Gods Sabbath

T HE R ESURRECTION OF L AZARUS

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rarely revealed His character and spirit. But what an inspira tion and comfort those who were in harmony with Him must have been to Him.

An Illustration

The following illustration will serve to explain Christ’s need. Suppose that a person has been sent as a missionary to some re mote area where the inhabitants are bound by tradition and prejudice to a false religion. He leaves behind the loving fellow ship of his family and fellow believers to endure the loneliness and self-denial to be experienced in a primitive and hostile land. For several years he labors diligently, and finally succeeds in winning one convert. The new believer is transformed by the message until he and the missionary share a common fellowship and hope. What comfort and blessing this one convert would be to the missionary so far from home and friends. From time to time, it would be his joy to turn from struggling with unbelievers to rest and commune with his fellow believer. From these seasons, he would return refreshed and encouraged to the field once more. Of course, Satan, who never rests in his determination to hinder and destroy God’s work, would seek to eliminate this source of

strength and support by ei ther killing the believer or causing him to apostatize. Christ similarly found at the home in Bethany a fel lowship which refreshed and encouraged Him. There He rejoiced to see true fruit for His labors and was encour aged in the conviction that His work would not be in vain. He yearned with un speakable desire to see the same results in the lives of all people, but instead he suf