The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-02
SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK
ELUCIDATIOs AND REVIEW OF IN
TERNATIoNAL LESSON, MARCH 8.
The Raising of Lazarus, as Told i'm
John ri, 30-i5-An Instructive, Inn
pressiye and Hopeful Lesson.

pressfve and Hopeful Lesson.
BY REV. JAMES e. GILBERT. D. D.,
Secretary of the American Society of Re-
Iigious Education
(Students of these lessons are requested
to send to DIR. Gilbert, Washington, ID. e.,
address for enrolment in the Office of the
society, mentioning this paper, that docu-
ments on Bible study may be mailed TO
then1.)
CONTEXT-Shortly after the curing of
the man born blind, as related in the last
lesson, Jesus departed from Jerusalem.
Proceeding in northeasterly direction He
crossed the Jordan, entered Perea ana
came at length into the region where John
had baptized John X, 40) This move
ment was doubtless made to escape from
the intrigues of the priestly party. there
being no safety for Him in Judea. tJohn
XII, So 1t was evident that ultimately He
must die as He had predicted Matt. XVI,
a. and He was willing thus to lay down
His life (John x, IL, 49,, but His time had not
yet come. (John vii, g. He had not been
long in that retreat when messenger from
the sisters John XII. 81 brought word that
His loved friend. Lazarus of Bethany, was
sick. After two days Cverse 81 Jesus set out
with the apostles for Bethany. Meanwhile
Lazarus died, of which fact Jesus became
aware before beginning the journey Oversees
II and LAD Pausing a little way outside OF
the village, perhaps to avoid the crowd,
possibly at the entrance to the place of
burial He had an interview with Martha
oversees 20-20. who had gone forth to meet
Him. Her return and call for Mary (verse
2S) introduced the present lesson.
ANAIYSIS.-The persons mentioned IN
this passage-Lazarus, his sisters, their
Jewish friends, and Jesus-enter into varl-
Gus relations in the course of the narrative.
AS the scenes change the thoughts and
feelings and the peculiar characteristics
of each appear, the study of which will be
both interesting and profitable. The first
part, verses 80 and 81. represents Mary
and Friends the second part, verses 80
to 81, MARY and Jesus" the third part,
verses 3S to 40 Martha and Jesus" the
fourth part, verses Al to A, Jesus and
Lazarus the fifth part, verses As and As,
1.-THE Jews and Jesus The principal actors
in these sections are in the first and sec
ond. Mary; in the third, Martha; in the
fourth Jesus; in the last the Jews. they
are brought into these associations by the
death of one whom all loved Our part is
to learn what we may from each under
these trying circumstances No other event
in human history puts equal test upon man
and woman, none more involves the char
acter and mission of Christ.
SISTERS.-Mary and Martha. beloved by
Jesus John xi, 81, the one retiring and med
itative, the other active and practical Uuke
x, &c. 400, display their natural dispositions
on this occasion Martha FASTENED to meet
Jesus while Mary sat at home until sum-
moned (verse o0). The latter was over
whelmled with grief so that friends sought
to comfort her (verse 3D. while the sister
seemingly needed no consolation. Mary
broke forth into violent weeping (verse S3),
and showed more reverence for Jesus by
falling at His feet, as Orientalists always
do in the presence of superiors duke v, 8;
xvii, 16). But Martha was calm and self
possessed. And yet the two women. so UNI
like were in substantial accord. Their con-
fdence in Christ was limited to the belief
that had He been present oversees 81 and Sd
their brother would not have died, in which
statement there was implied reproach for
His delay (verse O. and a confession that
now they expected nothing from Him.
Martha expressed hopelessness more fully
by suggesting at the grave that the decom-s
position of the body had begun as If she
deemed His command to remove the stone
unnecessary, if not improper Their joint
request to see where the brother was laid
(verse $40 covered the only thought that re-
mained-that Jesus would share their sor
row by viewing the resting place of the
dead. CMatt. xviii, g.
JEWS.-Mary's neighbors appear first as
sympathizing friends, most beautiful and
commendatory relation Rom xii, 49, They
sat with her in the house, followed when
she left it, and united in her demonstrations
of grief verse 33). They next assume the
attitude Of admiring and questioning won
der in the presence Of Jesus. They regard
ed His weeping verse 36 as evidence Of
heard because It must have been widely
published, that Jesus was ardently attached
to this Il, family !; Je 9 XII, II - But remem
confused Could not Jesus have prevented
this death? So they. whispered among them
selves. That question implied that. like the
sisters, they had then no hope of any favor
from Christ. Indeed, it is quite probable
that some of them raised the question with
a sheer, as If to cast contempt upon Him.
They may have thought that at last His
pretensions of power were dissipated; that
| in the presence of His disciples He stood
| powerless in tears. But a change came
! when Lazarus was restored to life. Some
messed Christ's works tJohn H. %; VIII 81, 32),
| believed on Him. Others fastened to re-
port port, to the Pharisees ,, who fearing christ,s
Isl Rsopuiarity' sought His destruction verse
| JESUS-From beginning to end definite
| purpose was in the mind of Jesus He per-
| nitted the death which He could have pre-
/ vented, that the ..Son might be glorified''
| Verse ~, and that the apostles might be-
| lieve Verse 49, Through all His ministry
He sought to develop their faith John il,
/ 2: xiv, p by many impressive lessons. In
| like manner He urged the sisters to be-
| lieve oversees 25, 49, His weeping was not
| through weakness, nor did it proceed from
| sorrow Or sympathy of bereavement. His
! groaning was caused Verse 3S) by the evil
dence of unbelief for no one of all He
| loved most deemed that possible which He
| proposed to do. 1t was more in anger
and indignation OZARK iii, 5; viii. L; tx. ls)
| that He beheld those gathered about Him
| distress which displayed itself after
| ward (John xii, I'D and assumed another
| form at the end of His career duke xix,
| Al: Mark xiv, 49, But. dismissing these
| emotions, Jesus stands at the open sepul-
| cher once more to manifest His glory. He
| first entered into communion with the
Father Hebrews v, q, speaking what. was
| designed for those near Him. Matchess
| words those. With upiifted eyes luke
! xviii, 49, He expressed thanks that He was
| heard in heaven, and the desire that the
| disciples might believe He had been sent
| this last the great thought of His life. John
| viii, IS; xvii, 21.) Then, with loud voice,
| He cried, Lazarus come forth" And, be-
| hold the dead lives. The sepulcher is
| empty. The tears of sorrow are exchanged
for rejoicing: The family is complete again.
| Jesus is indicated. psalms xxxiii 80
| LAZARUS.-Little is known of this good