7 Then after that saith he to his dis- ciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
8 His disciples say unto him, Mas- ter, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again ?
9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day ? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, be- cause he seeth the light of this world.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth ; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 llowbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that ho had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plain- ly, Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your sakcs that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow-dis- ciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
We should notice, in this passage, how mysterious are the ways in which Christ sometimes leads His people. We are told that when He talked of going back to Judaea, His dis- ciples were perplexed. It was the very place where the Jews had lately tried to stone their Master: to return thither was to plunge into the midst of danger. These
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timid Galileans could not see the necessity or prudence of such a step. " Goest Thou thither again? " they cried.
Things such as these are often going on around us. The servants of Christ are often placed in circumstances just as puzzling and perplexing as those of the disciples. They are led in ways of which they cannot see the purpose and object; they are called to fill positions from which they naturally shrink, and which they would never have chosen for themselves. Thousands in every age are continually learning this by their own experience. The path they are obliged to walk in is not the path of their own choice. At present they cannot see its usefulness or wisdom.
At times like these a Christian must call into exercise his faith and patience. He must believe that his Master knows best by what road His servant ought to travel, and that He is leading him, by the right wajr, to a city of habita- tion. He may rest assured that the circumstances in which he is placed are precisely those which are most likely to promote his graces and to check his besetting sins. He need not doubt that what he cannot see now he will under- stand hereafter. He will find one day that there was wis- dom in every step of his journey, though flesh and blood could not see it at the time. If the twelve disciples had not been taken back into Judaea, they would not have seen the glorious miracle of Bethany. If Christians were allowed to choose their own course through life, they would never learn hundreds of lessons about Christ and His grace, which they are now taught in God's ways. Let us remem- ber these things. The time may come when we shall be called to take some journey in life which we greatly dis- like. When that time comes, let us set out cheerfully, and believe that all is right.
We should notice, secondly, in this passage, how tenderly Christ speaks of the death of believers. He announces the