The Carlisle independent., 1917-04-05
LESSON FOR APRIL 8
JESUS RAISED LAZARUS FROM
 THE DEAD-EASTER LESSON.

I an the EeSuTTeCllOn, ana the uI6.-JOHn u:25.
 This lesson occurred about two months before the crucihxion, Jesus being in Bethabara at the time of this call (See John 40; :28). There are four recorded cases of resurrec- ton from the dead: Jairus' daughter (Matt. 9), the son of the widow of Main Ouke D, Lazarus, and also Je- sus after his crucifixion {John 20).
 |. The Lesson of UnbeIef Bethany, the home of Lazarus, is on the south eastern slope of Mt. Olivet, two miles from Jerusalem. Christ and his dis cipleS were on the east side of the Jor- dan, having been driven there by the hostility of the Jews (John 10 :3D. He Purposely delays his stay in that place that this event might give an oppor- tunity for the manifestation of his wonder-working power. This delay was in face of his supernatural knowl- edge that Lazarus sickness had been fatal, for he said plainly to his disci- pies, Lazarus is dead" Philosophers have often called death sleep, but al- ways one from which there was no awakening; hence the skepticism of these sisters is not surprising. CD They limited the power of Jesus to his person-"f thou hadst been here." CD They also limited his power to cer- tain place, If thou hadst been here" (v. 2).
 II. The Lesson of Pain. The suffer- ing of these sisters produced sacrifice and Self-deyotion. Suffering brings blessing to others. It is also a means of self-culture. Suffering drives us to the Christ, add reveals to us the un- realized side of Christ's character (v. 25). Jesus is often never more kind than when he seems to be least kind. In the midst of her skepti- cism and pain Jesus gave Martha new and glorious thought about the resurrection. q am the resurrection and the life" If we desire that, all we have to do is to get Jesus himself q John , :12). Resurrection has to do with the body, and life has to do with the spirit (John r :3). All will ultimately experience resurrection, but only those who believe on him re- ceive life (John 8 :36). There is a resurrection of life and there is a resurrection of damnation (John :29). Martha answered, Yea Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God" It is all-important that we should really believe that (John 20 :31; John :1-5).
 III. The Lesson of Love. Love al- ways manifests itself in deeds. Mar tha secretly and quickly arose and left the wailing friends to go and meet the waiting Master. "The Mas ter is come." He still comes, and calls to us, and, if, like Martha, we spring up gladly to meet him, he will fill our lives with blessing and joy. Je- sus came to these sisters individu- ally (vv. 21, 2S). He had entered the danger zone in order to be there (v. S), and it was Thomas, the doubter, who wanted to accompany him (v. 16). Jesus wept," not with the wailing of professional mourners, but with the silent, grief-stricken sis ters.
 w. The Lesson of Power. Jesus had let natural causes work to their fullest extent. Coming to the tomb, Jesus said (v. 39), "Take ye away death of Lazarus before he came forth. Jesus was soon to die and rise in three days after his entomb- ment. The stone had to be removed from the tomb of Lazarus; it rolled itself away from the tomb of Christ. The restrictions which Christ placed upon his exercise of power, viz, that he allowed Lazarus to die, to be buried and his body to reach the point of putrefaction, and not to come forth until Jesus himself, in his body, was present at the tomb, emphasizes the lesson of the restraint of power for the glory of God. Out of such extreme circumstances of seeming i'm possibility God manifested his glory (Rom. 8 PSI.
 Browning has given us wonder fully imaginative picture of his re- newed life on earth:
 And oft the mans soul springs into his
 face
 As if he saw again and heard again His sage that bade him rise,
 And he did rise.
 The effect of the miracle was two fold. Many who were present be- lieved on Jesus, others did not.
 Some went to the Pharisees to relate what they had seen, only to meet with rebuff.
 The remainder of the chapter is oc- cupied with the plotting of the Phari- sees against Jesus, and from this grave there stretches the shadow of cross upon the path of Jesus.
 This miracle ranks next to Christ's own resurrection as a demonstration of immortality.
 Are we on resurrection ground? Has the stone been rolled away?
 The resurrection of Lazarus proves