The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-03-30
THE RAISING OF LAZARUS.
national Series for April 2,
1SOO-John 1ls32A45.

national Series for April 2,
1s0O-John llt32N45.
BIASED upon Peloubet's Select Notes.l
GOLDEN TEXT am the resurrec-
zion. and the life.-John ll:2.
THE SECTION includes John l1:1-46.
TIME.-January or February, A. DssO.
PLACE-Jesus was at Bethabara (R. w..
Bethany. in Perea, beyond Jordan, where
John had baptized Him compare John TO-:
40 with / :2S) when He received the message
that Lazarus was sick. Lazarus home was
In Bethany. on the Mount OF Olives, near
LESSON NOTES
l. The Family at Bethany.-Jesus
had no home of His own, but often
rested at the homes of his friends. The
little family at Bethany, Martha. Mary
and Lazarus, seem TO have been in pros
porous circumstances. In Luke 10:3s-
42 we have the story Of Jesus visit here.
Scene IL. Sickness and Death in the
Family.-A few weeks after the sisters
had entertained Jesus in their home
luke 10: 0:3s-42), Lazarus was taken
sick. The first thought OF the sisters,
when all common means failed, was to
send n message to Jesus that His friend
was sick. No request was made. The
message was itself prayer. Soon after
the messenger had gone Lazarus died,
and. as usual. was buried the same day.
Hope had gone from the sisters.
Scene III. Jesus and His Disciples at
Bethabara.-At this time Jesus was
with His disciples at Bethabara. It was
2S or 30 miles from Bethany. At the
swiftestit wasa hard days journey. Yet
Jesus delayed two days before He set
out to aid and comfort His friends-a
delay full of mystery. and yet for the
glory Of God and the blessing of the
afflicted ones: and Jesus knew that Iaz-
arus was dead.
Scene w. Meeting Of Jesus and Mar
tha just Outside the Walls Of Bethany.
Jesus and His disciples left Betha-
bara and drew near the village Of Beth
any at least five days after the mes
senger had been dispatched and four
days after the death of Lazarus. Mar
tina. learning of His arrival, went out
to meet him, leaving Mary in the house.
absorbed in her grief and unconscious
of his approach. The meeting was very
touching; but Jesus awakened hope
and prepared the way for larger bless
ings by assuring her that He was the
resurrection and the life.
Scene v. The Meeting Of jesus and
Mary.-Vs. 32-3;. When Martha's faith
and hope were assured Jesus bade her
go home and bring her sister. Mary
Immediately left the house and went
outside Of the village walls to the place
where Jesus was resting.
80. "Lord, II Thou hadst been here,
my brother had not died:" There Is
no complaint, but only the wish that
things might have been different.
80. "He groaned in the spirit" does
indeed far more express the feelings Of
indignation and displeasure than Of
grief the Indignation which
the Lord Of life felt at all which sin had
wrought.
IS. "Jesus wept:" Shed tears, wept
silently, an entirely different word
from the weep" and weeping" of the
mourners in VS.. 81, 80. This verse gives
further expression to the intense and
varied feelings Of Jesus-indignation,
grief and sympathy.
81. "Could not this mar, which opened
the eyes Of the blind?" This was the
last. most widely known and most mar
velous miracle which had been wrought
in Jerusalem only two or three months
before. The inference was natural and
just.
Scene vi. Jesus at the Tomb of Laz-
arus.-Vs. 3s-45. Al. "Jesus lifted up
His eyes," A natural, simple but ex-
pressive act OF worship. The natural
forms of worship are an aid to worship,
both for ourselves and those who are
with us. "And said, Father, I thank
Thee:" The miracle He was to work
came in answer to prayer, and He re-
turns thanks for the assurance.
A. "And he that was dead came
forth. bound hand and foot:" Prob
ably each limb separately. as was the
Egyptian custom.
As. "Many Of the Jews be-
lieved:" That was one of the purposes
of the miracle. Lazarus walked as a
perpetual sermon before the people.
EASTER LESSONS
Light on the problem Of death and
the clouds Of sorrow which gather
around it. on the Valley Of the Shadow
Of Death, on the Dark River all must
cross, is the one great need Of human
ity. These are typified by the trial, the
death and the burial Of Christ.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life
the giver Of eternal life which lasts be-
Iyond the grave and makes the resurrec-
| ton possible and blessed. He proved
His assertion and promise by raising
Lazarus from the dead.
The raising Of Lazarus proved that
the soul has an existence independent
Of the body, and that death does not
end all.
| The outlook into eternity, the hope
Of immortal life. broadens the vision