The teaching of the eleventh chapter of John has brought to Christian Scientists many lessons of love and sympathy, and a recent experience has given the writer much food for thought in helping to eliminate the false sense of environment which would hold in bondage a brother man. When Jesus heard of Lazarus' sickness, he did not rush off in haste to see what he could do for him. Instead, we read that he "abode two days still in the same place where he was." Only a short time before this, the Pharisees had brought before Jesus a woman taken in a serious moral offense, but in lieu of condemning her, he uncovered the evil belief held by those who had brought the accusation, by a search through their own thought. Then he continued with his work of teaching and healing.
In the case of Lazarus, the account says that after two days the Master said to those who were with him, "Let us go into Judæa again." His disciples were afraid to have him go there, for of late much had been done in Judæa to destroy their Master and his work of healing; but note the answer: "If a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him." Christ Jesus was not afraid of stumbling; he knew that he could "reflect the one divine individuality" (Science and Health, p. 303) in every place. He also said, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep." The disciples, who had not yet rid themselves of their belief in the reality of death, said, "Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well." Then Jesus explained to them the error in which their friend was held; but he did not condemn Lazarus for being in this state of belief, he did not help to bind his chains by one unkind word. It may have puzzled the disciples somewhat when, after telling them plainly, "Lazarus is dead," Jesus said, "Nevertheless let us go unto him;" but the great Teacher took this event as another opportunity to waken a brother and to show the life-giving power of Love.
The disciples were evidently apprehensive of further hostility from the Jews, one of them saying to his fellows, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." They seemed to have forgotten for the time being the many proofs of the healing of sin and sickness they had seen with their own eyes; they seemed to forget everything but the error which had overtaken this friend of their Master. It seemed to have blinded them to the Principle of his teachings; their thought was full of fear, instead of confidence, hope, and trust.
