The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-06
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
BY w. 7. ELLIS
BY w. I. ELLIS

teacher, from Zoroaster to Mohammed,
weeping in human sympathy and love,
over the sorrows of his friends?
The greatest truth in the Bible is
wrapped up in this shortest verse. 1t
yiSualizes the Man of Sorrows in the
completeness of His comprehending,
compassionate love for man. Before
ever we come to the great central
truth of Easter, we have this picture
of the Lord of life comrade of
hearts that mourn. Despite all that
He knew about death, and the need
lessness of grief, He did not disdain
the tears of earth, even as a mother
shares the infant sorrows of her child,
altho she knows full we'll their need
lessness and futility. By every Chris
tan grave, Christ, the bringer of joy
and victory out of death, yet stands
weeping with those who need most of
all the comfort of companionship
which fully understands.
Even the bystanders, orientals as
they were, and accustomed to extrav-
agant display of emotions, exclaimed,
as they saw Jesus groaning within
himself, and stirred by a convulsion of
affection and fellowship. Behold,
how He loved him. That is the spec
tacle of the ages: the love of Christ.
Our day makes much of His wisdom
and His leadership and His lordship;
let us not forget, tho. that first of all,
and over all, Jesus reveals himself in
a love so great that it breaks these
stubborn hearts of ours. Whenever we
are tempted to think harsh thoughts
about God, we have but to recall the
shortest text of all, Jesus wept." For
there is nothing true of Christ that is
not a revelation of the Father who
sent Him.
Too Good To Be True"
Close as they were to His spirit,
Mary and Martha could not credit the
full import of His plan for them and
for Lazarus. When He would be di-
rected to the tomb, they tried to dis
suade Him. They could have trusted
their Lord up to a certain extent to
do wonders for their brother while he
was i'll. But, as we have all been do
ing ever since, they put metes and
bounds to His power. That life should
come out of death seemed altogether
too good to be true" to quote the
inf1del phrase of our day. Why do
sceptics and cynics question immor-
tally? Because it seems to a mind
too proud to accept God in all His
declared goodness as too good to be
true
Then Jesus opened the grave with
prayer He knew the dramatic char
acter of that hour. Not a single hands
h of ee frnm s clouds of hate
browning miracle, which He contem-
plated, was to bring to a climax all
the plots of His foes. None the less,
with simple, son-ike prayer to the
Father in heaven. He stopped down
and cried, Lazarus, cometh forth
Yes, the dead obey Him. Christ is
lord of life and death. His voice reach
ed across the mysterious boundaries,
and brought back the spirit of His
friend once more into it's earthly hab-
itaton. There are no words that can
make the wonder simple. At the
command of Jesus the gates of death
swung open. outward, Lazarus, an in
Estant before a corpse, came back to
walk once more with his loved ones
the familiar haunts. He was to sit
again at the breaking of bread with
his Lord.
Christendom has heard this tale of
Lazarus so often that the edge of the
marvel has gone from it. To all
who beheld it. this was the supreme
act of the ministry of Jesus. Even tho
some disbelieved, for seeing is not be-
lieving. for the perverse heart-the
raising of Lazarus meant nothing less
than the complete vindication of the
claims of Jesus to the Messia hship.
He plainly shared Gods prerogative
of controlling life.
What Did Lazarus Know?
Browning has a poem about Lag
aruS, back from the realms beyond
the grave. The idea is an alluring
one. What secrets were hidden in
this mans soul. as he returned for a
tune TO be as other men? We cannot
know, of course. Nobody has ever
imagined heaven. Countless poets
have tried. I like that modern and
daring bit of poetry by Nicholas wash
ell Lindsay, General Booth Enters
Heaven"
Booth led boldly with his big bass drum,
Are you washed in the blood of the
Lamb? -
The saints smiled. gravely, and they said,
Hes come"
Are you washed in the blood of the
Lamb?''
Walking lepers followed rank on rank.
Lurching braves from the bitches dank /;
Drabs from the alleyways, and drug
Minds. still passion ridden-soul powers
frail,
vermin- eaten saints, with moldy breath,
Unwashed legions with the ways of
Are you washed in the blood of the
Every slum had sent its half score
The round world o'er-Booth had groaned
Every banner that the wide world flies
Bioomed with glory and transcendent dyes !;
Big-voiced lassies made their banjos bang
Pranced. fanatical, they shrieked and
sang.
Are you washed in the blood of the
Hallelujas, 1t was queer to see
Bull -necked convicts with that land rnato
free
Looms with bazoos blowing blare, blare,
blare,
On, on, upward thru the golden air.
Are you washed in the blood of the
Lamb?'
Booth died blind, and still by faith he
trod,
! Eyes still dazzled by the ways of God.
/ o. ho
Eagle countenance in sharp relief
Beard a-flying. air of high command
/ Unabated in that holy land.
Jesus came from out the court house
door.
! Stretched His hands above the passing
poor.
| Booth not but led his queer ones
| there,
| Round and round the mighty court house