The Detroit times., 1917-04-04
in the Religious World
AN EASTER DEED BEFORE EASTER DAY.

known 10 the family and 10 the dis
ciples. To US Il is not given TO
see the heaven side OF the divine de-
signs
This sickness IL for the
glory OF God" said Jesus. SO Lana,
rus had a part. all unrealired by
himself and those closest 10 him, In
working out the inscrutsble will OF
God. And this In the last word that
cen be said In comfort TO all who
grleve below. We cannot explain.
we cannot understand, but We know
that the Father whose wisdom Ia
equaled by Hs love. II carrying out
purposes which are born In Faith
az heart. Some time we shall IN
derstand. Meanwhile we rest upon
the word OF Jesus, that sickness and
sorrow and even death may be for
the glory OF God: and to giortfy
God II the chief end Of man. Our
attitude may wisely be that which
In inscribed on the tomb Of q dis
tinguished soldier and citizen OF
welisborp. Pa~-"Awaitins further
orders"
The ooubter VINO Was a Hero.
Up In Jerusalem stones awaited
Jesus. should He comply with the
request OF the sisters. a. His dis.
ciples were quick 20 remind him.
Yet, after waiting two days. He m
nounced that. altho Lazarus was
now dead. He would 90 10 him
Thereupon Thomas, whom history
has written down as the doubter.
spoke up like q brave and loyal
soul, let us also 60. that we may
die with him" Why should we not
remember Thomas always "a AZ his
best, ready TO make the supreme
proof OF triendship'
First Martha and then Mary met
Jesus on the way, Is he drew near
/ 10 Bethany Both accosted Him
with a remark that was a rebuke:
IF thou hadst been here our broth
at had not died" All, the ''ifs" and
the butts" that we huri At God
Consider what God bears from NOR.
tails OF impatiencA querulousness
Gliding and unbelief Even such an
exquisite saint as Mary could not let
the Master be master. We worship
God, and then refuse to Him the
least OF the perquisites OF God.
Calling Christ Lord. we deny Him
the right TO be lord OF our lives
The Shortest Verses Long Meaning.
spurgeon used TO say that he
could forgive the translators Of the
King James version all the III they
had done 10 the sacred text by
butchering II up into teTt-para-
graphs because they had left the
one sentence standing alone. Jesus
wept" Children learn this an the
shortest verse In the Bible. Il
stands alone, not only on the page
OF Scripture. but also in all literG
ture Where else will you nnd any
religious teacher. from Zoroaster 10
MUhammed. weeping In human sym.
pRthy and love. over the sorrows OF
hiF friends?
The greatest truth IN the Bible IL
wrapped up in this shortest verso
| N visna.Fs~-.-.-s,-'--. -. ,-,-sg.-.. = W.
In the completeness OF His compre-
bending. compassionate love for
man. Before ever we come 10 the
great central truth OF Easter. we have
this picture OF the Lord OF life as a
comrade OF hearts that mourn.
Despite all that He knew about
death. and the needlessness OF grief.
He did not disdain the tears OF
earth. even a. mother shares the
infant soTows OF her child. Altho
she knows full well their needless
ness and futility. by every Chris
tian grave. Christ, the bringer OF
Joy and victory out of death, yet
stands weeping with those who
need most OF all the comfort OF com
partnership which fully understands
Even the bystanders. orientals as
they were. and accustomed TO CT.
trsvagant display OF emotions. eX.
claimed. a. they saw Jesus groan-
Ing within himself. and stirred by q
convulsion OF affection and fellow.
ship. Behold how He loved HIM"
That is the spectacle OF the ages:
the love of Christ. Our day makes
much OF His wisdom and His lead.
ership and His lordship; let US not
forget. tho. that first OF all. and
over all. Jesus reveals himself in a
love 30 great that II breaks these
stubborn hearts OF ours. Whenever
we are tempted TO think harsh
thOughts>about God. we have but 70
recall the shortest text OF all.
Jesus wept." For there r. nothing
true OF Christ that Is not a reyela-
ton Of tho Father who sent Him.
TOO Good To Be True"
Close as they were TO His spirit.
Mary and Martha could not credit
the full import OF His plan for