The Benefit of Severe Affliction
J. A. James. John 11:1-6 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.… When Mr. Cecil was walking in the Botanical Gardens of Oxford, his attention was arrested by a fine pomegranate tree, cut almost through the stem near the root. On asking the gardener the reason of this, "Sir," said he, "this tree used to shoot so strong that it bore nothing but leaves; I was therefore obliged to cut it in this manner; and when it was almost cut through, then it began to bear plenty of fruit." The reply afforded this inquisitive student a general practical lesson, which was of considerable use to him in after life, when severely exercised by personal and domestic afflictions. Alas! in many cases, it is not enough that the useless branches of the tree be lopped off, but the stock itself must be cut — and cut nearly through — before it can become extensively fruitful. And sometimes the finer the tree, and the more luxuriant its growth, the deeper must be the incision. (J. A. James.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. WEB: Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha.