The Raymer enterprise., 1917-04-05
LESSON FOR APRIL 8
JESUS RAISED LAZARUS FROM
THE DEAD-EASTER LESSON.

GOLDEN TExT-Jesus said unto her.
! am the resurrection. and the life.-John
u26.
This lesson occurred about two
months before the crucifxion, Jesus
being in Bethabara at the time Of this
call (See John 1910; 1929. There
are four recorded cases of resurrec-
ton from the dead: Jairus' daughter
Matt. o., the son Of the widow Of
Main tLuke y, Lazarus, and also Je-
sus after his crucifixion John 20).
l. The Lesson Of unbellef. 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 these 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
wonder-worklng 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
have often called death a sleep, but al
ways one from which there was no
awakening; hence the skeptIcism Of
these sisters is not surprising. ~
They limited the power Of Jesus to his
person-"lf thou hadst been here" (2)
They also limited his power to a GER
tain place, "If thou hadst been here"
". 2D.
u. Tho Lesson Of Pain. The suffer-
Ing Of these sisters produced sacrifice
and self-deyotion. Suffering brings
blessing to others. 1t Is also means
Of self-culture. Suffering drives US to
the Christ, and reveals to us the un.
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
new and glorious thought about the
resurrection. Il am the resurrection
and the llfe." II 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-
celve life (John 3:36). There is
resurrection Of life and there Is
resurrection Of damnatI0n (J0hn
5:29). Martha answered, "Yea Lord,
l believe that thou art the Christ, the
Son Of God" 1t Is all-important that
we should really. believe that (John
20;81; John 5:1-5).
III. 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. "The Mas
ter is come" He still comes, and
calls to US, and, II, like Martha, we
spring up gladly to meet him, he will
fill our lives with blessing and Joy. Je-
sus came to these sisters indlvidu-
ally wv. q, 28). He had entered the
danger zone in order to be there
". 81, and 1t was Thomas, the
doubter. who wanted to accompany
him ". 16). Jesus wept," not with
the wailing Of professional mourners,
but with the silent, grief-stricken SIS
ters.
w. The Lesson Of Power. Jesus
had let natural causes work to their
fullest extent. Coming to the tomb,
Jesus said ". 39). "Take ye 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, viz, that
he allowed Lazarus to die, to be
buried, and his body to reach the
point Of putrefacton, 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
(Rom. s:28).
Browning has given us wonder
fully imaginative picture Of his re-
newed life on earth:
And Oft the mans soul springs into his
face
As II he saw again and heard again
His 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 to the Pharisees to
relate what they had seen, only to
meet with rebuff.
The remainder Of the chapter is oc-
cupied with the plotting Of the Phari-
sees against Jesus, and from this
grave there stretches the shadow Of
a cross upon the path Of Jesus.
This miracle ranks next to Christ's
own resurrection as a demonstration
Of Immortality.