The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1917-04-07
LESSON FOR APRIL 8
JESUS RAISED LAZARUS FROM
THE DEAD-EASTER LESSON.

LESSON TEXT-John nl7-g1. a. a.
ORcad r, TO az.
GOLDEN TENT-Jesus said unto her.
! am the resurrection. and the lifc.-John
u.25
This lesson occurred about two
months before the cruclfxion, Jesus
being In Bcthaharn at the time of this
call (Sce John 1O:i0; 1;2S). There
are four recorded cases Of rcsurrec-
ton from the dead: Juirus' daughter
(Mntt ~. the son Of the widow of
Main Uukc -, Lazarus, and also Je-
sus after his crucinXion Gohn 2O).
I. The Lesson Of Unbeiet. Bethany,
the home of Lazarus, is ON the south
eastern slope Of Mt. Olivet, two miles
from Jerusalem. Christ and his dis
clplos were ON the east side Of the Jor-
dan, having been driven there by the
hostility of the Jews (John 1O:3D. lie
purposcly delays his stay In that place
that this event might give an oppor-
tunity for the manifestation OF HIS
woodworking 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 sleep, but al
ways one from which there was no
awakening; hence the skepticism OF
these sisters Is not surprising. U)
They limited the power OF Jesus to his
pcrson-"lf thou hadst been here" (2)
They also limited his power to GER
iain place, "lf thou hadst been here"
". 21).
". The Lesson OF Pain. The suffer-
lnH OF these sisters produced sacrifice
and self-devotion. Suffering brings
blessing TO others. II Is also n means
Of self-culture. Suffering drives us to
the Christ, and reveals to us the un-
realized side OF Chrlst's character
". 25). Jesus is often never more
| kind than when he seems to be least
kind. In the midst of her sbeptI-
clsm and pain Jesus gave Martha "A
new and glorious thought about the
| resurrection. 81 am the resurrection
and the life" If we desire that, all
we have to do is TO get Jesus himself
| U John :12). Resurrection has To
do with the body, and life has to dc
with the spirit (John II :3). All will
ultimately experience resurrection, but
only those who believe on him re
ccive life (John $500. There is q
resurrection of life and there is a
resurrection of damnatlon (John
/ . :29). Martha answered "Yca Lord
| believe that thou art the Christ, the
son Of God" 1t is all-important that
we should really believe that (John
2O:31; | John 5:1-5).
~. The Lesson Of Love. Love nl
ways manfests 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" lie still comes, and
calls to us, and, If, like Martha, We
spring up gladly To meet him, he will
fiji our lives with blessing and JOY. Jc
sus came 10 these sisters indlyldu
ally wv. 2l, 2S). lie had entered the
danger zone in order 10 be there
". 81, and it was Thomas, tn,
doubter who wanted to accompany
him ". 16). "Jcsus wept," not Will
the wailing Of professional mourners
but with the silent, grlef-strlcken sis
ters.
~. The Lesson Of Power. Jesu,
had let natural causes work to thell
fullest extent. Coming to the tomb
Jesus said ". 800, "Take ye away
the stone" II was four days after tn,
death Of Lazarus before he cam,
forth. Jesus was soon TO die ant
rise In three days after his entomb
ment. The stone had to be remove,
from the tomb OF Lazarus; It role,
itself away from the tomb OF Christ
The restrictions which Christ place,
upon his exercise Of power, viz, tina
he allowed Lazarus to die, 70 b,
buried, and his body 10 reach tn,
point Of putrcfactlon, and not to com'
forth until Jesus himself IN his body
was present at the tomb, emphasize
tho lesson of the restraint OF powe
for the glory of God. out OF sucl
extreme circumstances OF seeming i'm
possibility God manifested his glor
Nom. S:2S).
Browning has given us a wonder
fully Imaginative picture of his re
newed life on earth:
And oft the mans soul springs into hi
face
As II he saw again and heard again
Ills sage that bade him rise.
And he did rise.