The Master is Come and Calleth for Thee

The Master is Come and Calleth for Thee

And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.”

John 11:28

Does Christ really care about my state and my condition?  Can I really expect to meet with Him at the most heartbreaking moments of my life?  The resurrection of Lazarus is the climax of the public ministry of Christ in the Gospel of John.  Mary sat in her sorrow, grieving at the loss of her brother.  Both she and her sister had hoped that Christ, their friend would have come to heal their brother, but it had not happened.  Now Lazarus had lain in the grave for four days, and her desolation was complete.  Into the midst of this scene Martha returned from outside the house with these words, ‘The Master is come and calleth for thee.’

Christ had come to Mary in His own time and in His own way.  Although Christ tarried where He was when He heard the news of Lazarus’ illness, yet He arrived at His own divinely appointed time to commune with His own people in His own divinely appointed way.  The sisters could not have foreseen the greater miracle which He was about to perform.  Notice, please, that He arrives, in the fullness of time.  God is at times early, but He is never late.  We may take issue with that; Mary and Martha certainly did.  There are others in Scripture who, if they did not outright take issue with that, certainly must have wondered about God’s timing.   Job, Joseph, Abraham, Elijah, David, Moses, The Children of Israel , and the disciples, all had occasion to wonder, at critical moments, as to when God would arrive.  Yet, He always appears when He deems best.

When Christ arrived at Mary and Martha’s, He presented Himself as He desired for them to see Him.  The Scripture is replete with examples of God revealing Himself in specific ways.  He appears as Melchizedek, at the burning bush; as the Captain of the Lord’s Host; as the Angel or Messenger of Jehovah; and as the Babe in the Manger.  We should look for Him as He presents Himself.  He also, in presenting Himself, calls for us individually and personally.  ‘The Master has come and calls for you.’  Think not that you are merely a nameless part of a vast throng without His notice.  No, He wants to meet with you, and calls you specifically, especially at the most heartbreaking times.  He is never late.  How can you not then look to meet with Him for such sweet communion?

Oh God of Grace,

Meet with me today. 

I long for You,

I hear Your calling voice.

Where the Bush is Burning

Tomm Tice