The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-03-30
THE RAISING OF LAZARUS

THE RAISING OF LAZANUS
suaAsy sehssl Lesson II the latss.
natsonAi Series fer ADr11 =
lsS0--Sshn 11s80-As.
rBased upon Psloubet's Select NoteAl
doLDEN TEXT am the rssurfse'
ton and the life.-John 11:e
T1I6 SECTION includes John un-N
TTME.-January or February. A. =: =
Pf.ACE.--Jeeus was at Bethabara (H. W.
Bethany, in Perea, beyond Jordan, yncrcc
SsH S;S IL Him pS mssnas -
In Bethany. on the Mount OF oiives' near
'e 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 1O'SS-
AZ we have the story of Jesus visit here.
Scene III. Sickness and Death in the
Family.-A few weeks after the sisters
had entertained Jesus in their home
duke 10:3s-42), Lazarus was taken
sick. The first thought of the sisters,
send a message to Jesus that His friend
was sick. No request was made. The
message was itself a 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. twas
rs or 30 miles from. Bethany. At the
swiftest it 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 Laz-
arus was dead.
Scene ~. 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. 32-37. When Martha's faith
and hope were assured Jesus bade her
60 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. If Thou hadst been here,
my brother had not died:" There 10
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 oA
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, 33. This verse gives
further expression to the intense and
varied feelings of Jesus-indignation,
grief and sympathy.
81. "Could not this man, 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 WI. Jesus at the Tomb of Lag
arus.-Vs. 3S45. 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-
Heved:" That was one of the purposes
of the miracle. Lazarus walked as q
perpetual sermon before the people,
EASTER LESSONS
3 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 lifey
the giver of eternal life which lasts be-
yond the grave and makes the resurrsc-
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 Independents
OF the body, and that death does not
end all. f p1t
The outlook into eternity, the hope
OF immortal life, broadens the vision
and enlarges the soul. No man can be
narrow who lives in the present reality
OF two worlds, where every thought