THE VOICE THAT WAKED THE DEAD--THE CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM.
While Jesus and His disciples were still east of the Jordan trouble
fell upon the happy home in Bethany where Jesus had been an honored
guest. A messenger was sent to Jesus in great haste, saying,
"Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick."
It was from Mary and Martha concerning their brother Lazarus.
Jesus sent the messenger back with this message,
"This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the
Son of God might be glorified thereby," and He remained two days longer
where He was. Then He said,
"Let us go into Judea again."
The disciples reminded Him that the Jews there had tried to take His
life.
"Our friend Lazarus sleepeth," said Jesus, "but I go that I may awaken
him out of sleep."
The disciples thought that if he slept he was doing very well, until
Jesus told them plainly,
"Lazarus is dead."
Then Thomas was full of sorrow and said,
"Let us also go that we may die with him."
Bethany was not far from Jerusalem, and when they reached the house of
Martha, Lazarus had been dead four days, and was placed in a rock tomb.
Many Jews from Jerusalem had come out to Bethany to comfort Mary and
Martha, and to mourn for their friend Lazarus.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming she ran to meet Him, but Mary
sat still in the house. She thought, perhaps, that He had come too
late, and the same thought may have been in Martha's mind when she said,
"Lord, if thou hadst been here my brother had not died, but I know that
even now whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee."
"Thy brother shall rise again," said Jesus.
"I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day,"
she said.
Then Jesus spoke those heavenly words that have been the comfort of the
sorrowful ever since,
"I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he
were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me
shall never die. Believest thou this?"
"Yea, Lord," answered Martha, "I believe that thou art the Christ, the
Son of God which should come into the world."
Then she called Mary quietly, so that the people who were noisily
wailing should not hear.
"The Master is come and calleth for thee," she said.
Then Mary rose quickly and went to meet Jesus The people who were
trying to comfort her followed her, for they thought she was going to
the tomb to weep there; but they saw her go to meet Jesus and fall at
His feet saying, as Martha did,
"Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."
When Jesus saw the tears of Mary and her sister and their friends He
wept also, not for Lazarus, but His heart was moved for them, and He
shared their sorrow.
They brought Him to the tomb--a cave with a stone lying upon it. When
He asked them to take away the stone Martha's faith began to fail; but
the stone was rolled away, and when Jesus had prayed He called with a
loud voice,
"Lazarus, come forth!"
And all who were bending forward toward the low, dark door of the tomb
saw a man wrapped in linen come forth from the darkness and try to
ascend the stone steps.
"Loose him and let him go," said Jesus. And then there was a scene so
full of sacred joy that John, the disciple, who tells the story, does
not show it to us.
After this many believed in Jesus, but others went and told the
Pharisees all about it.
It was spring in Peraea, and the valley of the Jordan was full of the
singing of birds and the color of blooming trees and wild flowers,
while in the fields the young wheat was growing. The people thronged
to Jesus in crowds, for He taught them in the open air. The disciples
were busy with the people, explaining to the dull, listening to those
who wished to ask something of the Master, or keeping back the curious.
This had to be done in every village through which they passed. There
were many mothers with their children around them who came out of their
low white houses to follow Jesus in the way, and to listen when He sat
down to teach.
The mothers loved to have the Rabbi's bless their children, for since
the days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the blessing of a good man means
much to the Israelite.
One day some mothers brought their little ones to Jesus, and begged Him
to bless them. The disciples told the mothers to stand back, and not
trouble the Master while he was teaching. Jesus knew what they were
saying, and He called them unto Him and said,
"Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of
such is the Kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not
receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter
therein."
In this way he made it clear to His disciples, to the mothers, and to
all who have read His word since that day, that every child is a
citizen of the Lord's Kingdom, and dear to the heart of the King.
Perhaps the mothers had heard that the Lord was about to leave the
country east of Jordan to go up to Jerusalem, and they longed to have
their little ones share in the blessing they had received while sitting
at the feet of the great Teacher and learning of Him, for soon after He
crossed the Jordan, and, teaching as he went, set His face toward
Jerusalem.