The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-02-23

kne7V, she replied, that lie shall rise again
in tie resurrection Of tie last day. She
had an indefinite hope for the far-of future.
Meanwhile her home was desolate, her
lonely heart aching. The words Jesus
now spoke to Martha have given sweet
solace to millions of stricken hearts, and
will inspire heavenly hope till the human
ages are done: Tam the resurrection and
tie LITE; lie that 6ciieveM on me, though
he die, yet shaAhe Hvs i. and aOhosoeVsy
HveM and 6elieveM on me, shall neOer
die. Jesus asked Martha: BelieveSt MoH
Miss The confession of faith she made
signifies that she had taken hold of the
Divine sympathy, and begun to live the
peaceful endless life, Yea, Loyd, I haze
6elieved Mat Mon art Ae Christ, the Son
of God, evenhe khafeomefAf into the avorla.
1. Mary's Grief,-vs. Is.
Martha went in quest of her sister. The
secresy with which she delivered her mes
sage,-she called Mary, her sister, secretly,
implies that great precaution was neces-
sary against the enemies of Jesus.
Mary, hearing that the Master had called
for her, went quickly where he was, fol-
lowed by the Jews, who assumed that she
was going to weep at her brothers tomb.
In the intensity of her emotion she fell at
the feet of the Teacher. She greeted him
with precisely the words Martha had
spoken. They must have been words
often repeated in the darkened household
during those sad days: L0ya, If thou haasf
been here, my 6yothey had not died.
2. The Sympathy of Jesus,-vs.
1898.
A touching scene the Teacher now be-
held. Mary weeping was human appeal
to his quick sympathy.
He also saw the Jews who had accom-
panied her, shedding tears profusely. This
did not, as we infer from the record, appeal
to his sympathy. The record tells US, in
phrasing unmistakable, that Jesus was
moved with indignation in the spirit. The
reason is not far to find. He was indig
nant at the shallow sentimentality of his
enemies, who, with the spirit of murder in
their hearts, could yet assume such tender
ness toward the mourners. That such OPP
posite emotions should exist in Jesus at
the same moment,-a tender pitifulness
toward the innocent sufferers, indignation
nation against the merciless Jews because
of their hypocritical, ostentatious sympa-
thy,-needs no explanation or modihca-
ton.
He asked, Where haze ye laid him 2
On the way to the place the sympathy of
Jesus became dominant and found natural
and ever-memorable expression: Jesus
vept.
Some of the Jews were moved to say
Behold hoaO lie loved him. Others of the
Jews were moved to say, Could not this
man, aVliieh obeHed tie eyes Of him that
qVas Hind, haze caused that even this man
sAoxld not haze died? This was, we must
infer, said sneeringly, contemptuously; its
purport being, according to the Cambridge
Bible, "He weeps; but why did he not
come in time to save his friend? Because
he knew that he could not. And if he
could not, did he really open the eyes of
the blinds I"
With unspeakable compassion for fhe
human sufferers, with righteous indigna-
ton against the hypocritical sympathy
which veneered spirit of deadly hatred,
he arrived at the tomb.
The tomb, described in words which
symbolic the whole region of death, sOas
Gaze, and a stone lay against it,
3. Lazarus Summoned from the
TOmb,-vs. 3o-4s.
The group around the hillside tomb pre-
sents to the minds eye striking picture.
Jesus the central figure; on the one side
the weeping sisters; on the other side the
murderous, whimpering enemies of Jesus;
scattered among the people a few timid
ones with faith and friendliness in their
hearts; all in the hush of Deaths presence.
1t is an appropriate setting for the chief
wonder-work of the Lords ministry.
He commanded that the stone be rolled
from the door. Martha, assuming that
Jesus wishes to see the remains, shrinks
from the ghastly sight of the mortal part
of her brother after it had been two whole
days and parts of two other days entombed.
Jesus replies to her remonstrance: Said I
not unto thee that, If thou 6elieyeast, MoH
shoaideSt see tie glory Of God?
The stone is taken away.
There is now in Jesus full conscious
ness of Divine power; he feels oneness
with the Eternal Almighty. He speaks
words of prayer; not of petition, but of
thankfulness; it is strange JOY to be thus
an agent of the Immortal. He explains
that he prays not in his own behalf. The
giftof Divine power had always been given
him according to the measure of his need
in doing Gods work. While this power
is scientifically unexplainable, clairvoy-
ancy, mesmerism, hypnotism in modern
times may be suggestive of its nature.
1t is in behalf of those who are doubtful
of his having the favor of the Eternal, that
he speaks aloud his joy: Because of the
multitude qOhich StandeM around I said
ii, that kAey may believe that MoH dIdsf
send me.
There is now an impressive expectancy
in all hearts.
With loud voice, as if spoken to one
asleep, voice freighted with the majestic
power of God, he commands LasayHs,
caUe fot-fk