New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-04-06
LESSON FOR APRIL 8
JESUS RAISED LAZARUS FROM
THE DEAD-EASTER LESSON.

This lesson occurred about two
months before the crucifixiOn, Jesui
being in Bethabara at the time of this
call (See John 10 40; 1:2S). There
are four recorded cases of resurrec
ton from the dead: Jairus' daughter
Matt. 81, the son of the widow OF
Main duke y, Lazarus, and also Je'
sus after his crucifiXion (John 2O).
]. The Lesson Of UnbeIief. 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
nave often called death a sleep, but al
ways II from which there was no
awakening; hence the skepticism Of
these sisters is not surprising. (1)
Ihey limited the power of Jesus to his
person-"If thou hndst been here" CO.
They also limited his power to Il GER
tain place, IF thou hadst been here
" 21). (3) Again they limited it to a
certain time, Eat the last day" ". 24),
ana (4) they limited his power to nat
ural law. "He stinketh" ". 800
therefore his power could not be exer-
ciSed.
II. The Lesson of Pain. The suffer-
ing of these sisters produced sacrifice
and s~elf-devotion. Suffering brings
blessing to others. 1t is also Il means
OF ~self-culture. Suffering drives us to
the Christ, and reveals to us the I'M
realized side Of Christ's character
". 2o). 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 a
new and glorious thought about the
resurrection. Il am the resurrection
ana the life" If we desire that, all
we have to do is to get Jesus himself
Il John 5:12). Resurrection has to
DO with the body, and life has to do
with the spirit (John II by. All will
ultimately experience resurrection, but
only those who believe on him re-
ceive life (John $500. There is a
resurrection of life and there is a
resurrection of damnation (John
. :29). Martha answered, "Yea Lord,
bellev that thou art the Christ, the
Son of God" 1t is all-ilmportant that
we should really believe that John
2O:31 l John 5:1-5).
III. The Lesson Of Love. Love al
manifests itself in deeds. Mar
tina secretly and quickly arose and
eft the wailing friends to 90 and
meet the waiting Master. "The Mas
Ter is come" He still comes, and
'alls to us, and, if, like Martha, we
spring up gladly to meet him, he will
Ill our lives with blessing and joy. Je-
'us came to these sisters individu-
lily wv. p, 2S). He had entered the
hanger zone in order to be there
v. -, and it was Thomas, the &
loubter, who wanted to accompany
". 1G). Jesus wept," not with
wailing of professional \
ut with the silent, grief-stricken sis
ers. The sight of their sorrow
him ". 23), the evidence of
is love was communicated to the J
". 36), but his grief was not {
yer the death of his loved friend. but I
yer the unbelief of those with whom {
e was dealing wv. 81, 3S). {
w. The Lesson of Power. Jesus
al let natural auses work to their (
lllest extent. Coming to the tomb,
said ". 39), Take We away 6
lie stone" 1t was four days after the
cath of Lazarus before he came
Drth. Jesus was Dor to die and
Sc in three days after his entomb-
The stone had to be removed =.
ON the tomb of Lazarus; it rolled !,
self away from the tomb of Christ. !,
restrictions which Christ placed :.
bon his exercise of power, viz, that =
: allowed Lazarus to die, to be
lrled, and his body to reach the U
'int of putrefaction, and not to come /!
nth until Jesus himself, in his body, .
MS present at the tomb, emphasizes !,
e lesson Of the restraint of power II
r the glory of God. Out of such y
IRENE circumstances of seeming i'm II
'ssibility God manifested his glory II
S:2S). John Bunyan, writing y
Progress" in Bedford Jail, !"
a modern illustration of the use of :"
ivation and encouragement to the "
Dry of God. Notice, also, that in the Is
ercise of his power Jesus uses hu- al
IN agencies ". Al, Az. God has the % 9
ility but we have responsibility, III
e., We are to respond according to y
r ability, and he gives enabling q,
wer. Jesus knew that his prayer on VI
half of his friend had been an et
before 1t was uttered ". 42), VI
d his friend at once recognizes his "
ice ". Az. This record is a plain, 81
m, unadOrned statement of a won =,
rful fact. 1t bears upon its face the 81
-rks of its genuineness. Those pres :
t saw the glory of God ". 4O).
his shroud, Lazarus came forth,
death bandages still clinging to
nd and foot. Not a word is said
,ut his experience in the grave, nor )"
we have any authentic record re- -,
ding his subsequent life. W.,
Browning has given us a wonder WI
ly imaginative picture of his re- sp
we'd life on earth u'
d oft the mans soul springs into his
- face t ...---".- - an
~ bo com, oro,r -ond trao-a ,- -.