January 1932
37
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
Golden Text Illustration “ I am now an old man, and five times have I stood at an open grave to see it close over the remains o f my own be loved,” said William Hanna Thomson, in an essay On “The Future State.” “ The as sociations connected with such experiences are too sacred for public mention or ref erence. It is only because I have been asked to write some words for the comfort of other bereaved ones that I do so now. An open grave is a cold and dark place. Vain ly have I sought in human science or phil osophy for a ray o f light to dispel that darkness. There, in our desolation and utfer helplessness, we do not ask for doc trine, not even for the doctrine of the resurrection. W e long for the presence o f a mighty Friend. And as such He [Christ] comes with His unmistakable personal voice saying, ‘I am the resurrection, and the life . . . whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.’ So, when stricken ones turn to leave the scene of burial, let them think o f that inspired word.” Jesus Makes a Dead Man Live Again J ohn 11 :l-44 Memory Verse: “Jesus said . . . he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). Approach: Jesus was still thinking o f ways to help the people to understand that He was the Son of God, come into the world to bring them eternal life. You re other way what He meant. Lesson Story : Jesus had some very good friepds, Mary and Martha and Lazarus. They were sisters and brother. Jesus had often visited in their home. One day Laz arus took sick. Mary and Martha sent for Jesus, for they believed that Jesus could cure him. But by the time Jesus reached ^their city, Lazarus was already dead. How sad Mary and Martha were! They said to Jesus, “ I f You had only been there, Laz arus would not have died.” But Jesus was thinking, “ Perhaps this will be a way to make people understand that it is I who give life after death.” So He said to them, “ I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” And then He prayed, “ Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because o f the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou' hast sent me.” Then He said, “ Lazarus, come forth.” And Lazarus was indeed alive again. “ Surely,” thought Jesus, “these people will understand now and believe that I am the Son o f God.” And many o f them did. Four Steps in One Day 1. Looking upon Jesus (John 1:36). 2. Following Jesus (John 1 :37). 3. Abiding with Jesus (John 1 :39). 4. Bringing others to Jesus (John 1:42). —O utlined A ddresses . member what a dif ficult time Nicode- mus had had to un derstand that it is Jesus who gives us l i f e after death. Other people, too, had this trouble in understanding what Jesus meant. Soon there came an op portunity for Jesus to explain in an
enced only restoration to natural life, not resurrection. But it required the voice of God to effect^ even restoration, and that voice was heard when Jesus cried, “Laz arus, come forth.” The time will come when all shall hear that voice and shall come forth (c f. John 5 :25). Three times our Lord restored those who had died: once an only daughter was restored to a sorrowing father (Lk. 8 :42) ; once an only son was restored to a grieving mother (Lk. 7 :12) ; and in the instance before us, an only brother was restored to mourning sisters. When, in obedience to the Lord’s com mand, Lazarus actually came forth from the tomb, the Lord’s next words seem like an anticlimax: “ Loose him, and let him go.” He had come forth as he had entered the tomb, bound hand and foot with graveclothes. Now that he was alive and out of the tomb, he needed the minis trations of other hands to loose him. Hu man hands could do this. What we can not do, Christ will do for u s; but what we can do, He expects us to do. And in this there is a striking illustration o f the man ner in which the Lord Jesus expects the Christian to live. It is not enough that we should pass from death into life ; there must follow the activity which bespeaks life. This activity will never be seen until the one loosed from the tomb is also loosed from the binding, hindering things of the tomb. The trappings which are so well fitted for one in the grave are wholly un suited for one out of the grave. There must be, if one is to fully enjoy the new life, the putting away o f those things which characterize the old life and the adoption o f those things suited to the new. This is the answer to many questions concerning what is right and wrong for a Christian to do. All things are lawful, as it would be lawful for Lazarus to continue in the graveclothes, but all things are not expe dient. Lazarus might well be used as an illus tration o f a saved sinner. He was given life as a g ift; he was conscious that he had life; he was separated from the things connected with the old life; and (chap. 12) he testified to his possession o f the new life. For this, he met persecution from the Lord’s enemies. 32. Where was Jesus when the sis ters sent for him (John 10:39, 40) ? What may have been some o f the reasons why Jesus did not immediately respond to their plea? When He arrived, what submis sive attitude did Mary take which was typical o f her unwavering faith in Him (cf. Lk. 10:39; John 12:1-7)? Vs. 33-35. In this narrative, what mani festations are there o f the blending of the human and the divine natures o f our Lord? Vs. 36, 37. T o what previous miracle performed by Jesus did the Jews refer? Vs. 38-42. Describe the scene at the tomb when this mighty miracle was wrought. Was Martha’s objection a logical one? O f what did Jesus remind her? What part did obedience have in the working o f the miracle? Why did Jesus pray? Vs. 43, 44. Explain the difference be tween restoration to life, such as Lazarus enjoyed, and “ resurrection from among the dead.” Why did Jesus not remove the graveclothes from Lazarus? What great truth does this teach? Lesson Questions V.
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