The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-10-01
CHRIST RAISING LAZARUS.
International sunday-school Lesson for
October 4, 1891.

sunday-school Lesson for
October 4, 1891.
LESSON TExT.-John II 21-A.
GOLDEN TExr.-Jesus said unto her, am tho
and the Life.-John 1125
TIME.-January to February, A. d. 30. Three
months after our last lesson.
PLAcE-Jcsus was in Perea OF Bethany (oR
beyond Jordan (John 10:40), when
He received the message that Lazarus was
sick. Lazarus home was in Bethany on this
Mount Of Olives. near Jerusalem.
JEsUs.-Thirty-three years old, having COM
ploted more than three full years Of his minis
try; two or three months before his crucifxion.
HELPS OVER HARD PLACES.
81. "Then said Martha unto Jesus"
The fact that Mary, too, greeted Him
with the same words, shows that the
sisters were impressed with the same
feeling. "Lord, if Thou hadst been here
my brother had not died" 1t is the Bit
terest drop in their whole cup of
anguish, that all this might have been
otherwise. 22. "But know, that even
now" In these words Marthas faith
and hope shine clearly and unmistak-
ably. Whatsoever Thou wilt ask Of
Cod" The words express half-formed
hope, which she dare not utter. 23.
''Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall
rise again" These words might have
been spoken for the purpose of giving
her comfort in the assurance of i'm
mortal life through the resurrection,
when she would meet her brother again
24. 81 know that he shall rise again in
the resurrection at the last day." There
is ample evidence that the Pharisees be-
lieved in future life, and in a resur-
rection of the just. G5, 26. 'Jesus said
unto her. am the resurrection and the
life" The intention of the saying
seems to have been to awaken in Martha
the faith that He could raise her brother
from the dead in its highest and proper
form. '.Shall never die" There will
be no extinction of existence, but q
continued life unbroken by the dis
solution of the body. "Believest thou
this?" For the comfort and blessing Of
it could come only through believing.
81. 'She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; I
believe" The tense is perfect and ex-
presses well established faith. 81 be-
lieve that Thou art the Christ" Be-
lieving that Jesus is the Christ she ac-
cepts as true all He has said. %.
'When she had 50 said, she went her
way" to impart to her sister the conn
fort and hope she had herself received.
"Called Mary her sister secretly" She
did it secretly because the interview
with Jesus would be much more free
and blessed if it could be with Jesus
/ alone. 1.-The Master" teacher, ''is
/ come and callcth for thee" Mary was
! one of those who went only when she
was assured that she was called. 29.
''She arose quickly" anxious to see and
hear Jesus, and obey His summons. 30.
Now Jesus was not yet cone into the
town." for the same reasons which led
Martha to call her sister secretly. 81.
"She goeth into the grave" according
to the custom of Jewish women. 81
"Then Mary fell down at Hia
feet" Not so Martha. Mary's feelings
were of an intenser and stronger kind.
33. ''He groaned in the spirit" The
word translated "groaned," expresses
not sorrow, but Indignation. "And was
troubled" Agitated Himself, allowed
His emotion to become evident by ex-
ternal movement. "a. "And said: Where
have We laid him?" Asked of the sis
ters, not for information, but as .
natural and courteous way of inviting
them to lead the way to the tomb. 35.
"Jesus wept.'' The shortest verse in
the Bible, but one of the most blessed.
SO. "Then," therefore, ''said," imper-
feet, kept saying, "Behold how He
loved him." The word for ''love" is
the more passionate word used in yer. 8
by the sisters. 81. "Could not this
man" The miracle of the blind man
was referred to because it was of recent
occurrence, and in the immediate neigh
borhood. 3S. "Cometh to the grave. It
was a cave" The numerous sepulchers
which skirt the valleys on the north,
east and south of Jerusalem, exhibit
for the most part one general mode OF
, construction. "And stone lay upon
it," Against it as a safe door. 49,.
Martha saith unto Him." 1t was mere
ly Martha's opinion, from what gener.
ally happened under like circumstances,
that decay had already commenced
'For he hath been dead four days" It
| may be equally right to supply 'bur-
. led" or there" 40. ''Said | not unto
thee?" He had doubtless repeated to
her what He had said to His disciples
(ver. A.. "If thou wouldest believe" /"
trust in the goodness and power and
promises of Jesus, not in any definite
: work to be accomplished. ''See the glory
of God" They would see work of God
which would manifest His power and
!, love to men, which would eXalt His Son
r as the Messiah and bring Divine bless
J, ings to the family, to His disciples and
!, to the world. 81. "Jesus lifted up His
;. eyes" A natural, simple but expressive
y act of worship, and said: Father,
!, thank Thee" Is not the address re-
r corded in these verses simply thanks
giving spoken in respect of a previously
offered private prayerp AZ. "And
:, knew that Thou nearest Me always
He was never denied, for He always
prayed in the right spirit, with the
right motives and with perfect faith.
because of the people which stand by
l said it." So that they would know