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From Heaven With Love
humanity is to cooperate with divinity. What human power can do
divine power is not summoned to do.
The command was obeyed. The stone was rolled away. Every-
thing was done openly and deliberately. All saw that no deception
was practiced. There lay the body of Lazarus, cold and silent in
death. Surprised and expectant, the company stood around the sep-
ulcher, waiting to see what was to follow.
A sacred solemnity rested upon all present. Christ stepped closer
to the sepulcher. Lifting His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, I thank
Thee that Thou hast heard Me.” Christ’s enemies had accused Him
of blasphemy because He claimed to be the Son of God. But here,
with perfect confidence, Christ declared He was the Son of God.
Christ was careful to make it evident that He did not work inde-
pendently of His Father; it was by faith and prayer that He wrought
His miracles. Christ desired all to know His relationship with His
Father. “Father,” He said, “I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me.
And I knew that Thou hearest Me always: but because of the peo-
ple which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast
sent Me.” Here the disciples and the people were to be shown that
Christ’s claim was not a deception.
“And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice,
Lazarus, come forth.” Divinity flashed through humanity. In His
face, which was lighted up by the glory of God, the people saw the
assurance of His power. Every eye was fastened on the cave, every
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ear bent to catch the slightest sound. With intense interest all waited
for the evidence that was to substantiate Christ’s claim to be the Son
of God, or to extinguish the hope forever.
There was a stir in the silent tomb; then he who was dead stood
at the door of the sepulcher. His movements were impeded by the
graveclothes, so Christ said to the astonished spectators, “Loose him,
and let him go.” Again they were shown that humanity is to work for
humanity. Lazarus was set free and stood before the company, not
as one emaciated from disease but as a man in the prime of life. His
eyes beamed with intelligence and love for His Saviour. In adoration
he cast himself at the feet of Jesus.
The beholders were at first speechless with amazement; then
there followed inexpressible rejoicing. The sisters received their
brother back to life as the gift of God, and with joyful tears they