John 11:1-57

John 11

In selecting this word we are struck with the frequency of its occurrence in this chapter. There is:

I. The "If" of wisdom. Jesus answered "If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not." The Lord is laying down a great philosophy of work, he is indicating that there are times and seasons for labour; and that not only is work to be done, but done at the proper time the light for labour, the darkness for rest.

II. The "If" of hope shadowed by fear. "Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well." The disciples seem to have felt that Lazarus was dead, but hearing Jesus say that he slept, the disciples said, "Lord, if he sleep." Do we not sometimes say it is so, when we mean, we wish it were so?

III. The "If" of ignorance. "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." This is a beautiful "If" beyond doubt. It is employed for the purpose of increasing emphasis, deepening and enlarging spiritual certitude. With Jesus in the house, there can be no death. In the house of the saint bereavement itself becomes a sacrament. Death doth but enlarge the horizon, and show the greater width of the universe.

IV. The "If" that calls to faith. "If thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God." God holds nothing back from faith.

V. The "If" of human despair. "If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him." Even the Pharisees must have an "If." There are people who must run down other people, depreciate them, who say "there are spots on the sun" there will be spots on the earth as long as they live.

VI. The "If" of self-righteousness. If I might go beyond this chapter, it would be to quote two other "Ifs" full of meaning. "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." We deceive ourselves we deceive nobody else. We are liars, and the truth is not in us. Men must be faithful with themselves, right down frank with their own spirits.

VII. The "If" of confession. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Parker, Christian Commonwealth,July 21st, 1887.

References: John 11 G. Macdonald, The Miracles,p. 205; T. Birkett Dover, The Ministry of Mercy,p. 189. John 12:1. Church of England Pulpit,vol. viii., p. 189. John 12:1. A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve,p. 300. John 12:1. J. R. Harington, Christian World Pulpit,vol. vii., p. 388; E. de Pressensé, The Mystery of Suffering,p. 211. Joh 12:1-10. Homiletic Magazine,vol. xvii., p. 207. John 12:1. W. Milligan, Expositor,2nd series, vol. iv., p. 275.John 12:2. Spurgeon, Evening by Evening,p. 328; A. P. Peabody, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xii., p. 3.