John 11:28
“And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.”
One of the missed facets in the story of Lazarus coming back to life is the call of the Master. We have heard how Jesus delayed His coming when He heard of Lazarus’ sickness. We have heard of the lack of faith of those who surrounded Lazarus’ family. We have enjoyed the part of the story where Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave.
However, one of the important elements of this story is the call of the Master. When Jesus came to the tomb where they laid the body of Lazarus, Martha ran to the Master and bemoaned the fact that if He had been there her brother would not have died. After Martha’s dialogue with Jesus concerning what He was about to do, she ran to Mary and said, “The Master is come, and calleth for thee.” There may be no better words a person could hear than that the Master has come to visit you in the time of grief. Five things are learned from this event about what happens when we respond to the Master’s call.
First, there is comfort at the Master’s call. Both Mary and Martha received comfort when they responded to the Master’s call. You will find the comfort you need in the heartaches of life if you listen to the Master’s call. Don’t let the grief of the moment keep you from responding to the Master’s call. One of the reasons He calls is so that you can receive comfort by His presence. Nobody will be able to give you the comfort you need like the Master Who is the source of all comfort.
Second, there is release at the Master’s call. In verse 32, Mary was able to pour out her heart to the Master and get the release she needed from her grief. Psalm 61:2 shows that God is the one to whom you should go to when your “heart is overwhelmed.” There are times when the pressures of life are so great that you feel like you are going to burst. The only release you will find from that pressure is by responding to the Master’s call.
Third, verse 40 shows there is a view of God’s glory at the Master’s call. You will never see the glory of God manifested in your life without responding to the Master’s call. God wants to be glorified through your life, but you must answer when He calls.
Fourth, verse 44 shows that there is new life at the Master’s call. Lazarus received life at the Master’s call. You may find that life’s fire may be flickering; the only way to rekindle the flame in life is to respond to the Master’s call. The Master has a way of rekindling the vision and excitement needed to make life fulfilling again.
Fifth, verse 44 shows that there is freedom at the Master’s call. Lazarus was bound by death’s clothes, but those cloths were removed at the Master’s call. What cloths of death are still holding you back from serving the LORD? The easiest way to overcome sin’s grip on your life is to respond to the Master’s call. You will find the cloths of death will begin to fall off when you start obeying the call of the Master.
Friend, “The Master is come, and calleth for thee.” Listen and obey His call. If you properly respond to His call, you will find these five things will happen in your life.