The Youth’s Instructor

April 27, 1899

The Resurrection of Lazarus

Part 5.

EGW

By shedding Jesus’ blood the Jewish people were about to divorce themselves from heaven. Christ knew that some of those now apparently so sympathetic would soon close against themselves the door of hope and the gates of the city of God. A scene was about to take place, in his humiliation and crucifixion, that would result in the destruction of Jerusalem, and at that time none would make lamentation for the dead. If the Jewish people had only appreciated the privileges and opportunities so mercifully granted them, the calamity about to fall upon them would have been averted. But in their prejudice they closed their eyes to all evidence. YI April 27, 1899, par. 1

Christ's pleadings and importunities over them had been the reproaches of unrequited love. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” he said, as from the Mount of Olives he beheld the city and wept over it, “thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” You would not come to me, that you might have life. YI April 27, 1899, par. 2

Standing there, in the very shadow of the cross, despised and rejected by those to whom he had come to give life, Christ might appropriately have lifted up his voice, and said: “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God; for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” YI April 27, 1899, par. 3

Christ was ever touched by human sorrow; but a far greater grief filled his soul as he thought of his unbelieving people. He saw that those who now refused to accept him would from that time erect around themselves walls of impenetrable darkness and unbelief, through which the light from heaven could not enter. The retribution that was coming upon Jerusalem was plainly portrayed before him. He saw Jerusalem besieged by the Roman legions. He knew that many now weeping for Lazarus would die in the siege of the city, and in their death there would be no hope. They would not rise again to receive life eternal, but to receive the second death. YI April 27, 1899, par. 4

It was not only because of the scene before him that Christ wept. The weight of the grief of ages was upon him. He saw the terrible effects of the transgression of the law of God. He saw that in the history of the world, beginning with the death of Abel, the conflict between good and evil had been unceasing. Looking down the years to come, he saw the suffering and sorrow, the tears and death, that were to be the lot of men. His heart was pierced with the pain of the human family of all ages and in all lands. The woes of the sinful race were heavy upon his soul; and the fountain of his tears was broken up, as he longed to relieve all their distress. YI April 27, 1899, par. 5

“Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave.” Lazarus had been laid in a cave in a rock, and a massive stone had been placed before the entrance. “Take ye away the stone,” Christ said. Thinking that he wished only to look upon the dead, Martha said, “Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.” This statement, made before the raising of Lazarus, left no room for Christ's enemies to say that a deception had been practised. In the past the Pharisees had circulated false statements regarding the most wonderful manifestations of the power of God. Already Christ had raised to life the daughter of Jairus and the son of the widow of Nain. Of the first of these he had said, “The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.” The people knew that she was indeed dead; but as she had been sick for only a short time before her death, Christ's enemies, the Pharisees, in an effort to destroy the effect of the miracle, declared that the child had not been dead; that Jesus himself had said that she was only asleep. They tried to make it appear that Jesus could not cure diseases, that there was false play about his miracles. But in this case, if evidence could break stubborn hearts, decided reformation must surely be made. This miracle marked the Jews’ most solemn period of responsibility. Here they decided their own destiny; for no stronger evidence could be given them. YI April 27, 1899, par. 6

Mrs. E. G. White