Now, we must ever remember that the grand end of all our Lord did, was that “God might be glorified thereby,”—­that the character of the Father might be revealed in the fullest possible manner in and by Jesus the Son.  But in order that this, in the circumstances in which He was then placed, might be accomplished, He had many things to consider; many complex interests pertaining to the kingdom of God to weigh and to reconcile, so as to bring out of them all glory to God in the highest, with good-will to man.

(a.) Jesus had in the first place to consider the good of His beloved friends in Bethany. They were thinking probably of their own comfort only, and of that too as coming but in one way, by the deliverance of Lazarus from sickness or death.  But there is something of more importance to immortal beings than mere comfort.  Love to souls is a very different sentiment, and manifested in a very different manner, than love to mere animals.  To get quit of grief; to have tears dried up and smiles restored; to be delivered from all anxiety, and relieved from the heavy burden of sorrow, never mind how,—­this is surely not the highest end which one who, wisely and truly loved, would seek for his brother in adversity?  The highest, the best, the enduring and eternal interests of the sufferer must first be considered.  His comfort, doubtless, cannot be overlooked, but then it must be such comfort as God can sympathise with and rejoice in; a comfort, therefore, which is in harmony with true spiritual life, and which will strengthen that life unto life eternal.  Every other comfort is a delusion, a cheating of the soul, a laughter that must end at last in the experience of a deeper sorrow than before.  He who bids us seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, cannot discipline us or aid us to seek any lower good first, because He loves our true and highest good most.  Jesus had therefore to consider how He could bring true good, and therefore true comfort in the end, out of this sickness and death, to Martha, Mary, and also to Lazarus.  To restore the brother to his sisters—­was this best for them, taking into account every circumstance of their history within and without?  To restore Lazarus to life—­to a world of sin and temptation, again to die—­was this the best for him?  These were solemn questions, which Divine love and wisdom alone could answer.

(b.) But Jesus had to consider the good of His disciples. For years these simple-minded men had followed Him, and had been educating by Him to become the teachers of the world.  HOW then shall this event be best turned to account for the strengthening of their faith, for the enlarging of their spiritual vision of God’s glory, as revealed by His Son?  But Jesus remembered them also:  “I am glad,” He said, “for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent that ye may believe.”