Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1917-04-12
LESSON FOR APRIL 8
JESUS RAISED LAZARUS FROM
THE DEAD-EASTER LESSON.


LESSON TEXT-John n;17-g. q. a.
(Read II to 40
GOLDEN TEXT--Jesus said unto ner.
l am the resurrection. and the life.-John
1925.
This lesson occurred about two
months before the crucifxion, Jesus
being In Bethabara at the time Of this
call (See John 1910; 1:2S). There
are four recorded cases of resurrec-
ton from the dead: Jalrus' daughter
(Matt. o., the son of the widow of
Main duke y, Lazarus, and also Je-
sus after his crucifxion (John 20).
!. The Lesson Of unbelief. 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 there by the
hostility of the Jews (JOhn 0.31). 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 discl-
Pies, Lazarus Is dead" Philosophers
have often called death a sleep, but al
ways one from which there was no
awakening; hence THE skeptlcism of
these sisters is net surprising. ID
They limited the power Of Jesus to his
person-"If thou hadst been here" GU
They also limited his power to a GER
tain place, IF thou hadst been here"
(v- 21).
n The Lesson Of Pain The suffer-
ing of these sisters produced sacrifice
and self-devotion. Suffering brings
blessing to others. It is also means
of self-culture. Suffering drives us to
the Christ, and reveals to Us the un-
realized side of Christ's character
w. 251. 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 a
new and glorious thought about the
resurrection. 81 am the resurrection
and the life" If we desire that, all
we haNe to do is to get Jesus himself
| Il J0ha 5:12). Resurrection has to
do with the body, and; life has to do
with the spirit John 17:3l All will
ultimately experience resurrection, but
only those who believe on him re-
ceive' Me John 3 1880. 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 3d. John :1-5).
Ill. The Lesson Of Love-. Love al
ways nanifests itself in deeds. Mar
tina secretly and quickly arose and
left the waillng 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 onn lives with blessing and JOY. Je-
sus came to these sisters individu-
ally Cvv. 81, 2S). He had entered the
| danger zone in order to be there
| Nv 81, and it was Thomas, the
dOubter, who wantedi To, accompany
him Nv. 16). "Iesus wept," mot with
the wailing of professional mourners,
but with the silent, grief-stricken sis
tars
w. The Lesson of Power. Jesus
had let naturall causes. work to their
fullest extent. Coming to the tomb
Jesus said w. 800, '"Tale We 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 eXerelse of power, viz, thai
he allowed Lazarus to die, to be
buried, and his body to reach tht
point of putrefaction.. and not to CONS
forth until Jesus himself, In his body
was present at the tomb, emphasizes
the lesson Of the restraint of powel
for the glory of God. Out of such
extreme circumstances Of seeming inn
possibility God manifested his glor.
(Rom. S:28).
Browning has given us u wonder
fully imaginative picture Of his re
newea life on earth:
And of the mans soul springs Into Id
face
AS If he saw again and heard again
His sage that bade him rise,
And he did rise.
The effect Of the miracle vas two
fold. Many who were present be
heved on Jesus. others did not.
Some went to the Pharisees B
relate what they had ssen, only Z
meet with rebuff.
The remainder of the chapter is q
cupied with the plotting of the Phar
sees against Jesus, and from thi
grave there stretches the shadow Q
= cross upon the path of Jesus.
This mirac,e ranks next to Christ
own resurrection as demonstrate
. of lmmortallty.
: Are we on resurrection ground
} Has the stone been rolled away1
The resurrection Of Lazarus prove
that our earthly existence Is only ten