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need to be set going; they need th e freedom of m anifestation of th e new life; they need to tell the story of th eir resurrection from th e dead. The church is too often bound in swaddling clothes, which have the smell of th e tomb and are th e sign of bondage. There is so little spontane ity. “Loose them and let them go.” W hat a scene when they stripped Lazarus of th e swaddling clothes and he stepped out into the fulness of th a t life which th e Lord Jesu s h ad im parted! How rem arkable is th e Bible! It says nothing of th e rap tu rou s embrace of Mary and M artha and Lazarus. It does not tell of th e fond greeting be tween Lazarus and th e Lord. You can believe the Bible because of th e things it does not say, as well as th e things which it does say. Surely, here is a wonderful story! Should we not all bow a t the feet of Jesus and proclaim Him th e Lord of life, and praise and magnify His name for th is illu stration of His m ighty power? TOPICS FOR STUDY (1) Is doubt a foe to faith? (2) Does delay in answering prayer serve to streng then or to weak en faith? (3) Why was Jesus indignant in spirit? (4) Is th ere any real spiritual value to us in sorrow and suf fering? (5) W hat do you count as th e greatest obstacle to real faith? (6) Does God work unnecessary m iracles? (-7) W hat are th e grave clothes which most Christians wear?
nize the F a th e r as th e source of life and power. His prayer now was in order th a t they m ight recognize His relation to the F ath e r, and know th a t all power was centered in Him. The F ath e r will do nothing w ithout the Son. The Son will do nothing w ith out the approval of th e F a th e r (John 5 :1 9 ). The F ath e r and th e Son are one. Why did Jesus cry w ith a loud voice? (v. 43). Was it not th a t all m ight hear, so th a t th ere m ight he no im pression of magical words, b u t of a distinct and direct command, “Lazarus, come fo rth .” Does He not say in John 5:28, 29, “T h e h o u r is co m in g in th e w h ic h a ll th a t a r e in th e g r a v e s s h a ll h e a r h is v oice, a n d s h a ll com e f o r th ; th e y th a t h a v e d o n e g o o d , u n to th e re s u rre c tio n o f life ; a n d th e y t h a t h a v e d o n e ev il u n to th e re s u rre c tio n o f d a m n a tio n .” and does not th e Scripture also say, “He shall descend from heaven w ith a shout and th e dead in Christ shall rise (1 Thess. 4 :1 6 ), as He also« com manded, “Let th ere be ligh t” and th ere was light? (Isa. 4 0 :8 ). If He had not designated Lazarus, by name, would not all th a t were sleep ing in th e tombs have come fo rth ? (John 10 :27 ). Lazarus came forth. He had been washed, besmeared w ith perfume, spices and honey, and sw athed and bound w ith cloth. W hat a picture! W hat wonder and awe and conviction attended his appearance! “Loose him and let him go” is Jesu s’ command. Resurrection people have no use for grave clothes. When a man is born again, when he has come fo rth from the dead, th e grave clothes should be tak en from him. Too many men are going around, w alking in th e ir grave clothes. Too many young m inisters wear th e swad dling clothes,— forms, ceremonies, ritu al, in which th e re is no life, and which hinder the fulness of th e Divine life. (John 8 :3 6 ). Believers need to be cut loose and
SUGGESTIVE COMMENT Rev. Milton F ish
Verses 25 and 26 are not only cen tr a l to th e lesson, b u t they are also germane to th e purpose of th e book
SIXTEEN DEPARTMENTS (See Inside Front Cover)
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