Evening star., 1917-04-07
JESUS RAISES LAZARUS FROM
THE DEAD easter Lesson.
John, 11.1T-44.
Golden Text: Jesus said unto
her. I am the resurrection and
the life. John. 1928.
BY Rev. II. 7. Stevenson.

Easter empha sizes the message OF the
resurrection. This weeks lesson is
taken out of its proper connection in
Johns gospel to give to the students
of the Sunday school world an appro-
pirate lessen IN harmony with the
spirit of Easter. The raising of Laza-
rus is recognized as Christ's crowning
miracle. that displayed all the great
principles of all the other resurrections.
Upon two other occasions Jesus dem
onstrated His mastery over death The
young daughter of Jairus. who evident
ly had just died, was revived by the
words spoken by the Lord in the upper
room. The widows son was being
borne TO the grave when the Masters $
touch restored to the stricken mother
her beloved son. Four days after the
death OF Lazarus. Christ appeared al
the home OF sorrow for the purpose OF
raising His friend from the grave
The Master had a genius tor forming
friendships and the bethany homo fur-
nished Him retreat and a welcome
shelter when the bitter opposition OF
enemies made Jesus long Tor the at
moSphere OF sympathy and love IL ls
about two sniies from Jerusalem 10
modern Bethany, that is called To-Day
by the Arabs EI-'Azariyeh. which name
is derived from Lazarus. It is 4 NOS
have grown up around the center OF
tod3y's lesson. The place wheFe Jesus
loved to he was little closer TO Jeru-
salem. thai IL VAS suburban nome
whose hospitality he frequently en-
joyed when lie made Ills numerous
visits TO the nations capital
The two sisters of the bethany nome
naturally turned 10 Jesus "hen liittr
brother was taken seriously III 1neS
knew He was working beyond Jordan,
where John had first recognized the
Master Luke has given a description
of the success that CHRIST acnieFeo II,
His Berean ministry of healing ana
preaching. The Jews we're aroused by
the success of His Berean ministry to
renewed opposition. They Followed
Him seeking to stem the tide OF poPu-
lar favor and ind some charge upon
which they could secure His condemna-
ton The sisters had not requested
Jesus to come. because they knew the
danger that He would face Dull .hey
expected that lie would come Ihey
knew His heart would be touched by
the serious Illness of Lazarus, and his
subsequent death. which made the
Bethany home house of sorrow.
The forms through which men ex-
press their sorrow and bury their deac
have changed through the progress OF
the centuries and of civilization. Ger
tain elements are familiar and eternal.
for the touch of nature that makes 'he
whole world akin Is seen in the aroused
emotions. thfs nov liS tt'tt anu tfic So
row that awakens n response in other
hearts which time and distance 90
not DESTROY MI who have seen loved
ones answer the call OF death can SYM
pathfze with the sisters. surrounded by
the hired female mourners. kinsfoIk
and friends They can understand how
often they would wish that the Master
had been with them before Lazarus
died They knew His affection for their
brother, and they were not surprised
when they learned that lie was COM
Ing The lovers of Christ will not be
surprised when His return is an
Nounced.
The disciples had objected when. after
two days delay, Jesus informed them
that He was going to return TO Judea.
Although certain that His return meant
death. the Lord turned His face once
more toward Bethany in response TO
the call of His suffering friends whom
He loved. 1t was to manifest GODS
glory that He delayed His departure.
While He waited Jesus sympathized
with the sisters. who, He knew. had
counted upon His responding TO their
message.
"If thou hadst been here" expressed
not only their genuine regret. but also
their conviction that Jesus would have
prevented the triumph OF death over
Lazarus had He been present They
did not know that Christ had come 10
call the beloved brother back from the
grave. He arrived on the fourth day
after Lazarus death. An oriental fu-
neral lasted ten days. The "three days
of weeping" had passed, and 1t was the
beginning of the seven days of lamen-
tations" The sisters did not complain
about the Masters delay. They prob
ably knew that Lazarus had died when
the message reached Jesus. Their con-