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1866 57 In this chapter we have an example of the way in which our hearts are often bound down by circumstances. We see too that while the Lord answers the cry of our hearts, He does not act in the way we expect, but according to His purpose, His object being to give us the experience of present power to deliver in the trial. We learn Him better by this, while the circumstances may be such as to make us doubt His love; but as in this case, the Lord is not defeated in his ways and purposes. The Lord seems to leave us sometimes, while He goes somewhere else. We feel that which touches our own hearts, and for want of confiding in His love are often cast down by the circumstances. He wants that to take full effect upon our hearts, the end of His purpose being to make us know Him better. Bethany was a kind of home to the Lord Jesus. There was sorrow come in there. It was His intention to meet the need of the hearts of these sisters, but He does it in such a way as that the glory of God should be accomplished. What a mercy! When all the world is against Him, here is something to prove Him to be the Son of God. There is a remarkable testimony given to all His titles before He goes to the cross — Son of God, Son of David, or Christ, Son of man, etc. It was a wonderful position for Lazarus to be thus the means for the display of Christ's glory as the Son of God. Christ had healed many people, but here was something special. There is nothing like confiding in God, that He will do the very best thing. He might have gone off and healed Lazarus, and they were ready to reproach Him for not having come. Even Mary, as well as Martha, says, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." Their feelings governed, or rather smothered their faith, so that they could not look beyond present circumstances. It is hard for our hearts to believe it is all right when He does not come directly. Their hearts were buried under the power of death. They had no understanding of the present living power of the Son of God which was above and beyond death.