wild, passionate pleading that Jesus would
hasten to come. Its few words told of the quietness and confidence of
trusting hearts. We get a lesson concerning the way we should pray
when we are in distress. "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need
of," and there is no need for piteous clamor. Far better is the prayer
of faith, which lays the burden upon the divine heart, and leaves it
there without anxiety. It is enough, when a beloved one is lying low,
to say, "Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick."

We are surprised, as we read the narrative, that Jesus did not respond
immediately to this message from his friends. But he waited two days
before he set out for Bethany. We cannot tell why he did this, but
there is something very comforting in the words that tell us of the
delay. "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When,
therefore, he heard that Lazarus was sick, he abode at that time two
days in the place where he was." In some way the delay was because of
his love for all the household. Perhaps the meaning is that through
the dying of Lazarus blessing would come to them all.

At length he reached Bethany. Lazarus had been dead four days. The
family had many friends; and their house was filled with those who had
come, after the custom of the times, to console them. Jesus lingered
at some distance from the house, perhaps not caring to enter among
those who in the conventional way were mourning with the family. He
wished to meet the sorrowing sisters in a quiet place alone. So he
tarried outside the village, probably sending a message to Martha,
telling her that he was coming. Soon Martha met him.

We may think of the eagerness of her heart to get into his presence
when she heard that he was near. What a relief it must have been to
her, after the noisy grief that filled her home, to get into the quiet,
peaceful presence of Jesus! He was not disturbed. His face was full
of sympathy, and it was easy to see there the tokens of deep and very
real grief, but his peace was not broken. He was calm and composed.
Martha must have felt herself at once comforted by his mere presence.
It was quieting and reassuring.

The first thing to do when we need comfort is to get into the presence
of Christ. Human friendship means well when it hastens to us in our
sorrow. It feels that it must do something for us, that to stay away
and do nothing would be unkindness. Then, when it comes, it feels tha