Unbinding Lazarus
(No. 1776)
A SERMON DELIVERED ON LORD'S-DAY MORNING, APRIL 20, 1884,
BY C. H. SPURGEON,
AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON.
"And when He had thus spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come
forth! And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave
clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said unto
them, Loose him, and let him go." John 11:43,44.
In many things our Lord Jesus stands alone as a worker. No other can
unite His voice with the fiat which says, "Lazarus, come forth!" Yet,
in certain points of gracious operation, the Master associates His
servants with Him, so that when Lazarus has come forth He says to them,
"loose him, and let him go." In the raising of the dead, He is alone,
and therein majestic and Divine–in the loosing of the bound He is
associated with them and still remains majestic–but His more prominent
feature is condescension. How exceedingly kind it is of our Lord Jesus
to permit His disciples to do some little thing in connection with His
great deeds, so that they may be, "workers together with Him." Our
Lord, as frequently as possible, associated His disciples with Himself.
Of course, they could not aid Him in presenting an atoning Sacrifice,
yet it was their honor that they had said, "Let us go, that we may die
with Him," and that in their love they resolved to go with Him to
prison and to death.
Our Lord understood the fickleness of their character, yet He knew that
they were sincere in their desire to be associated with Him in all His
life story, whatever it might be. Therefore, when He, afterwards, rode
into Jerusalem in triumph, He, alone, was saluted with Hosannas–but He
sent two of His disciples to bring the donkey on which He rode and they
cast their garments upon the colt. And they set Jesus on it and, as He
went, they spread their clothes on the way. Thus they contributed to
His lowly pomp and shared in the exultation of the royal day. Further
on, when He would keep the feast, He expressly dwells upon it that He
would keep it with them, for He said, "With desire I have desired to
eat this Passover with you before I suffer."
He sent Peter and John to prepare that Passover. He directed them to
the large furnished upper room and there He bade them make ready.
Anything that they could do, they were allowed to do. Their Lord was
willing to have led them further, still, but through weakness they
stopped short. In the garden He bade them watch with Him on that
dreadful night and He sought sympathy from them–
"Backward and forward, thrice He ran, As if He sought some help from
man." He cried in sorrowful disappointment, "Could you not watch with
Me one hour?" Ah, no! They could go to the brink of the abyss with Him,
but they could not descend into its deeps! He must tread the winepress
alone and of the people there must be none with Him. Yet, as far as
they could go, He disdained not their dear society. He allowed them,
according to their capacity, to drink of His cup and to be baptized
with His baptism. And if their fellowship with Him in His sufferings
went no farther, it was not because He warned them back, but because
they had not the strength to follow.
According to His own judgment they were intimately associated with Him,
for He said to them, "You are they which have continued with Me in My
temptations." Beloved, our Jesus Christ still delights to associate us
with Him as far as our feebleness and folly will permit! In His present
work of bringing sinners to Himself, He counts it a part of His reward
that we should be laborers together with Him. In His working people He
beholds the travail of His soul as well as in the sinners whom they
bring to Him. Thus He has a double reward and is as much glorified in
the love, pity and zeal of His servants as in the harvest which they
reap. As a father smiles to see his little children imitating him and
endeavoring to assist him in his work, so is Jesus pleased to see our
lowly efforts for His honor.
It is His joy to see the eyes which He has opened weeping with Him over
the impenitent and to hear the tongue which He has loosed speaking in
prayer and in the preaching of the Gospel–yes, to see any of the
members which He has restored and healed occupied as members of
righteousness in His service! Jesus is glad to save sinners at all, but
most of all glad to save them by the means of those already saved. Thus
He blesses the prodigal sons and the servants of the household at the
same moment! He gives to the lost, salvation and upon His own called
and chosen ones, He puts the honor of being used for the most grand
purposes under Heaven! It is more honorable to save a soul from death
than to rule an empire! Such honor all the saints may have.
The chief subject of this morning's discourse is our association with
Christ in gracious labor, but we must on the road consider other themes
which lead up to it. First, I would call your attention to a memorable
miracle which was worked by our Lord in the burying place at Bethany.
Secondly, I would set before you a singular spectacle, for in Lazarus
we see a living man wearing the wrappings of the dead. Thirdly, we will
learn something from a timely assistance which the friends around lent
to the risen man after the Lord had said, "Loose him, and let him go."
And then, by way of conclusion, we will note a practical hint which
this whole subject gives to those who are willing to hear what Christ,
their Lord, will speak to them. Oh, that the Spirit of God may make us
quick of understanding to perceive the mind of the Lord–and then
diligent of heart to carry out His will! Come, O blessed Spirit, help
Your servant at this hour!
I. First, then, this chapter records A MEMORABLE MIRACLE. Perhaps that
writer is correct who speaks of the raising of Lazarus as the most
remarkable of all our Lord's mighty works. There is no measuring
miracles, for they are all displays of the Infinite, but, in some
respects, the raising of Lazarus stands at the head of the wonderful
series of miracles with which our Lord astonished and instructed the
people. Yet I am not in error when I assert that it is a type of what
the Lord Jesus is constantly doing at this hour in the realm of mind
and spirit. Did He raise the naturally dead? So does He still raise the
spiritually dead! Did He bring back a body from corruption? So does He
still deliver men from loathsome sins! The life-giving miracle of Grace
is as truly astounding as the quickening miracle of power.
As this was, in some respects, a more remarkable resurrection than the
raising of Jairus' daughter, or of the young man at the gate of Nain,
so there are certain conversions and regenerations which are, to the
observing mind, more astonishing than others. I notice the magnificence
of this miracle in the subject of it because the man had been dead four
days. To give life to one of whom his own sister said, "Lord, by this
time he stinks," was a deed fragrant with Divine Power! Corruption had
set in, but He who is the Resurrection and the Life stayed and reversed
the process! Probably the sisters had perceived the traces of decay
upon the body of their beloved brother before they buried him, for it
is more than likely that they delayed the funeral as long as possible
under an undefined hope that, perhaps, their Lord would appear upon the
scene.
In that warm climate the ravages of decay are extremely rapid and,
before many hours, the loving sisters were compelled to admit, as
Abraham had done before them, that they must bury their dead out of
their sight. It was their full conviction that the terrible devouring
of corruption had commenced. What, then, can be done? When a man has
newly fallen asleep in death and every vein and artery is in its
place–and every separate organ is still perfect–it might seem
possible for the life-flood, again, to flow. It somewhat resembles an
engine which was but lately in full action and, though it is now
motionless, the valves, wheel and bands are still there–only kindle
anew the fire and reapply the motive force–and the machinery will
speedily begin to work. But when corruption comes, every valve is
displaced, every wheel is broken, every band is severed and the very
metal, itself, is eaten away. What can be done then?
Surely it were an easier task to make a new man, altogether, out of the
earth than to take this poor corrupted corpse which has turned to
worms' meat and make it live again! This was the stupendous miracle of
Divine Power which our glorious Lord performed upon His friend,
Lazarus. Now, there are some men who are symbolized by this case–they
are not only devoid of all spiritual life, but corruption has set
in–their character has become abominable, their language is putrid,
their spirit is loathsome. The pure mind desires to have them put out
of sight! They cannot be endured in any decent society. They are so far
gone from original righteousness as to be an offense to all and it does
not seem possible that they should ever be restored to purity, honesty,
or hope.
When the Lord, in infinite compassion, comes to deal with them and
makes them to live, then the most skeptical are obliged to confess,
"This is the finger of God!" What else can it be? Such a profane wretch
become a Believer? Such a blasphemer a man of prayer? Such a proud,
conceited talker, receive the kingdom as a little child? Surely God
Himself
must have worked this marvel! Now is fulfilled the Word of the Lord by
Ezekiel–"And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened
your graves, O My people, and brought you up out of your graves." We
bless our God that He does thus quicken the dry bones whose hope was
lost! However far gone a man may be, he cannot be beyond the reach of
the Lord's right arm of mighty mercy! The Lord can change the vilest of
the vile into the most holy of the holy! Blessed be His name, we have
seen Him do this and, therefore, we have cheering hope for the worst of
men!
The next notable point about this miracle is the manifest human
weariness of its worker. He who had to deal with this dead man was,
Himself, a Man. I do not know of any passage of Scripture wherein the
Manhood of Christ is more frequently manifested than in this narrative.
The Godhead is, of course, eminently conspicuous in the resurrection of
Lazarus, but the Lord seemed as if He designedly, at the same time, set
His Manhood to the front. The Pharisees said, according to the 47th
verse, "What do we? For this Man does many miracles." They are to be
blamed for denying His Godhead, but not for dwelling upon His
Manhood–for every part of the singular scene before us made it
conspicuous! When our Lord had seen Mary's tears, we read that He
groaned in spirit and was troubled. Thus He showed the sorrows and the
sympathies of a man. We cannot forget those memorable words, "Jesus
wept." Who but a man should weep? Weeping is a human specialty. Jesus
never seems to be more completely bone of our bone and flesh of our
flesh than when He weeps!
Next, our Lord made an enquiry–"Where have you laid him?" He veils His
Omniscience–as a Man, He seeks in-formation–where is the body of His
dear departed friend? Even as Mary, in later days said about Him, "Tell
me where you have laid Him," so does the Lord Jesus ask for information
as a man who knows not. As if to show His Manhood even more fully, when
they tell Him where Lazarus is entombed, He goes that way. He needed
not to go! He might have spoken a word where He was and the dead would
have risen! Could He not as easily have worked at a distance as near at
hand? Being Man, "Jesus therefore, again groaning in Himself, comes to
the grave."
When He has reached the spot, He sees a cave whose mouth is closed by a
huge stone. And now He seeks human assistance. He cries, "Take away the
stone." Why surely, He who could raise the dead could have rolled away
the stone with the same word! Yet, as if needing help from those about
Him, the Man, Christ Jesus, reminds us, again, of Mary at His own
sepulcher, saying, "Who shall roll away the stone for us?" That done,
our Lord lifts up His eyes to Heaven and addresses the Father in
mingled prayer and thanksgiving. How like a man is all this! He takes
the suppliant's place! He speaks with God as a man speaks with his
friend, but still as a Man! Did not this condescending revelation of
the Manhood make the miracle all the more remarkable?
The time came when the flame of the Godhead flashed forth from the
unconsumed bush of the Manhood! The voice of Him who wept was heard in
the chambers of death and forth came the soul of Lazarus to live again
in the body! "The weakness of God" proved itself to be stronger than
death and mightier than the grave! It is a parable of our own case as
workers. Sometimes we see the human side of the Gospel and wonder
whether it can do many mighty works. When we tell the story, we fear
that it will appear to the people as a thrice-told tale. We wonder how
it can be that Truth so simple, so homely, so common, should have any
special power about it. Yet it is so. Out of the foolishness of
preaching the wisdom of God shines forth! The Glory of the eternal God
is seen in that Gospel which we preach in much trembling and infirmity.
Let us, therefore, glory in our infirmity, because the power of God
does all the more evidently rest upon us! Let us not despise our day of
small things, nor be dismayed because we are manifestly so feeble. This
work is not for our honor, but for the Glory of God–and any
circumstance which tends to make that Glory more evident is to be
rejoiced in!
Let us consider, for a few moments, the instrumental cause of this
resurrection. Nothing was used by our Lord but His own word of power.
Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" He simply
repeated the dead man's name and added two commanding words. This was a
simple business enough. Dear Friends, a miracle seems all the greater
when the means used are apparently feeble and little adapted to the
working of so great a result. It is so in the salvation of men! It is
marvelous that such poor preaching should convert such great sinners.
Many are turned unto the Lord by the simplest, plain, most unadorned
preaching of the Gospel. They hear little, but that little is from the
lips of Jesus! Many converts find Christ by a single short sentence.
The Divine Life is borne into their hearts upon the wings of a brief
text.
The preacher had no eloquence. He made no attempt at it, but the Holy
Spirit spoke through him with a power which eloquence could not rival!
Thus said the Lord, "You dry bones, live," and they did! I delight to
preach my Master's Gospel in the plainest terms. I would speak still
more simply if I could. I would borrow the language of Daniel
concerning Belshazzar's robe of scarlet and his chain of gold–and I
would say to Rhetoric–"Let your gifts be to yourself
and give your rewards to another." The power to quicken the dead lies
not in the wisdom of words but in the Spirit of the living God! The
voice is Christ's voice and the Word is the Word of Him who is the
Resurrection and the Life and, therefore, men live by it! Let us
rejoice that it is not necessary that you and I should become orators
in order that the Lord Jesus should speak by us–let the Spirit of God
rest upon us and we shall be endowed with power from on high so that
even the spiritually dead shall, through us, hear the voice of the Son
of God–and they that hear shall live!
The result of the Lord's working must not be passed over, for it is a
main element of wonder in this miracle. Lazarus did come forth and that
immediately. The thunder of Christ's voice was attended by the
lightning of His Divine Power and, forthwith, life flashed into Lazarus
and he came forth. Bound as he was, the power which had enabled him to
live, enabled him to shuffle forth from the ledge of rock where he
lay–and there he stood with nothing of death about him but his grave
clothes! He left the close air of the sepulcher and returned to know,
once more, the things which are done under the sun–and that at once.
To me it is one of the great glories of the Gospel that it does not
require weeks and months to quicken men and make new creatures of them!
Salvation can come to them at once!
The man who stepped into this Tabernacle this morning, steeped in
rebellion against his God and, apparently impervious to Divine Truth,
may, nevertheless, go down those steps with his sins forgiven and with
a new spirit imparted to him–in the strength of which he shall begin
to live unto God as he never lived before! Do you speak of a nation
being born, at once, as if it were impossible? It is possible with God!
The Divine Power can send a flash of life all round the world at any
instant to quicken myriads of His chosen! We are dealing, now, with
God–not with men! Man must have time to prepare his machinery and get
it into working order, but it is not so with the Lord. We, on our part,
must seek after a preacher and find, for him, a place where the people
may be gathered. But when the Lord Jesus works, straightway the deed is
done–with or without the preacher–and inside or outside the place of
assembly!
If you and I had to feed 5,000, we would need to grind the corn at the
mill, bake the bread in the oven–and then we would be a long time in
bringing the loaves in baskets! But the Master takes the barley cakes
and breaks–and as He breaks–the food is multiplied! Likewise He
handles the fish and lo, it seems as if a shoal had been in His hands
instead of "a few small fishes." Behold, the vast multitude receives
refreshment from the little stock which has been so abundantly
increased! Trust in God, my Brothers! In all your work of love, trust
in the unseen Power which lay at the back of the manhood of Christ–and
still lies at the back of the simple Gospel which we preach! The
everlasting Word of God may seem to be weak and feeble. It may groan
and weep and seem as if it could do no more. But it can raise the dead
and raise them at once! You can be sure of this.
The effect which this miracle produced upon those who looked on was
very remarkable, for many believed in the Lord Jesus. Besides this, the
miracle of raising Lazarus was so unquestioned and unquestionable a
fact, that it brought the Pharisees to a point–they would now make an
end of Christ. They had huffed and puffed at His former miracles, but
this one had struck such a blow that in their wrath they determined
that He should die! No doubt this miracle was the immediate cause of
the Crucifixion of Jesus–it marked a point of decision when men must
either believe in Christ or become His deadly foes. Oh, Brothers, if
the Lord is with us, we shall see multitudes believing through Jesus!
And if the rage of the enemy becomes, thereby, the more intense, let us
not fear it–there will come a last decisive struggle and perhaps it
shall be brought on by some amazing display of the Divine Power in the
conversion of the chief of sinners! Let us hope so! Let us not be
afraid that Armageddon should be fought, for it will end in victory! We
shall see greater things than these!
II. Secondly, I beg you to observe A SINGULAR SPECTACLE. A notable
miracle was unquestionably worked, but it required a finishing touch.
The man was wholly raised, but not wholly freed! Look, here is a living
man in the garments of death! That napkin and other grave clothes were
altogether congruous with death, but they were much out of place when
Lazarus began to live again! It is a wretched sight to see a living man
wearing his shroud. Yet we have seen, in this Tabernacle, hundreds of
times, people quickened by Divine Grace with their grave clothes still
on them! Such was their condition that unless you observed carefully,
you would think them still dead. And yet within them the lamp of
heavenly Life was burning. Some said, "He is dead, look at his
garments." But the more spiritual cried, "He is not dead, but these
bands must be loosed." It is a singular spectacle–a living man
hampered with the garments of death!
Moreover, he was a moving man bound hand and foot. How he moved, I do
not know. Some of the old writers thought that he glided, as it were,
through the air, and that this was part of the miracle. I think he may
have been so bound that though he could not freely walk, yet he could
shuffle along like a man in a sack. I know that I have seen souls
bound and yet moving–moving intensely in one direction–and yet not
capable of stirring an inch in another. Have you not seen a man so
truly alive that he wept, he mourned, he groaned over sin–but yet he
could not believe in Christ–but seemed bound hand and foot as to
faith? I have seen him determinedly give up his sin and crush a bad
habit under his foot–and yet he could not lay hold on a promise or
receive a hope! Lazarus was free enough in one way, for he came out of
the tomb, but the blinding napkin was about his head and, even so, it
is with many a quickened sinner, for when you try to show him some
cheering Truth of God, he cannot see it.
Moreover, here was a repulsive object, but yet attractive. Mary and
Martha must have been charmed to see their brother, even though wrapped
in grave clothes. He startled all the assembly and yet they were drawn
to him. A man fresh from the sepulcher robed in a winding-sheet is a
sight one would go a long way not to see, but such was Lazarus! But a
man restored from death–it were worthwhile to travel round the world
to look upon–and such was Lazarus! Mary and Martha felt their hearts
dancing within them since their dear brother was alive! Notwithstanding
the repulsiveness of the spectacle, it must have charmed them beyond
anything they had seen except the Lord Himself! So have we come near to
a poor sinner–it was enough to frighten anybody to hear his groans and
to see his weeping–yet he was so dear to every true heart that we
loved to be with him! I have sometimes spoken with broken-hearted
sinners and they have pretty nearly broken my heart. And yet, when they
have gone out of the room, I have wished to see a thousand more like
them! Poor creatures, they fill us with sorrow, and yet flood us with
joy!
Moreover, here was a man strong and yet helpless. He was strong enough
to come forth from his grave and yet he could not take the napkin from
off his head, for his hands were bound and he could not go to his
house, for his feet were swathed. Unless some kind hand unbound him, he
would remain a living mummy! He had sufficient strength to quit the
grave, but he could not loosen his grave clothes. So have we seen
strong men, for the Spirit of God has been in them, and has moved them
mightily! They have been passionately in earnest–even to agony in one
direction–yet the newborn life has been so feeble in other ways that
they seemed to be mere babes in swaddling clothes. They have not been
able to enjoy the liberty of Christ, nor enter into communion with
Christ, nor work for Christ. They have been bound hand and foot so that
work and progress have, alike, been beyond them.
This seems a strange sequel to a miracle. The bands of death loosed,
but not the bands of linen! Motion given, but no movement of hands or
fee! Strength bestowed, but not the power to undress himself! Such
anomalies are common in the world of Divine Grace.
III. This brings us to consider A TIMELY ASSISTANCE which you and I are
called upon to render. O for wisdom to learn our duty and Grace to do
it at once! Let us consider what are these bands which often bind newly
regenerated sinners. Some of them are blindfolded by the napkin about
their head–they are very ignorant–sadly devoid of spiritual
perception and, therefore the eye of faith is darkened. Yet the eye is
there and Christ has opened it. And it is the business of the servant
of God to remove the napkin which bandages it, by teaching the Truth of
God, explaining it, and clearing up difficulties. This is a simple
thing to do, but exceedingly necessary.
Now that they have life, we shall teach them to purpose. Besides that,
they are bound hand and foot, so that they are compelled to
inaction–we must show them how to work for Jesus! Sometimes these
bands are those of sorrow, for they are in an awful terror about the
past–we have to unbind them by showing that the past is blotted out.
They are wrapped about by many a yard of doubt, mistrust, anguish and
remorse. "Loose them, and let them go." Another hindrance is the band
offear. "Oh," says the poor soul, "I am such a sinner that God must
punish me for my sin." Tell him the grand Doctrine of Substitution!
Unwrap this cerement by the assurance that Jesus took our sin and that,
"by His stripes we are healed." It is wonderful what liberty comes by
that precious Truth of God when it is well understood!
The penitent soul fears that Jesus will refuse its prayer–assure it
that He will in nowise cast out any that come to Him. Let fear be taken
from the soul by the promises of Scripture, by our testimony to their
truth and by the Spirit bearing witness to the doctrine which we
endeavor to impart. Souls are very often bound with the grave clothes
of prejudice. They used to think such-and-such before conversion and
they are very apt to carry their dead thoughts into their new life. Go
and tell them that things are not what they seem–that old things have
passed away–and behold, all things have become new! The days of their
ignorance God winked at, but now they must change their minds about
everything and no more judge according to the sight of the eyes and the
hearing of the ears.
Some of them are bound with the grave clothes of evil habit. It is a
noble work to aid a drunk to unwind the accursed bands which prevent
his making the slightest progress towards better things. Let us tear
off every band from ourselves, that we may the more readily help them
to be free! The bonds of evil habits may still remain upon men that
have received the Divine Life until those habits are pointed out to
them and the evil of them is shown. And so they are helped by precept,
prayer and example, to free themselves. Who among us would wish Lazarus
to continue wearing his shroud? Who would wish to see a regenerate man
falling into evil habits? When the Lord quickens men, the main point of
the business is secured–then you and I can come in to loose every bond
which would hamper and hinder the free action of the Divine
Life.
But why are those bandages left? Why did not the miracle which raised
Lazarus, also loosen his grave clothes? I answer because our Lord Jesus
is always economical of miracles. False wonders are plentiful! True
miracles are few and far between. In the Church of Rome, such miracles
as they claim, are usually a lavish waste of power. When St. Swithin
made it rain for 40 days, that his corpse might not be carried into the
Church–it was much ado about very little. When St Denis walked a
thousand miles with his head in his hands, one is apt to ask why he
could not have journeyed quite as well if he had set it on his neck!
And when another saint crossed the sea on a tablecloth, it would appear
to have been an improvement if he had borrowed a boat. Rome can afford
to be free with her counterfeit coins! The Lord Jesus never works a
miracle unless there is an object to be gained which could not be
obtained in any other way. When the enemy said, "Command that these
stones be made bread," our Lord refused, for it was not a fit occasion
for a miracle. Lazarus cannot be raised out of the grave except by a
miracle–but he can be unstripped without a miracle and, therefore,
human hands must do it.
If there is anything in the Kingdom of God which we can do, ourselves,
it is folly to say, "May the Lord do it," for He will do nothing of the
sort! If you can do it, you shall do it–or if you refuse, the neglect
shall be visited upon you. I suppose that those bands were left that
those who came to unwind him would be sure that he was the same man who
died. Some of them may have said, "This is Lazarus, for these are the
grave clothes which we wrapped about him. There is no trickery here.
This is the same man that was laid out and prepared by us for burial."
"I recollect putting in that stitch," cries one. "I remember that stain
in the linen," cries another! From coming so near to Lazarus, they
would be equally well assured that he was really alive! They perceived
his living flesh rising as each ligature was removed–they marked his
breathing and the flush which reddened his cheeks.
For some such cause our Lord permits the quickened sinner to remain in
a measure of bondage, that we may know that the man is the same person
who was really dead in trespasses and sins. He was no sham sinner, for
the traces of his sins are still upon him. You can see by what he says
that his training was none of the best–the relics of the old nature
show what manner of man he used to be. Every now and then the smell of
the sepulcher meets your nostrils–the mold of the grave has stained
his grave clothes–his was true death and no imitation! So, too, we
know that he is alive, for we hear his sighs and cries. And we perceive
that his experience is that of a living child of God. Those desires,
that searching of heart and that longing to be soundly right with
God–we know what these mean. It is a great help to us in discerning
spirits and in being assured of the work of God upon any person, to
come into living contact with those imperfections which it is to be our
privilege to remove under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Moreover, I still think that the main object was that these disciples
might enter into rare fellowship with Christ. They could each say, not
proudly, but still joyfully, "Our Lord raised Lazarus and I was there
and helped to unloose him from his grave clothes." Perhaps Martha could
say in later life, "I took the napkin from my brother's dear face." And
Mary could add, "I helped to unbind a hand." It is most sweet to hope
that we have done anything to cheer, or to teach, or sanctify a soul!
Not unto us can be any praise, but unto us there is much comfort
concerning this thing. Brothers and Sisters, will you not earn a share
in this dear delight? Will you not seek the lost sheep? Will you not
sweep the house for the lost money? Will you not, at the very least,
help to feast the long-lost son?
This, you see, gives you an interest in a saved person. Those who are
very observant tell us that those whom we serve may forget us, but
those who do us a service are fast bound to us! Many kindnesses you may
do for people and they will be altogether ungrateful, but those who
have bestowed the benefit do not forget. When the Lord Jesus sets us to
help others, it is partly that they may love us for what we have
done–but still more that we may love them because we have rendered
them a benefit! Is there any love like the love of a mother to her
child? Is it not the strongest affection on earth? Why does
a mother love her child? Did the little child ever render a pennyworth
of service to the mother? Certainly not! It is the mother that does
everything for the child. So then, the Lord binds us to the new
converts in love by permitting us to help them. Thus is the Church made
all of one piece and woven together from the top throughout by the
workmanship of love. O you who are devoid of love, it is evident that
you do not labor with pure desire to benefit others, for if you did,
you would be filled with affection for them!
Before we leave this point of seasonable assistance, let us ask–why
should we remove these grave clothes? It is enough reply that the Lord
has bid us do so! He commands us to "loose him, and let him go." He
bids us comfort the feebleminded and support the weak. If He commands
it, we need no other reason! I hope, my dear Friends, you will set to
work at once, for the King's business requires haste and we are
traitors if we delay. We should do this because it is very possible
that we helped to bind those grave clothes upon our friend. Some of the
people who were at Bethany that day had assisted in the burial of
Lazarus and, surely, they should loose Lazarus who helped to bind him.
Many a Christian man, before his conversion, has helped to make sinners
worse by his example. And possibly, after his conversion, he may, by
his indifference and lack of zeal, have aided in binding new converts
in the bonds of doubt and sorrow. At any rate, you have said of many a
person, "He will never be saved!" Thus you have wrapped him in grave
clothes–the Lord never told you to do that–you did it of your own
accord and now that He bids you remove those grave clothes, will you
not be quick to do
it?
I remember when somebody lent a hand to take the grave clothes off me
and, therefore, I desire to loose the grave clothes of others. If we
cannot repay what we owe to the precise individual who worked us good,
we can at least repay it by working for the general benefit of seekers.
"There," said a benevolent man, as he gave help to a poor man, "take
that money and when you can pay it back, give it to the next man whom
you meet who is in the same plight as yourself. And tell him he is to
pay it to another destitute person as soon as he can afford it–and so
my money will go traveling on for many a day." That is how our Lord
does it–He sends a Brother to loose my bonds. Then I am helped to set
another free and, he releases a third, and so on to the world's end!
God grant that you and I may not be negligent in this heavenly service!
IV. Lastly, A PRACTICAL HINT. If the Lord Jesus Christ employed the
disciples in relieving Lazarus of his grave clothes, do you not think
He would employ us if we were ready for such work? Yonder is Paul. The
Lord Jesus has struck him down, but the lowly Ananias must visit him
and baptize him, that he may receive his sight. There is Cornelius. He
has been seeking the Lord and the Lord is gracious to him, but he must,
first, hear Peter. There is a wealthy Ethiopian riding in his chariot.
He is reading the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, but he cannot understand
it till Philip comes. Lydia has an opened heart, but only Paul can lead
her to the Lord Jesus. Innumerable are the instances of souls blessed
by human instrumentality!
But I shall conclude by calling attention to one passage upon which I
wish to dwell for a second or two. When the prodigal came home, the
father did not say to one of his servants, "Go and meet him." No, we
read, "when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had
compassion and ran, and fell on his neck and kissed him." He did all
this himself! The father personally forgave him and restored him. But
we read further on, "the father said to his servants, Bring forth the
best robe and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on
his feet: and bring here the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat,
and be merry." The loving father might have done all this himself,
might he not? Oh yes, but then he desired that all the servants in the
house should be of one accord with him in the joyful reception of his
son.
The great Lord could do everything for a sinner, Himself, but He does
not do so because He wishes all of us to be in fellowship with him!
Come, fellow servants, bring forth the best robe! I am never happier
then when I preach the righteousness of Christ and try to put it upon
the sinner. "What?" cries one! "You cannot put it on!" So the parable
says– "Bring forth the best robe and put it on him."
I not only bring it out and show it, but by the Holy Spirit's help, I
try to put it on the sinner! I hold it up before him, just as you hold
up a friend's great-coat to help him to put it on. You have to guide
the poor sinner's hand into the sleeve and lift it up upon his
shoulders or he might never get it on. You are to teach him, comfort
him, cheer him and, in fact, help him to be dressed like one of the
family! Then the ring, can we not bring it forth? Surely the father
should have put the ring upon his son's hand. No, he bids his servants
do that. He cries to them, "Put a ring on his hand"–introduce him into
fellowship, gladden him with the communion of saints! You and I must
conduct the new convert into the joys of
Christian society and let him know what it is to be married to Christ
and joined to His people! We must put honor upon these reclaimed ones
and decorate those who once were degraded.
Nor must we fail to put shoes on his feet! He has a long journey to
go–he is to be a pilgrim and we must help to shoe him with the
preparation of the Gospel of Peace. His feet are new in the Lord's
ways–we must show him how to run on the Master's errands. As for the
fatted calf, it is ours to feed the restored ones. And as for the music
and the dancing, it is ours to make the hearts of penitents glad by
rejoicing over them. There is plenty to be done! O my Brothers and
Sisters, try and do some of it this morning! Certain among us will be
looking after an enquirer as soon as the service is over–and they will
try to put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. I wish that more
of you did this, but if you cannot do so within these Tabernacle walls,
do it when you get home!
Commence a holy ministry for the converted who are not yet brought into
liberty. There are children of God who have not yet a shoe on their
feet–there are plenty of shoes in the house, but no servant has put
them on! When I come to look, I see some Brethren who have not the ring
on their hand. Oh, that I might have the privilege of putting it on! I
charge you, Brothers and Sisters, by the blood that bought you, and by
the love that holds you, and by the supreme bounty which supplies your
need–go forth and do what your Master graciously permits and commands
you to do– loose Lazarus! Bring forth the best robe and put it on him!
Put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet! And let us all eat and be
merry with our Father! Amen.