The Detroit times., 1917-04-04
The international sunday-sehool Les
con for April Q Is, Jesus Ralsss
Lazarus from the Desd."-John
fitfT-44.
~ WILLIAM 7. ELLIS.

II was a group OF seventeenth
century Spanish sepulchres. seen
yesterday beneath bearded live oaks
Of Georgia. and made OF "tappy."
that curious oyster-shell concrete.
which set my mind TO ranging over
the graves OF earth as | have seen
them They are overywhere:-the
metal. bathtub-like sarcophagi which
] saw the Arabs excayating from
ruins older than Babylon. at Old
Asshur. Assyria: the huge stone
graves Of Phoenicia; the mighty
mausoleums OF Egpt: the hill-tombs
which mortgage so much OF China's
landscapes: the ancient grsveyards
OF Europe-what \ succession Of
them throng 20 mind. And every
grave was once grief. Each
brought some minds face 20 face
with earth's Oldest riddle. Does the
highway OF life end In q grave'
At some time or other this ques-
tion 10 OF supreme interest 10 every
body. The death notices In today's
newspaper mean more To some read
ers than the most startling newv on
the nrst page This Easter IL the
most solemn OF all the days that
ever dawned 10 a multitude OF hu-
man hearts, for its brings them
squarely up TO the problem OF i'm
mortality. interpreted In terms OF
the dear dead. SO with reverent
sincerity we approach the Rssur-
rection theme. as II In set forth for
us IN the raising OF Lazarus from
the dead. the assigned Sunday
school lesson
A Home For q Lonely HeRt.
One OF the FEW aovantageb OF be
ina q stranger in a sreat city. which
IN the oompletest form Of ioneii-
ness, In that thereby one enters
somewhat into an appreciation ot
what was the normal lot OF Jesus
OF Nazareth. The lonely Christ
moves our hearts. He went about
among uncomprehendtnS and un-
sympathetic people. Apparently,
tho one refuge which he enjoyed
during his public ministry was the
home OF Martha Mary and Lar
arus. well-todo friends who dwelt a
short distance out OF Jerusalem. IN
the village OF Bethany. on the Mount
OF Olives. Just a little way beyond
the Garden OF GethsemAne.
Some homes are like that, a
haven for heavy hearts. Always a
woman makes them so. and We
know all that II Is necessary 10
learn concerning the qualities OF
Martha and Mary, from the simple
fact that they made the sort OF
home that Jesus loved, for It's rest
and refreshment and sympathy. To
create such a home as that II a
greater career for woman than
20 achieve any public success think
able. II was the strong ties ~
friendship, KNIT, ~ l.fy always hest
be done. under a rooftree, that made
possible this great story Of the
Easter that preceded Easter There
was brother In the family, and
that all three must have been the
rcAl good society" OF the neighbUr-
hood IL clear from the record that
Jesus loved them all
When the Dread Telegram Gomez.
Some homes never receive q tele-
gram without dread that II may con
tain the message which comes 40
often by wire that every day hun.
dreds OF them are handled by the
telegraph companies One day tho
ancient oriental equivalent OF a tele.
gram. a swirl messenger. sought
out Jesus beyond the Jordan TO ten
Him that His friend Lazarus was
sick unto death. Yes, friend OF tho
heavy heart. who saw life's bright
ness seem 20 disappear In a yellow
Telegram. Jesus went thru that ex.
perience also He was touched
with q feeling OF our innrmities
Yet the prayer OF the sorrowing
sisters was not answered az they
expected The Friend did not mount
the fastest steed in Perea and mako
all possible haste over the hilly
road 10 Jerusalem. He deliberate
ly waited. 10 the surprise OF Hts
disciples. who knew the depth OF
the Masters affection for that
Bethany family. He had larger
plans for them all than they could
know. Dfmly. we now perceive how
the raising Of lazarus was an es-
sential part OF the plan OF Christ,
being the antecedent cause OF the
Triumphal Entry. and the occasion
for precipltating the climax that led
10 Calvary. But all this was un.