The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-06-28
PEOPLES PULPIT.
Three Men and Two
Women Whom
Jesus Loved.
Text, Lord, He Whom Thou
Lowest Is Sick"

could we suppose that Jesus would
have allowed him to go without urg-
ing him strenuously, without at least
warning him, that by his course he
was making the choice of eternal tor
ment? Can we suppose that our Mas
ter knew that all the people whom he
addressed and who failed to accept his
message would be consequently con-
signed to eternal torture, and that
he let them go without urging the mat
ter upon them? We could not so
thinkl Thank God we are gradually
getting free from the bondage of error
fastened upon us by those who mis-
translated certain words in our Bible.
We get the proper view when we re-
member that Jesus message at that
time was "The Gospel of the King.
DOM" He was merely inviting who.
ever might have the ear to hear and
the heart to appreciate the privilege
to become associated with himself In
the glorious Kingdom for which he
told his disciples to pray, "Thy King
dom come; thy will be done on earth
as 1t Is done in heaven" What the
rich young man lost was the special
privilege of becoming joint-heir with
Christ I'm that Kingdom which, in due
time, will be established and whose
mission will be the blessing of Israel
and the world. 1t will bring to them
"times of restitution of all things
which God hath spoken by the mouth
Of all the holy prophets since the
world began" Acts i'll. 1929
"He Whom Thou Lowest Is Sick"
Our text stands related to a very
wonderful chapter In our Lords min
istry. Jesus with his disciples was
about three days journey from Beth
any, the home of Lazarus, Martha and
Mary. But they knew his where
abouts, for he was special friend and
their home was his home whenever
he was near Jerusalem. Lazarus took
seriously ILL., But the two sisters, Mar
tina and Mary, feared nothing, since
they had such great confidence in Je-
sus, even to belief in his ability
to awaken sleepers from death. They
thought Ii proper to send the Mas
ter word respecting Lazarus, but
not proper to dictate to him what
should be done in the case. Rather
they left to himself to decide wheth
er he should speak the word and
rebuke the disease or whether he
should come to Bethany and take
the sick by the hand and say. Arise
The simple message they sent was
Lord, he whom thou lowest IL sick.
The beautiful, chlldlike, simple faith
very precious In the Masters sight
Nevertheless Jesus said nothing, and
did nothing In the matter for three
days. Then he said to his disciples.
"Our friend Lazarus sleepeth." They
did not grasp his meaning until he
said to them plainly, Lazarus Is dead;
and | am glad for your sakes that
was not there. am glad because II
will give me an opportunity to demon,
strate to you and through you to all
who shall be my disciples in the fu
ture the great power Of God that Is
vested In me in respect to the resur
rection of tie dead.
All Bible Students surely have no
ticed how frequently In the Scriptures
the word "slcep" Is used as poetica
synonym for death. abraham SLEPT
with his fathers" David slept with
his fathers" Prophets, priests and
kings are said to have slept with theil
fathers, whether good or bad. Like
wise the New Testament uses the
same figure of speech. We read tha
st. stephen the martyr, stoned t,
death, "fcll asleep" st. Paul speaks
Of the Church as falling asleep IL
death and refers TO all of our friends
good and bad, who go down into death
as being asleep in Jesus" He tells
us that we need not sorrow for then
as others who know not the resurrec
ton hope. All who fall asleep in deatl
because of Adams transgression anC
Its death sentence have In Jesus {
Divinely appointed Rcdeemer who II
Gods due time Is to awaken all tn,
sleeping hosts of Adams race. "Al
that are In their graves shall hear the
voice Of the Son of man and come
forth" They that have done goot
(who have secured Divine approval u,
worthy Of eternal life) shall come fortl
unto the resurrection of life [full per
fectionl; and they that have done evi
THAT have not secured the Divine ap
proval as being worthy of eternal life
shall come forth In the resurrection
for judgment Gohn v, %. 20) or trial
for discipline, for correction In right
eousncss during Messiah's reign o.
1000 years.
Coming forth In that judgment tim,
or trial time. all the willing and obe
dent will eventually be lifted out o
sin and death, while those disobedien
TO the light and opportunity will b,
again consigned to death-Secont
! Death, everlasting extinction Gohn V
2s. 20, II. W,
We have read our Bibles too care
lessly in the past and have given to,
, much heed TO those who. with less o2
/ portunitles than ourselves, grossly mis-
, interpreted It's teachings. What dit