<TITLE>04. Par 28-42</TITLE>L-28 And one day He left their home. I want to speak of three things: Jesus had left; death had come; and all hopes was gone. I want to speak on those three things for a few minutes.

L-29 Jesus had left. And when He left, trouble come in. Now when He leaves you, or your home where you dwell at, trouble is on its road. Satan has got an open door when Jesus leaves.

L-30 He had gone, and--and as soon as He did, then death came in. And when Jesus goes out, death comes in. To be separated from Him is death, so death come in when Jesus went out.

L-31   And death had lingered with Lazarus. And then the One that they believed in and loved, they had sent to Him to come pray for Lazarus, 'cause they had seen Him and knowed that He knowed God, that whatever God... Martha expressed it back there, "Whatever Thou sayest to God now, God will do it." She recognized that He and God was one. He was the Word of the hour, so she recognized that. And she knew, if she could ever get in contact with Him, but He was gone and they couldn't get a hold of Him. And they sent for Him, and, instead of Him coming, He went on further. And then they sent again, and, instead of Him coming, He went on further.

L-32 Sometimes we wonder why those things happen, but doesn't the Scripture say that, "All things work together for good to them that love God"? He knows what He is doing. If He delays, that's all right. He knows what He is doing. There was a purpose.

L-33   We find out that He said, in Saint John 5:19, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing in Himself, but what He sees the Father doing."

L-34 The Father had told Him to go away, and to be away so many days. After the days was accomplished, then He said what He said then, that, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth."
And he said, "Well, he does good."

L-35 He said, "He is dead. And for your sake I'm glad I wasn't there." Cause, they'd a-been trying to get Him to go to him, to heal him or say what had to be done. But He knowed what had to be done, so He had done just exactly what He was ordained to do: stay away. You notice Him at the grave when He come back. He expressed that when He came back and found this home.

L-36   All hopes was gone. Lazarus had died. Every hour, they kept thinking, "He might come on the scene. He might come on the scene. He might come back." Finally, he died, the breath left him.

L-37 They went out, embalmed him, taking the blood from his body, wrapped him in linen, spices, and embalmed him and laid him into the grave, put a rock over the grave, which was their custom of burying in them days. A hole in the ground, just maybe in the rock, and lay a rock over the top of it, that was their custom.

L-38 First day passed, second day passed, third day passed, fourth day passed, the man was already rottening in the grave. His nose had probably fell in. That, I think that's the first thing that falls in, is the nose. And he was already rotten. His--his flesh had gone back to the dust, of the earth, or going back. His soul was four-days journey somewhere, from him.

L-39 All hopes of ever seeing him again, in this life, was gone. And then when all hopes was gone... They had waited, "Maybe if He'll come the first day, second day!" No. Then he died, and He hadn't come. Then desperation set in.

L-40   After a while there was somebody must have told her, "The Master is outside." Here goes Martha down the street!

L-41 Jesus came in that dark hour when every hope was gone. That's usually when He comes. See? He comes just at that darkest time, then Jesus appears on the scene.

L-42 Now watch, He come and called for Martha. His Presence brought new hopes. No matter if the boy was dead, yet His Presence brings new hope.


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