the sad news had reached Him. On the third day, however, CHAP. LII. He surprised His disciples, who had fancied that He hesitated from fear of His enemies, by telling them that He was about to return to Judea.

"The Rabbis and priests were seeking only the other day to stone Thee, Rabbi," said they in amazement-" and art Thou really going back into the very jaws of danger?"

"The time allotted me by God for my work," replied Jesus, "is not yet done, and so long as it lasts no one can harm me. The time appointed for a man, is like the hours of light given to a traveller for his journey. There is no fear of his stumbling in the day, because he sees the sun; but as He stumbles when it has set, so man, though he walk safely till the appointed time ends, can do so no longer when it is over. Till mine is over, I am safe."

go

Pausing a few minutes, He went on to tell them why He was going to Bethany, in spite of all danger. "Our friend Lazarus," said He, "has fallen asleep, but I that I may awake him out of sleep." Unwilling to expose themselves or their Master to unnecessary peril, their wishes read in these words a cause for remaining where they were. "To sleep is good for the sick," said they, thinking He spoke of natural sleep. But their hopes were speedily dashed. "Lazarus," said He, now openly, "is dead, and I am glad for your sakes, that I was not there to heal him from mere sickness. The far greater proof of my divine glory, which you will see in my raising him from the grave, would not have been given, and thus you would have lost the aid to still firmer trust in me, which is so necessary now I am so soon to leave you."

Such words might have at once quieted their fears and kindled their zeal, but they still saw in His return to Judea, only a journey to His own death. Thomas the Twin, at last broke silence-"It becomes us to do all that our Master commands, even when He asks us to risk our lives. Let us go with Him, that we may show our love and fidelity by dying with Him." A true-hearted but sad man!

It is clear that Jesus feared violence, for as He approached Bethany, He lingered outside the village, as if to learn how

CHAP. LIL. matters stood, before venturing farther. Nor was it without cause, for notwithstanding their friendship with Jesus, the family of Lazarus, moving in good society as they did, had many friends and connections amongst those hostile to Him, and a number of these had come to pay the customary visit of condolence to the two sisters.

13 Generally about three hours after.

14 Dukes, 247.

16 Sepp, V.

349-351. Lightfoot, in loc.

The four days since the death had been sad ones in the little household. They had fasted all the day after it, and had since eaten nothing but an occasional egg, or some lentiles; for that was the only food allowed mourners, for the first seven days. The corpse, which had had a lamp burning beside it from the moment of death, as a symbol of the immortality of the soul, had been borne to the grave after a few hours;13 an egg had been broken as a symbol of mortality: and the cottage left to the two survivors. The funeral procession had been sad enough, with its dirge flutes, and wailing hired women; the two sisters and their relations. following, and then the neighbours and friends; for it was held a religious duty in all who could, to attend a corpse to the grave. At the grave's mouth, the men had chanted the sublime ninetieth Psalm in a slow circuit of seven times round the bier, on which lay the dead wrapped in white linen. The long procession, headed by the veiled women, had stopped thrice on the way to the grave, while the leader spoke words of comfort to the bereaved ones, and tender ex

hortations to passers by,-" Comfort ye, comfort ye, ye dear

all

ones! Lift up your souls, lift up your souls! Come to me, ye who are of sad and troubled heart, and take part in the sorrow of your neighbours."14

Once more in their desolate home, the sisters, with veiled heads, even in their own chamber, and with unsandaled feet, sat down on the earth, in the midst of a circle of at least ten friends or professional mourners; with rent clothes and dust on their heads. None spoke till the bereaved ones had done so, but every sentence of theirs was followed by some word of sympathy and comfort, and by the wails of the mourners. 15 And thus it would be for seven days, and had been for four, before Jesus arrived, for many friends had come from Jerusalem to comfort the two sisters.