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ed with the care of preparing the meal； went to Christ； saying； 〃Lord； dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone？ bid her therefore that she help me。〃 This was the time of Christ's first visit to Bethany。 The Saviour and His disciples had just made the toilsome journey on foot from Jericho。 Martha was anxious to provide for their comfort； and in her anxiety she forgot the courtesy due to her Guest。 Jesus answered her with mild and patient words； 〃Martha； Martha； thou art careful and troubled about many things： but one thing is needful： and Mary hath chosen that good part； which shall not be taken away from her。〃 Mary was storing her mind with the precious words falling from the Saviour's lips； words that were more precious to her than earth's most costly jewels。
The 〃one thing〃 that Martha needed was a calm； devotional spirit； a deeper anxiety for knowledge concerning the future； immortal life； and the graces necessary for spiritual advancement。 She needed less anxiety for the things which pass away； and more for those things which endure forever。 Jesus would teach His children to seize every opportunity of gaining that knowledge which will make them wise unto salvation。 The cause of Christ needs careful； energetic workers。 There is a wide field for the Marthas； with their zeal in active religious work。 But let them first sit with Mary at the feet of Jesus。 Let diligence； promptness； and energy be sanctified by the grace of Christ； then the life will be an unconquerable power for good。
Sorrow entered the peaceful home where Jesus had rested。 Lazarus was stricken with sudden illness； and his sisters sent to the Saviour；
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saying； 〃Lord； behold； he whom Thou lovest is sick。〃 They saw the violence of the disease that had seized their brother； but they knew that Christ had shown Himself able to heal all manner of diseases。 They believed that He would sympathize with them in their distress； therefore they made no urgent demand for His immediate presence； but sent only the confiding message； 〃He whom Thou lovest is sick。〃 They thought that He would immediately respond to their message； and be with them as soon as He could reach Bethany。
Anxiously they waited for a word from Jesus。 As long as the spark of life was yet alive in their brother； they prayed and watched for Jesus to come。 But the messenger returned without Him。 Yet he brought the message； 〃This sickness is not unto death；〃 and they clung to the hope that Lazarus would live。 Tenderly they tried to speak words of hope and encouragement to the almost unconscious sufferer。 When Lazarus died； they were bitterly disappointed； but they felt the sustaining grace of Christ； and this kept them from reflecting any blame on the Saviour。
When Christ heard the message； the disciples thought He received it coldly。 He did not manifest the sorrow they expected Him to show。 Looking up to them； He said； 〃This sickness is not unto death； but for the glory of God； that the Son of God might be glorified thereby。〃 For two days He remained in the place where He was。 This delay was a mystery to the disciples。 What a comfort His presence would be to the afflicted household！ they thought。 His strong affection for the family at Bethany was well known to the disciples； and they were surprised that He did not respond to the sad message； 〃He whom Thou lovest is sick。〃
During the two days Christ seemed to have dismissed the message from His mind； for He did not speak of Lazarus。 The disciples thought of John the Baptist； the forerunner of Jesus。 They had wondered why Jesus； with the power to perform wonderful miracles； had permitted John to languish in prison； and to die a violent death。 Possessing such power； why did not Christ save John's life？ This question had often been asked by the Pharisees； who presented it as an unanswerable argument against Christ's claim to be the Son of God。 The Saviour had warned His disciples of trials； losses； and persecution。 Would He forsake them in trial？ Some questioned if they had mistaken His mission。 All were deeply troubled。
After waiting for two days； Jesus said to the disciples； 〃Let us go into Judea again。〃 The disciples questioned why； if Jesus were going to Judea； He had waited two days。 But anxiety for Christ and for themselves
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was now uppermost in their minds。 They could see nothing but danger in the course He was about to pursue。 〃Master；〃 they said； 〃the Jews of late sought to stone Thee； and goest Thou thither again？ Jesus answered； Are there not twelve hours in the day？〃 I am under the guidance of My Father； as long as I do His will； My life is safe。 My twelve hours of day are not yet ended。 I have entered upon the last remnant of My day； but while any of this remains； I am safe。
〃If any man walk in the day；〃 He continued； 〃he stumbleth not； because he seeth the light of this world。〃 He who does the will of God； who walks in the path that God has marked out； cannot stumble and fall。 The light of God's guiding Spirit gives him a clear perception of his duty； and leads him aright till the close of his work。 〃But if a man walk in the night； he stumbleth； because there is no light in him。〃 He who walks in a path of his own choosing； where God has not called him； will stumble。 For him day is turned into night； and wherever he may be； he is not secure。
〃These things said He： and after that He saith unto them； Our friend Lazarus sleepeth； but I go that I may awake him out of sleep。〃 〃Our friend Lazarus sleepeth。〃 How touching the words！ how full of sympathy！ In the thought of the peril their Master was about to incur by going to Jerusalem； the disciples had almost forgotten the bereaved family at Bethany。 But not so Christ。 The disciples felt rebuked。 They had been disappointed because Christ did not respond more promptly to the message。 They had been tempted to think that He had not the tender love for Lazarus and his sisters that they had thought He had； or He would have hastened back with the messenger。 But the words； 〃Our friend Lazarus sleepeth；〃 awakened right feelings in their minds。 They were convinced that Christ had not forgotten His suffering friends。
〃Then said His disciples； Lord； if he sleep； he shall do well。 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death： but they thought that He had spoken of taking of rest in sleep。〃 Christ represents death as a sleep to His believing children。 Their life is hid with Christ in God； and until the last trump shall sound those who die will sleep in Him。
〃Then said Jesus unto them plainly； Lazarus is dead。 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there； to the intent ye may believe； nevertheless let us go unto him。〃 Thomas could see nothing but death in store for his Master if he went to Judea； but he girded up his spirit； and said to the other disciples； 〃Let us also go； that we may die with Him。〃 He knew the hatred of the Jews toward Christ。 It was their
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purpose to compass His death； but this purpose had not succeeded； because some of His allotted time still remained。 During this time Jesus had the guardianship of heavenly angels； and even in the regions of Judea； where the rabbis