the desire of ages-第111节

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　place　where　He　was。　This　delay　was　a　mystery　to　the　disciples。　What　a　comfort　His　presence　would　be　to　the　afflicted　household！　they　thought。　His　strong　affection　for　the　family　at　Bethany　was　well　known　to　the　disciples；　and　they　were　surprised　that　He　did　not　respond　to　the　sad　message；　〃He　whom　Thou　lovest　is　sick。〃

During　the　two　days　Christ　seemed　to　have　dismissed　the　message　from　His　mind；　for　He　did　not　speak　of　Lazarus。　The　disciples　thought　of　John　the　Baptist；　the　forerunner　of　Jesus。　They　had　wondered　why　Jesus；　with　the　power　to　perform　wonderful　miracles；　had　permitted　John　to　languish　in　prison；　and　to　die　a　violent　death。　Possessing　such　power；　why　did　not　Christ　save　John's　life？　This　question　had　often　been　asked　by　the　Pharisees；　who　presented　it　as　an　unanswerable　argument　against　Christ's　claim　to　be　the　Son　of　God。　The　Saviour　had　warned　His　disciples　of　trials；　losses；　and　persecution。　Would　He　forsake　them　in　trial？　Some　questioned　if　they　had　mistaken　His　mission。　All　were　deeply　troubled。

After　waiting　for　two　days；　Jesus　said　to　the　disciples；　〃Let　us　go　into　Judea　again。〃　The　disciples　questioned　why；　if　Jesus　were　going　to　Judea；　He　had　waited　two　days。　But　anxiety　for　Christ　and　for　themselves

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was　now　uppermost　in　their　minds。　They　could　see　nothing　but　danger　in　the　course　He　was　about　to　pursue。　〃Master；〃　they　said；　〃the　Jews　of　late　sought　to　stone　Thee；　and　goest　Thou　thither　again？　Jesus　answered；　Are　there　not　twelve　hours　in　the　day？〃　I　am　under　the　guidance　of　My　Father；　as　long　as　I　do　His　will；　My　life　is　safe。　My　twelve　hours　of　day　are　not　yet　ended。　I　have　entered　upon　the　last　remnant　of　My　day；　but　while　any　of　this　remains；　I　am　safe。

〃If　any　man　walk　in　the　day；〃　He　continued；　〃he　stumbleth　not；　because　he　seeth　the　light　of　this　world。〃　He　who　does　the　will　of　God；　who　walks　in　the　path　that　God　has　marked　out；　cannot　stumble　and　fall。　The　light　of　God's　guiding　Spirit　gives　him　a　clear　perception　of　his　duty；　and　leads　him　aright　till　the　close　of　his　work。　〃But　if　a　man　walk　in　the　night；　he　stumbleth；　because　there　is　no　light　in　him。〃　He　who　walks　in　a　path　of　his　own　choosing；　where　God　has　not　called　him；　will　stumble。　For　him　day　is　turned　into　night；　and　wherever　he　may　be；　he　is　not　secure。

〃These　things　said　He：　and　after　that　He　saith　unto　them；　Our　friend　Lazarus　sleepeth；　but　I　go　that　I　may　awake　him　out　of　sleep。〃　〃Our　friend　Lazarus　sleepeth。〃　How　touching　the　words！　how　full　of　sympathy！　In　the　thought　of　the　peril　their　Master　was　about　to　incur　by　going　to　Jerusalem；　the　disciples　had　almost　forgotten　the　bereaved　family　at　Bethany。　But　not　so　Christ。　The　disciples　felt　rebuked。　They　had　been　disappointed　because　Christ　did　not　respond　more　promptly　to　the　message。　They　had　been　tempted　to　think　that　He　had　not　the　tender　love　for　Lazarus　and　his　sisters　that　they　had　thought　He　had；　or　He　would　have　hastened　back　with　the　messenger。　But　the　words；　〃Our　friend　Lazarus　sleepeth；〃　awakened　right　feelings　in　their　minds。　They　were　convinced　that　Christ　had　not　forgotten　His　suffering　friends。

〃Then　said　His　disciples；　Lord；　if　he　sleep；　he　shall　do　well。　Howbeit　Jesus　spake　of　his　death：　but　they　thought　that　He　had　spoken　of　taking　of　rest　in　sleep。〃　Christ　represents　death　as　a　sleep　to　His　believing　children。　Their　life　is　hid　with　Christ　in　God；　and　until　the　last　trump　shall　sound　those　who　die　will　sleep　in　Him。

〃Then　said　Jesus　unto　them　plainly；　Lazarus　is　dead。　And　I　am　glad　for　your　sakes　that　I　was　not　there；　to　the　intent　ye　may　believe；　nevertheless　let　us　go　unto　him。〃　Thomas　could　see　nothing　but　death　in　store　for　his　Master　if　he　went　to　Judea；　but　he　girded　up　his　spirit；　and　said　to　the　other　disciples；　〃Let　us　also　go；　that　we　may　die　with　Him。〃　He　knew　the　hatred　of　the　Jews　toward　Christ。　It　was　their

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purpose　to　compass　His　death；　but　this　purpose　had　not　succeeded；　because　some　of　His　allotted　time　still　remained。　During　this　time　Jesus　had　the　guardianship　of　heavenly　angels；　and　even　in　the　regions　of　Judea；　where　the　rabbis　were　plotting　how　they　might　take　Him　and　put　Him　to　death；　no　harm　could　come　to　Him。

The　disciples　marveled　at　Christ's　words　when　He　said；　〃Lazarus　is　dead。　And　I　am　glad　。　。　。　that　I　was　not　there。〃　Did　the　Saviour　by　His　own　choice　avoid　the　home　of　His　suffering　friends？　Apparently　Mary　and　Martha　and　the　dying　Lazarus　were　left　alone。　But　they　were　not　alone。　Christ　beheld　the　whole　scene；　and　after　the　death　of　Lazarus　the　bereaved　sisters　were　upheld　by　His　grace。　Jesus　witnessed　the　sorrow　of　their　rent　hearts；　as　their　brother　wrestled　with　his　strong　foe；　death。　He　felt　every　pang　of　anguish；　as　He　said　to　His　disciples；　〃Lazarus　is　dead。〃　But　Christ　had　not　only　the　loved　ones　at　Bethany　to　think　of；　He　had　the　training　of　His　disciples　to　consider。　They　were　to　be　His　representatives　to　the　world；　that　the　Father's　blessing　might　embrace　all。　For　their　sake　He　permitted　Lazarus　to　die。　Had　He　restored　him　from　illness　to　health；　the　miracle　that　is　the　most　positive　evidence　of　His　divine　character；　would　not　have　been　performed。

Had　Christ　been　in　the　sickroom；　Lazarus　would　not　have　died；　for　Satan　would　have　had　no　power　over　him。　Death　could　not　have　aimed　his　dart　at　Lazarus　in　the　presence　of　the　Life…giver。　Therefore　Christ　remained　away。　He　suffered　the　enemy　to　exercise　his　power；　that　He　might　drive　him　back；　a　conquered　foe。　He　permitted　Lazarus　to　pass　under　the　dominion　of　death；　and　the　suffering　sisters　saw　their　brother　laid　in　the　grave。　Christ　knew　that　as　they　looked　on　the　dead　face　of　their　brother　their　faith　in　their　Redeemer　would　be　severely　tried。　But　He　knew　that　because　of　the　struggle　through　which　they　were　now　passing　their　faith　would　shine　forth　with　far　greater　power。　He　suffered　every　pang　of　sorrow　that　they　endured。　He　loved　them　no　less　because　He　tarried；　but　He　knew　that　for　them；　for　Lazarus；　for　Himself；　and　for　His　disciples；　a　victory　was　to　be　gained。

〃For　your　sakes；〃　〃to　the　intent　ye　may　believe。〃　To　all　who　are　reaching　out　to　feel　the　guiding　hand　of　God；　the　moment　of　greatest　discouragement　is　the　time　when　divine　help　is　nearest。　They　will　look　back　with　thankfulness　upon　the　darkest　part　of　their　way。　〃The　Lord　knoweth　how　to　deliver　the　godly；〃　2　Peter　2：9。　From　every　temptation　and　every　trial　He　will　bring　them　forth　with　firmer　faith　and　a　richer　experience。

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In　delaying　to　come　to　Lazarus；　Christ　had　a　purpose　of　mercy　toward　those　who　had　not　received　Him。　He　tarried；　that　by　raising　Lazarus　from　the　dead　He　might　give　to　His　stubborn；　unbelieving　people　another　evidence　that　He　was　indeed　〃the　resurrection；　and　the　life。〃　He　was　loath　to　give　up　all　hope　of　the　people；　the　poor；　wandering　sheep　of　the　house　of　Israel。　His　heart　was　breaking　because　of　their　impenitence。　In　His　mercy　He　purposed　to　give　them　one　more　evidence　that　He　was　the　Restorer；　the　One　who　alone　could　bring　life　and　immortality　to　light。　This　was　to　be　an　evidence　that　the　priests　could　not　misinterpret。　This　was　the　reason　of　His　delay　in　going　to　Bethany。　This　crowning　miracle；　the　raising　of　Lazarus；　was　to　set　the　seal　of　God　on　His　work　and　on　His　claim　to　divinity。

On　His　journey　to　Bethany；　Jesus；　according　to　His　custom；　ministered　to　the　sick　and　the　needy。　Upon　reaching　the　town　He　sent　a　messenger　to　the　sisters　with　the　tidings　of　His　arrival。　Christ　did　not　at　once　enter　the　house；　but　remained　in　a　quiet　place　by　the　wayside。　The　great　outward　display　observed　by　the　Jews　at　the　death　of　friends　or　relatives　was　not　in　harmony　with　the　spirit　of　Christ。　He　heard　the　sound　of　wailing　from　the　hired　mourners；　and　He　did　not　wish　to　meet　the　sisters　in　the　scene　of　confusion。　Among　the　mourning　friends　were　relatives　of　the　family；　some　of　whom　held　high　positions　of　responsibility　in　Jerusalem。　Among　these　were　some　of　Christ's　bitterest　enemies。　Christ　knew　their　purposes；　and　therefore　He　did　not　at　once　make　Himself　known。

The　message　was　given　to　Martha　so　quietly　that　others　in　the　room　did　not　hear。　Absorbed　in　her　grief；　Mary　did　not　hear　the　words。　Rising　at　once；　Martha　went　out　to　meet　her　Lord；　but　thinking　that　she　had　gone　to　the　place　where　Lazarus　was　buried；　Mary　sat　still　in　her　sorrow；　making　no　outcry。

Martha　hastened　to　meet　Jesus；　her　heart　agitated　by　conflicting　emotions。　In　His　expressive　face　she　read　the　same　tenderness　and　love　that　had　always　been　there。　Her　confidence　in　Him　was　unbroken；　but　she　thought　of　her　dearly　loved　brother；　whom　Jesus　also　had　loved。　With　grief　surging　in　her　heart　because　Christ　had　not　come　before；　yet　with　hope　that　even　now　He　would　do　something　to　comfort　them；　she　said；　〃Lord；　if　Thou　hadst　been　here；　my　brother　had　not　died。〃　Over　and　over　again；　amid　the　tumult　made　by　the　mourners；　the　sisters　had　repeated　these　words。

With　human　and　divine　pity　Jesus　looked　into　her　sorrowful；　careworn

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face。　Martha　had　no　inclination　to　recount　the　past；　all　was　expressed　by　the　pathetic　words；　〃Lord；　if　Thou