31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.” 32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
11:31
Then the Jews who were with her in the house,
The stage was set for the public to see the resurrection of Lazarus. They were about to be exposed to something they never expected.
and comforting her,
Mary was probably more emotional than her sister Martha, so the mourners stayed with her.
when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying,
The Jews who were comforting Mary saw her get up quickly. They deemed it their duty to follow her.
“She is going to the tomb to weep there.”
Jesus wanted a private conversation with Mary, but the crowd followed her to Him. They assumed that Mary was going to Lazarus’ tomb.
11:32
Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him,
This may have been an act of worship by Mary. It was characteristic of Mary to be at the feet of Jesus. She carried a worshipful spirit about her.
“Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Mary’s primary statement to Jesus was the same as Martha’s; that is, if Jesus had been there when Lazarus was sick, then he would have been healed. His death could have been avoided. Neither sister was aware that Jesus waited until he died before coming. Mary, as well as Martha, had firm conviction that Jesus could have healed Lazarus.
PRINCIPLE:
Jesus functions by His own timing, not ours.
APPLICATION:
Jesus is never late in meeting any trial. He operates by His own timing. He was in no hurry to perform the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. He had His own schedule. He waited for enough people to witness Lazarus’ resurrection so that God would be glorified. What He did, He did in public.
Like Martha, Mary expressed what might have happened had Jesus been there before Lazarus died. Many of us express our own “if” about circumstances that come into our lives. The “if” brings little comfort to our lives. Whittier said, “For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been.'” This only produces inveterate sadness that operates without trust in what the Lord can do.
