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CHAPTER XXII.

OUR LORD IS APPLIED TO ON BEHALF OF POOR LAZARUS-CURES TEN PERSONS OF THE LEPROSY IN SAMARIA, AND RESTORES LAZARUS TO LIFE.

SOON after our Saviour had finished these discourses, one of his friends, named Lazarus, fell sick at Bethany. The sisters of Lazarus sent to Jesus, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick." "When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death." Soon after, Jesus positively assured his disciples that "Lazarus was dead."

At the expiration of two days, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let us go into Judea again," adding, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go that I may awake him out of sleep." The disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well." Jesus then said, "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe."

In his way to Bethany, Jesus passed through Samaria and Galilee. "And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted

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their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go, show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that as they went they were cleansed."

One of them perceiving that his cure was completed, came back, praising God for the great mercy he had received. He fell on his face at the feet of Jesus, thanking him, in the most humble manner, for his condescension in healing him of so terrible a disease. Jesus said, "Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

The Redeemer and his disciples now continued their journey towards Bethany, where he was informed by some of the inhabitants of that village that Lazarus was not only dead, but had now lain in the grave four days. Martha, the sister of Lazarus being informed of his approach, went out and meet him: "Lord,' said she, "if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."

"But I know," she continued, "that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." Jesus answered, "Thy brother shall rise again." Martha said, "I know that he shall rise again at the resurrection at the last day." Jesus

said, "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?" To which Martha, answered, "Yea, Lord; I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."

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As soon as Mary approached the great Redeemer of mankind, she fell prostrate at his feet, and in a flood of tears poured out her complaint: Lord, if thou hadst been here my brother had not died." His heart was melted at the mournful scene: "He groaned in spirit, and was troubled." And he said, "Where have ye laid him?" To which they answered, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, "Behold how he loved him!" Others asked, "Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?". Upon coming to the grave of Lazarus, Jesus said, "Take ye away the stone." To which Martha answered, "Lord, by this time he stinketh; for he hath been dead four days." Jesus reproved her doubt, exclaiming, "Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God!"

Then the stone was removed from the grave; and Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, "Father,

I thank thee that thou hast heard me, and I know 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.

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After he had thus spoken "he cried with aloud voice, Lazarus, come forth! And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes and his face was bound about with a napkin: Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go."

Such an extraordinary power, displayed before the face of a multitude, and near to Jerusalem, even overcame the prejudices of some of the most obstinate among them. "Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him; and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation."

Accordingly, they came to a resolution to put him to death. This resolution was not, however, unanimous: for Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and other disciples of our Saviour, then members of the council, urged the injustice of what they proposed to do, from the consideration of his miracles and innocence. But Caiaphas the high-priest, said, "Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient

for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not."

Our blessed Saviour went to Ephraim, a city on the borders of the wilderness, where he abode with his disciples, being unwilling to go too far into the country, because the passover, at which he was to suffer, was now at hand.

While the blessed Jesus remained in retirement on the borders of the wilderness, he prophecied the destruction of the Jewish state; told his disciples that the prelude to this final destruction would be an universal distress; when they should passionately wish for the personal presence of the Messiah to comfort them, but would be denied their request.

He explained that the coming of the Son of man would be sudden and unexpected. He will come in his own strength, and with great power; he will throw down all opposition, destroy his enemies, and establish his religion and government. upon the face of the earth. But before these things come to pass, he must suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

"Whosoever shall seek to save his life, shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life, shall preserve it."

Having in a parable enforced the duty of

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