the desire of ages-第92章

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en　by　Christ；　but　she　confessed　her　faith　in　His　divinity；　and　her　confidence　that　He　was　able　to　perform　whatever　it　pleased　Him　to　do。

〃And　when　she　had　so　said；　she　went　her　way；　and　called　Mary　her　sister　secretly；　saying；　The　Master　is　come；　and　calleth　for　thee。〃　She　delivered　her　message　as　quietly　as　possible；　for　the　priests　and　rulers　were　prepared　to　arrest　Jesus　when　opportunity　offered。　The　cries　of　the　mourners　prevented　her　words　from　being　heard。

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On　hearing　the　message；　Mary　rose　hastily；　and　with　an　eager　look　on　her　face　left　the　room。　Thinking　that　she　had　gone　to　the　grave　to　weep；　the　mourners　followed　her。　When　she　reached　the　place　where　Jesus　was　waiting；　she　knelt　at　His　feet；　and　said　with　quivering　lips；　〃Lord；　if　Thou　hadst　been　here；　my　brother　had　not　died。〃　The　cries　of　the　mourners　were　painful　to　her；　for　she　longed　for　a　few　quiet　words　alone　with　Jesus。　But　she　knew　of　the　envy　and　jealousy　cherished　in　the　hearts　of　some　present　against　Christ；　and　she　was　restrained　from　fully　expressing　her　grief。

〃When　Jesus　therefore　saw　her　weeping；　and　the　Jews　also　weeping　which　came　with　her；　He　groaned　in　the　spirit；　and　was　troubled。〃　He　read　the　hearts　of　all　assembled。　He　saw　that　with　many；　what　passed　as　a　demonstration　of　grief　was　only　pretense。　He　knew　that　some　in　the　company；　now　manifesting　hypocritical　sorrow；　would　erelong　be　planning　the　death；　not　only　of　the　mighty　miracle　worker；　but　of　the　one　to　be　raised　from　the　dead。　Christ　could　have　stripped　from　them　their　robe　of　pretended　sorrow。　But　He　restrained　His　righteous　indignation。　The　words　He　could　in　all　truth　have　spoken；　He　did　not　speak；　because　of　the　loved　one　kneeling　at　His　feet　in　sorrow；　who　truly　believed　in　Him。

〃Where　have　ye　laid　him？〃　He　asked；　〃They　said　unto　Him；　Lord；　come　and　see。〃　Together　they　proceeded　to　the　grave。　It　was　a　mournful　scene。　Lazarus　had　been　much　beloved；　and　his　sisters　wept　for　him　with　breaking　hearts；　while　those　who　had　been　his　friends　mingled　their　tears　with　those　of　the　bereaved　sisters。　In　view　of　this　human　distress；　and　of　the　fact　that　the　afflicted　friends　could　mourn　over　the　dead　while　the　Saviour　of　the　world　stood　by；〃Jesus　wept。〃　Though　He　was　the　Son　of　God；　yet　He　had　taken　human　nature　upon　Him；　and　He　was　moved　by　human　sorrow。　His　tender；　pitying　heart　is　ever　awakened　to　sympathy　by　suffering。　He　weeps　with　those　that　weep；　and　rejoices　with　those　that　rejoice。

But　it　was　not　only　because　of　His　human　sympathy　with　Mary　and　Martha　that　Jesus　wept。　In　His　tears　there　was　a　sorrow　as　high　above　human　sorrow　as　the　heavens　are　higher　than　the　earth。　Christ　did　not　weep　for　Lazarus；　for　He　was　about　to　call　him　from　the　grave。　He　wept　because　many　of　those　now　mourning　for　Lazarus　would　soon　plan　the　death　of　Him　who　was　the　resurrection　and　the　life。　But　how　unable　were　the　unbelieving　Jews　rightly　to　interpret　His　tears！　Some；　who

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could　see　nothing　more　than　the　outward　circumstances　of　the　scene　before　Him　as　a　cause　for　His　grief；　said　softly；　〃Behold　how　He　loved　him！〃　Others；　seeking　to　drop　the　seed　of　unbelief　into　the　hearts　of　those　present；　said　derisively；　〃Could　not　this　Man；　which　opened　the　eyes　of　the　blind；　have　caused　that　even　this　man　should　not　have　died？〃　If　it　were　in　Christ's　power　to　save　Lazarus；　why　then　did　He　suffer　him　to　die？

With　prophetic　eye　Christ　saw　the　enmity　of　the　Pharisees　and　the　Sadducees。　He　knew　that　they　were　premeditating　His　death。　He　knew　that　some　of　those　now　apparently　so　sympathetic　would　soon　close　against　themselves　the　door　of　hope　and　the　gates　of　the　city　of　God。　A　scene　was　about　to　take　place；　in　His　humiliation　and　crucifixion；　that　would　result　in　the　destruction　of　Jerusalem；　and　at　that　time　none　would　make　lamentation　for　the　dead。　The　retribution　that　was　coming　upon　Jerusalem　was　plainly　portrayed　before　Him。　He　saw　Jerusalem　compassed　by　the　Roman　legions。　He　knew　that　many　now　weeping　for　Lazarus　would　die　in　the　siege　of　the　city；　and　in　their　death　there　would　be　no　hope。

It　was　not　only　because　of　the　scene　before　Him　that　Christ　wept。　The　weight　of　the　grief　of　ages　was　upon　Him。　He　saw　the　terrible　effects　of　the　transgression　of　God's　law。　He　saw　that　in　the　history　of　the　world；　beginning　with　the　death　of　Abel；　the　conflict　between　good　and　evil　had　been　unceasing。　Looking　down　the　years　to　come；　He　saw　the　suffering　and　sorrow；　tears　and　death；　that　were　to　be　the　lot　of　men。　His　heart　was　pierced　with　the　pain　of　the　human　family　of　all　ages　and　in　all　lands。　The　woes　of　the　sinful　race　were　heavy　upon　His　soul；　and　the　fountain　of　His　tears　was　broken　up　as　He　longed　to　relieve　all　their　distress。

〃Jesus　therefore　again　groaning　in　Himself　cometh　to　the　grave。〃　Lazarus　had　been　laid　in　a　cave　in　a　rock；　and　a　massive　stone　had　been　placed　before　the　entrance。　〃Take　ye　away　the　stone；〃　Christ　said。　Thinking　that　He　only　wished　to　look　upon　the　dead；　Martha　objected；　saying　that　the　body　had　been　buried　four　days；　and　corruption　had　already　begun　its　work。　This　statement；　made　before　the　raising　of　Lazarus；　left　no　room　for　Christ's　enemies　to　say　that　a　deception　had　been　practiced。　In　the　past　the　Pharisees　had　circulated　false　statements　regarding　the　most　wonderful　manifestations　of　the　power　of　God。　When　Christ　raised　to　life　the　daughter　of　Jairus；　He　had　said；　〃The　damsel　is　not　dead；　but　sleepeth。〃　Mark　5：39。　As　she　had　been　sick　only

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a　short　time；　and　was　raised　immediately　after　death；　the　Pharisees　declared　that　the　child　had　not　been　dead；　that　Christ　Himself　had　said　she　was　only　asleep。　They　had　tried　to　make　it　appear　that　Christ　could　not　cure　disease；　that　there　was　foul　play　about　His　miracles。　But　in　this　case；　none　could　deny　that　Lazarus　was　dead。

When　the　Lord　is　about　to　do　a　work；　Satan　moves　upon　someone　to　object。　〃Take　ye　away　the　stone；〃　Christ　said。　As　far　as　possible；　prepare　the　way　for　My　work。　But　Martha's　positive　and　ambitious　nature　asserted　itself。　She　was　unwilling　that　the　decomposing　body　should　be　brought　to　view。　The　human　heart　is　slow　to　understand　Christ's　words；　and　Martha's　faith　had　not　grasped　the　true　meaning　of　His　promise。

Christ　reproved　Martha；　but　His　words　were　spoken　with　the　utmost　gentleness。　〃Said　I　not　unto　thee；　that；　if　thou　wouldest　believe；　thou　shouldest　see　the　glory　of　God？〃　Why　should　you　doubt　in　regard　to　My　power？　Why　reason　in　opposition　to　My　requirements？　You　have　My　word。　If　you　will　believe；　you　shall　see　the　glory　of　God。　Natural　impossibilities　cannot　prevent　the　work　of　the　Omnipotent　One。　Skepticism　and　unbelief　are　not　humility。　Implicit　belief　in　Christ's　word　is　true　humility；　true　self…surrender。

〃Take　ye　away　the　stone。〃　Christ　could　have　commanded　the　stone　to　remove；　and　it　would　have　obeyed　His　voice。　He　could　have　bidden　the　angels　who　were　close　by　His　side　to　do　this。　At　His　bidding；　invisible　hands　would　have　removed　the　stone。　But　it　was　to　be　taken　away　by　human　hands。　Thus　Christ　would　show　that　humanity　is　to　co…operate　with　divinity。　What　human　power　can　do　divine　power　is　not　summoned　to　do。　God　does　not　dispense　with　man's　aid。　He　strengthens　him；　co…operating　with　him　as　he　uses　the　powers　and　capabilities　given　him。

The　command　is　obeyed。　The　stone　is　rolled　away。　Everything　is　done　openly　and　deliberately。　All　are　given　a　chance　to　see　that　no　deception　is　practiced。　There　lies　the　body　of　Lazarus　in　its　rocky　grave；　cold　and　silent　in　death。　The　cries　of　the　mourners　are　hushed。　Surprised　and　expectant；　the　company　stand　around　the　sepulcher；　waiting　to　see　what　is　to　follow。

Calmly　Christ　stands　before　the　tomb。　A　sacred　solemnity　rests　upon　all　present。　Christ　steps　closer　to　the　sepulcher。　Lifting　His　eyes　to　heaven；　He　says；　〃Father；　I　thank　Thee　that　Thou　hast　heard　Me。〃　Not　long　before　this；　Christ's　enemies　had　accused　Him　of　blasphemy；　and　had　taken　up　stones　to　cast　at　Him　because　He　claimed　to　be　the　Son　of

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God。　They　accused　Him　of　performing　miracles　by　the　power　of　Satan。　But　here　Christ　claims　God　as　His　Father；　and　with　perfect　confidence　declares　that　He　is　the　Son　of　God。

In　all　that　He　did；　Christ　was　co…operating　with　His　Father。　Ever　He　had　been　careful　to　make　it　evident　that　He　did　not　work　independently；　it　was　by　faith　and　prayer　that　He　wrought　His　miracles。　Christ　desired　all　to　know　His　relationship　with　His　Father。　〃Father；〃　He　said；　〃I　thank　Thee　that　Thou　hast　heard　Me。　And　I　knew　that　Thou　hearest　Me　always：　but　because　of　the　people　which　stand　by　I　said　it；　that　they　may　believe　that　Thou　hast　sent　Me。〃　Here　the　disciples　and　the　people　were　to　be　given　the　most　convincing　evidence　in　regard　to　the　relationship　existing　between　Christ　and　God。　They　were　to　be　shown　that　Christ's　claim　was　not　a　deception。

〃And　when　He　thus　had　spoken；　He　cried　with　a　loud　voice；　Lazarus；　come　forth。〃　His　voice；　clear　and　penetrating；　pierces　the　ear　of　the　dead。　As　He　speaks；　divinity　flashes　through　humanity。　In　His　face；　which　is　lighted　up　by　the　glory　of　God；　the　people　see　the　assurance　of　His　power。　Every　eye　is　fastened　on　the　entrance　to　the　cave。　Every　ear　is　bent　to　catch　the　slightest　sound。　With　intense　and　painful　interest　all　wait　for　the　test　of　Christ's　divinity；　the　evidence　that　is　to　substantiate　His　claim　to　be　the　Son　of　God；　or　to　extinguish　the　hope　forever。

There　is　a　stir　in　the　silent　tomb；　and　he　who　was　dead　stands　at　the　door　of　the　sepulcher。　His　movements　are　impeded　by　the　graveclothes　in　which　he　was　laid　away；　and　Christ　says　to　the　astonished　spectators；　〃Loose　him；　and　let　him　go。〃　Again　they　are　shown　that　the　human　worker　is　to　co…operate　with　God。　Humanity　is　to　work　for　humanity。　Lazarus　is　set　free；　and　stands　before　the　company；　not　as　one　emaciated　from　disease；　and　with　feeble；　tottering　limbs；　but　as　a　man　in　the　prime　of　life；　and　in　the　vigor　of　a　noble　manhood。　His　eyes　beam　with　intelligence　and　with　love　for　his　Saviour。　He　casts　himself　in　adoration　at　the　feet　of　Jesus。

The　beholders　are　at　first　speechless　with　amazement。　Then　there　follows　an　inexpressible　scene　of　rejoicing　and　thanksgiving。　The　sisters　receive　their　brother　back　to　life　as　the　gift　of　God；　and　with　joyful　tears　they　brokenly　express　their　thanks　to　the　Saviour。　But　while　brother；　sisters；　and　friends　are　rejoicing　in　this　reunion；　Jesus　withdraws　from　the　scene。　When　they　look　for　the　Life…giver；　He　is　not　to　be　found。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　59

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Priestly　Plottings


Bethany　was　so　near　Jerusalem　that　the　news　of　the　raising　of　Lazarus　was　soon　carried　to　the　city。　Through　spies　who　had　witnessed　the　miracle　the　Jewish　rulers　were　speedily　in　possession　of　the　facts。　A　meeting　of　the　Sanhedrin　was　at　once　called　to　decide　as　to　what　should　be　done。　Christ　had　now　fully　made　manifest　His　control　of　death　and　the　grave。　That　mighty　miracle　was　the　crowning　evidence　offered　by　God　to　men　that　He　had　sent　His　Son　into　t