In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead as recorded in the Gospel of John. The preacher emphasizes the love and compassion of Jesus towards Martha and Mary, who were grieving the death of their brother Lazarus. The preacher highlights how Jesus not only raised Lazarus from the dead but also restored him to his mother, showing his understanding and sympathy. The sermon encourages the listeners to reflect on their own relationship with Jesus and to make sure they are fully committed to following him.

What beautiful lines to be able to sing. All that thrills my soul is Jesus. He is more than life to me. Thank you very much, Mr. and Mrs. Huffin. All of you can truthfully say, it is well with my soul. Say it. Amen. Now, that's pretty weak. If your soul is resting upon the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you know Him as a reality, and that soul being purchased by that blood, then you can truthfully say, it is well, it is well with my soul. I trust that really is the language of each one here tonight, that it really is well with your soul. Should you not be able to say a glorious amen to that now, maybe during the service you'll come to recognize your need of the Lord Jesus, and own Him as your very own Lord and Savior, know the joy that it is really well with your soul. We're going to sing together, 605, just in case you've forgotten it. Now, tonight we're not going to preach. We're just going to have a little bit of heart-to-heart talk. We want you to open your Bibles at the 20th chapter of the gospel by John. John chapter 20. Now, I trust our hearts will be strangely warm tonight, as again we listen to the holy scripture speaking to you, and speaking to me. As the Lord Jesus was being hounded to his place of death, Golgotha, all that mocked the crowd were shouting away with Him, away with Him, let Him be crucified, we will not have this man to reign over us. Among that crowd were a company of godly women who found vain for their anguish and lamentation, and in weeping they were loved to obey this feat with their tears of love and devotion and sympathy. Among them was Mary Magdalene, out of whom had been cast seven demons. She had been forgiven much, and she loved them much. There was Peter's mother-in-law, so Peter must have been married after all, for he had a mother-in-law. She was there. Remember, out of her had been cast that terrible fever. The Lord came into that home, and told him of her. He touched her, and the fever immediately left her, and she rose up, and she ministered unto him. The widow's name was there. Her son had been given back to her from the dead. Remember how the Lord Jesus met that cruel procession? He saw the weeping widow's mother. His great heart of compassion went out toward her, and he disturbed that cruel procession. He touched the beard of the cross and said, young man, I send you a ride. He was dead, sat up, and he began to speak, and I love this with all my heart. He delivered him to his mother. He gave him back to the very soul from whence he had come. How understanding, how sympathetic, how compassionate is our lovely Lord Jesus Christ! Martha and Mary were there. They had had occasional visits from the Lord Jesus. How he loved the resorts of Bethany after the busy day, milling crops, milling all around him. There was a home where he was welcomed, a family where he was loved, and he loved them. I know how he felt from the Lord Jesus. Mary, his own mother, was there. She had had the great privilege of the great miracles that conception had taken place within her, the great joy of bringing forth Christ into the world as highly favored among women. She was there. Now, let us come back for a moment, and just see how we fit into this picture, and how we tonight should draw near, and in faith, and in spirit. Just allow our hearts to overflow in gratitude, and in love, and in truth, and giving. Out of Mary Magdalene, were cast seven demons. When I was born again as a boy almost 14 years of age, back yonder in Scotland, I don't know how many demons was cast out of me. The family said the lion in the house become a lamb. Why? In the wonderful transformation took place, because Christ came into the light. There is a terrible fever caused by sin in your life, and in my life. But we know that he is in touch of our beloved Lord, and that fear of sin is gone, and gone forever. My sin, not in part, but the whole, has been nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! O my soul, we too have been dead in trespasses, and in sins, but now we may quicken into life, and tonight we'll be living to praise our lovely Lord Jesus. I trust all in this very fine congregation tonight have come to that place, when you've come from a condition of spiritual death into a spirit of spiritual life, and you're alive unto God through Jesus Christ our wonderful Lord. O heart, we tonight should draw near, and praise him, and adore him, and to worship him. Mary and Martha had occasional visits from our lovely Lord, but withal she said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. The same yesterday, and today, and forever, though I must go all the way into the confirmation of the age. O beloved, I found a friend, O such a friend! He loved me ere I knew him. He drew me with a cord of love, and thus he bound me to him. Round my heart so closely twined, those ties which nought can sever, for I am his, and he is mine, and you know something? It's forever, and forever. Every friend shall fail and leave you. The one they stew, the next they grieve you, but this friend will never deceive you. O how he loves! O the constant companionship of our lovely Lord Jesus, to live in the awareness that is with us every moment of every day. Do you that, George and I, O who fills my soul with Jesus? Do I notice, moment by moment, day by day, filling my soul, flooding my whole mind? Blessed is the nation. Mary had the great honor of bearing the Lord Jesus, bringing forth into this world that where we are concerned as believers on the Lord Jesus, Christ has been born in us. He's coming to our spirit life by his Spirit. He's taken up as a bone in our life, and earth's a great desire that he might be formed in you, and formed in me. And Paul said in Galatians 4 19, that great pastoral prayer, his whole heart moving on, I travel in birth again, and will Christ be formed in you. Christ in you, that perfect glory. O friend, have we not caused the night to draw near, and in spirit of faith his feet without tears, and prostrate our whole being before him, and cry with all sincerity, and really mean it, O precious Lord Jesus, how lovely thou art! Come and abide in, rule in my heart, break every fetter thy faith hath me seen, then thou shalt ever be precious to me. Is Christ a reality in your life right now? With all that before you, come now of this great classic, the twentieth chapter of the gospel by John, and just notice a very first there. The thursday of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it is yet dark on the sepulchre, and she is a stone taken away from the sepulchre. Now here you think of this lone, timid woman. Sometimes the women are as fierce as the weaker vessel, but I wonder very often is that really true? Is that really true? Also when it comes to courage and bravery, we outshine we men too. And here we find a case right here. Mary had been forgiven much, and she loved him much, and one John 4 18 says, perfect love casteth all fear. There is no fear in love. Here she's rising early in the morning, while it is yet dark, to go the place of burial. A love and divorce is urging her on. Love knows no fears. Love goes through all barriers. We find it right here. When she rise, what she found, she finds the storm has been rolled away. Aren't you glad about that, eh? Doesn't that do something to you in this enlightened age? Oh I'm sure it does. Now look at verse two. Then she runneth and cometh to Simon Peter and to the other disciples. I like the way John writes about those other disciples whom Jesus loved. You could put your own name in there too, eh? He loved you, you know. Oh he loved you, and he understands you. I'm so glad about that, aren't you? Now she gets, and says unto them, they have taken away the Lord. Notice the expression, leave Lord unto the sepulchre, and we know not where to lead him. Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciples, and came to sepulchre. So they ran both together, and the other disciples outran Peter, and came forth to sepulchre. John the younger man outran Peter, and see the old laborer laboring, coming along, the old fisherman. The young John runs along there, gets forth to sepulchre, and he's chipping down and looking in, just a casual look, just a casual look, saw the living clothes lying, yet when he not in, there cometh Simon Peter following him, just as ever. Peter's out in pictures, we know that, we got one. And went in the sepulchre, and see the linen clothes lie, and a napkin was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, wrapped together in a plaid by itself. Even death, he must have the preeminence. Even death, he must have the preeminence. Here we find now, the linen band is lying, as if the body's still lying there. But now we find the napkin not lying by itself, a plaid by itself. Lucifer McCartney, we called him to see on the way down, he has written a tract on this. While the napkin, a plaid by itself, he brings it out of the woman's covering. The bandage was there, never to be removed again, but the Lord in his own glorious way, his own glorious way, and the one preeminent on day, he takes time to fold that napkin, place it by itself, and it's going to be used again. When? When the women cover their head when they come in church capacity. The wonder of it all. Now isn't that just precious? The angel saw, the angel saw and looked down, there's the whole thing right there. Isn't that just precious? Doesn't it do something to your heart with my heart? Simon thought to himself, the Lord in all things must have the preeminent, or he'll never use those bandages again, and Christ in preeminent in life, Christ preeminent in death. I love that with all my heart. But John takes time to record that. The others didn't even mention it, but John noticed it, and with great interest he noticed, and he recorded it. Is there a message for your heart and my heart here tonight? I'm sure there really is. Further, shall we? Then went in also the other disciple which came forth a several ago, and he saw and believed, for as yet he knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away unto their own home, but Mary too. I won't underline these three words, encircle the little box, but Mary too. The disciples went away to their own home as if unconcerned, but not Mary. Mary loved them not. A whole being's moving out toward the Lord. She's come to meet the Lord, and she's not going to go away without meeting her Lord. Lord heaven, we find her whole heart's allegiance, complete devotion, a whole being's moving out toward him. And while the apostles left her cold and unmoved, and they turned to earth her home, for they wore Mary God, but Mary too. She shows here her whole heart's allegiance, her complete devotion, her heart-warm love for the Lord Jesus, but Mary too. Don't we remember an Old Testament character in Ruth? She went all the way with me. Oh my, let hers be her deliverer. Our father goes back to Moab, the land of her nativity, back to God, back to her own people. But Ruth says, And she goes all the way with me. Oh my, let hers be her deliverer. What do we find? She's introduced a man whose name is Boaz. Boaz means a strong man. He's also a mighty man of wealth, a mighty man of wealth, and because of young Ruth's utter devotion and love and affection for Nehemiah, she's gloriously worthy. She comes in contact with Boaz. She comes in all of impotence and powerlessness. She finds in Boaz her abundance of strength. She comes in all of penury and poverty. She finds in Boaz her abundance of wealth, and Mary Magdalene too, and because of her whole heart's allegiance, she too has a wonderful reward. What happens now? But Mary stood without the sepulchre weeping, and as she wept, she stood down and looked in the sepulchre, and sees two angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus has lain, and her heart shouts, What? Hallelujah! The body has lain. Thank God the body's no longer there. Aren't you glad about that tonight? Aren't you glad the cross is empty, and the tomb is vacated, and the crown is piled? I'll never forget standing in this grave. I can't sing. You can make a noise, but I certainly can't sing. If he gives you to sing, there's plenty of volume, but very little melody. So there's the whole thing. I want to get, but standing in that grave, I'll never know, never forget this all my life. My son, I serve a risen savior. He is in the world today. You ask me how I know he lives. He lives within my heart. As we came out from the tomb, it was pouring with rain. People standing outside wanted to get in, and I couldn't contain myself again. We started low in the grave. Jesus, my savior, waiting the coming day. Jesus, my Lord. And up from the grave he arose, for the body cried, All is hers. And just at that psychological moment, I think of Gotha, another great crowd of people stood there, and they joined right in, and they cried, Hallelujah! Christ arose from all through the valley. I was showing my pictures on this in Brisbane, in Australia, a few months ago. A man from the congregation said, Jim, I remember that well, but I didn't realize it was you who started it. We all joined in that very day. Hallelujah! Christ arose. Did your heart say amen to that? Eh? Ah, we don't present a creed, nor a curse, nor a catechism, nor a church membership. We don't ask to join anything. We're asked to receive a living Lord, and he by his birth comes into your life. He'll transform your life. You'll become a new creation in Christ Jesus. Then you'll sing, He lives! You know He lives. He lives within my heart. Your heart, too? Amen? Amen. Right over there, where the body had lain. I like that. Oh, I really do. A little poem, shall we? Verse 13. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She says, unto them, because they have taken away another chain she hath. My Lord! Verse 2. The Lord? Verse number 13. It's my Lord I know not where they've laid him. By the way, there were two in that sepulchre. One at the bottom, one at the head. I wonder who they could be? Who were they? Do you remember the two appear with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration? One was Moses, and the other Elijah? Could this not be? Could these not be the same two? Moses and Elijah? Do you remember the two on Acts chapter 1 verse 11, who came back saying, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? The same Jesus, who was just taken up from the other heaven, shall soon come in like man and sing. Who are these? Could they not be Moses and Elijah? Could it go on to be the two witnesses in the coming days? Are they not Moses and Elijah? If you're not quite sure, may I suggest you read a syllable back, so it doesn't wake my heart. If you haven't got that book, do get it. You can tell me where to get it. I'll get it too. I didn't wish to cause them, and I'm never tired of giving away that book, from the best devotion you can ever get. It's got 500 charged words each morning. Not some fragmented old thing, but 500 words of charged Bible teaching. Now, he agrees with me. Moses and Elijah. I will not be like the Catholic preacher who says, I will not be dogmatic, but I'm absolutely certain. Now, will you forget about that and think about it later now? Come back with me when I study, will you? And just as it says here, and when she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Now, don't blame Mary. Even the disciples in chapter 21 didn't know it was Christ standing on the free shore. They didn't know, but love recognizes them, you know. Jesus says unto her, woman, why weepest thou? And he adds something, whom speakest thou? The two remember earlier says, woman, why weepest thou? And later he says, but now the Lord says, whom speakest thou? And all the time he knew she was speaking in, or at all parts, moving up toward him. Oh, the joy and encouragement that must be brought to the heart of a loving Lord that day. Where are the apostles? Where are they? This lone woman, there she is. Ah, what a reward she gets. First to hear his voice on resurrection ground, first to see him on resurrection ground, and some more, just since what happened to her. Jesus told him to be in the garden of praise unto him. Think thou, girl, and hence tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. For whatever she's going to do with a dead Christ, I simply don't know. But dead or alive, she wanted Christ. Now, let me ask you lovingly, is this your heart's devotion? Do you love him like this? Do you know him like this? Is your whole being moving up toward him in wholehearted, complete, surrendered devotion to him? Can you look up to God and say, I've no one in heaven but thee, there's no one on earth I desire beside thee. Lord, thou art enough, the mind and heart are filled, and it's my eyes to wholly love on thee, that with thy beauty of the past I elsewhere none may see. And oh, the glorious reward here. Jesus says unto her, Mary, and he got a way of saying that, you know. Oh, he alone did this. And as he said it, her whole being just swirled within her. Mary, she turned herself and said, but then I, my own dear master, and she got up and clasped him, and the Lord said, touch me not. I am not jealous, said to my father, but go to my brethren. She's the first person commissioned by the Lord, and he commissioned her to go and tell my brethren. Oh, I know some people tell me Mary Magdalene was not very intelligent. Had she been more intelligent, she wouldn't have been there. I would rather have some person who got a cool head, and a warm heart, and a cold heart, and a warm head, wouldn't you? Wouldn't you? Wouldn't you rather have someone who is in heart love with the Lord Jesus, their heart quite hot in love, and devotion, and surrender, and selfless sacrificial service in his name, and someone to be so correct in orthodoxy, correct regarding church truth, regarding church principles, regarding doctrine, and be as cold as ice? Pray, the great revival needed today is not more ministry, is not more manpower, not more money, not more new message, not more modern music, not more modern version, but for the individual believer to fall in love afresh with Jesus Christ. And pray that that happens here during these days that our coming together is going to be really worthwhile. You're my friend, you hear such a lot of Bible teaching, beautiful exposition to God's word, my humble desire and prayer long before coming here, that each one is going to pray a vision of Jesus Christ, and fall in love afresh with him. The impact that has such a terrific impact, it shall be felt to the uttermost part of the earth. Do you love him? Do you love him? Does he mean everything to you? Go and tell my brethren, for heaven's sake, say unto them, I say unto my father, the first time you ever come across his presence, know him now, and resurrection power is my father and your father, my God and your God. Young Ruth said, thy people shall be my people, thy God shall be my God, and she goes to tell the disciples, just sing the Lord, and they told her all these things, and with such a transformation in Mary's life, they couldn't deny it. Friends, you can't come in contact with Jesus Christ, the same man or woman, boy or girl again, you just cannot. Her life was transformed by the risen Christ. I want to see the name Mary. The capital M-A-R-Y still spells Mary, doesn't it? Rise over, her name was Mar, her name, her life was Mar because of sin. Her life was Mar because of sin. A, her life was altered because of her contact with Jesus Christ. First we're going to teach them all night, something like this. I'm not going to sing it, so don't worry. It's a new life, oh how he changed me. It's a new life, he rearranged me. It's a new life, richer and fuller. It's a wonderful, wonderful life. It goes on from there, and when Christ comes, he really changes you. He completely transforms you. You become a new creation in Christ Jesus. Your life is altered. Then R, her life is remade, or if you like, regenerated. Remade, or a new creation altogether, and lastly her life is yielded. Her life is yielded. Mary, her life was Mar. Her life is altered. Her life is remade. Her life is yielded. Maybe for chance or not, there's some life here just like that. Your life in Mar because of sin. But Christ is here tonight, nearer to you than your neighbor, looking right down deep into your heart right now. Put up the empty hand of sin, and just touch millions. Lord, I do believe you died for me. I believe you shed your precious blood for me. And Lord, I owe these my Lord and Savior. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and your life will be remade. You'll become a new creation in Christ Jesus. All things will be passed away. You'll become a new creature altogether, and your life will be yielded. You can't hold back, oh no. You'll recognize he's Lord, you belong to him, and from your very heart you'll look up and say with all sincerity, Reign over me, Lord Jesus. Reign over all within. Make me a loyal subject to thee. Say everything, all it may be. O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to thee. For thou in thine atonement didst give thyself to me. I owe no other master. My heart shall be thy throne. My life I give, and for to live. So Christ, will you tonight? Will you tonight, right now, just take my hand? The Lord is here, the one who became dead, who is alive forevermore. Neither to you nor your neighbor is as warm as you say. Lord, I believe, and I receive it. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, will you? And those of us who have prevented me, may I ask you, lovingly, have you seen the Lord? Does he mean everything to you right now? If not, he's saying to you now, loveth thou me more than, loveth thou me more than, and will you turn away from your heart with all your heart and say, I'm really me. Love so amazing, so divine, shall have my heart, my life, my all. Your life once more, by faith, will be altered by a contact with Jesus Christ. Your life will be remade, regenerated, and your life will be healed. Lord, I yield myself to thee. I've heard thy call, come give me thine all. Lord, I gladly yield to thee. That's only part of my measure. I intended finishing the chapter tonight, but we must close right there. I see my time's almost gone. 350. There's no button-holding or in-jewel-pressing, not as you stand up or to raise your hand or come to the front, but if you're concerned about spiritual matters, then please don't go away. For if it helps you, we possibly can. Maybe a friend will help you, and help you come and talk to us. If you tonight are a professing Christian, and you're living a defeated life, now that is a contradiction in terms. There's no need for any Christian to live a defeated life. There's complete victory for you tonight in Christ Jesus, our wonderful Lord. Many here can testify to that, as it entered in by simple faith, the teaching of Romans 6. This can be you or John. We'll hear this now. 315. I see the face of Jesus. God's been careful, eh? I see the face of Jesus in each spot, in each hill, since I've seen his beauty. All else I've count but lost. The world, its pain and pleasure, is now to me but lost. His light dispelled my darkness. His smile was all to flee. I've seen the face of Jesus. I have, but can you see? Do you know him like this? The third verse from our heart. I heard the voice of Jesus. He filled me up. And calling his heart. It came to me. God played the figures all above. So sing redemption story, the story of his life. Are you going with us? Did the Lord burst the clouds tonight, and descend here, and he made you? Are you going with us? Oh, please make sure this is what you read tonight, and sing with all your heart. It is well, it is well with my soul. The last verse. Thank you. I know We thank thee for the wonderful provision art made for all mankind, blessed God, in the person and work of our lovely Lord Jesus. Now by the divine operation of the Holy Spirit in this immediate congregation, through thy holy word, pray thy word tonight may become alive, as many believe thy word, receive thy word by simple faith, that on the Lord Jesus, our very own Lord and Savior, they shall know the joy that arises to praise him. Blessed be God's assembled company, from the youngest to the eldest, where not one may leave having seen our lovely Lord, having heard his voice, and felt his glorious touch, and responded with a glad assurance, Lord Jesus, thou art mine, and I am thine, forever and forever. True Christ, our wonderful Lord.