Gods Sabbath

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E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

inevitably began to form plans for Christ, instead of resting in perfect faith in God’s wisdom. They decidedly and unanimously felt that Christ must go at once to Bethany to raise Lazarus from his sick bed. If the disciples could have enforced their will as the plan mak ers, as they were certainly disposed to do, Christ would have been sent immediately to restore Lazarus. But unable to influ ence their Master who, in apparent cheerful indifference, made no moves to do what they planned for Him, they became per plexed, confused, and filled with doubt. They certainly did not enjoy sweet rest and abiding peace, nor were they looking for ward with happy anticipation to the victory to be gained, even though the Saviour assured them that an important purpose was to be achieved. He said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” John 11:4. There is no record to show us that Christ mentioned Lazarus or his sisters in the following two days. His silence upon this sub ject would have been painful to His disciples. It seemed as if He had dismissed the news from His mind. Remembering the fate of John the Baptist, which they could not explain, they enveloped themselves in darkness of mind. Had not their Teacher warned them of trials, losses, and persecution? (See Matthew 10:16–39.) Would He forsake them too in their trial? Some began to question if they had mistaken His mission. All were deeply troubled. When Lazarus eventually died, Christ’s faith even led Him to say that He was glad that He had not been present in the sick room. “So then he told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’” John 11:14, 15. This was beyond the disciples’ ability to understand. How could Christ say that He was glad He had been absent during the time when He could have restored Lazarus to health again? They had expected Him to react with an exhibition of sorrow and worry, and drop every other commitment to hasten to Bethany. When they saw none of this, they interpreted His spirit of rest in God as being cold indifference, and they started to doubt His love for the family, now that its members were in trouble.