The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-04-05
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNl6YSCt|00L
LESSON
(By l.. o. SELLERS. Acting Director Of
the Sunday School Course In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago)
Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union.
LESSON FOR APRIL 8
JESUS RAISED LAZARUS FROM
THE DEAD-EASTER LESSON.

i1:25. Wv y '''"' anu '''' ''e'-'0""
This lesson occurred about two
months before the crucifixion, Jesus
being In Bcthubara at the time of this
Gull (See John 10:40; :2s). There
are four recorded cases Of lesurrec-
tion from the dead: Jalrus' daughter
! (Matt. 81, the son Of the widow Of
Main Q.uke ., Lazarus, and also Je-
| Sus after his crucifixion (J0hn 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
clples were OH 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-
tunity for the manifestation Of his
wondcr-wol King 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 sleep, but al
/ ways one from which there was no
awakening; hence the skcpticism OF
! these sisters is not surprising. ()
They limited the power of Jesus to his
person-"If thou hndst been here" (2)
They also limited his power to Il GER
tain Dlace, "If thou hadst been here"
". Ply.
| u. The Lesson of Pain. The suffer
Ing OF these sisters produced sacrifice
ana Sclf-devOtlon. Suffering brings
blessing to others. 1t is also means
or Self-culture. Suffering drives us to
the Christ, and reveals to us the un-
realized side OF Christ's character
". 25). Jesus is o1tcn never more
kind than when he seems to be least
kind. In the midst OF her skcpti-
cism and pain Jesus gave Martha Il
new and glorious thought about the
resurrection. II am the resurrection
and the life" II we desire that, all
we have to do Is to get Jesus himself
u John 5:12). Resurrection has to
do with the body, and life has to do
with the spirit (John :3). All will
ultimately experience resurrection, but
only those who believe on him re-
, ceive life (John $500. There is n
resurrection Of life and there is o
resurrection Of damnatIon (Johp
ODD. Martha answered. "Yen Lord
: L believe that thou art the Christ, the
Son Of God" 1t is all-mportant that
we should really believe that (John
20 81; l John 5:1-5).
iil. The Lesson of Love. Love al
ways manifests Itself in deeds. Mar
tina secretly and quickly arose and
left the wailing friends to go and
meet the waiting Master. "1he Mas
fer is come" He still comes, ana
calls to us, and, If, like Martha, we
spring up gladly to meet him, he Will
I'LL our lives with blessing and joy. Je-
SuS came to these sisters indiyidu-
ally wv. 81, 2S). He had entered the
danger zone in order to be there
". -, and it was Thomas, the
uouDter, who wanted to accompany
him ". 10y. "Jesus wcpt," not with
the wniling Of professional mourners.
but with the silent, grief-strickcn sis
ters.
~. The Lesson Of Power. Jesus
nad let natural causes work to their
fullest extent. Coming to the tomb.
Jesus said ". 39), "rakc We 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 cntomb-
lhent. The stone had to be removed
from the tomb Of Lazarus; it rolled
Itself away from the tomb OF Christ.
The restrictions which Christ placed
upon his exercise Of power, viz, that
he allowed Lazarus to die, tr be
buried, and his body to reach the
point or 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
1or the glory OF God. Out Of such
extreme circumstances OF seeming i'm.
possibility God manifested his glory
(Rom. 8 9:28).
Browning has given us wonder
fully imaginative picture OF his re-
newed life on earth:
And Oft the mans soul springs into his
AS II he again and heard again
His sage that badc him rise.
And he did RISE
The effect Of the miracle was two
fold Many who were present be-
lievcd on Jesus, others did not.
Some went to the Phnrisecs t.,
relate what they had seen, only to
meet with rebuff.
The remainder Of the chapter Is oc-
cupIed with the plotting OF the Pharl.
sees against Jesus, and from this
grave there stretches the shadow of
n cross upon the path of Jesus.
This miracle ranks next to Christ's
own resurrection as n demonstration
Of Immortality.