The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-11
READING FOR THE DAY.


The DEATH or IAzARus-John XII Lie
Golden Text--Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but
60, that may awake him out of sleep.-John xi, IL
In the study of Christ's life we seem to be
climbing a great mountain when every rise
gives as a more wonderful view, more COM
prehensive understanding, until in the resurrec-
ti0n of Lazarus we stand at the highest attain
able summit of his wonderful words and works.
It is the browning miracle, the highest illustra-
ton Of His power and glory, both as the Son of
God and the Son Of man; and as such the lessons
Of this week and next are Of the greatest inter
est
Various reasons have been given why the other
evangehsts did not record this miracle The
best one, perhaps, is that Lazarus was still alive
when they wrote, and to have described IL then
would have called down the wrath of the Jews
upon his head. But John seems to have been
inspired, writing as he did many years after the
publishing of the gospels of Matthew Mark and
Luke, to make known many things they omitted,
the last of the words and work OF
Christ that had gone into common re-
port that needed an official presentation.
He gives as the spiritual universal gospel As
the history Of human thought developed, the
questions concerning the soul at and after death,
and other kindred themes became of greatest
interest, and 1T was most natural and desirable
that John should give the church the fullest &C
count Of the death and resurrection of Lazarus.
In this lesson we have the story Of his sickness
and death.
months retween the last lesson and this. Jesus
was In Bethabara, a place on the east side
OF Jordan, and there received the tidings OF
Lazarus's sickness.
PRACTICAL LESSONS
l. The Friends of Jesus Scken and Die, for he
whom Jesus loved was Sck-There are strange
and unscriptural doctrines in our day that sick
ALWAYS the result of eDaciai and IL
y0u have faith enough you may be both healed
and kept from sickness But Jesus teaches that
he permits sickness to come and uses 1t for His
glory.
2. The Friendship of Jesus and the Homes He
Loves-How beautiful this home of Bethany;
how delightful all we know about It, The Master
has other homes as dear to-day.
8. Taking Our Sick to Jesus-We have the
great privilege of taking our loved ones to the
Lord in prayer and prayer is to-day power to
secure great blessing.
4. Gods Words are Always TPue-If we knew
nothing of Lazarus's resurrection we might say
the Masters words were BOT true that his sick
ness was not unto death. But if you follow out
His words to the end they are all and always
true Even the seeming contradictions will be
found to be doors to greater and grander truths
These are just the places to look for revelations
There are double meanings and deeper meanings
IN many places
SPECIAL TEACHINGS.
l. For Belief-Death is sleep. This teach
ing is one of the most impressive and farreach-
ing in the Word of God. Lazarus was sleeping.
The body silent. and all its functions and
powers suspended, but the spirit lived, and at
once heard and obeyed the voice Of the Son of
God. This idea changed every aspect of death.
But it has worked its way slowly into the minds
of men, and we adapt even our funeral services
very slowly to this thought The old heather
hopeless symbols cling to our funerals. How it
lightens the burden of the sorrowing to feel of
their children that they are not dead-they are
only sleeping!
2 For Praetice-Life's work should be done
in the day of health. and hope, and strength,
and we should not delay any important work to
the night of our idleness. or weakness or age.
If we do we are sure to stumble and fall. How
strange that men should delay their preparation
for death and judgment to the hours of uncer
tainty and darkness. Do boldly, cheerfully, the
duty of the day, and believe in the light.