I love the unity we are experiencing in this forum, Richard! I was about to post the very same paragraph (the second one you posted) as well, as it is so powerful for us! But today as I was spending that "thoughtful hour" beholding Jesus' loveliness, I felt for the first time a deep sense of anticipation in reading the last part of our chapter today--which I realize has deep spiritual significance for us in laboring for the conversion of souls around us.
"And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth." His voice, clear and penetrating, pierces the ear of the dead. As He speaks, divinity flashes through humanity. In His face, which is lighted up by the glory of God, the people see the assurance of His power. Every eye is fastened on the entrance to the cave. Every ear is bent to catch the slightest sound. With intense and painful interest all wait for the test of Christ's divinity, the evidence that is to substantiate His claim to be the Son of God, or to extinguish the hope forever.
There is a stir in the silent tomb, and he who was dead stands at the door of the sepulcher. His movements are impeded by the graveclothes in which he was laid away, and Christ says to the astonished spectators, "Loose him, and let him go." Again they are shown that the human worker is to co-operate with God. Humanity is to work for humanity. Lazarus is set free, and stands before the company, not as one emaciated from disease, and with feeble, tottering limbs, but as a man in the prime of life, and in the vigor of a noble manhood. His eyes beam with intelligence and with love for his Saviour. He casts himself in adoration at the feet of Jesus.
The beholders are at first speechless with amazement. Then there follows an inexpressible scene of rejoicing and thanksgiving. The sisters receive their brother back to life as the gift of God, and with joyful tears they brokenly express their thanks to the Saviour. But while brother, sisters, and friends are rejoicing in this reunion, Jesus withdraws from the scene. When they look for the Life-giver, He is not to be found.
Let us remember that the power of Christ to resurrect Lazarus from the dead is the SAME POWER God gives us in Christ by the Holy Spirit to live a holy life! We see this truly:
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For ; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
May we behold the grace of God in resurrecting Lazarus, but may we also realize the grace of God in resurrecting (or quickening) us to have ETERNAL LIFE NOW by abiding in Christ and making a full surrender to Him! Yet such a surrender must be continued by heeding the very thoughts commented on about Martha and Mary, and how we need to have that calm, devotional spirit. When we do not heed the invitation of the Spirit of God, and we wander out of conversion, we need to realize how dire is our situation, and how great is our need:
Let none deceive themselves with the belief that they can become holy while willfully violating one of God's requirements. The commission of a known sin silences the witnessing voice of the Spirit and separates the soul from God. {GC 472.3}
It is because of this spiritual reality that the Laodicean message comes with such impressiveness and importance to us at the present time. Sin is thought of a as a casual matter too often. Many do not believe the statement above in their own experience, for they feel that they can still have salvation and commit a known sin ("as long as they are not convicted about it"). But this is error. A person may not like to think that what they are doing is wrong, but the Holy Spirit does a deep searching work and we need to listen.
I think of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, and I see in their lives the picture of souls who were willing to accept the gospel and learn of the Savior. Are we willing to learn the truth of the gospel so we can be made pure and holy? Let us see our need, and then let us accept the remedy: Christ abiding in the heart through living-faith surrender of the entire heart so that Christ can imbue us with all of the fruits of the Spirit so that not one is missing! This is a great miracle--but so was the resurrection of Lazarus! And both miracles are accomplished by divine power! Praise the Lord that we can have resurrection life in us by having Christ in us, the hope of glory!