The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-07-15
SUNDAY MBD1TATIoN.
Practical Dates Taught By Study OF the Inter
national Sunday SehCap Lesson Appointed for
JuIy *. vt. John, III sJ-27, 39-H.

The lesson for this week is a continuance of
cur Saviors 30th miraele-to wit, the resur-
rection Of Lazarus 1t IS the third instance in
which he raised the dead to life the former
two being the only son Of the widow of Main
and the daughter Of Jairus at Capernaum.
We find ourselves at Bethany, January, A. ID.
20. BOG
Jesus was accustomed 10 stop often as a guest
of Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha,
and so a warm friendship sprung up between
Christ and that family. They became familiar
with his life and more or less conversant with
his divne powers. Prosecuted at Jerusalem
and Bethany, Jesus had gone over to Bethabara,
some 80 miles northeast from the Judean capt.
tai. After little Lazarus falls sick Remem-
bering the tender feelings of friendship be-
tween Christ and their brother, and conscious
of Jesus's power, they send messenger to
Bethabara to inform Christ Lazarus is very
sick. Either they delayed to send till the
sickness had become very serious, or else Laza-
rus was taken suddenly and dangerously of
fatal disease. Ii seems he died very soon after
the messenger lett Bethany. One day was
spent in going to Bethabara. Christ delayed
two days. (Y g. Then he and his IL Disei-
pies set out for Bethany. 1t is evident they
dreaded to return with their Master to the
scene of his late persecution. (Y. 16) Posi-
bly, the messenger returned, having told Christ
the news, reaching Bethany at the end Of the
second day, and probably assuring the sisters
their friend would soon arrive. Christ had
reasons for remaining from Bethany, as shown
in verse Is, and in the sequel, c. g., verse 10.
We see Lazarus must have been dead four days
Nv. Ia when Christ arrived. 1t must be kept
in mind all travel was then by foot, and also
that burial among the Jews was on the same
day as the death. Acts, 8: 6, 10)
Verse IS gives Us hints as to method of burial
in the case of Lazarus. Sepulchers were open
ings Of a cave-shape in the sides OF hills or
mountains cut generally out of solid rock.
Upon It," v 81, seems to imply OUer il.
against il would be a better translation. The
entrance TO sepulchcr was at the side, and
stone was rolled up against the opening, and
SO az times people called the stone a roller.
For take" " 80, and took" V. Al, render
roll. (Mt, p CO., No collins were used. Tine
body was bound around with cloth frightened
with bands. (V. A. The napkin (Y. A. did
not probably cover the face but passed under
the chin. l20:7) Actual burial took place
/ in most cases, but persons who could afford
I sepulchers constructed them. Bodies placed
Y in such caves were protected against too rapid
decay and Odensiyeness by being anointed
with various sweet uDguents, and wrapped in
( folds of cloth iuclosing aloes, myrtle, hyssop,
rose oil, and ro5ewater.
/ Travellers 10 Bethany are to-day shown what
I tradition says was the scpnlcher in which Lag
arus rested. Rev. ID. A. Randall, in T. The Holy
Land p. l39, says: Z" The tomb is a deep, dark
vault, mostly excayated in the solid rock. A
4 low door at the entrance and a dilapidated
winding stairway led US down into a chamber,
from which another door opened, and descent
of a few steps brought Va into an inner cham
Der or small vault in which the body of Laza-
rus is said 10 have lain"
Notice the following facts in regard to this
Il miracle: i. 1t was done publicly, many persons
knowing all the particulars. 2 Lazarus was
really dead. The corpse was mortified and un-
I pleasant of odor. The case was not one of
merely suspended animation. 3. All believed
I Lazarus was dead, and in this matter there was
no call for deception. a. Christ was all the
I time at distance. There was no COLLISION
/ no private understanding. 5. Many of the
/ witnesses were acquainted with all the parties
\ g. The miracle was performed in open day
I light. z. Christ told the Disciples beforehand
/ of the death, while all were yet at Bethabara
/ g. The case was so evidently superhuman that
complete conviction possessed all behOlders of
\ the Messiahship Of our Savior. 9. Christ was
open and frank in the deed. There was no
muttering nor peeping as in the case of fami-
liar evil spirits. lisa, s. 49, Jesus spoke
outright, and with loud, plain voice. ". 49,
7 Compare Matt, "a: 81; ! IT,. 4 49, 10 The
writer OF the account was one Of the witnesses
i IL. IL was a splendid Endorsement of Christi
anity, so much so, Spinoza declared that if he
could believe the resurrection of Lazarus he
would renounce his whole system Of skepti-
csm.
I One Of Rembrandts wonderful paintings is
"The Raising of Lazarus" Chapter IL of St.
1 John is material for beautiful picture. 1t
/ fingers sweetly in the mind.
The Germans are quite given TO the cate
Ghetto style. This Is seen not only in the sup
/ port Of evangelic doctrine, but even of ration
alism. The skeptical school does not forget
! there are children and that il Is policy TO in-
T dOctrinate them with heresy as judged from the
\ Christian standpoint Even erroneous systems
must furnish milk for babes. The advanced 4"
! school Of German rationalists have issued what
I is called a catechism. To illustrate the adj
I vanced methods of Interpretation Of this school,
we give some Of the questions and answers
from the lesson on the resurrection Of Lazarus.
DO you regard this chapter as narrating an
/ actual factf mo no; truly not" What,
Y then, rs TIA parable, or myth, shadowing
out great truths" very good. Now, what,
\ in word or two, is the thing Swallowed out in
/ this beautiful myth ?"-"The restoration of
but how do you suppose that chapter written
long before that event could have any refer
euce 70 itr''-'' Ii is fable Of humanity, true
for all times. 1t sets forth the inevitable law
Of reaction" " Is il true Of this ge2"-" Yes /;
once again has the incur fathers time dead
Lazarus come forth from the grave" "And
what IS figured under the name Of Jesus? "-
:" The spirit OF philosophical inquiry which en-
ergizes the dead public heart" And of what
are the grave clothes emblematic?" - of
elinging closely but-tO-be- got Iid-of supersti-
tons" Who prefers this exegesis to that of
our ordinary orthodox commentators and d.
yinesl
Jesus at length reached the vicinity Of Ia e
burial field, and word was borne 10 Martha aud
/ Mary Of his arrival. Martha az once went out
from the house 10 meet him. She showed con-
hdenee not only in ChFistis power 10 prevent
. the death V. 81, but even in his ability TO
secure release from death itself (Y. 22) She
accepted at length the doctrine OF the resur-
I Tection as true Of Christ Seemingly catching
hope OF the raising TO life of her brother, she
called for Mary 10 meet Jesus. Great sympathy
was felt for the sisters by all the neigh
bors. Christ himself is touched by the sad
ness aud teariulness Of the whole company
% much 80 his own tears cannot be restrained.
Hence we read, Jesus wept" Tradition tells
us that at Nendome in a crystal phial there are
some Of the tears that Christ then shed. How
sweeliy simple Is the style of the New Tesla
ment' We would preteELO find Ia the account
Jesus wept than 10 read his eyes stIeamed
with silent tears the paraphrastic rendering
OF British writer IN bis, Life OF Christ We
sympathize with DR., johnson, as stated thus
by AT. Wilkins: Returning through the
house, he stepped into aasmall study or book
room. The first book he laid his hands upon
was HarwoOd's Liberal Translation Of the
New Testament The passage that first caught
his eye was from THAI sublime apOstrophe in st.
John, upon the raising Of Lazarus Jesus wept
which Harwood had ebnceitedly rendered, And
Jesus the Savior OF the world, burst into u
Hood OF tears He cOutemptuOusly threw the