Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-11
Sunday School Lesson for April y Discussed
by Rev. }. E. Gilbert, D. D., Secretary
American Society of Religious Education.
THE RAISING or LAZARUS J,b, t..,,

cd about Him. a distress which dispIaye.
Itself afterward John xii:o1) and assum.
ed another form at the end of His career
Luxe xiX:f1'. But. dismissing those
cmotlons. Jesus stands at the open sepul.
enc once more to manifest His glory
lie hrst entered into communion With the
rather Heb. va. speaking what was de.
signed Tor those near Him. Matchless
words those. With uplifted eyes luke.
Nvii:1") He expressed thanks that He
WAS heard in heaven. and desired that
the disciples might believe He had been
sent. this last the great thought of His
life Then with loud voice lie cried.
Lazarus. come forth And behold the
tears Of sorrow are exchanged for rejoic.
ing. The family Is complete again.
Jesus is indicated psalm. xxxiii:a.
LAzARUS-I.ittle is known of this
good man. on whom the power of Christ
rested Oh Cor. Xii:g. One cannot refrain
from asking. with Tcnnyson. Where
vert thou. brother those four Gays? "
conscious he must have learned what. n
permitted to relate. would have been in
tensely interesting to the disciples df
Cor. Ni:D. Later. a week before the
Passover. he entertained Jesus i'm his own
home John. kill. Tradition says that
his life spared for thirty years. and
that he was the closest friend Of Jesus
outside the apostolic band. Lazarus was
one of eight persons mentioned in the
Bible as restored to life. five before him
and two after-a chi Id by Elijah Il Kings.
xvii:2-o". child by Elisha III Kings.
" :,e'-36, the man who touched the bones
of Elisha Gil Kings. xiii:2D. the widows
son duke. WILD and the daughter OF
Jairus mark. v:42) both raised by Jesus:
Tibitha. by Peter acts. iX:;6-4D. and
Eutycus. by Paul (Acts. xx:9-1c,. These
were not resurrect ons but revivals. They
all afterward died. Jesus was the first TO
come forth from the grave not to return
to it Il Cor. Xv:2U. Lazarus came out
with grave clothes tversc AZ. cmblems OF
of deaths hand. not yet permanently re-
leased Jesus left the bands behind.
duke. XXiv:l2), signifying that they were
cast off forever.
CONCLUSION-Th raising OF Lag
arus was an instructive event. valuable
first for those who witnessed it. and. sec
ond. as a part of the permanent Gospel
record. In the progress of events in this
entire chapter-the doubt. the grief and
the questioning forming background for
it's diSplaythe personal glory of Jesus
appears i'm "A most impressive manner.
Every circumstance tends to increase the
final effect The releasing of deaths bonds
was all the more important in preparing
His followers for His own death soon to
occur. The shock of the awful tragedy
at Calvary might be better borne by those
who had seen Lazarus oound by 1.-The
grim monster and then released by the
Conqueror. Moreover, Messianic promises
were hereby fulfilled Hos.. xiii:14 and
Divine power and prerogative assumed
Il Sam. ii:tS. BY all these considerable
Jesus was schooling those about Him not
only to understand His former words
LJohn. v:21-21). but to accept and obey
His resurrection message Matt. Xxviii:1S-
2ol. Here lis also an illustration of the
Gospels hope and promise. Until Christ
men had gone in long professions to sleep
in "thn narrow house with their fathers.
the living mourning for the departed with
heartrendng grief UT Sam. xviii :S;A anX
ious TO know of that life beyond. 1t was
left for Jesus to d'spel the shadows Of the
tomb, OI Tim. i:1D. In Him alone there
is hope John Xi:2JD. They who trust in
Him may in the hour of dissolution rest
in Him G Thes.. v:i0). assured that they
shall come again at His appearing.
Check thy Borrowing. thou lone one, and
know that the Master is coming for thee
John. Xiv.3b. eff our faith were but more
simple we should take Him at His word"
Like Lazarus. may feast after death
with the Lord Matt, viii:1D. Then may
we triumphantly exclaim. 20 death. where
is thy sting? o grave, where is thy VIC
| tory" Cor. Xv:55l.