George Hutcheson
28 And when he had thus said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister, secretly, saying, The Master is come and calleth for thee.
Followeth the second antecedent of the miracle, after Christ was come near to Bethany, which is, his meeting and encounter with Mary, with some consequents that followed, before he came to the grave, to ver. 38.
This may be taken up in six particulars; whereof the first, (in this ver.) is, the call given to Mary, to come out to Christ; Martha, after the former conference, cometh to her sister (not of her own accord, but at Christs command) to carry the newes and message to her. Doctrine. 1. Christ should be acknowledged, by all his own, to be their Master and teacher, whose doctrine and direction they will follow; Therefore, is he designed by this common and acknowledged name among his followers, The Master, or, Teacher. 2. Christ may be very near unto mourners, and they not know of it, and they may be puzled and perplexd for his absence, when he is hard at hand; for, while Mary is mourning at home, supposing that Christ is about Jordan, and grieving that he is not come, he is at her hand at Bethany, The Master is come. 3. Albeit the tendernesse and crushed condition of some, may suspend their comfort from them, yet Christ will seek such at last, and not be at rest, till he meet with them, and comfort them; for, it was by reason of Maries crushed spirit, that she is mourning still, and hears nothing of Christ, when Martha hath been comforted by him; Yet Christ knowing her distresse, and that she is mourning, he mindes her, and will have her brought to him; He calleth for thee. 4. Whoever they be that come to fetch a tender mourner to Christ, they come not of their own head, but have his allowance so to do; for, so doth Martha tell this mourner, The Master calleth for thee. 5. Such as have tasted of Christs sweetnesse themselves, are most fit messengers, to invite others to him; for, Martha is employed, after she hath met with Christ, and he hath fixed her faith on himselfe; when she had so said, she went her way (being sent) and called her sister Mary, &c. 6. It may encourage mourners to come to Christ, that his respect to them is not suspended upon their coming, but he prevents them with warme invitations; for, so will he have Mary encouraged, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. See Mark. 10.49. 7. Such as have found Christs tender kindnesse toward them, will be tender of him and all that concerneth him; Therefore doth she call her sister secretly, lest these Jewes who were with them, knowing of him, might bring him in some hazard. And albeit Christ himselfe was not affraid, yet it was very commendable that Christs safety should lye near their heart, whose necessity had brought him thither.
