Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1890-05-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
ENTERTAINING DISSERTATION ON
SERIOUS SUBJECTS.

Lesson and Where 1t May 30 Found-A
Learned and Concise Review OF the
Same
The lesson for Sunday. May 4. may be
found In Luke 8: 41-42 1885.
INTRODUCTORY.
We have In this lesson the second miracle
OF lie out OF death recorded in the.series
that We are pursuing. The parsonage prom
inentlY before us is Christ at the DEATH bed.
And observe how lordly he is here. There
Is none OF that confession OF helplessness
that comes to the sturdiest OF mortals In
such presence. Christ stands forth still
as master. His was larger range OF knowl-
edgo and power. The horizon OF those
about him reached no farther than deaths
shadows. One thing only they knew--she
Knowing that she was dead" 1t is all we
poor earthiings. OF ourselves. know at the
last. No wonder they laughed him to
scorn. There was the fact. the awful and
tremendous fact OF death before their eyes.
obliteratlng all else. But there are facts
behind facts, and thanks be to God that
there stands One with us who. looking far
tner and deeper than we. tells us OF other
great realities. brings life and immortality
to light
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
And behold. Christ has but recently re-
turned from the country OF the Gadarenes
across the lake. and is now discoursing in
the house OF Matthew at Capernaum.
Matt. Q: 8. 10. 18I.-A man named Jairus.
Obtaining easy access. as with tho woman
that was u sinner. in the lesson two weeks
since. Ruler OF the synagogue. Having
charge OF all the affairs of the sacred edi-
ilce. Like our trustee.-Fell down at
Jesus feet. In Oriental exuberance OF
feeling, this lie a token OF respect or OF en-
treaty rather than OF worship.
word Of imploratlon. frequently rendered
Doubtless one of the'botter residences OF
the place.
Only ono daughter. touch OF human
tenderness and sympathy frequent in Like
I'LL. Literally. only begotuen. And she
upon the word she" Only one daughter
and she about to die.--As he went. Lit
orally. in the going. - Thronged him.
The samo word used in the last lesson OF
tho thorns; there translated -choked"
duke $50.
Laughed him to scorn. Or derided. i'm
timating the heartlessness OF their sorrow.
Knowing that she was dead. 1hoir
knowledge was correct. 1t was faith they
lacked.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
He fell down at Jesus leet 1t is the right
place 70 the great men Of earth. The
ruler OF tho synagogue has acknowledged
a yet higher Ruler. The prince has become
n child again, BE wise. now. there'o o. o
We kings: be instructed. ye judges OF the
earth. Serve the Lord with fear aud re-
joice with trembling. Kiss the son lest he
be angry. and We perish from the way. when
his wrath is kindled hut a little. Blessed
arc all they that Iut their trust In him.
Yes. bic cssed Is the standpoint OF the uSt-
in- child. That ruler never lifted his soul
higher than when he prostrated himself at
Jesus feet. There was the place OF honor;
there was the place OF strength. Now was
he become true ruler OF the synagc que,
master Of his own hearts temple. In this
sense too. better is. ho that "ru,eth his
spirit tthaerS9, tfffhes:. lihmD,6 -yourbafegt
in the sight OF the Lord. and he will lifi
you up."
That he would come into his house. He
is ready now to have Jesus come in. ready
at last. SO many OF us wait, like Jairus,
until trouble, sickness, bereavement comes
ere we go and ask Jesus to cross th,
thrcshol I. But then at last he is u welcome
guest. With deaths shadow on the hearth
stone. then at last we cry, Lord. to whom
shall we go? Thou hast the words Of eter-
nal life." oh, IL was happy hour for
Jairus when no was minded thus to beseech
Jesus. The coming OF Jesus into his house
was the coming Of lie. To-day may tbi
prayer go up from many Q fathers heart.
There are under the roof-tree tn ose air lady
dead in trespasses and in sins. We are
lost and undone without Jesus in the home.
Say to-day:
Come in, come In o, Savior dear,
Come in and dwell with me.
Thy daughter is dead; ti ouble not the
Master. The argument OF hopelessness.
There is no use 10 seek further help from
tho Great Physician. When the eyes ere
closed in death, then we cease to ask for
earth's medication. We remove the To-
tions from the bedside, and we send sad
word to tho doctor. You needn't come any
more. She is dead" Yes. so We might do
ii Jesus we're only. as some faiths seem to
hold him. an eafth's physician. one to ease
lies pains and make the present existence
"A little more tolerable. But Christ is Lord
of life. His scepter is over all the realms
of the universe. Yea. though i walk
through h the valley OF the shadow OF death
l shall iear no evil, for thou art with me:
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Dear hearts. trust the sympathy and care
OF Jesus. Blessed are the dead who die
in the Lord" Trouble not the Master?
lie is troubled already for them. Verify he
has sacrificed his II that they might livs.
An now he says for this life and the next.
Because l live We shall live Also"
Fear not. Two BILE. SGD words Christ
spoke in the presence OF death. This was
the first. Standing alongside OF his disciple
expectant of the grim messenger, he drew
forth his sword and smote down deaths
dread attendant, Fear. No longer nov
should tho Christian fear death. Faith.
sword has slain this enemy OF souls. And
SO we see the martyrs going to the stake
uns haken and composed. So We see our
bio sed dead go forth, their trust complete,
their faith serene. No man should covet
death. neither should any one be terrified
by it-no one in Christ. The woi ldling may
we'll shrink and cover. for he has defled
ot only the prince of death but the king of
life. He meets the pal, monster alono and
unshielded. Alas for him But for the
Christian d, ath is swallowed up in victory.
He can say, 20, death. where Is thy sting?
q. grave. where Is thy victory? The sting
OF death is sin-Christ took that away
-and the strength OF sin is the law"--Chrst
fulfilled that. And so we cry. Thanks be
to God. which giveth US the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ"
Weep not. This Is Christs second COM
forting word at tho bedside OF death. 1t Is
not only fear not" but weep not" Tears
abide while life lasts and parting scenes
keep coming. but they are no longer tho
tears OF hopelessness. He wept- we say,
that we might weep" In another and.
perhaps. tru ir sense he wept that we might
not weep. In the dropping OF our Lords
tears at the grave we catch the rainbow
rlints OF hone and promise beyond. Even
here, by faith. do We appro rohend the blessed
PROMISE: God shall wipe away all tears
| from their eyes" And this Is the assua2e-
ment OF our Rrief-tbat We shall meet again
Lie Is not ended: friendships are not for
ever sundered. In him tho broken ties
shall be reun ted and we shall know as we
are known. Gcd give us grace to see be-
| yond earth's vale o. tears. God enables us
10 pierce by faith even now the clouds and
| dimming mists OF earth and behold with
radiant ace. when days are bright or days
are dark. tho beauty OF the hills
Next lesson: Feeding the Multitude"
L uko O.. 10-17