews said, "Behold how He loved him," would have been disgraceful
to Lazarus! Is it excusable in us--whom Jesus has loved with an everlasting
love! To have been cold to Him who wept over his lifeless corpse, would have
argued great brutishness in Lazarus. What does it argue in us--over whom the
Savior has not only wept--but bled!
Come, brethren, who read this portion--let us return unto
our heavenly Bridegroom, and ask for His Spirit--that we may be on terms of closer
intimacy with Him, and henceforth sit at the table with Him!
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