Beyond all doubt this was just to let things come to their worst, in order to display His glory. Lazarus represents the consciousness of youth, which is spiritually born in man and should ever remain part of his consciousness. The mind first lets go its hold upon the idea of eternal youth, and the body follows the action of the mind. . The youthful thought first expresses itself in the subconscious centers, but it is still bound, hand and foot and face; that is, it has not yet been manifested in the external members of the body. When our sleeping energies are quickened in the subconscious by the word of Truth, how shall we give them full expression in the body? Why do some Christians seem to suffer from periodic lapses of faith? The “I” is the “Word” that was made flesh, the eternal truth of life. He was able to disperse the inertia of death. Being found in fashion as a man, he acts in the way and manner of the sons of men. In Spirit all things are fulfilled now. “Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.”, [TruthUnity note: this lesson appears to be an exact reprinting of the December 14, 1924 lesson]. 1. of Bethany--at the east side of Mount Olivet. The cave represents the darkness of materiality, and the stone that “lay against it” represents that which seals the thought that the end of youth has come. Thus we often hope that the good work we are called to do, will be done by some other hand, if there be peril in the doing of it. 42. When Jesus was told that Lazarus had been dead four days and was decaying, his reply was: “Said I not unto thee, that if thou believedst, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”. This is the formula given by Jesus, and it is found very effective by Christian healers. What is the “glory of God” referred to in the admonition to Martha “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou believedst, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” Life triumphant over death; in other words, eternal life. shall he live--that is, The believer's death shall be swallowed up in life, and his life shall never sink into death. Why did Jesus give thanks to the Father before there was any evidence that his Word of life had taken effect in Lazarus? Since we are sure to rise again at the last, why should not the believing hope of that resurrection to eternal life, make it as easy for us to put off the body and die, as it is to put off our clothes and go to sleep? What is represented by Mary’s falling down at the feet of Jesus? But our day shall be lengthened out, till our work is done, and our testimony finished. . What is represented by, “Jesus saith, Take ye away the stone”? 12. if he sleep, he shall do well--literally, "be preserved"; that is, recover. 57. chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment that if any knew where he were, he should show it, that they might take him--This is mentioned to account for the conjectures whether He would come, in spite of this determination to seize Him. . What is apparent in the raising of Lazarus? Love and sympathy are ideal qualities, but it requires the I AM to call them into conscious expression. THE LIFE-GIVING ACT ALONE HE RESERVES TO HIMSELF. 19. many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary to comfort them--Thus were provided, in a most natural way, so many witnesses of the glorious miracle that was to follow, as to put the fact beyond possible question. The eternal, the primordial, that existed in the beginning, rose again in Lazarus. Intuitive understanding, for it connects us with the Infinite and brings us true satisfaction. The higher must enter into sympathy and love with the lower to bring about the awakening: “Jesus wept.” But there must be more than sympathy and love. The dying of the Lord Jesus should make us willing to die whenever God calls us. It was that kind of affection which, living only in the light of its Object, cannot contemplate, or has no heart for life, without it. Is the generally accepted belief that the resurrection of the dead occurs “at the last day” the true one? It was shown by his tears. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?--He had not said those very words, but this was the scope of all that He had uttered to her about His life-giving power ( John 11:23 John 11:25 John 11:26 ); a gentle yet emphatic and most instructive rebuke: "Why doth the restoration of life, even to a decomposing corpse, seem hopeless in the presence of the Resurrection and the Life? God has gracious intentions, even when he seems to delay. When softening of the brain, paralysis, and the various forms of physical collapse, so prevalent among feverish money getters, overtakes the man, then the sisters come to their senses, and call upon the Son of God for help.