John 11:21–22

In the next place, we have Martha’s salutation and discourse to Christ at meeting; wherein. 1. Her passion breaks out in an indirect challenge (ver. 21.) that his presence might have prevented her brothers death, and therefore regrates that he came not in time. And in this her weaknesse appears, not only in her indirect challenge; But partly, in her presumption, beleeving that for which she had no ground. For upon what ground could she know, but Christ might have been there, and yet her brother have died, seeing there was no promise to the contrary? And partly, in her limiting of Christs power to his bodily presence, as if he could not have prevented his death, if he had pleased, though he had not been there. 2. After her passion hath broken out, she settles a little, and corrects it with a profession of her faith, that Christ, if he pleased, could yet amend all, ver. 22. Though in this also her faith came short in, that she beleeves not Christ can do this by his own power, but only as an instrument employing God, or obtaining power of God to do it, as was the way of men of God in former times.

From ver. 21. Learn, 1. The dear children of God have so much weaknesse and corruption, as to flee out against Christs way of dealing towards them, when they are in trouble; for, so much doth this indirect challenge teach. 2. Albeit Saints may have much submission at their engaging in a trial, yet they may be ready to stagger, if Christ put them to it, to give a real proofe of that submission; for, albeit their message to Chirst ver. 3. spoke much submission, and a referring of all to his will; yet here the declares that the cannot digest that it hath pleased him to let her brother die. 3. It is not easie for Saints to take up Christ, and fasten their faith upon him aright; And in particular, it is sometime their fault, that they give more credit to the presumptuous drams of their own hearts, for which they have no warrant, then to what Christ reveals of himselfe; for, she strongly asserts if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died, for which she had no ground at all. And, generally, it is the fault of men, that in the point of trust and diffidence, they make a Bible of their own thoughts, apprehensions, and fears, without regarding what the Scripture saith. 4. It is also the fault of Saints, that in beleeving Christs power and good will to do for them, they yet limit him to their own conceived way of working, out of which they do not expect any thing from him: And particularly, it is their great fault to limit his efficacy and power to his bodily presence; for herein also she failed, never expecting the preservation of her brothers life, unlesse Christ had been there, whereas he could have done it at never so great a distance.

From ver. 22. Learn, 1. Passion, when it is a tentation in Saints, is hasty, and first out, and takes the start of their better resolutions; for, here it hath broken first out, whereas she hath better stuffe within, here produced. And therefore, as we are in straits, to suspect that which postes first to the doore, to get out; Psal. 116. 11. and 31, 22. So Saints passions, though they ought not to be justified, yet they ought not to be too narrowly examined and censured, as being but a violent tentation, treading upon grace for a season. 2. It is sinful in any, and particularly unseemly in a childe of God, to persist in his passion, when it hath burst forth; but he ought to revoke and correct it by faith: As here Martha subjoynes a correction to the former expressions. 3. There is nothing can fall out, nor can the child of Gods condition come to such an height, nor can the fruits of delayes and disappointments be so desperate and deadly but faith will see that it may all be yet amended and made up againe, Therefore, albeit it was a sore dash that Christ came not till he was dead, yet saith she, I know that even now, all may be well enough. 4. It may exceedingly encourage Saints to beleeve, when they consider that Gods power is not limited, and that the Intercessour, whom they employ, will not be refused in any thing he craves: for, on this doth she build; I know that whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee, 5. Faith, even when it goeth very far on in giving glory unto Christ, doth yet ordinarily come far short of what is his due; and when faith sleeth a very high pitch, it may yet be full of weaknesse; for, so was it in her faith, and her correcting of her former distemper. She beleeves only if he ask, God will give; whereas, albeit indeed as Mediatour and man, he did employ the Father by prayer, of which we will hear, ver. 41, 42. Yet as God, he wrought miracles by his own power, communicate with his essence from the Father, by eternal generation.