“YOUR BROTHER”
A. Macdonald
John 11: 4, 5; Revelation 1: 5, 6, 8, 9
Needless to say, beloved brethren, we have lost a true brother and friend. The apostle John brings forward the thought of the brother early in this gospel; that is the way certain disciples are found. It says of one, “Again, on the morrow, there stood John and two of his disciples”; that was John the Baptist. John said, as he looked at Jesus as He walked, “Behold the Lamb of God”, and hearing the words of John the two disciples followed Jesus (John 1: 37). Our beloved brother was a follower of Jesus. What a privilege to be a follower of Jesus! I trust that every one in this room is, or becomes, a follower of Jesus. There is none other who is great enough to fulfil the desires and the longings of our hearts; we find satisfaction only in Christ.
One of these disciples—Andrew—who left John and followed Jesus, “first finds his own brother Simon ... And he led him to Jesus”. I think our beloved brother would have desired, as we are together today, that we make much of Christ—our Lord Jesus Christ; I know it would have been his earnest desire that everyone here might be led to Jesus. He is the glorious centre, beloved friends and brethren, of God’s universe of bliss. Our beloved brother is asleep through Jesus. The Lord Jesus said of Lazarus, “Lazarus, our friend, is fallen asleep”. Oh the blessedness, and the perfect peace, as one falls asleep through Jesus! It is a peace which this world knows nothing of, but the believer is absolutely secure, in view of rising from the dead to be with Christ for His eternal pleasure.
This chapter brings out that Lazarus was not only a brother, but, as the Lord said, “our friend”. But as we proceed in the chapter one would trust that nothing may eclipse our view of the greatness of Christ. It says, “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus”.
And the Lord loves us. Martha knew certain terms, as we do, but, like Martha, we may not have a full view. She knew about the resurrection in the last day; she spoke of that—that Lazarus would rise then—but Jesus, in love and tenderness, spoke to her saying, “I am the resurrection and the life”, bringing out the greatness of His Person. The resurrection in the last day will be because He is “the resurrection and the life”.
I refer now to the passage in Revelation. I understand that John, the beloved apostle, was the last writer among the apostles. He wrote this book. His gospel probably was written after this book, for John lived to be a good age. Our brother has had a long, full life. How well and in what detail he has served the beloved brethren! All here would agree to that. We are going to miss him greatly, but the Lord is great enough in His own way to supply what is needed. Yet we feel the loss, and we feel with our beloved sister in her tremendous loss. Who can fathom it? Thank God. Jesus can fathom it! John brings forward the incident of Jesus weeping. He feels with us. Our glorious Saviour and Lord, the blessed Son of God, is able to draw near to our beloved sister and in wondrous grace cause her to lean on His arm, for He will give her the present needed comfort.
This passage in Revelation again brings out the greatness of Christ and of His love—“To him who loves us, and has washed us from our sins in his blood”. This is vital, basic, precious truth—truth which sets us free; the glorious Son Himself can set us free as no other can, and we shall be really free. If we are open for it we can be set wholly free, to know and feel the warmth of His blessed love. It is “Him who loves us, and has washed us from our sins in his blood”. Think of His precious blood being shed; think of Him being the blessed Substitute provided of God for us! There on Calvary’s cross He, the One who knew not sin, was made sin for us in order that we may know what it is to be truly free. These are blessed realities contained within the banks of the rivers of Scripture, the word of God, and they are for our blessing, salvation, and joy at the present time and for all eternity.
Then it says, “And made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father: to him be the glory and the might to the ages of ages. Amen”. It is to Him! Then, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, he who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty”. Oh may the simple yet profound word of God comfort us, beloved brethren and friends, as we are together at this time. John displays the spirit of Jesus as he writes; I believe it was the spirit of Jesus that marked off our brother during his pathway here. It was a pathway full of service. I knew our beloved brother for many years, being close to him, and I know that he never sought to put himself forward; he was content to remain hidden, and yet the faithful service that he rendered to his Lord and Master, to his brethren and many another, is well known. He was somewhat like John, the writer of this book, who had every right to refer to himself as an apostle, but preferred to say, “I John, your brother and fellow-partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and patience, in Jesus”.
One would just leave these few words with you, beloved brethren, desiring that, in answer to the many prayers that went up from our brother, what has been said may serve to further the work of God in each one of us, that there may be increased fruit to God, for His name’s sake.