The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-02-18
Sunday. Feb. 81.

IN the village OF Detllohy IN
. yond Olivet and two miles distant
from Jerusalem dwelt Martha
Mary and Lazarus. They were
among the most devoted disciples
of Jesus and he was always u most
welcome guest In their home. IL
has been inferred that they were
wcll-to-do If not wealthy; then
home was their own; the ointment
used by Mary in amounting Jesus
was worth four hundred dollars IN
our day; they owned a tomb; ana
their sympathizing friends were
some of the prominent residents
of Jerusalem.
When Lazarus became Ill the
anxious sisters sent word TO Jesus.
But perhaps before the messenger
reached Jesus. Lazarus died. lie
was probably entombed, according
10 Jewish custom, on the day OF
his deceaSe. Then numerous
friends came 10 console the be
reaved sisters during the seven
DAYS of special mourning. When
the news of the illness of Lazarus
reached Jesus, he abode where he
was two days. This delay was
caused partly by the pressure of
his work beyond Jordan and partly
10 heighten the effect of the mir
acle ne was TO perform. So LaZa-
rus had been dead three days be-
fore .Iesus with his disciples set
out for Bethany. Very likely they
made the journey, estimated at
more than 20 miles. in one day.
reaching the scene OF sorrow
sometime before sunset.
THE ARRIVAL. OF JESUS
The Love of Jesus brought HIM
10 Rethany. II was desirable that
the meeting of Jesus with the be-
reayed sisters should not take
place in the presence OF a critlGai
crowd. Hence he stopped at the
outskirts of the village and prob
ably not far from the tomb. Ihere
Martha met him with the confi-
dent assertion. Lord, II thou
badst been here. my brother had
not died" She further declared
her faith in the Messiahship oil
Jesus Then she called Mary Who
followed by friends, rose up mas
tily and went out also TO meet the
Master. In the intensity OF her
grief Mary fell down at his ieet
uttering precisely the same Sehu-
ment as Martha. Doubtless theS
had often repeated it 20 each oth-
or during the past four days: Inc
excessive grief of Mary and the
lamentations of her associates
touched deeply the spirit OF Jesus
His agitation of mind was aiSo
mingled with holy indignation at
sin and it's consequences. Ihen
with sympathetic emotion nc m
ouired, "Where have ye lald
him ?" As the sorrowing party
moved on 10 the place OF burial
"Jesus wept." The Jews saw those
silent tears and exclaimed, no"
he loved himv ..o
Vet even in this sad hour there
must have been a touch OF criti-
cism i'm the query as to whether
one who was credited with open
inc the eyes of a man born olino
could not have kept Lazarus from
diving. Whether or not 1t was =
thrust at the miraculous power OF
Jasus another wave of holy IN
diVnation swept over him as ne
SaSain grooming in himself cometh
to the grave. ~
THE RAISING OF LAZARUS
The Power of Jesus was exnlolt.
ed at the tomb of Lazarus. FIRST
he ordered the attendants OF the
bereayed, OF perhaps his disciples
to take away the stone that closed
the entrance TO the vault. Inc
remonstrance of Martha was put
an expression Of a natural dell
cacy of feeling: the remains Oh
her departed brother were now III
no condition 10 he viewed. but
Jesus both strengthened and salts
fled her faith: "Said | not unto
thee, that, if thou wouidest De
lieye. thou shouldest see Tn eglory
of God?" Then they took away
the stone. and the dark sepulcner
stood open before them. Lirt,ng
his eyes heavenward, Jesus otfer.
ed 10 the Father a prayer OF
thanksgiving for past answers, an
expression of confidence as to fu-
ture blessing, and the desire that
bystanders 'may believe that thou
hsdst cent me-" Then he cried
into the sepulcher. Lazarus, come
FORTH Though bound hand and
foot in the cerements OF the grave
the dead came forth in obedience
TO the omnipotent Master. Loose
him. and let him go" was the terse
command of the Saviour. From
the bandages of death Lazarus
was Immediately released and thus
restored TO his joyous sisters, ne
walked once more among the Nv
ing. -u.,,l
The effect of this unparalleled
miracle was twofold. In the first
place, many of Mary's associates
who had seen the things which
Jesus did believed on him. Thus
one great purpose of the miracle
was realized. But. secondly, there
were some who would not be con-
WINGED that Jesus was the promis-
cd Messiah. So "some of them
went their ways TO the Pharlsees,
and told them what things Jesus
had done" The result was that
the Sanhedrin formally determin-
ed on his death. Though for a
time their plans did not mater
ialize, they succeeded ere long IN
mailing him to the cruel tree.
CHRIST HAS POWER
OVER DEATH ~
az The Absent Christ. IF thou
hadst been here" Over and over