West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-04-27
LAZARUS COMEFORTH


their home our Lord was frequently enter
tained-a welcome guest
Lazarus was taken suddenly sick. The
illness developed very rapidly. and abou,
the time the messenger from Bethany reach
the Lord beyond Jordan, distance of only
about thirty miles Lazarus had died
Even then our Lord made no haste to reach
Bethany, but on the eontary iarried two
days.
The message sent to Jesus was ole whom
thou lowest is sick" /, was not prayer
that he should come 10 his relief nor that he
would exercise power for his recovery; il
was merely statement Of the facts, sub
hitting the whole matter TO the Lord II
tells us of a deep work Of grace in the hearts
OF the family of Bslhany that their inter
course with the Lord had been profitable,
that they had learned Of him. The words
OF this message are to be commended to all
spiritual lsraelites as the proper form for
bringing before the Lords attention our
various burdens and troubles We are no,
wise enough to direct the Lord as to wha,
should he done in respect tn our affairs. II
we have committed our all to him, proper
faith bids us trust him, bids us TO rely upon
the divine wisdom and love and power.
which promises To make all things work
together for good to us-better than we
could ask for. 1t was quite sufficient to say
"He whom thou lowest is sick" Leave
The burden at the Lords feet yet all that
we can in the aid of the ailing ones or 10
reetify the troubles, just as we may be sure
That the souowing sisters, while sending the
message to the Lord, neglected nothing
within their power for the relief of their
brother. 1t speaks volumes for the character
OF Lazarus as man that he had the love Of
the Lord Jesus. II has been supposed by
some that he was the rich young ruler of
whom II is written that after he had related
TO the Lord that he had at least outwardly
kept all the commandments from his youth,
'Jesus beholding him, loved him"-even
though he was not in condition of heart TO
make full conservation and thus TO become
true disciple. SO we are bound to love
all in whom we see the beauties of a noble
character consecraled or not-but our love
aud esteem for them increases as we see
them recognizing their Reasonable service"
and presenting their bodies living sacrifices
To him who redeemed us 1t is reasonable
Inference that later on Lazarus did become
a fully consecrated follower of the Lord
"Our Friend Lazarus Sleepeth " The
disciples did not at first catch the import of
these words and thought of the taking OF
rest in sleep; that the crisis in the fever was
past and he would do well. Then Jesus
said To them plainly, Lazarus is dead ="
Here we have the two standpoints of viewing
death; 'plainly" actually the complete
cessation OF disconiinuance of life, of being,
eternal non-eXistence for the whole human
family, had 1t not been for the divine favo,
which provided the ransom-price for Adam,
aud all the race in him, in Christ Jesus our
Lord In view OF this purpose on Gods
part to ultimately call forth the dead from
the tomb, he uniformly mentions the sub.
ject Of death to his people as a sleep-a
cessation of consciousness which would not
be eternal, but from which they would re.
cover consciousness and being in the glorious
resurrection morning which the Father had
purposed IN himself from the beginning.
As many as exercised full faith and con-
hdence in the resuscitalion promised, spoke
from the Lords standpoint, hence through.
out the scriptures we find death repeatedly
mentioned as a sleeP,-Abraham slept with
his fathers, so did all the prophets and
Kings of Israe,; that nation having much
advantage every way over other nations to
whom it was not revealed that although
weeping endure for a night Joy comelh in
the morning.
After tarying two days, our Lord and his
apostles spent portions Of two more DAYS in
reaching Bethany; Martha went to meet him
in advance. 1 he burden Of her saIu,aiion
indicated measure of disappointment
SoHowing for her brother, her heart was
additionally panied with thought that the
Lord might have prevented this calamity.
YET mad not done SO. Lori, II thou hadst
been here my bother would not have died. -
as spec''' TRENDS she ie't that they should
nave haa spec'aI consideration. The lesson
o. Tins point is to learn To trust the Lord
eve" where we cannot trace his providence
IN all our affairs to remember the love
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