Letters from Adina - #27b

Letter XXVII (ii). LAZARUS, COME FORTH !

"His countenance was like marble for whiteness, and his eyes, which were open, beamed with an unearthly light."

… Mary rose quickly, and went out, scarcely able to walk, her limbs failing for trembling joy, and a sweet, undefined hope of she knew not what immeasurable and unutterable happiness about to come upon her.

Certain of her Jewish friends from Jerusalem at that moment met her at the door, not knowing that Jesus had entered Bethany; and began to comfort her, and to ask her if they also should go with her to weep at the grave of Lazarus; for they said one to another -“She goeth unto the grave to weep there.”

“She goes to see Jesus, the friend of Lazarus, for He calleth her,’’ answered Martha, smiling with eagerness, and speaking with a cheerfulness very opposite to her late deep grief.

Mary hastened to where Jesus sat by the fountain, discoursing with those about Him concerning the resurrection of the dead.

Upon seeing Mary, he extended his hand, but she sank at His feet in tears.

‘‘Lord,” she said, in her sister’s words, and deeply moved, ‘‘if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”

Then bowing her head to the edge of the marble basin, she wept very sore.

The Jews, men and women, who stood about, touched with her sorrow, also wept, while glittering tears coursed their way down the face of John, the beloved disciple, who stood near.

Jesus sighed deeply, and groaned in spirit as He beheld her grief, and the mourning of the Jews with her. His sacred countenance was marred with the anguish of His soul.

“Arise, and let us go to the grave where he lieth!” He said to them. “Where have ye laid him?”

“Come, dear Lord, and see,” answered Mary, holding Him by the sleeve of the robe, and reverently yet eagerly drawing Him towards the place of the tombs in the Vale of Olivet.

Immediately we heard the noise of the multitude passing by, and it being told us that Jesus was going to the grave, Martha, embracing me with a happy smile, drew me away with her, to follow the blessed Prophet to the tomb.  

How shall I describe Jesus, as He then appeared! He was clad in a blue garment, woven without seam throughout, the loving gift of the two sisters.

His face was pale and sad, yet a divine majesty rested thereon, so that His lofty forehead was like a throne to look upon.

His holy, earnest eyes, were full of sorrow. His quivering lips betrayed the effort He made to control His heart’s deep grief.

Slowly He moved onward, and entering the burial-place soon stood before the tomb of His beloved friend.

For a few moments he gazed in silence upon the closed stone door of the cave. There reigned an expectant hush among the vast throng. Mary knelt at His feet gazing into His countenance with a beautiful look of hope and trust.

Martha drew softly near, and fell upon her knees by the side of her sister. Jesus looked tenderly upon them. I knelt by the side of the sisters.

Jesus, heaving a deep sigh, now came nearer the grave. With a movement of his right hand to those who stood by, He said in a tone that, though low, was heard by the whole people, so solemn was the surrounding stillness.

“Take ye away the stone!”

“Lord,’’ said Martha, ‘“‘by this time the body is full of  corruption, for he hath been dead four days.”

“Daughter,” said’ Jesus, looking on her, “said I not to thee a little while since, that if thou wouldst believe that I could raise up thy brother, thou shouldst see him alive again? Believe, and thou shalt behold the power of God!”

The men, then, rolled away the stone from the door of the sepulchre, and laid it aside. The dark vault seemed a place of horror, and so corrupt was the air that rushed out, that all fell back from it, save Jesus and Mary, retiring several steps from the entrance.

Jesus stood looking into the cave, where, as our eyes became accustomed to the darkness within, we could discern the corpse of Lazarus, covered with the grave clothes, and his face bound with the napkin.

Raising His hands towards heaven, and lifting up His eyes, which were yet moist with tears, Jesus spoke in a voice of indescribable pathos and power of appeal, and with the most awful reverence, words like these: -

‘‘Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard me. And I know that Thou hearest me always; but because of the people which stand by do I offer unto Thee this prayer, that they may believe that the power I have cometh from Thee, and that they may believe Thou hast sent me.

And now, O Holy Father, may I glorify Thee on the earth with the power which Thou hast given me!”

He then turned towards the tomb, and stretching forth His hand, cried with a loud voice, that made every heart to quake -

“LAZARUS, COME FORTH !”

My blood stood still in my veins. Scarcely daring to lift my eyes, I nevertheless looked and beheld - what all eyes also saw – he that had been dead rose and stood up within the vault, turned with his face towards us, and came forth, wrapped hand, and foot with the grave-clothes, and his face bound about with the napkin.

His countenance was like marble for whiteness, and his eyes, which were open, beamed with an unearthly light.

On beholding him, a general shriek burst from the lips of the people, and there was a terrified backward rush of all who were nighest to the cave.  

Martha, wildly crying her brother’s name, fell forward on her face, and fainted.

‘‘Loose him and let him go,’’ said Jesus, calmly, addressing the speechless and amazed men who had taken away the stone.

Mary was the first one who had the courage to draw near to Lazarus, and as she began to remove the napkin that bound his head, others, encouraged by her example, hastened to unswathe his arms and feet.

In a few moments he was freed from his outer grave clothes, and the healthful color of his cheeks returned, his lips flushed brilliantly with red, his eyes beamed with wonder and love as he gazed about him.

Perceiving Jesus, he was about to cast himself at His feet in thankfulness (for he seemed to have a knowledge of all that had happened); but the mighty Prophet drew him to His embrace and kissed him.

Mary, at first shrinking from awe, now threw herself, blind with tears of joy, into her brother’s arms. Martha was raised up by him, and his loved voice, breathed tenderly into her ear recalled her to the happiness she could scarce believe real.

But my pen can find no words wherewith to express the joy and gratitude unspeakable, the love and praise, that filled our hearts.

Lazarus, the new-risen from the dead, blooming in the rich fullness of complete health, walked homeward by the side of Jesus, while the sisters hung upon him with deep thankfulness overflowing their happy hearts.

Now the great Prophet, now Lazarus, and now Jesus again, received the plaudits of the vast throng of people.

Hymns in praise of Jehovah were chanted as we passed through the streets, and so many fell down to worship Jesus, that it was long before we crossed the threshold of the dwelling, which Jesus did indeed enter with Lazarus by his side;

And Martha did see her brother sit at the table, and that night his head rested in deep slumber upon the flower-strewn pillow which her faith and love had prepared for him.

Thus, my dear father, have I given you recount of this mighty miracle the report whereof has filled all Jerusalem with amazement.

Your loving daughter,

Adina

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LADY DONNA PROGRAM

The new Lady Donna Immersion in Spirituality, Academics and Citizenship @ the "I AM" School will study abridged excerpts of the Letters from Adina taken from Reverend Ingraham's original edited version of 'The Prince of the House of David', published by Cassell & Co. Ltd (1903), that reveal remarkable insights into the Living Etheric Record left by Beloved Jesus's Ministry in the Holy Land.