Middletown transcript., 1917-04-07
JESUS RAISED LAZARUS FROM
THE DEAD-EASTER LESSON.

cfpleS were on 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
wonder-wOrking 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. Q)
They limited the power of Jesus to his
persOn-"If thou hadst been here" (2)
They also limited his power to GER
tain place, "If thou hadst been here"
" Ply. (3) Again they limited it to a
certain time, "at the last day" ". 24),
and (4) they limited his power to nat
ural law. 'He stinketh" ". 39) ;
therefore his power could not be exer-
cised.
II. The Lesson of Pain. The suffer-
ing of these sisters produced sacrifice
and self-devotion. Suffering brings
blessing to others. 1t is also a 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 q
new and glorious thought about the
resurrection. II am the resurrection
and the life" If 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-
ceive life John 3:36). There is a
resurrection of life and there is a
resurrection of damnation John
:29). Martha answered, "Yea Lord,
believe that thou art the Christ, the
Son Of Cod" 1t is all-important that
we should really believe that John
20 81 f; I John :1-5).
Ill. The Lesson of Love. Love al
ways manifests itself in deeds. Mar
tha 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, if, like Martha, we
spring up gladly to meet him, he will
fill our lives with blessing and JOY. Je-
sus came to these sisters individu-
ally wv. p, 28). He had entered the
danger zone. in order to be there
". 81, and it 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. The sight Of their sorrow
troubles him ". 23), the evidence of
his love was communicated to the
Jews ". 36), but his grief was not
over the death Of his loved friend, but
over the unbelief of those with whom
he was dealing wv. 81, 3S).
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; 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, to be
buried, and his body to reach the
point Of 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
for the glory Of God. Out of such
extreme circumstances Of seeming i'm
possibility God manifested his glory
rom. 8:28}. John Bunyan, writing
Pilgrims Progress" in Bedford Jail,
Is q modern illustration Of the use of
privation and discouragement to the
glory Of God. Notice, also, that in the
exercise Of his power Jesus uses hui
man agencies ". Al, AZ. God has the
ability but we have responsibility,
2. g., we are to respond according to
our ability, and he gives enabling
power. Jesus knew that his prayer on
behalf of his friend had been an
,wered before it was uttered ". 42),
and his friend at once recognizes his
voice ". Az. This record is q plain,
calm, unadOrned statement of q Won
1erful fact. 1t bears upon its face the
marks of it's genuineness. Those pres
ent saw the glory of God ". 4O).
IN his shroud, Lazarus came forth,
he death bandages still clirging to
hand and foot. Not a word is said
lbout his experience in the grave, nor
10 we have any authentic record re-
,arding his subsequent life.
Browning has given us a wonder
ully imaginative picture of his re-
lewed life on earth:
And oft the mans soul springs into his
face
As if he saw again and heard again
His sage that bade him rise,
And he did rise.
The effect Of the miracle was two
old. Many who were present be-
ieved on Jesus, others did not.