The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-03-29
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL z. ,;.

H., 25-COmmeut0rys
Jesus and His discinles left Bethabara
and drew near the village ,ot Bethany at
least Ave davs after the mesa ger had
heen dlspatched. and four DAYS AFTER the
death ot Lazarns. Martha. learning OF
His arrival, went ont to meet Him. leaving
Mary IN the house. absorbed in her grief.
but unconscious OF His approach. The
meeting was very touching; but Jesus
awakened hope and prepared the way for
larger blessings by assuring her that he
WAS the resurrection and the life.
50. When Martha's faith and hope waro
assured, Jesus bade her 90 home ann briue
her sister, with ths MESSAGE, "The Master
Ia come. and caIleth for thee" he Is our
rlghtful master and teacher. and therefore
has right to call ua. he calls ua (ll ~
His noble. lovely character; (2l by Hts
words: (3) bv kind acts towards us: ~
BY His Holy snirit; () by holding out the
supplies for all our wants: (6) by the tnyt-
tations and exbortations OF friends; Cd by
sabbaths and relistous sarvtces: (S) nv
His providepces; (9) nv afaictions: l10>
by onr consciences. Mary immediately
left the house and went outside OF the
village walls to the place where jesus s
teet." Expressing the intensity OF her
vrief more vIsibly than Martha. but inter.
Ing the same words. "Lord. Il thou hadse
been here, my brother had not died." There
IA no complaint, but only the wish that
things might have been different.
39. "He groaned In the spirit" does, tn-
Iced far more express the feelings OF in
ilgnation and displeasure than OF grief.
The indignation which the Lord OF life feie
at oil which sin had wrought. He beheid
death in all It's fearfulness, as the wages OF
sin; and all the worlds woes, OF which THIS
was but a little sample, rose no before His
sye. all the mourners aud all the graves
we're present to Him. "And was troubled"
Troubled himself, the outward expression
of the strong inward feeling which caused
Himto "eroan in spirit" The word means
20 agitate, to disqulet, as the waters OF tns
sea. ..
3b. ."Jesus went" Shed; tears. wepe
IIlently, an entirely diharant word from
:he "weep" and weeping OF the mourners
In verses 81. 80. This verse gives furtner
expression to the Intense and varied feei-
ines Of Decentralization, grief. and SYM
oathy. It Is we'll that this short sentence
should be in verse by itself. the shortest
verse In tho Bible, but one OF the moss
| blessed, Christianity knows OF no dead
stoicism: II knows OF q regulating, but OK
no auch repressing, OF the natural afec-
lions; on the contrary, 1t bids rs to weep
With them that weep; and, IN the pefutitui
words OF Leighton, that we seek NOT ato>
zether to dry the stream OF sorrow, but 90
| Sound It, and keep It within Its banks" me
emotions OF Jesus express the heart OF God
and his loving kindness toward the enii'
| dren Of men. -.
36. "Behold how He loved hlmp Tho
word for love here Is the one that expresses
passionate intensity, and not the word used
| In verse to express jesus; love Tor tho
! Bethany family, which was the love or
| choice, OF friendship, deep spiritual love.
81, "Could not this man. which opened
The eyes Of the blind" This was the last.
| most widely known, and most marvellous
miracle which had been wrought IN Jeru.
salem only two or three months peiore-
| The inference was natural and just.
9s. 'sJesus. 4. :. .cometh to the grave,
! rtomb). ait was a cave" A private tomb
sxoayated in the side Of the rock. and
| probably. as Is usual, on the same level
with the door. "And stone lay upon It,
| Or against It. The traditional tomb Is now
reached by twenty-five descending steps.
But this Is in the centre OF the village. ZOE
burials were not permitted by the Jewa
within towns or villages, nor nearer tnsn
fifty cubits (seventy-ave feet) irom naoi-
sations. The expression ga stone lay upon
itn wonld be better rendered ga stone lay
arainst IT," that Is, closed the entrance In
| The face OF the rock Numbers OF theeo
tombs are to be found In every part OF
| The land, sometimes with circular stones
| let into a groove, 30 as to be rolled into
recess on one side. Sometimes slab Is
atted into the doorway, and sometimes
| merely placed against It, as seems TO nave
| been the case in this instance. ere s
| net q glen, not q hillside IN fales.lne
sestimony to the faith Of the Jews OF olden
lime In the resurrection OF the body. Not
syen the Egyptians could surpass them In
| heir reverence for the remains Oh tina
| dead.
her opinion as to what would naturally 20
expected. Nothing can be known as 70 tne
Tact. But. 1t is asked. had not LazaIos
| been embalmed7 Undoubtedly ne had, pug
after the manner OF the jews, VINO nm..so nas
themselves to wrapping the body IN per.
fumes (see John 10, 4O), a process which
could not prevent corruption.
40. "If thou wouldst believe" Trust ID
The goodness, and power, and promises or
| Jesus. not in any definite work TO Do
accomplished, For He had not told JOSE
what he would do. Such must be our
faith. Faith Is confidence In God and IN
Jesus, not the assurance that some par
ticuIsr thing will be given, but tnat, Mko
her, We shall see the glory OF Goa. Iney
would see work OF Goo wnlcn wGaI G9S
manifest His power and love to men, ,wn,oa a
would exalt his Son as the Messiah, ana
| bring divine blessings to the family, 20 aH
disciples, and to the world. :.
Al "Jesus lifted up His eyes," Anaturat,
simple. but expressive act OF worship: Inc
natural forms OF worship are an aid 70
worship, both for ourselves and those VINO
are with US. "And said. Father. l tnanE
Thee" The miracle He was to worK came
IN answer to prayer, and He returns thanks
| for the, assurance.
"a. "Bscause Of the people" The crowds
gathered around, 80 that they Wouid re-
alize that He was the Messiah sent ITO"
| God, and believe on Him.
4S' "Cried with q loud voice." TO demon
strate most clearly that His command was
the direct cause.
~. "And he that was dead came forth.
bound hand and foot" Probably eaon
limb separately, as was the Egyptian Gus.
tom, for the grave clothes had been wrapped
about somewhat loosely, so that with tna
new life pulsating through his body, No
was able. In obediencs to the word OF
Jesus. to come forth slowly from tne
sepulcher, and to stand there IN the vigof
Of health, though In the garments OF death.
before the wonder stricken company.
"A. Napkin, or handkerchief, to support
the chin and cover the face In part. Loose
him. and let him Co." The "loosing" con-
sisted. of course, In 80 arranging or 70.
moving his grave clothes that ne couia
walk freely. >.
That was one OF the purposes OF tn1
miracle. Lazarus walked as perpesu0
sermon before the peoole.