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emoved the stone。 But it was to be taken away by human hands。 Thus Christ would show that humanity is to co…operate with divinity。 What human power can do divine power is not summoned to do。 God does not dispense with man's aid。 He strengthens him； co…operating with him as he uses the powers and capabilities given him。
The command is obeyed。 The stone is rolled away。 Everything is done openly and deliberately。 All are given a chance to see that no deception is practiced。 There lies the body of Lazarus in its rocky grave； cold and silent in death。 The cries of the mourners are hushed。 Surprised and expectant； the company stand around the sepulcher； waiting to see what is to follow。
Calmly Christ stands before the tomb。 A sacred solemnity rests upon all present。 Christ steps closer to the sepulcher。 Lifting His eyes to heaven； He says； 〃Father； I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me。〃 Not long before this； Christ's enemies had accused Him of blasphemy； and had taken up stones to cast at Him because He claimed to be the Son of
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God。 They accused Him of performing miracles by the power of Satan。 But here Christ claims God as His Father； and with perfect confidence declares that He is the Son of God。
In all that He did； Christ was co…operating with His Father。 Ever He had been careful to make it evident that He did not work independently； 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 people which stand by I said it； that they may believe that Thou hast sent Me。〃 Here the disciples and the people were to be given the most convincing evidence in regard to the relationship existing between Christ and God。 They 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。〃 His voice； clear and penetrating； pierces the ear of the dead。 As He speaks； divinity flashes through humanity。 In His face； which is lighted up by the glory of God； the people see the assurance of His power。 Every eye is fastened on the entrance to the cave。 Every ear is bent to catch the slightest sound。 With intense and painful interest all wait for the test of Christ's divinity； the evidence that is to substantiate His claim to be the Son of God； or to extinguish the hope forever。
There is a stir in the silent tomb； and he who was dead stands at the door of the sepulcher。 His movements are impeded by the graveclothes in which he was laid away； and Christ says to the astonished spectators； 〃Loose him； and let him go。〃 Again they are shown that the human worker is to co…operate with God。 Humanity is to work for humanity。 Lazarus is set free； and stands before the company； not as one emaciated from disease； and with feeble； tottering limbs； but as a man in the prime of life； and in the vigor of a noble manhood。 His eyes beam with intelligence and with love for his Saviour。 He casts himself in adoration at the feet of Jesus。
The beholders are at first speechless with amazement。 Then there follows an inexpressible scene of rejoicing and thanksgiving。 The sisters receive their brother back to life as the gift of God； and with joyful tears they brokenly express their thanks to the Saviour。 But while brother； sisters； and friends are rejoicing in this reunion； Jesus withdraws from the scene。 When they look for the Life…giver； He is not to be found。
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Chapter 59
Priestly Plottings
Bethany was so near Jerusalem that the news of the raising of Lazarus was soon carried to the city。 Through spies who had witnessed the miracle the Jewish rulers were speedily in possession of the facts。 A meeting of the Sanhedrin was at once called to decide as to what should be done。 Christ had now fully made manifest His control of death and the grave。 That mighty miracle was the crowning evidence offered by God to men that He had sent His Son into the world for their salvation。 It was a demonstration of divine power sufficient to convince every mind that was under the control of reason and enlightened conscience。 Many who witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus were led to believe on Jesus。 But the hatred of the priests against Him was intensified。 They had rejected all lesser evidence of His divinity； and they were only enraged at this new miracle。 The dead had been raised in the full light of day； and before a crowd of witnesses。 No artifice could explain away such evidence。 For this very reason the enmity of the priests grew deadlier。 They were more than ever determined to put a stop to Christ's work。
The Sadducees； though not favorable to Christ； had not been so full of malignity toward Him as were the Pharisees。 Their hatred had not been so bitter。 But they were now thoroughly alarmed。 They did not
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believe in a resurrection of the dead。 Producing so…called science； they had reasoned that it would be an impossibility for a dead body to be brought to life。 But by a few words from Christ their theory had been overthrown。 They were shown to be ignorant both of the Scriptures and of the power of God。 They could see no possibility of removing the impression made on the people by the miracle。 How could men be turned away from Him who had prevailed to rob the grave of its dead？ Lying reports were put in circulation； but the miracle could not be denied； and how to counteract its effect they knew not。 Thus far the Sadducees had not encouraged the plan of putting Christ to death。 But after the resurrection of Lazarus they decided that only by His death could His fearless denunciations against them be stopped。
The Pharisees believed in the resurrection； and they could not but see that this miracle was an evidence that the Messiah was among them。 But they had ever opposed Christ's work。 From the first they had hated Him because He had exposed their hypocritical pretensions。 He had torn aside the cloak of rigorous rites under which their moral deformity was hidden。 The pure religion that He taught had condemned their hollow professions of piety。 They thirsted to be revenged upon Him for His pointed rebukes。 They had tried to provoke Him to say or do something that would give them occasion to condemn Him。 Several times they had attempted to stone Him； but He had quietly withdrawn； and they had lost sight of Him。
The miracles He performed on the Sabbath were all for the relief of the afflicted； but the Pharisees had sought to condemn Him as a Sabbathbreaker。 They had tried to arouse the Herodians against Him。 They represented that He was seeking to set up a rival kingdom； and consulted with them how to destroy Him。 To excite the Romans against Him； they had represented Him as trying to subvert their authority。 They had tried every pretext to cut Him off from influencing the people。 But so far their attempts had been foiled。 The multitudes who witnessed His works of mercy and heard His pure and holy teachings knew that these were not the deeds and words of a Sabbathbreaker or blasphemer。 Even the officers sent by the Pharisees had been so influenced by His words that they could not lay hands on Him。 In desperation the Jews had finally passed an edict that any man who professed faith in Jesus should be cast out of the synagogue。
So； as the priests； the rulers； and the elders gathered for consultation； it was their fixed determination to silence Him who did such marvelous
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works that all men wondered。 Pharisees and Sadducees were more nearly united than ever before。 Divided hitherto； they became one in their opposition to Christ。 Nicodemus and Joseph had； in former councils； prevented the condemnation of Jesus； and for this reason they were not now summoned。 There were present at the council other influential men who believed on Jesus； but their influence prevailed nothing against that of the malignant Pharisees。
Yet the members of the council were not all agreed。 The Sanhedrin was not at this time a legal assembly。 It existed only by tolerance。 Some of its number questioned the wisdom of putting Christ to death。 They feared that this would excite an insurrection among the people； causing the Romans to withhold further favors from the priesthood； and to take from them the power they still held。 The Sadducees were united in their hatred of Christ； yet they were inclined to be cautious in their movements； fearing that the Romans would deprive them of their high standing。
In this council； assembled to plan the death of Christ； the Witness was present who heard the boastful words of Nebuchadnezzar； who witnessed the idolatrous feast of Belshazzar； who was present when Christ in Nazareth announced Himself the Anointed One。 This Witness was now impressing the rulers with the work they were doing。 Events in the life of Christ rose up before them with a distinctness that alarmed them。 They remembered the scene in the temple； when Jesus； then a child of twelve； stood before the learned do