Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-07-10
lnternatlonalsunday sonool Lesson.
By REV. F. B. HARGRAvEs.
JmuIsth.
THE DEATH OF LAZARUS.

TaE DEATH OF LAZARUS.
John u I-I6. Golden Text, John
II, II. January TO February, A. D. 80.
three months after the last lesson.
! Place, Bsthabara, in Perea, whittier
Christ had gone from Jerusalem.
The storms Of hatred and opposition
which had gathered about the devoted
head Of Christ in Galilee and compelled
/! Him to leave it, had now reached a
/ similar height in Judea and Jerusalem
and He was obliged to turn His steps 70
/ the half-heathen Perea ia which to
| spend the few remaining months Of His
life.
Here He was followed by vast crowds
| Of people, who were doubtless largely
| attracted by the wonderful works
which He PERFORMED, more than by the
sublime teachings which fell from His
| lips Divine. He had been In Bethabara
some two or three months, when one
day messenger arrived and told Him
that His friend Lazarus was diving
One Of the homes which Jesus had
often braeed with His presence, and
blessed with His words was as Bethany
IN Judea. There were three in the family,
Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Tradition
tells Us that they were wealthy, owning
whole quarter Of Jerusalem; that
Lazarus was q soldier by profession and
Of royal descent. 1t was evidently a
quiet home, two from Jerusalem, to
which Jesus often went, and in which
He found quiet and repOse. A tender
bond Of union had sprung up between
Him and this family and there is no
doubt that they regarded Him in
His true character and had the fullest
confidence in, and love for, Him.
Tn6O this uu7aE RathauV hOna grim !
disease had entered unbIdden, and |
laid its pitiless hand upon Lazarus. The |
simple indictments Of the daYs the |
careful nursing Of the loving sisters, the /
thoughtful attentions Of neighbOrs and /
friends, the wealth and position at /
ready command, all these were Of no /
avail, and It soon became apparent to |
the weary watchers that death was l
coming to claim Lazarus as its own.
In their dire extremity they naturally
turned to Jesus. 'tOhl If Jesus were
only here" We can well imagine
that their hearts were filed with
anxiety as they quickly despatched a
messenger to Christ. Losing no time,
the bearer Of the sad news bastens to
Bethabara, some % or so miles away,
and delivers his message, "LOrd
behold he whom Thou lowest is sick. A"
What tender pathOs and unutterable
faith Is expressed in that one sentence
Jesus sends the messenger away, and
two days afterwards announces to His
disciples that He would return into
Judea. To them this seemed unwiss
and hazardous. The rulers were seeking
for Jesus, His life had been attempted
and they did not consider it safe for
Him to venture into Judea at that time.
They reasoned with Christ that if
Lazarus was sleeping it was well, as
sleep is good for the sick,
Then He told them plainly that
Lazarus was dead, and He must 90 to
Him. Thomas with true devotion to
his Master, yet believing that the step
involved death, said to his fellow disci-
pies, ''Let US also go, that We may die
with Him.
LESSON THOUGHTS.
l. It is blessed to sleep in Jesus.
2. 1t is well for the home which
Christ enters and whose inmates He
loves.
8. We can safely trust our loved ones
and ourselves in the hands Of our Elder
4. Death is only sleep. ''NOt lost,
but gone before. -