Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-06
Sunday School Lesson
Blu DR.. Marion McH. Hull

tations. They grated upon the sensitive soul of
Jesus, for lie knew that they were tnsncere
in their sympathy. lie was moved with indlg-
nation and was grcHtly agitated. His only
word was Where have they laid him. Ana
they said, 'Lcrd, come and see The burial
ground, like all Jewish burial grounds, was AT
least a mile from the village, and they went
along the ~Oad His intense Indignation gave
way, aud Jesus wept. Why did lie weep: The
Jews said Behold how He loved hint" 9th
erS tended 30 criticize asked, why then could
He not have prevented the man from dying
if lie could open the eyes of man born
blind?' All OF which moved Him to greater
Indignation. Were they correct? Why did Je-
silS weep! Certainly 1t was not merely be-
cause His friend was dead. Certainly it was
not Just because he would mingle His tears
with those of the sisters whom lie loved. This
is a superficial reason. lie could not have had
any sorrow Of that kind when lie knew that in
few moments He was going to call Lazarus
back to life in the body. But this was the
reason He Nept. II was on Lazarus account
Jesus knew the Joys that Lazarus was expert
encing In the heavenly home. and to call him
back to the limitations and stresses of earth
caused great sorrow TO the heart of the Christ
1t was like bringing a ship back into the
storm-tossed ocean that had already made a
LOVES TRIUMPH.
In the great miracle which followed, note
that Jesus did not do anything which someone
else could do. He made them roll away the
stone and when Lazarus had cont forth He
made them loose him that the might go. Mar
tina remons ira ted when He would open the
grave 1t vas the custom Of the Jews TO stay
about the grave Tor IOuf Gays, because Iucy
thought that the spirit might re-enter tho body
at any time during that period; but when life
did not return by the fourth day, decomposi-
ton setting in, made them assured that the
loved one was really dead. Now this was why
Jesus had stayed the two extra days in Perea
He had asked the Father to allow Him to do
some sign which could not be gainsaid. Some
might have objected that Javius daughter was
not really dead having Just passed away. 9th
ers might 1ave objected that the son Of the
widow of Main was merely In a trance, for
he had Just died that morning. It is remark
able that even His enemies did not discredtt
this miracle They had to acknowledge that
when a man had been dead four dSyS and whose
body had begun to decay, returned to life 1t
could not have been done by pone other than
some because they refused to believe.
LOVES MESSAGE.
And 81, on this day when the whole world
is looking into the empty tomb of the Son or
God Himself, II Is very appropriate that we go
with Him 20 the tomb of Lazarus. What us
the Easter message TO your Shall II not be
this? That, united with Jesus Christ by faitn
in Him as your Saviour Won have eternal Ire
now life which is not measured by aeons, nut
by depth and height and width; life which must
be perpetual; which cannot be affected by the
death of the tody because 1t finds itself In COD
and with God
And shall not the Easter message also bring
comfort 10 your heart Of you have experienced
the sorrow uf separation for a time from some
one near and dear to you? Jesus called HIS
friend lazarus back in order to demons trate
that He mad eternal life all the time. BE as,
sured therefore, that the body or your loVeu
one lust sleeps. while the spirit iyesP@nd moves
in God with perpetual life. ~