The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-03-06
Ry RALPH ROGERS
The raising Of Lazarus. John
1I:1.S@


The raising OF Lazarus. John
1I:1.H
One of the greatest joys in life
is the fellowship with friends,
trusted and true. In such a group
free and frank discussion can be
had on any subject, common plea
sures and interests are shared and
an intimacy is developed which
unites them in a bonds OF love.
Such was Jesus relation with
the little family at Bethany, with
Mary, Martha and Lazarus. We
can understand that Jesus never
passed that way without stopping.
ALI that Jesus said and did was
not recorded. The Gospels give on
ly snatches of little incidents here
and there in the brief but active
ministry of our Lord. 1t is left for
us to fill in the details. There were
no doubt other families where Je-
sus found an equally warm well
come. In this home in Bethany the
sisters sent word to Jesus say
ing, che whom thou lowest is sick"
We can understand why Jesus did
not hurry to the bedside when he
remarked, "This sickness is not ur-
to death, but for the glory OF God. !"
In the sisters we find two dis
tinct types of personality. The re-
cords seem to emphasize that Ma
ry is the finer type of personality.
However, it is Martha and not Ma
ry who is the patron saint of this
generation. Martha shows a strong
er character and is more likable.
She is downright practical, honest
and unselfish. Luke tells US (10:38)
that the house was hers and she
seems to be master of all situa-
tons. She was a little hustered at
times as she prepares for her
guests, energetic and fuSsy in her
kindness which we all like. In any
emergency or problem she shows
rem arkable self-restraint as we
find it in the loss of her brother.
Such poignant silence as a rule is
sign and proof of the deepest grief.
Her strong character is shown
when she went to meet Jesus (vss
2O-27) and in her impressive staun-
chness and loyalty simply said,
lord, if thou hadst been here my
brother had not died"
Mary was quite different. She re-
manned in the house but when she
went to meet Jesus she simply fell
at his feet and repeated what Mar
tina and perhaps the family had
been saying all the while, "If thou
Ihadst been here" We find Mary
the softer and more emotional type
likely to be swept away into more
extravagances of mood and action,
making it somewhat trying for
those around her. Her wailing no
doubt moved Jesus to weep and
those around said, Behold how he
loved him."
This little family which had en-
tertained Jesus so many times and
had learned to love and trust him
expected much from him. While
Lazarus lay dying they had sent
word to Jesus. Yet their beloved
friend had not come and the bro
Their had died and now it was four
days. Hope had vanished. The
great gate we call death had COM
pleted the separation and this young
man had been taken out Of the
world. They could only ask why
as we still continue to do and fail
to understand. There is always this
huma an confusion, despair and grief
at the death of a dear one. When
Manning lost his dearest he said,
"Do not speak to me, l can just
bear it when l keep quite quiet. "
When we pray for our dear ones
then see them snatched away in
death we feel that the prayers
were disregarded or unheard. Not
understanding God and his divine
plan we too often turn our back on
him in disappointment and resent.
ment.
We do not give orders to God.
We do not hurry Christ. He comes
when he will and there is always
purpose in his actions. We cannot
change all that. What Jesus did
and does is for the glory OF the
Father and perhaps someday We
will understand. It will be noted
that the family of Lazarus show.
ed disappointment, but there was
| no resentment in their hearts. Like