Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1917-04-07
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNIIl.lYS0IOOL
LESSON
CRy z. o SELLERS Acting Director Of
the Sunday School Course in the Moody
Bib, Institute Of ChicagoJ
Copyright, 1917 Western Newspaper T-rionp
LESSON FOR APRIL 8
JESUS RAISED LAZARUS FROM
THE DEAD-EASTER LESSON.

LESSON TEXT-John n;17-27, 43, a.
tRead II TO 44.
GOLDEN TEXT-Jesus said unto her,
I am the resurrection, and the Hfe.-JOhn
I1:25.
This lesson occurred about two
months before the crucifXlon, Jesus
being in Bethabara at the time of this
call (See John 1910; :2S). There
are four recorded cases of resurrec-
ton from the dead: Jairus' daughter
(Alatt. 81, the son Of the widow of
Main Uuke y, Lazarus, and also Je-
sus after his CrucifiXion (John 2O).
|. The Lesson of Unbelief. 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 :31). He
purpOsely delays his stay in that place
that this event might give an OppOr-
tunlty for the manifestation of his
woodworking power. This delay
was in face of his supernatural knowl.
edge that Lazarus sickness had been
fatal, for he said plainly to his dlsci-
pies, Lazarus Is dead" Philosophers
have often called death sleep, but al
ways one from which there was 20
awakening; hence the skepticism of
these sisters Is not surprising. ~
They limited the power of Jesus to his
persOn--"If thou hadst been here" (2)
They also limited his power to a GER
tain Mace, ''If thou hadst been here"
". 21).
u. The Lesson Of Pain. The suffer-
ing of these sisters produced sacrifice
md self-devotlOn. Suffering brings
blessing 10 others. It Is also a means
Of self-Culture. Suffering drives us to
the Christ, and reveals TO US the IN
realized side Of Christ's character
". 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 a
frw and siorfons Thought about the 4
resurrection. II am the resurrection
and 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 :3). All will
ultimately experience resurrection, but
only those who believe on him re-
ceive life (John 3 1857. There is a
resurrection of life and there is a
resurrection of damnation John
:29). Martha answered, YEA Lord, |
1 believe that thou art the Christ, the |
Son of God" 1t is all-important that |
we should really believe that John |
POSI-; John :1-5).
III. The Lesson of Love. Love al
ways manifests itself deeds. Mar
tina secretly and quickly arose and
left the wailing friends to 90 and
meet the waiting Master. 1.-THE Mas
ter is come" He still comes, and
calls to us, and, IL, like Martha, we
spring up gladly to meet him, he will
fill our lives with blessing and JOY. Je-
sus came to these sisters indvidu-
ally wv. 81. 2S). He had entered the
danger zone in order to be there
". 81, and it was Thomas, the
doubter, who wanted TO accompany
him ". 16). "Jesus wept," not with
the wailing Of professional mOurners,
bur with the silent, grief-stricken SIS
tiers.
W. The Lesson Of Power. Jesus
had let natural causes work to their
fullest extent. Coming to the tomb,
Jesus said ". 39), Take aye away
the stone" 1t was four days after the
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; 1t rolled
itself away from the tomb of Christ,
The restrictions which Christ placed
upon his exercise Of power, Wiz 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
from. S:2S).
Browning has given us wonder
fully imaginative picture Of his re.
ueWcd life on earth:
And Oft the mans soul springs into his
face
Ae if he saw again and heard again
Ills 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 10 the Pharisees to
relate what they had seen, only TO
meet with rebuff.
The remainder of the chapter IS oc'
cnpied with the plotting of the PhRri'
sees against Jesus, and from this
grave thepe stretches the shadow OF
Il cross upon the path of Jesus,
This miracle ranks next TO Christ's
own resurrection as a demonstration
of immortality.
Are we on resurrection grOundi
Has the stone been rolled awGyf
The resurrection of Lazarus proves
that our earthly existence is only TEN.
porary, that our real existence Is
fterBal.