in her heart a faint hope, but too faint to be expressed, that Jesus might raise her brother from his grave. Already at least two miracles of resurrection had been wrought, and it is almost certain that there had been others. God will give it thee. We too can rest in this mighty Intercessor, whose prayer in our behalf cannot fail. 23. Jesus saith. The purpose of Jesus in these words and those that followed was to awaken and lift up her faith. Thy brother shall rise again. Those words were not only for her comfort, but for ours. The raising of Lazarus, soon to be wrought, was to be a foretoken of another higher and more glorious res urrection. 24. Martha saith. Her utterance shows that she possessed the most enlightened views of her time concerning the hereafter. Not in vain had the two sisters received Christ under their roof. The resurrection at the last day. Probably her thought of the resurrection was less consoling than ours in like circumstances. for as yet the truth had not been revealed in its glorious fullness. And even now but few Christians realize how completely the resurrection triumphs over death. 25. I am the resurrection and the life. A mighty utterance. In it Jesus asserts that the true life by which the future resurrection shall come is in himself and derived from him. The word life, and its verb live, are in the original zoe, a word which in this gospel is used especially with reference to the spiritual life as distinct from the physical. He that believeth in me. It is faith in Christ which gives union with him, brings his divine life into us, and thus imparts the true life to us. Though he were dead. A mistranslation, corrected in the Rev. Ver. "though he die." Yet shall he live. He who believes in Christ shares in Christ's life, divine in its origin and spiritual in its nature. He may die, but he has in him the power which shall yet rise above death. 26. Whosoever liveth and believeth. In our opinion this means, "Whosoever possesses that spiritual life by believing in me shall never die." Other commentators regard it as meaning, "Whoever, while in the physical life, believes on me." Believest thou this? thought that he desired as a friend to look upon the face of the dead; and reminds him that this would not be consoling, but rather repulsive, for corruption had already begun its work. Incidentally, her words prove the certainty of Lazarus's death, and thereby make the miracle more manifest. 40. Said I not unto thee. Perhaps this is a refer ence to the message sent to the sisters in verse 4 of the last lesson; perhaps to some unrecorded utterance of Jesus. If thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see. There was a sense in which the miracle of the raising of Lazarus was dependent upon the faith of the two sisters. Had they not possessed the heart of faith, a willingness to believe Christ, the miracle would not have taken place. Faith is spiritual insight, and he who believes sees. The glory of God. That is, a miracle which by revealing God's power discloses his glory. pressive attitude of prayer. Father, I thank thee 41. Jesus lifted up his eyes. A natural and exthat thou hast heard. In this prayer there seems to be a reference to some previous prayer, perhaps on the way to Bethany, culminating in the "groaning " before the sepulcher (v. 33). There can be no great spiritual triumph without a spiritual struggle. 42. I knew that thou hearest me always. Would that we might realize this as true with us as it was answered. Even when to "our blindfold eye" the with him No true prayer remains unheard or unanswer seems denied, the true and better answer is always given. Because of the people which stand by. The thanks was uttered publicly for the people's sake, not for God's; because God knew what was in the heart of his Son, while the people needed to have their thoughts turned, from the event at that moment to take place, to God who was about to effect the miracle. May believe that thou hast sent me. He said this before the miracle, showing an absolute confidence in his own power to work the miracle, and a revelation of his purpose in working it; which was to show to men that he came with a divine authority. 43. He cried with a loud voice. He could have called the dead man forth in a whisper, or by an act of Notice how Christ by hint, by statement, and by appeal his will without a spoken word; but he wished to show was drawing forth the faith of Martha. 27. I believe that thou art the Christ. We are not to suppose that Martha had an enlightened conception of Christ's personality, his divine nature, and his spiritual kingdom. But she believed in him as the Messiah, and that was faith sufficient for her day, Clearer views would come later to one who had laid the foundation of belief in the Messiahship of Jesus. 28-38. [These connecting verses are omitted in the lesson-helps, but they should be read from the Bible in the class. After her interview with Jesus, Martha returned to the house and quietly informed Mary that Jesus had came and had inquired for her-a fact which is not given in the account of the conversation. Mary went at once to meet Jesus, and fell at his feet, saying the same words that had been spoken by her sister in verse 21. All around were weeping, and Jesus also wept in sympathy with them. They came to the sepulcher, which was a cave, covered with a stone. 39. Take ye away the stone. He could have caused it to roll away by a word, but he chose to exercise their faith and make them, by partaking in the work, believe in the miracle more thoroughly. We cannot raise those who are dead in sin, but we can remove the hinderances which keep Christ from them. Martha... saith unto him. This remark comes more naturally from the active, practical Martha than from the quiet, retiring Mary. By this time he stinketh. She may have to all present-among whom were many unbelieversthat the power dwelt in himself. Lazarus, come forth. Literally, "Lazarus, hither! out!" There is no verb in the original. 44. He that was dead came forth. Prompt to obey the call of Christ, as the dead will obey it on the resurrection morning. Bound hand and foot. The body was wrapped round and round with long strips of cloth, the grave-clothes, the arms being pinioned to the side, and the feet tied together, so that there is reason in the ancient opinion that the coming forth of Lazarus was "a miracle within a miracle." Face was bound about. A cloth was wrapped around the face, but it is not certain whether it covered it. Loose him and let him go. This command broke the spell upon those around by giving them something to do. The gospel answers no questions about the condition of Lazarus during "those four days," and thus shows its truthfulness, for a fabricator would have invented many stories. One tradition is mentioned. It is said that the first question which he asked Christ after being restored to life was whether he must die again; and being told that he must, he was never more seen to smile. The reader who would study a most realistic concep tion of Lazarus after his resurrection will find it in Robert Browning's poem, An Epistle containing the strange Medical Experience of Karshish, the Arab phy sician. Another fine poem, of very different style, is by Tennyson, in "In Memoriam," No. XXXI. TIME.-Immediately after events of last lesson. CONNECTING LINKS.-From Bethabara to Bethany Jesus has gone with his disciples. Bethany lies close to Jerusalem. Danger is there. But Jesus heeds not when his loving attendants warn him his friend is dead. There is sorrow in Bethany, and only he can soften it. How shall he soften it? Let us study to see. DOCTRINAL SUGGESTION.-Victory over death. QUESTIONS FOR SENIOR STUDENTS. 1. Jesus and Martha, v. 17-27. What inference can be made from ver. 19 as to the social position of the family? What do we surely know concerning the party to which they belonged from ver. 24 ? How much faith did Martha have in Jesus's power? ver. 21. Was her faith equal to her own statement of it? Read carefully ver. 22 with ver. 24. What resurrection did Jesus mean in ver. 23 ? Who else besides Martha had made the same confes sion that is given in ver. 47 ? 2. Jesus and Mary, v. 28-37. How many had witnessed the interview between Martha and Jesus? How should Martha know Jesus had come when Mary did not know? ver. 20. What difference of character between these sisters is hinted at in this story? What suggestion that Mary and Martha had talked about Jesus healing their brother if he only could get to him before his death? vers. 21, 32. What light does this throw on ver. 3? How did our Lord's treatment of Mary and Martha differ? What lesson of this quarter is brought to mind by a question the Jews asked ? ver. 37. 3. Jesus and Lazarus, v. 38-44. Of what was Jesus's weeping and "groaning within himself" a sign? How does Martha's expression in ver. 39 show that she did not at all comprehend Jesus's words in vers. 25.26! When had Jesus said to her the words used in ver. 40? How do these words explain vers. 23, 25, 26 ? What evidence that Jesus had prayed some unnarrated prayer for this very occasion? ver. 41. What harmony between vers. 42 and 4 of this chapter? Jesus could have raised Lazarus in any way he chose. Why did he call with a loud voice? What after evidence is there that Lazarus was really raised from the dead? chap. 12, ver. 2. Practical Teachings. 1. Hope for Martha-sympathy for Mary-life for Lazarus. Jesus has for each of us just what we need. 2. "If thou hadst been here." How often we say if, if, if! But things had been ordered far wiser for them than their thoughts. So they are for us. The lesson is, believe! 3. How patient Jesus was with unbelief! How much he did that they might believe!" He is the same with us: O, how patient! 4. Life out of death for Lazarus. Spiritual life out of spiritual death for him that believeth. That may be you. Is it? 3. Jesus and Lazarus, v. 38-44. Teachings of the Lesson. Where in this lesson do we see 1. Faith in the presence of Jesus? 2. Faith in the power of Jesus? 3. Life through the power of Jesus? QUESTIONS FOR YOUNGER SCHOLARS. How long had Lazarus been dead when Jesus came to Bethany? Four days. Who went out to meet Jesus? Martha. What did she say to him? "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died." What was Jesus's answer? "Thy brother shall rise again." What did Martha think that Jesus meant ? That Lazarus should rise at the last day. What did Jesus say to her? (Repeat the Golden Text.) Why did he say this? To tell her that in him was power to raise Lazarus to life at that moment. Who did Jesus say should live again? All who be lieve in him. What was Martha's reply to Jesus? "I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God." What word did Martha bring Mary? "The Master is come, and calleth for thee." What did Mary do? She fell down at his feet and wept. What did Jesus ask her? "Where have ye laid him? " How did Jesus show his love and sorrow at the grave? He wept. What did he tell the people to do? To take away the stone from the tomb. That all might see Why did he pray to the Father? that he did nothing without God. What happened when he called, "Lazarus, come forth?" Lazarus came out of the tomb alive. Words with Little People. What a blessed Golden Text! read the whole verse. Do you think it is almost too wonderful to be true, that Jesus has power to raise the dead to life again? O but it is true, darlings. That dear little body that went to sleep and was laid "under the violets" will surely rise again, and Jesus will make it like his own glorious body. Then he will take it to the "Beautiful heaven, where all is light; THE LESSON CATECHISM. [For the entire school.] 1. How long had Lazarus been buried when Jesus came to Bethany? Four days. 2. What did Jesus say to Martha. the sister of Lazarus, in the Golden Text? "Jesus said," etc. 3. How did Jesus show his sympathy at the grave of Lazarus ? What command did Jesus give? forth!" 5. What followed the The dead man came forth living. Jesus wept." 4. "Lazarus, come words of Jesus? 220 SUNDAY-SCHOOL JOURNAL. 3. Martha....went and met him. v. 20. "Come unto me....rest." Matt. 11. 28. 4. Mary sat still in the house. v. 20. "The heart knoweth his own bitterness." Prov. 14. 10. II. THE LIVING ONE. 1. Thy brother shall rise again. v. 23. 2. I am the resurrection. v. 26. "By man....the resurrection." 1 Cor. 15. 21. 3. Believeth on me....never die. v. 26. "Seeth the Son....believeth....life." John 6. 40. 4. The Christ, the Son of God. v. 27. "God was manifest in the flesh." 1 Tim. 3. 16. 5. Jesus wept. v. 35. "Touched with....feeling." Heb. 4. 15. III. THE RESURRECTION. 1. If thou wouldest believe....see. v. 40. 11. 1. 2. I thank thee....hast heard. v. 41. "The Father hath not left me alone." John 8. 29. 8. Lazarus, come forth. v. 43. "All....in the graves shall hear his voice." John 4. He that was dead came forth. v. 44. "The dead shall be raised incorruptible." 1 Cor. ADDITIONAL PRACTICAL LESSONS. From Death to Life. 1. There are many who are dead in sin; for sin is the reality of an everlasting death, of which physical death is the outward picture. Lazarus in his grave represents the sinner. See Eph. 2. 1; Rom. 8. 6. 2. People cannot arise to spiritual life by their own power, nor by the prayers of their friends; for man cannot give life to others, nor gain it for himself. v. 19. 3. There is but one who can impart spiritual life, and that is Jesus, who is the life, and possesses life, not as a gift, but as a part of his being. 4. We should go to Christ in behalf of those who need life, and he will answer our prayers, even though he may seem to delay. 5. When Christ comes to give life, he enters into fellowship with our sufferings, feels our woes, and groans with our groanings. v. 33-36. 6. When Christ comes to the soul dead in sin, it hears his voice, however deep and dark its grave. How many have heard Christ's call and come forth! 7. But there is something for the soul to do when Christ speaks: it must obey. Christ's call will never save unless the heart which hears him submits to Christ's authority. 8. Though we cannot give life, we can help a soul to the life. We can "roll away the stone," by preparing the way for Christ, and we can "loose him," by our help in the spiritual life. English Teacher's Notes. so often seen these changes that we expect them. It is quite a different thing in the New Testament. 1. Death. We see it here in all its ordinary features the sickness, the disease, the burial, the corpse laid in the grave-clothes and laid carefully in the family vault or cave, closed with a huge stone. Then the continued mourning of the sisters, the numerous friends striving to comfort them, the visits to the grave "to weep there." 66 How was it that this calamity had fallen upon the happy family-upon the friends of Jesus? The Lord, if thou sisters both give the same answer: hadst been here my brother had not died." They accounted for it by the absence of Jesus. Had he been there death could not have come into their home. Remember how death originally came into the world. It was when sin came and separated man from God. In the Old Testament we read much of death. Look at the long lists of names of those who lived their allotted span on earth, and then died; look at the terrible wars of extermination waged by Israel against the nations steeped in sin and wickedness; look at the kings of Israel and Judah, who their fathers." But in the New Testament, where passed away and were buried "in the sepulcher of the Lord Jesus Christ appears, we find it different. Whenever the sick were brought to him he healed them. No wonder that Martha and Mary felt that it was only because Jesus was not there that their brother's sickness had ended fatally-that if he had been present with them Lazarus would have lived. Here we get the reason of all the sorrow and grief now on earth. The ravages of disease, of want, or of war are all owing to the absence of Jesus. While he is away the earth must mourn and death must rule. 2. Resurrection. At length the news reached the bereaved family that Jesus had come. Much as they loved the Master the sisters felt it to be a mournful meeting. They could only pour out their grief to him, so little did they understand his coming. Not that they were without the hope of resurrection, but they thought of it merely as something to come in the future. "I know," said Martha, "that he shall rise again at the resurrection at the last day." She had understood the absence of Jesus, but not his presence! But what was our Lord's answer? Well has it been chosen for our "Golden Text:" "I am the resurrection and the life." contrast of character as seen in the conduct of Martha and of Mary.... The traits of Jesus in this lesson: 1. Foreknowledge; 2. Insight; 3. Sympathy; 4. Communion with God; 5. Power.... How did Christ use the teaching finds in this miracle a parable of a soul's salvation. (See Additional Practical Lessons.).... Another plan, to see in this a type of the resurrection, when Christ shall call his disciples out of their graves. This line of illustration is presented in the Analytical and Biblical Outline. assistance of others in the miracle?....One line of References. FREEMAN. Ver. 17: Rabbinical no If the absence of Jesus left death free to come in, tions of soul and body, 808; Time for burial, 826. the presence of Jesus robbed him of his prey. This is what the friends of Jesus have to look forward to now-not the resurrection, but the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is away from them now as regards his bodily presence, and during his absence they are exposed to disease and sorrow and death. But when he comes these shall be done away and the reign of death will be over, since he is the Resurrection. Just as surely as Martha and Mary had their brother restored to them, so when Jesus comes his friends shall be restored one to another. But meanwhile-does he not care? Look at him with the company of mourners; look at him as they lead him to the grave of Lazarus. Look at his tears, listen to his groanings. What do they mean? They mean two things: (1) Compassion for the sorrowing. It is the tears of the mourners that draw forth his. (2) Indignation at the cause of sorrow. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men." Rom. 5. 12. And he is still the same, full of indignation at sin and its ravages, and full of pity for sufferers. But those to whose relief he came at Bethany were his friends; and many of earth's sufferers are not his friends. What hope or help is there for them? Let us see. 3. Life. Jesus "the resurrection and the life." To be without Christ is to be without life, "dead in trespasses and sins." Eph. 2. 11. Yet there is hope for such. Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." By faith in Christ a soul passes "from death unto life," because he is "the life." And death cannot touch this life! "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Ver. 26. But hundreds of years have passed and still no resurrection-Christ is not yet come. Why did he tarry in the case of Lazarus? Look at vers. 4, 15. It was for the fulfillment of his purposes for the glory of God and the good of his people. If he still tarries it is for the same reason. When these purposes have been accomplished he will come. Berean Methods. Hints for the Teachers' Meeting and the Class. Describe the journey of Jesus from Bethabara to Bethany....Explain the burial customs of the Jews, "graveclothes," "sepulcher," the manner of mourning, ete. ....Why did not Christ come sooner, and save Lazarus from dying? Why does he let us die ?.... Show the Songs from the Epworth Hymnal. 204. My times are in thy hand. 267. O when shall I sweep through the gates 2 271. Jerusalem the golden. 272. Shall we gather at the river? Blackboard. BY J. B. PHIPPS, ESQ. CROWNING MIRACLE F OUR LORD'S MINISTRY This design symbolizes the crowning miracle of our Lord's ministry-the crown of life above the broken arrow of death. SUGGESTION. A crown may easily be represented by an oval line, made with yellow or white chalk, like this-O. Or make a circle, and write the word "Crown" inside of it. THIS JESUS WEPT. SYMPATHIZING ALL POWERFUL CARES FOR ME! SAVIOUR Lesson Word-Pictures. Why is the home at Bethany that Jesus loved so hushed and sad? Why, too, is the seat of Lazarus vacant day after day? If away, why is he not somewhere seen in the road, or somewhere in the fields? Why do Martha and Mary softly glide about with tearful eyes? And why do friends gather from Jerusalem, and all look at one another with such sorrowful faces? O if Jesus would only come and drive away this strange mystery clouding the Bethany home! But look! Martha leaves the sad group within, and hastening away, soon returns, in haste, with flushed features, and whispers some secret message to Mary. And Mary. she rises quickly and goes out eagerly, for the long-ex pected Master has come and calls for her. He receives her. There she is, bathing with tears the feet that she 222 SUNDAY-SCHOOL JOURNAL. will soon anoint with ointment. The Jews too are weeping. And Jesus bows his head and mingles his tears with theirs. No Lazarus is there though to meet the Master. And now Jesus, the sisters, their kindred and friends, are walking down through the fields. You can see the irregular, shadowy line of that ever-memorable procession, as it winds along the highway, perhaps, or turns the corner of a vineyard, and then files out upon the bleak, open pasture-lands, reaching a cave in the side of a rocky slope. The entrance to the cave is closed with a heavy stone. Behind that rocky door is the explanation of Lazarus's absence and the sorrow at Bethany. How sad are the moans of Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus! They are taking away the stone from the cave, and Jesus then prays. You see his lifted eyes. You hear his tender, sympathetic appeal to his Father. He is looking now into the darkness of the tomb. O how many have looked into its shadows, longing yet unable to bring away the beloved form shrouded there! But hark! What is Jesus crying? "Lazarus, come forth!" What daring! Who can face the door of the tomb and call out its dead? For all humanity Jesus stands there and challenges death. But listen again! Is that the sound of a stirThe ring within the cave, as of some one moving, coming forward, stepping forth, and is that-Lazarus ? spectators shrink back. They turn away in fright. Even Martha and Mary dare not look, and yet must "Loose him, and let him look, at that shrouded form. go!" Jesus cries. They tear away the grave-clothes that hide him, and there is Lazarus! O how they must have crowded about him, looked into the eyes now beaming with love, felt the hands now warm with life, and listened in joy to the voice now sounding again! Lazarus has been raised from the dead! Primary and Intermediate. LESSON THOUGHT. Power over Death. Recall last lesson. Why did Mary and Martha send for Jesus? Did Jesus go immediately? Why did he wait? Does he always answer our prayers at once? Has he always a good reason for waiting? LAZARUS IN THE GRAVE. Talk about the death of the body. The death of a little companion is often a source of deep and painful perplexity to a child. If we can only remove some of the gloom, and show that it is like going from one room in a house to another, our work will not be in vain. Teach that when Lazarus died it was not his spirit which loved and thought and enjoyed that died. The body is only the outside case of the spirit which lives always. Draw a glove off your hand, and tell that the body is like a glove which is drawn off, leaving the spirit unhurt. But where does the spirit go? Read verse 25. The spirit has life, and when it leaves the body it goes back to God, who is the Life. How beautiful the spirit that has loved God will be in that other life we do not know. (It will add much to the interest of this lesson if we are able to show a cocoon-the dead, dry case from which a beautiful butterfly has escapedand talk about it as an emblem of the resurrection.) JESUS AT THE GRAVE. Imagine Jesus coming to that happy home and finding one dear friend gone, and the two who were left Went too, for his loving heart is always moved when he sees his friends in LESSONS FOR AUGUST, 1886. Book Notices. Massacres of the Mountains. A History of the Indian Wars of the Far West. By J. P. Dunn, Jr., M.S., LL.B. New York: Harper & Brothers. Illustrated. In this fine volume there is an interesting narrative given of the bloody wars and massacres which have for many years past been associated with the aborigines of our country. The writer sets forth in a plain, straightforward fashion the facts in connection with our treatment of the Indians. Some of these facts are of a character to make the patriotic cheek tingle with shame. Our abuse of the Indians is a crime against heaven and the civilization of the nineteenth century. Already it has cost us the lives of some of our noblest and bravest. There surely ought to be enough power in Christian civilization to unravel this tangled thread of wrong. The People's Bible: Discourses Upon Holy Scripture. Vol. III. Leviticus-NumBy Joseph Parker, D.D. bers. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. We recommend all who consider Leviticus as a dry and dead book to read Dr. Parker's introduction to this volume. He styles it "the Gospel of the Pentateuch." He aims further to show the relation of its ritualism to spiritual life. "The Jews kept up a magnificent tragedy of symbolism, but Christians must represent an infinitely more The two books here magnificient tragedy of reality." discoursed upon are shown to have a living interest for Every page of this volume glows all Christian people. with the author's fervid eloquence. Atla: A Story of the Lost Island. By Mrs. J. Gregory Smith. New York: Harper & Brothers. The scene of this story is laid on "the Lost Atlantis," a great isl and which legend says once lay between Europe and America. According to this author, its people possessed the compass and the telephone, and lived like the moderns, even to falling in love. How the island went down under a tidal wave, and a few of its people escaped to Central America, where their descendants built the great pyramids and temples, is all told in an imaginative style, in places a little lofty, in this romance, which can hardly be said to be "founded upon fact." |