The Master Calleth Thee

MAY 2, 2023

“And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.” (John 11:28)

How very gracious the Lord Jesus is to those whom He loves. He is always aware of our times of distress, and that brings Him to where we are. The text says, “The Master is come.” His coming is always timed appropriately according to His purpose. That which leads up to this scene confirms that He intended to come when the sorrow of His loved one was at its peak. When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, He continued two days where He was at that time. It is quite comforting that our Sovereign Lord not only knows about our troubles but has purposed them for our good.

Martha’s message to her dear sister was especially comforting when she added “And calleth thee.” That makes His love and grace very personal. He knows each of His sheep by name, and He calls for them personally. Thus, does He speak to us in times of trial and suffering. The soul who knows the irresistible attraction of His voice will experience the sweetest comfort in His words.

The Lord Jesus Christ does not only send forth His Gospel message to the world, the church, the house or family; but He speaks by the tender wooing of His loving call to the individual soul. “To you is the word of this salvation sent.” Since He calls His own sheep out of the world one by one, it should not be surprising that He cares for them as individuals. When they are hurting, “He shall gather the lambs with His arms, and carry them in His bosom.”

Besides the calls of His grace to grace, and the many loving calls of His voice besides, there He is in all providences and happenings of our lives. In every circumstance of life this should be our first concern:

“What is my Lord saying to me?” In each and every event, let us hear Martha’s words, “The Master is come, and He calleth thee.” Let me always be on the lookout. Let me “watch to see what the Lord will say to me.” We must never think that the Master is come in His Word and providence and has no message for us to hear.

As soon as Mary learned that the Master was come, and that He called for her, she went immediately to the place where He was waiting for her. She did not at first give Him opportunity to speak, but rather fell at His feet weeping and voicing her complaint: “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” This too Jesus anticipated, and allowed, just as He had done before with her sister. It is good of our Lord to allow us to express our grievances. He not only allowed but encouraged this with some of the saints of old – for example, Job and Elijah. In Martha’s case, what words of comfort were given her: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me shall never die.” Mary’s tearful complaint was met first with expressions of sympathy. She wept and “Jesus wept.” (Vs. 35) He is not indifferent to our tears of sorrow. He then demonstrated the marvelous truth of His declaration to Mary’s sister and called forth their brother from the grave.

From the amazing story, we can assure everyone who is a child of grace that in the hour of your greatest extremity, the Master will come to you and He will call for thee.