John 11:20

The antecedents of the miracle, after that Christ came near to Bethany, and before he came to the grave, may be reduced to these two. 1. Martha’s meeting and conference with him, to ver. 28. 2. His meeting with Mary, and some consequents following thereupon, ver. 28. — 37.

Christs meeting and conference with Martha contains several particulars, to be spoken in order, whereof the first (in this ver.) is her meeting with him. She, though a good woman, and sensible of her losse also, yet being of a stronger minde then Mary, and consequently stirring most up and down, gets first word of Christs approach, and goeth to meet him; whereas Mary knowing nothing of this, stayes still within. Whence learn, 1. As among he truely gracious, some are more tender and spiritual then others So the most godly are ordinarily most affected with griefes, and more broken under them, then others; for, Martha is able to stir, and gets newes of Christ, while as tender Mary sits still under her sorrows, and hears of no such thing. This may teach the godly, and especially weak and tender hearted ones, not to measure every one by themselves; for, these who have real good, may have really different dispositions, and some come far short of others; And it may teach them whose mindes are broken and made tender, as to guard lest every difficulty take too deep impression, so also to expect more liberal allowance from Christ, as Mary afterward found. 2. Whatever comfort or sympathy men meet with from friends in their trouble; yet comfort from Christ also will be needed by all the godly; for, albeit they had comforters, ver. 19. yet she went and met him, when she heard of his coming, to welcome him as a needful guhest; And it may be she met him without, as fearing hazard to him from the Jewes that were in the house. 3. Martha had her own prejudice at Christs carriage, that he had not come sooner, as appears afterward, as well as she had faith; and yet faith prevails that she stayes not from him, but goeth to him: It teacheth, that unbelief is never deadly, so long as a man is not kept from coming to Christ by it; And whatever complaints a man have of Christs dealing, yet faith is still the conquerour, so long as all these complaints are poured out only in Christs own bosome.