John 11:39

John 11:39

We have here the Grave, the Stone, the Command

I. In the grave we are to see heathendom. Under any circumstances it is hard, and ought to be hard, to change the religion, whether of an individual, or of a race. It is hard, because it is so noble. I suppose if anything under the sun should be dear to an honest man, it is his religion. It colours his life, shapes his principles, points his motives, consecrates his actions. It is inherited from his parents; it twines round the roots of his childhood; it smiles on his bridal; it softens the shadows of his grave. And when the religion you propose to substitute is a religion with a Cross in it, with no material prosperity for its reward, and a world to come as its distant recompense, is it wonderful that one who asks what the exchange will bring to him, and is told "the reproach of Christ," is slow in giving his reply?

II. But Jesus said, "Take ye away the stone." It may be roughly observed that there are three stages in mission work, with usually a logical order of their own. Though, of course, when it pleases Him, God confounds this order, by cutting across it, or anticipating it, thereby manifesting His sovereignty and doing all the work Himself. (1) There is the work of preparation by civilisation and education, in which the stone is rolled away for light and air to come in. (2) There is the work of evangelisation by which the Word of God is spoken straight into the spirit, "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead." (3) There is the final work of watering and watching and maturing the young life just born by pastoral care and superior tendence. "Loose him, and let him go." We believe in the redeeming purpose of God, and that it is His will presently to gather together in one all things in Christ; and though He seems to be waiting, He knows why He is waiting; be sure, that when all things are made plain at break of day, there will be no flaw in His perfect righteousness, no speck or stain on the mercy of His heart.

Bishop Thorold, Good Words,1880, p. 458.

References: John 11:39. Christian World Pulpit,vol. x., p. 281; Three Hundred Outlines on the New Testament,p. 87. John 11:39. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xviii., No. 105 2 John 1:11 :40. F. Stephens, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxi., p. 374; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. iii., p. 281; Homiletic Quarterly,vol. ii., p. 537. John 11:41; John 11:42. A. Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer,p. 125; Homiletic Quarterly,vol. vii., p. 141. Joh 11:43. Church of England Pulpit,vol. xix., p. 193. Joh 11:43-44. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxx., No. 1776; Homilist,new series, vol. iv., p. 636; H. W. Beecher, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxviii., p. 307. John 11:46. Homiletic Magazine,vol. xvii., p. 106.