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I. CHRIST'S THOUGHTS ABOUT HIS DISCIPLES.

1. He leaves men for a time in fear and danger.

(1) After the fall the whole world was thus left till Christ came in the flesh.

(2) After the Incarnation He remained thirty years in obscurity. He remained far distant from Bethany till Lazarus was dead. He fingered on the mountain while His disciples were struggling with the storm.

(3) At this day His people wonder at His absence, and exclaim, "Thou art a God that hidest Thyself."

2. His delay is no proof of His neglect. His delights were with the children of men before His abode was among them. When absent from Lazarus His heart was full of a brother's love. Here His purpose was to allow their extremity to become His opportunity. So when He left the world it was that the Comforter might come. And now it is only love that detains Him within the veil.

3. Never, and nowhere, do they who wait on the Lord wait in vain. To weary watchers the time seemed long but the coming was sure. "Faithful is He that promised." "He that keepeth Israel shall not slumber."

II. THE DISCIPLES' THOUGHTS ABOUT CHRIST.

1. It was a matter of the heart. In knowledge they were children; and like children, too, in single-eyed, confiding love. Afterwards they became more enlightened. But their first love was not weaker than their last.

2. Observe how this child-like love operates in time of trial.

(1) The waters were permitted to swell and frighten the children, although their Elder Brother held those waters in the hollow of His hand. But these true men would neither be bold in the absence of their Lord, nor faint in fear when He was at their side.

(2) The storm and darkness made their hearts quiver, and all the more surely did these hearts turn and point toward the mountain-top when Jesus, the Daysman, stood laying His hand upon God.

(3) But these dangers though great were material and temporal; whereas the dangers which induce us to seek a Saviour are our own sin, and the wages that it wins. But these burdens will make you doubly welcome.

(4) The example of these Galileans is shown here as in a glass, that every mourner may thereby be encouraged to long for the presence of the Lord (Psalm 50:15).

(5) Love to Christ in a human heart, kindled by Christ's love to man and laying hold of the love that lighted it, is the one thing needed.

(W. Arnot, D. D.)

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KJV: Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

WEB: When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, "This is truly the prophet who comes into the world."