The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-04-05
LESSON FOR APRIL 8
JESUS RAISED LAZARUS FROM
THE DEAD-EASTER LESSON.

=, ,or $50 'S'u'icSioH, ana tne Hfe.-John
This lesson occurred about two
months before the cruclfxlon, Jesus
being In Bethabara at the time OF this
call (See John 10:40; 1929. There
are four recorded cases Of resurrec-
ton from the dead: Jairus' daughter
(Matt. 9), the son of the widow of
Main CLuke y, Lazarus, and also Je-
sus after his cruclfxion John 20).
J.. The Lesson Of unbeiief. Bethany,
the home Of Lazarus, Is on the south
eastern slope of Mt. Ollvet, two miles
from Jerusalem. Christ and his dis
clples were on the east side Of the Jor.
dan, having been driven there by the
hostility of the Jews Uohn 10:31). He
purposely delays his stay in that place
mat 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 n sleep, but al.
ways n from which there was no
awakening; hence the skepticism of
these sisters Is not surprising. %
They limited the power of Jesus TO his
person-"f thou hndst been here" (2)
They also limited his power to n GER
tain place, IF thou hadst been here"
" 2I. (3) Again they limited II TO n
certain time. INT the last day" ". 24),
and () they limited his power to nat
ural law. "He stinketh" ". 800 ;
therefore his power could not be exer.
cised.
u. The Lesson Of Pain. The suffer.
Ing Of these sisters produced sacrifice
ana ~self-deyotion. Suffering brings
blessing to others. II Is also n means
of se%lf-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 Ire seems TO be least
kind. In the midst Of her skepti.
clsm and pain Jesus gave Martha n
new and glorious thought about the
resurrection. IL am the resurrection
and the life" If we desire that, all
we have to do is TO get Jesus himself
. John 5:12). Resurrection has to
do with the body, and life has to do
With the spirit (John II ~. All VIII
ultimately experience resurrection, but
those who believe on him re-
life John 1880. There is a
resurrection of life and there is n
Of damnatipn John
I:29). Martha answered, "Yea Lord,
believe that thou art the Christ, The
Son of God" 1t is all-important that
We should really believe that John
70 81; | John 5:1-5).
I'LL. The Lesson Of Love. Love al.
ways m%anlfests itself in deeds. Mar.
In secretly and quickly arose and
eft the wailing friends to 20 and
meet the waiting Master. 1.-THE Mas.
.er Is come" He still comes. and
'alls TO us, and, If, like Martha, We
up gladly TO meet him, he will
Ill our lives with blessing and joy. Je-
came to these sisters indiyldu-
lily wv. p, 2S). He had entered the
hanger zone in order to be there
". 81, and 1t was Thomas, the
loubter, who wanted to accompany
lin ". 16). Jesus wept," not with
he wailing of professional mourners,
with the silent, grief-stricken sig,
ers. The sight of their sorrow
roubles him ". 23), the evidence Of
lis love was communicated to sne
'ews ". 36), but his grief was not
'ver the death of his loved friend, but
'ver the unbelief of those with whom
e was dealing wv. 81, 3S).
". The Lesson of Power. Jesus
ad let natural causes work to their
ullest extent. Coming to the tomb,
said ". 39), Take We away
he stone" 1t was four days after the
cath of Lazarus before he came
orth. Jesus was soon to die and
ise In three days after his entomb-
lent, The stone had to be removed
the tomb Of Lazarus; 1t rolled
self away from the tomb of Christ.
he restrictions which Christ placed
pom his exercise of power, viz, that
e allowed Lazarus to die, to be
uried, and his body to reach the
ONT of putrefaction, and not to come
)rth until Jesus himself, In his body,
as present at the tomb, emphasizes
lie lesson of the restraint of power
,r the glory of God. Out of such
circumstances Of seeming i'm
ssSibility God manifested his glory
Rom. $3.50. John Bunyan, writing
Pilgrims Progress" in Bedford Jail,
a modern Illustration of the use of
'ivation and Encouragement to the
Org Of God. Notice, also, that in The
,erclse of his power Jesus uses bu.
agencies ". Al, 44). God has the
but we have responsibility,
&, We are to respond according to
II ability, and he gives enabling
'wer. Jesus knew that his prayer on
half of his friend had been an,
'ered before 1t was uttered ". 42),
ID his friend at once recognizes his
ice ". Az. This record Is a plain,
I'm, unadorned statement of n won
rful fact. 1t bears upon its face the
lrks of its g|enuineness. Those pres.
t saw the glory of God ". 40).
his shroud, Lazarus came forth,
e death bandages still cllnging to Il:
nd and foot. Not a word is said 4:
out his experience in the grave, MOI :
we have any authentic record re.
his subsequent life.
Browning has given us a wonder. ,
l.. H.. A..