The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-06

T "A
From the Dead."-John 11:17-44
An Easter Deed Befor~ Easter Day.
1t was a group of seventeenth CEN
fury Spanish sepulchres, seen yester-
day beneath bearded live oaks. of
Georgia, and made of "tappy, that
curious oyster-shell concrete, which
set my mind to ranging over the
graves of earth as 1 have sen them.
They are everywhere:-the metal,
bath-tub-like sarcophogi which 1 saw
the Arabs eXcavating from ruins old
er than Babylon, at old Asshur, AS
syria; the huge stone graves of
Phoenicia; the mighty mausoleums of
Egypt; the hill-tombs which mort
gage so much of China's landscapes;
the ancient graveyards of Europe
what a succession of them throng to
mind And every grave was once
grief. Each brought some minds face
to face with earth's Oldest riddle Does
the highway of life end in a grave?
At some time or other this ques-
ton is of supreme interest to every
body The death notices in today's
newspaper mean more to some read
er than the most startling news on the
first page. This Easter is the most
solemn of all the days that ever dawn
ed to a multitude of human hearts, for
it brings them squarely up to the
problem of immortality, interpreted
in terms of the dear dead So with
reVerent sincerity we approach the
resurrection theme, as it is set forth
for us in the raising of Lazarus from
the dead, the assigned Sunday school
| lesson.
A Home for a Lonely Heart.
One of the few advantages of be-
ing a stranger in great city, winch
is the coRnpletest form Of loneliness.
is that thereby one enters somewhat
into an appreciation of what was the
l N-rNfI IN
lonely Christ moves our hearts. He
went about among uncomprehend1ng
and unsympathetic people. Appar-
emily, the one refuge which he en-
joyed during his public ministry was
the home of Martha, Mary and Lag
| arus well-to-do friends who dwelt
short distance out of Jerusalem, in
the village of Bethany, on the Mount
of Olives, just a little way beyond
the Garden of Gethsemane.
Some homes are like that, a haven
for heavy hearts. Always woman
makes them So and we know all that
| it is necessary to learn concerning
the qualities of Martha and Mary,
from the simple fact that they made
the sort of home that Jesus loved, for
| it's rest and refreshment and SYM
pathy. To create such home as that
is a greater career for woman than
to achieve any public success think
able. 1t was the strong ties of friend
ship knit, as may always best be done,
under a rooftree that made possible
this great story of the Easter that pre-
ceded Easter. There was a brother
| in the family, and that all three must
have been the real good society of
the neighborhood is clear from the
record that Jesus loved them all. -
When the Dread Telegram Comes.
Some homes never receive a tele-s
gram without dread that it may cenS
tain the message which comes so pfteTf
| by wire that every day hundreds &C
| them are handled by the telegraph
| companies. One day the ancient ori-1
entail equivalent of a telegram, swift
messenger, sought out Jesus beyond
the Jordan, to tell Him that His
! friend Lazarus was sick unto death.
Yes, friend of the heavy heart, who
saw life's brightness seem to disap-
| pear in a yellow telegram, Jesus went
thru that experience also. He was
| touched with a feeling of our mfr
| mites"
| sisters was not answered as they eX-
pected. The Friend did not mount the
| fastest steed in Perea and make all
possible haste over the hilly road to
Jerusalem. He deliberately waited, to
! the surprise of His disciples, who knew
the depth of the Masters affection
| for that Bethany family. He had
larger plans for them all than they
could know. Dimly, we now perceive
how the raising of Lazarus was an es-
sential part of the plan of Christ, be-
ing the antecedent cause of the Tri-
umphal Entry, and the occasion for
precipitating the climax that led to
| Calvary. But all this was unknown to
the family and to the disciples. To US
it is not given to see the heaven side
of the divine designs.
| This sickness is for the
| glory of Cod said Jesus. So Laza-
rus had a part, all unrealiZed by him
self and those closest to him, in work.
ing out the inscrutable will of God.
! And this is the last word that can be
said in comfort to all who grieve be-
| low. We cannot explain, we cannot
| understand, but we know that the
Father whose wisdom is equaled by
| His love, is carrying out purposes
which are born in a Father heart.
| Some time we shall understand. Mean
while we rest upon the word of Jesus,
| that sickness and sorrow and even
death may lie for the glory of God;
and to glorify God is the chief end of
man. Our attitude may wisely be
that which is inscribed on the tomb of
! a distinguished soldier and citizen of
| Wellsboro, Pa.,-"Awaiting further
| orders"
The Doubter Who Was a Hero.
Up in Jerusalem stones awaited
! Jesus, should He comply with the re-
! quest of the sisters. as His disciples
| were quick to remind him. Yet, after
waiting two days. He announced that.
although Lazarus was now dead. He
would go to him. Thereupon Thomas,
whom history has written down as the
! doubter spoke up like brave and
loyal soul, Let us also go, that we
may die with him." Why should we
not remember Thomas always as at
| his best, ready to make the supreme
! proof of friendship?
First Martha and then Mary met
Jesus on the way, as he drew near to
Bethany. Both accosted Him with a
remark that was rebuke: If thou
| hadst been here our brother had not
died" All, the ifs and the butts
that we hurl at God! Consider what
cd from nnnrtalS of irlna L