sleep." The simile between death and sleep was as common among
the Jews as with us;[1023] but the disciples construed the saying
literally, and remarked that if the sick man was sleeping it would be
well with him. Jesus set them right. "Lazarus is dead," He said, and
added, "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent
ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him." It is evident that
Jesus had already decided to restore Lazarus to life; and, as we shall
see, the miracle was to be a testimony of our Lord's Messiahship,
convincing to all who would accept it. A return to Judea at that time
was viewed by at least some of the apostles with serious apprehension;
they feared for their Master's safety, and thought that their own lives
would be in peril; nevertheless they did not hesitate to go. Thomas
boldly said to the others: "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

Arriving on the outskirts of Bethany, Jesus found that Lazarus "had lain
in the grave four days already."[1024] The bereaved sisters were at
home, where had gathered, according to custom, friends to console them
in their grief. Among these were many prominent people, some of whom had
come from Jerusalem. Word of the Master's approach reached Martha first,
and she hastened to meet Him. Her first words were: "Lord, if thou hadst
been here, my brother had not died." It was an expression of anguish
combined with faith; but, lest it appear as lacking in trust, she
hastened to add: "But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of
God, God will give it thee." Then said Jesus in words of assuring
tenderness: "Thy brother shall rise again." Perhaps some of the Jews who
had come to comfort her had said as much, for they, the Sadducees
excepted, believed in a resurrection; and Martha failed to find in the
Lord's promise anything more than a general assurance that her departed
brother should be raised with the rest of the dead. In natural and
seemingly casual assent she remarked: "I know that he shall rise again
in the resurrection at the last day." Then said Jesus: "I am the
resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were
dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall
never die. Believest thou this?"

The sorrowing woman's faith had to be lifted and centered in the Lord of
Life with whom she was speaking. She had before confessed her conviction
that whatever Jesus asked of God would be granted; s