The Life Of Jesus Christ In Its Historical Connexion

When the store was about to be lifted from the grave, Martha, [626] whose heart fluctuated between hope and fear, gave new utterance to her doubts: "Lord, by this time he stinketh; [627] for he hath been dead four days." Jesus said unto her, " Said I not unto thee, that

thou wouldst believe, thou shouldst see the glory of God?" [628] (see God glorify himself in the effects of his Almighty mercy).

Then looking down into the grave, and assured that Lazarus would rise, as though the miracle were already wrought, he offers first his thanksgiving to the Father: "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me; and I knew that thou hearest me always; but because of the people which stand by, I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me." Meaning that his utterance of thanks did not imply that he only then became conscious of power to raise up Lazarus. Prayer and thanksgiving were not isolated fragments of Christ's life; his whole life was one prayer and one thanksgiving; for he knew that the heavenly Father heard him in all things, and always granted the powers needful to his calling. He made this public, individual thanksgiving, to testify to those around that he did this, like all his other acts, as the messenger of the Father, and considered it, as all things else, his Father's gift.

This prayer has led some to distinguish this miracle from others as one not accomplished by Christ's indwelling Divine power, but by God for him; to class it, in fact, among answers to prayer. But as Christ's whole life was one prayer, in the sense just mentioned, as he always acted in unity with God, in the form of dependence, he could have expressed himself in the same terms in regard to any of his miracles. And although Lazarus did not rise until the voice of Jesus called him forth, he could thank God for it as an act achieved, in his certainty of at once accomplishing it; and, in so doing, testify that the power to do it was from God. [629]