Kapitel 168		Paper 168
Lazarus’ genopstandelse		The Resurrection of Lazarus
168:0.1 (1842.1) DET VAR kort efter middag, da Marta begav sig ud for at møde Jesus, da han kom over bakketoppen nær Betania. Hendes bror, Lazarus, havde været død i fire dage og var blevet lagt i deres private grav i den fjerneste ende af haven sent søndag eftermiddag. Stenen ved indgangen til graven var blevet rullet på plads om morgenen på denne dag, torsdag.		168:0.1 (1842.1) IT WAS shortly after noon when Martha started out to meet Jesus as he came over the brow of the hill near Bethany. Her brother, Lazarus, had been dead four days and had been laid away in their private tomb at the far end of the garden late on Sunday afternoon. The stone at the entrance of the tomb had been rolled in place on the morning of this day, Thursday.
168:0.2 (1842.2) Da Marta og Maria sendte bud til Jesus om Lazarus’ sygdom, var de overbeviste om, at Mesteren ville gøre noget ved det. De vidste, at deres bror var desperat syg, og selvom de næsten ikke turde håbe på, at Jesus ville forlade sit arbejde med at undervise og prædike for at komme dem til hjælp, havde de så stor tillid til hans evne til at helbrede sygdomme, at de troede, at han bare ville sige de helbredende ord, og Lazarus ville straks blive rask. Og da Lazarus døde et par timer efter, at budbringeren havde forladt Betania for at tage til Filadelfia, ræsonnerede de, at det var, fordi Mesteren ikke havde hørt om deres brors sygdom, før det var for sent, før han allerede havde været død i flere timer.		168:0.2 (1842.2) When Martha and Mary sent word to Jesus concerning Lazarus’s illness, they were confident the Master would do something about it. They knew that their brother was desperately sick, and though they hardly dared hope that Jesus would leave his work of teaching and preaching to come to their assistance, they had such confidence in his power to heal disease that they thought he would just speak the curative words, and Lazarus would immediately be made whole. And when Lazarus died a few hours after the messenger left Bethany for Philadelphia, they reasoned that it was because the Master did not learn of their brother’s illness until it was too late, until he had already been dead for several hours.
168:0.3 (1842.3) Men de og alle deres troende venner var meget forundrede over det budskab, som løberen bragte tilbage tirsdag formiddag, da han nåede Betania. Budbringeren insisterede på, at han havde hørt Jesus sige: “... denne sygdom er virkelig ikke til at dø af.” De kunne heller ikke forstå, hvorfor han ikke sendte et ord til dem eller på anden måde tilbød assistance.		168:0.3 (1842.3) But they, with all of their believing friends, were greatly puzzled by the message which the runner brought back Tuesday forenoon when he reached Bethany. The messenger insisted that he heard Jesus say, “...this sickness is really not to the death.” Neither could they understand why he sent no word to them nor otherwise proffered assistance.
168:0.4 (1842.4) Mange venner fra de nærliggende landsbyer og andre fra Jerusalem kom over for at trøste de sorgfulde søstre. Lazarus og hans søstre var børn af en velhavende og hæderlig jøde, som havde været den ledende beboer i den lille landsby Betania. Og på trods af at de alle tre længe havde været ivrige tilhængere af Jesus, var de højt respekterede af alle, der kendte dem. De havde arvet store vinmarker og olivenplantager i nærheden, og at de var velhavende, blev yderligere bekræftet af det faktum, at de havde råd til en privat grav på deres egen grund. Begge deres forældre var allerede blevet lagt i denne grav.		168:0.4 (1842.4) Many friends from near-by hamlets and others from Jerusalem came over to comfort the sorrow-stricken sisters. Lazarus and his sisters were the children of a well-to-do and honorable Jew, one who had been the leading resident of the little village of Bethany. And notwithstanding that all three had long been ardent followers of Jesus, they were highly respected by all who knew them. They had inherited extensive vineyards and olive orchards in this vicinity, and that they were wealthy was further attested by the fact that they could afford a private burial tomb on their own premises. Both of their parents had already been laid away in this tomb.
168:0.5 (1842.5) Maria havde opgivet tanken om Jesu ville komme og var overladt til sin sorg, men Marta klyngede sig til håbet om, at Jesus ville komme, lige indtil den morgen, hvor de rullede stenen foran graven og forseglede indgangen. Selv da bad hun en dreng fra nabolaget om at holde vagt nede ad Jeriko-vejen fra bakketoppen øst for Betania, og det var denne dreng, der bragte Marta nyheden om, at Jesus og hans venner nærmede sig.		168:0.5 (1842.5) Mary had given up the thought of Jesus’ coming and was abandoned to her grief, but Martha clung to the hope that Jesus would come, even up to the time on that very morning when they rolled the stone in front of the tomb and sealed the entrance. Even then she instructed a neighbor lad to keep watch down the Jericho road from the brow of the hill to the east of Bethany; and it was this lad who brought tidings to Martha that Jesus and his friends were approaching.
168:0.6 (1842.6) Da Marta mødte Jesus, faldt hun ned for hans fødder og udbrød: “Mester, hvis du havde været her, ville min bror ikke være død!” Mange bekymringer gik gennem Martas sind, men hun gav ikke udtryk for nogen tvivl, og hun vovede heller ikke at kritisere eller sætte spørgsmålstegn ved Mesterens opførsel i forbindelse med Lazarus’ død. Da hun havde talt, rakte Jesus ned og løftede hende op på fødderne og sagde: “Du skal bare tro, Marta, så skal din bror opstå igen.” Da svarede Marta: “Jeg ved, at han skal opstå på den yderste dag, og allerede nu tror jeg, at alt, hvad du beder Gud om, vil vor Fader give dig.”		168:0.6 (1842.6) When Martha met Jesus, she fell at his feet, exclaiming, “Master, if you had been here, my brother would not have died!” Many fears were passing through Martha’s mind, but she gave expression to no doubt, nor did she venture to criticize or question the Master’s conduct as related to Lazarus’s death. When she had spoken, Jesus reached down and, lifting her upon her feet, said, “Only have faith, Martha, and your brother shall rise again.” Then answered Martha: “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection of the last day; and even now I believe that whatever you shall ask of God, our Father will give you.”
168:0.7 (1843.1) Så sagde Jesus og så Marta lige ind i øjnene: “Jeg er opstandelsen og livet; den, der tror på mig, skal leve, om han end dør. I sandhed, den, der lever og tror på mig, skal aldrig rigtig dø. Marta, tror du på dette?” Og Marta svarede Mesteren: “Ja, jeg har længe troet, at du er Frelseren, den levende Guds Søn, han, som skulle komme til denne verden.”		168:0.7 (1843.1) Then said Jesus, looking straight into the eyes of Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live. In truth, whosoever lives and believes in me shall never really die. Martha, do you believe this?” And Martha answered the Master: “Yes, I have long believed that you are the Deliverer, the Son of the living God, even he who should come to this world.”
168:0.8 (1843.2) Da Jesus havde spurgt efter Maria, gik Marta straks ind i huset, hviskede til sin søster og sagde: “Mesteren er her og har spurgt efter dig.” Og da Maria hørte dette, rejste hun sig hurtigt og skyndte sig ud for at møde Jesus, som stadig opholdt sig på det sted, et stykke fra huset, hvor Marta først havde mødt ham. Vennerne, som var sammen med Maria, forsøgte at trøste hende, men da de så, at hun rejste sig hurtigt og gik ud, fulgte de efter hende og troede, at hun var på vej til graven for at græde.		168:0.8 (1843.2) Jesus having inquired for Mary, Martha went at once into the house and, whispering to her sister, said, “The Master is here and has asked for you.” And when Mary heard this, she rose up quickly and hastened out to meet Jesus, who still tarried at the place, some distance from the house, where Martha had first met him. The friends who were with Mary, seeking to comfort her, when they saw that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep.
168:0.9 (1843.3) Mange af de tilstedeværende var Jesu bitre fjender. Det var derfor, at Marta var gået ud for at møde ham alene, og også derfor, at hun i al hemmelighed gik ind for at fortælle Maria, at han havde spurgt efter hende. Marta ville gerne se Jesus, men hun ønskede at undgå eventuelle ubehageligheder, som kunne opstå, hvis han pludselig kom midt i en stor gruppe af sine fjender fra Jerusalem. Det havde været Martas hensigt at blive i huset med deres venner, mens Maria gik hen for at hilse på Jesus, men det mislykkedes for hende, for de fulgte alle efter Maria og befandt sig derfor uventet i Mesterens nærvær.		168:0.9 (1843.3) Many of those present were Jesus’ bitter enemies. That is why Martha had come out to meet him alone, and also why she went in secretly to inform Mary that he had asked for her. Martha, while craving to see Jesus, desired to avoid any possible unpleasantness which might be caused by his coming suddenly into the midst of a large group of his Jerusalem enemies. It had been Martha’s intention to remain in the house with their friends while Mary went to greet Jesus, but in this she failed, for they all followed Mary and so found themselves unexpectedly in the presence of the Master.
168:0.10 (1843.4) Marta førte Maria hen til Jesus, og da hun så ham, faldt hun ned for hans fødder og udbrød: “Hvis du bare havde været her, ville min bror ikke være død!” Og da Jesus så, hvordan de alle sørgede over Lazarus død, blev hans sjæl bevæget af medlidenhed.		168:0.10 (1843.4) Martha led Mary to Jesus, and when she saw him, she fell at his feet, exclaiming, “If you had only been here, my brother would not have died!” And when Jesus saw how they all grieved over the death of Lazarus, his soul was moved with compassion.
168:0.11 (1843.5) Da de sørgende så, at Maria var gået hen for at hilse på Jesus, trak de sig lidt tilbage, mens både Marta og Maria talte med Mesteren og fik flere trøstende ord og formaninger om at bevare en stærk tro på Faderen og fuldstændig overgive sig til den guddommelige vilje.		168:0.11 (1843.5) When the mourners saw that Mary had gone to greet Jesus, they withdrew for a short distance while both Martha and Mary talked with the Master and received further words of comfort and exhortation to maintain strong faith in the Father and complete resignation to the divine will.
168:0.12 (1843.6) Jesu menneskelige sind blev stærkt bevæget af modsætningen mellem hans kærlighed til Lazarus og de efterladte søstre og hans foragt og afsky for den ydre tilkendegivelse af kærlighed, som nogle af disse vantro og morderiske jøder viste. Jesus var forarget over, at nogle af disse erklærede venner viste tvungen og ydre sorg over Lazarus, fordi en sådan falsk sorg i deres hjerter var forbundet med så meget bittert fjendskab mod ham selv. Nogle af disse jøder var dog oprigtige i deres sorg, for de var ægte venner af familien.		168:0.12 (1843.6) The human mind of Jesus was mightily moved by the contention between his love for Lazarus and the bereaved sisters and his disdain and contempt for the outward show of affection manifested by some of these unbelieving and murderously intentioned Jews. Jesus indignantly resented the show of forced and outward mourning for Lazarus by some of these professed friends inasmuch as such false sorrow was associated in their hearts with so much bitter enmity toward himself. Some of these Jews, however, were sincere in their mourning, for they were real friends of the family.
1. Ved Lazarus grav ^top		1. At the Tomb of Lazarus ^top
168:1.1 (1843.7) Efter at Jesus havde brugt et par øjeblikke på at trøste Marta og Maria, bortset fra de sørgende, spurgte han dem: “Hvor har I lagt ham?” Så sagde Marta: “Kom og se.” Og mens Mesteren fulgte de to sørgende søstre i stilhed, græd han. Da de venlige jøder, som fulgte efter dem, så hans tårer, sagde en af dem: “Se, hvor han elskede ham. Kunne han, som åbnede de blindes øjne, ikke have forhindret denne mand i at dø?” På dette tidspunkt stod de foran familiegraven, en lille naturlig hule eller afgrund i klippeafsatsen, der rejste sig omkring tredive meter op i den fjerneste ende af havegrunden.		168:1.1 (1843.7) After Jesus had spent a few moments in comforting Martha and Mary, apart from the mourners, he asked them, “Where have you laid him?” Then Martha said, “Come and see.” And as the Master followed on in silence with the two sorrowing sisters, he wept. When the friendly Jews who followed after them saw his tears, one of them said: “Behold how he loved him. Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind have kept this man from dying?” By this time they were standing before the family tomb, a small natural cave, or declivity, in the ledge of rock which rose up some thirty feet at the far end of the garden plot.
168:1.2 (1844.1) Det er svært at forklare for det menneskelige sind, hvorfor Jesus græd. Selvom vi har adgang til registreringen af de kombinerede menneskelige følelser og guddommelige tanker, som de er registreret i den Personlige Retters sind, er vi ikke helt sikre på den egentlige årsag til disse følelsesmæssige manifestationer. Vi er tilbøjelige til at tro, at Jesus græd på grund af en række tanker og følelser, som gik gennem hans sind på dette tidspunkt, f.eks:		168:1.2 (1844.1) It is difficult to explain to human minds just why Jesus wept. While we have access to the registration of the combined human emotions and divine thoughts, as of record in the mind of the Personalized Adjuster, we are not altogether certain about the real cause of these emotional manifestations. We are inclined to believe that Jesus wept because of a number of thoughts and feelings which were going through his mind at this time, such as:
168:1.3 (1844.2) 1. Han følte en ægte og sørgelig sympati for Marta og Maria; han havde en ægte og dyb menneskelig hengivenhed for disse søstre, som havde mistet deres bror.		168:1.3 (1844.2) 1. He felt a genuine and sorrowful sympathy for Martha and Mary; he had a real and deep human affection for these sisters who had lost their brother.
168:1.4 (1844.3) 2. Han blev forstyrret i sit sind af tilstedeværelsen af mængden af sørgende, nogle oprigtige og andre blot foregivere. Han har altid haft noget imod disse ydre udstillinger af sorg. Han vidste, at søstrene elskede deres bror og troede på, at de troende kunne overleve. Disse modstridende følelser kan muligvis forklare, hvorfor han stønnede, da de nærmede sig graven.		168:1.4 (1844.3) 2. He was perturbed in his mind by the presence of the crowd of mourners, some sincere and some merely pretenders. He always resented these outward exhibitions of mourning. He knew the sisters loved their brother and had faith in the survival of believers. These conflicting emotions may possibly explain why he groaned as they came near the tomb.
168:1.5 (1844.4) 3. Han tøvede virkelig med at bringe Lazarus tilbage til det jordiske liv. Hans søstre havde virkelig brug for ham, men Jesus fortrød at skulle kalde sin ven tilbage for at opleve den bitre forfølgelse, som han godt vidste, at Lazarus ville blive udsat for som følge af at være genstand for den største af alle demonstrationer af Menneskesønnens guddommelige magt.		168:1.5 (1844.4) 3. He truly hesitated about bringing Lazarus back to the mortal life. His sisters really needed him, but Jesus regretted having to summon his friend back to experience the bitter persecution which he well knew Lazarus would have to endure as a result of being the subject of the greatest of all demonstrations of the divine power of the Son of Man.
168:1.6 (1844.5) Og nu kan vi fortælle en interessant og lærerig kendsgerning: Selvom denne fortælling udfolder sig som en tilsyneladende naturlig og normal begivenhed i menneskelige anliggender, har den nogle meget interessante lyspunkter. Mens budbringeren gik til Jesus om søndagen og fortalte ham om Lazarus sygdom, og mens Jesus sendte besked om, at det “ikke var til døden,” gik han samtidig personligt op til Betania og spurgte endda søstrene: “Hvor har I lagt ham?” Selvom alt dette synes at indikere, at Mesteren handlede på dette livs måde og i overensstemmelse med det menneskelige sinds begrænsede viden, afslører universets optegnelser ikke desto mindre, at Jesu Personaliserede Retter udstedte ordrer om tilbageholdelse på ubestemt tid af Lazarus’ Tankeretter på planeten efter Lazarus død, og at denne ordre blev registreret kun femten minutter, før Lazarus trak vejret for sidste gang.		168:1.6 (1844.5) And now we may relate an interesting and instructive fact: Although this narrative unfolds as an apparently natural and normal event in human affairs, it has some very interesting side lights. While the messenger went to Jesus on Sunday, telling him of Lazarus’s illness, and while Jesus sent word that it was “not to the death,” at the same time he went in person up to Bethany and even asked the sisters, “Where have you laid him?” Even though all of this seems to indicate that the Master was proceeding after the manner of this life and in accordance with the limited knowledge of the human mind, nevertheless, the records of the universe reveal that Jesus’ Personalized Adjuster issued orders for the indefinite detention of Lazarus’s Thought Adjuster on the planet subsequent to Lazarus’s death, and that this order was made of record just fifteen minutes before Lazarus breathed his last.
168:1.7 (1844.6) Vidste Jesu guddommelige sind, allerede før Lazarus døde, at han ville vække ham fra de døde? Vi ved det ikke. Vi ved kun, hvad vi hermed nedfælder.		168:1.7 (1844.6) Did the divine mind of Jesus know, even before Lazarus died, that he would raise him from the dead? We do not know. We know only what we are herewith placing on record.
168:1.8 (1844.7) Mange af Jesu fjender var tilbøjelige til at håne hans kærlighedsmanifestationer, og de sagde til hinanden: “Hvis han tænkte så meget på denne mand, hvorfor ventede han så længe med at komme til Betania? Hvis han er, hvad de påstår, hvorfor reddede han så ikke sin kære ven? Hvad nytter det at helbrede fremmede i Galilæa, hvis han ikke kan redde dem, han elsker?” Og på mange andre måder hånede og bagatelliserede de Jesu lære og gerninger.		168:1.8 (1844.7) Many of Jesus’ enemies were inclined to sneer at his manifestations of affection, and they said among themselves: “If he thought so much of this man, why did he tarry so long before coming to Bethany? If he is what they claim, why did he not save his dear friend? What is the good of healing strangers in Galilee if he cannot save those whom he loves?” And in many other ways they mocked and made light of the teachings and works of Jesus.
168:1.9 (1844.8) Og så, denne torsdag eftermiddag omkring klokken halv tre, var scenen sat i denne lille flække Betania til udførelsen af det største af alle værker i forbindelse med Mikael af Nebadons jordiske tjeneste, den største manifestation af guddommelig magt under hans inkarnation i kødet, siden hans egen opstandelse fandt sted, efter at han var blevet befriet fra de dødelige lænker.		168:1.9 (1844.8) And so, on this Thursday afternoon at about half past two o’clock, was the stage all set in this little hamlet of Bethany for the enactment of the greatest of all works connected with the earth ministry of Michael of Nebadon, the greatest manifestation of divine power during his incarnation in the flesh, since his own resurrection occurred after he had been liberated from the bonds of mortal habitation.
168:1.10 (1845.1) Den lille gruppe, der var samlet foran Lazarus grav, var ikke klar over, at der i nærheden var en stor forsamling af alle slags himmelske væsener, der var samlet under Gabriels ledelse, og som nu ventede på anvisning fra Jesu Personlige Retter, vibrerende af forventning og klar til at udføre deres elskede Herskers bud.		168:1.10 (1845.1) The small group assembled before Lazarus’s tomb little realized the presence near at hand of a vast concourse of all orders of celestial beings assembled under the leadership of Gabriel and now in waiting, by direction of the Personalized Adjuster of Jesus, vibrating with expectancy and ready to execute the bidding of their beloved Sovereign.
168:1.11 (1845.2) Da Jesus udtalte disse befalende ord: “Tag stenen bort,” gjorde de forsamlede himmelske værter sig klar til at opføre dramaet om Lazarus opstandelse i skikkelse af hans dødelige kød. En sådan form for opstandelse indebærer vanskeligheder i udførelsen, som langt overgår den sædvanlige teknik med opstandelse af dødelige skabninger i morontia-form og kræver langt flere himmelske personligheder og en langt større organisering af universets faciliteter.		168:1.11 (1845.2) When Jesus spoke those words of command, “Take away the stone,” the assembled celestial hosts made ready to enact the drama of the resurrection of Lazarus in the likeness of his mortal flesh. Such a form of resurrection involves difficulties of execution which far transcend the usual technique of the resurrection of mortal creatures in morontia form and requires far more celestial personalities and a far greater organization of universe facilities.
168:1.12 (1845.3) Da Marta og Maria hørte denne befaling fra Jesus om, at stenen foran graven skulle rulles væk, blev de fyldt med modstridende følelser. Maria håbede, at Lazarus ville blive oprejst fra de døde, men Marta, som til en vis grad delte sin søsters tro, var mere optaget af frygten for, at Lazarus ikke ville være præsentabel i sit udseende for Jesus, apostlene og deres venner. Marta sagde: “Skal vi rulle stenen væk? Min bror har nu været død i fire dage, så på dette tidspunkt er kroppens forrådnelse begyndt.” Marta sagde også dette, fordi hun ikke var sikker på, hvorfor Mesteren havde bedt om, at stenen blev fjernet; hun troede, at Jesus måske bare ville se en sidste gang på Lazarus. Hun var ikke afklaret og konstant i sin holdning. Da de tøvede med at rulle stenen væk, sagde Jesus: “Sagde jeg ikke først til dig, at denne sygdom ikke var til døden? Er jeg ikke kommet for at opfylde mit løfte? Og efter at jeg var kommet til jer, sagde jeg så ikke, at hvis I blot ville tro, skulle I se Guds herlighed? Hvorfor tvivler I? Hvor længe varer det, før I vil tro og adlyde?”		168:1.12 (1845.3) When Martha and Mary heard this command of Jesus directing that the stone in front of the tomb be rolled away, they were filled with conflicting emotions. Mary hoped that Lazarus was to be raised from the dead, but Martha, while to some extent sharing her sister’s faith, was more exercised by the fear that Lazarus would not be presentable, in his appearance, to Jesus, the apostles, and their friends. Said Martha: “Must we roll away the stone? My brother has now been dead four days, so that by this time decay of the body has begun.” Martha also said this because she was not certain as to why the Master had requested that the stone be removed; she thought maybe Jesus wanted only to take one last look at Lazarus. She was not settled and constant in her attitude. As they hesitated to roll away the stone, Jesus said: “Did I not tell you at the first that this sickness was not to the death? Have I not come to fulfill my promise? And after I came to you, did I not say that, if you would only believe, you should see the glory of God? Wherefore do you doubt? How long before you will believe and obey?”
168:1.13 (1845.4) Da Jesus var færdig med at tale, tog hans apostle, med hjælp fra villige naboer, fat i stenen og rullede den væk fra indgangen til graven.		168:1.13 (1845.4) When Jesus had finished speaking, his apostles, with the assistance of willing neighbors, laid hold upon the stone and rolled it away from the entrance to the tomb.
168:1.14 (1845.5) Det var jødernes almindelige opfattelse, at dråben af galde på spidsen af dødsenglens sværd begyndte at virke ved slutningen af den tredje dag, så den havde fuld virkning på den fjerde dag. De tillod, at menneskets sjæl kunne dvæle ved graven indtil slutningen af den tredje dag og forsøge at genoplive den døde krop; men de troede fuldt og fast på, at en sådan sjæl var gået videre til de afdøde ånders bolig, før den fjerde dag var gryet.		168:1.14 (1845.5) It was the common belief of the Jews that the drop of gall on the point of the sword of the angel of death began to work by the end of the third day, so that it was taking full effect on the fourth day. They allowed that the soul of man might linger about the tomb until the end of the third day, seeking to reanimate the dead body; but they firmly believed that such a soul had gone on to the abode of departed spirits ere the fourth day had dawned.
168:1.15 (1845.6) Disse overbevisninger og meninger om de døde og de dødes ånders afgang tjente til at sikre, at alle, der nu var til stede ved Lazarus’ grav, og efterfølgende alle, der måtte høre om, hvad der var ved at ske, var sikre på, at dette virkelig var et tilfælde af opstandelse af de døde ved personlig handling fra en, der erklærede, at han var “opstandelsen og livet.”		168:1.15 (1845.6) These beliefs and opinions regarding the dead and the departure of the spirits of the dead served to make sure, in the minds of all who were now present at Lazarus’s tomb and subsequently to all who might hear of what was about to occur, that this was really and truly a case of the raising of the dead by the personal working of one who declared he was “the resurrection and the life.”
2. Lazarus opvækkelse ^top		2. The Resurrection of Lazarus ^top
168:2.1 (1845.7) Da dette selskab på omkring femogfyrre dødelige stod foran graven, kunne de svagt se Lazarus’ skikkelse, svøbt i linnedbandager, hvile i den nederste højre niche i gravhulen. Mens disse jordiske væsener stod der i næsten åndeløs stilhed, havde en stor hær af himmelske væsener indtaget deres pladser for at besvare signalet til handling, når det blev givet af Gabriel, deres øverstbefalende.		168:2.1 (1845.7) As this company of some forty-five mortals stood before the tomb, they could dimly see the form of Lazarus, wrapped in linen bandages, resting on the right lower niche of the burial cave. While these earth creatures stood there in almost breathless silence, a vast host of celestial beings had swung into their places preparatory to answering the signal for action when it should be given by Gabriel, their commander.
168:2.2 (1846.1) Jesus løftede sine øjne og sagde: “Fader, jeg er taknemmelig for, at du har hørt og imødekommet min anmodning. Jeg ved, at du altid hører mig, men på grund af dem, der står her sammen med mig, taler jeg således med dig, for at de skal tro, at du har sendt mig til verden, og for at de skal vide, at du arbejder sammen med mig i det, vi skal til at gøre.” Og da han havde bedt, råbte han med høj røst: “Lazarus, kom frem!”		168:2.2 (1846.1) Jesus lifted up his eyes and said: “Father, I am thankful that you heard and granted my request. I know that you always hear me, but because of those who stand here with me, I thus speak with you, that they may believe that you have sent me into the world, and that they may know that you are working with me in that which we are about to do.” And when he had prayed, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”
168:2.3 (1846.2) Selvom disse menneskelige iagttagere forblev ubevægelige, var den store himmelske hær i samlet aktion i lydighed mod Skaberens ord. På bare tolv sekunder af jordens tid begyndte Lazarus hidtil livløse skikkelse at bevæge sig og satte sig straks op på kanten af den stenhylde, den havde hvilet på. Hans krop var bundet med ligklæder, og hans ansigt var dækket af en serviet. Og da han stod op foran dem—levende—sagde Jesus: “Løs ham, og lad ham gå.”		168:2.3 (1846.2) Though these human observers remained motionless, the vast celestial host was all astir in unified action in obedience to the Creator’s word. In just twelve seconds of earth time the hitherto lifeless form of Lazarus began to move and presently sat up on the edge of the stone shelf whereon it had rested. His body was bound about with grave cloths, and his face was covered with a napkin. And as he stood up before them—alive—Jesus said, “Loose him and let him go.”
168:2.4 (1846.3) Alle, undtagen apostlene og Marta og Maria, flygtede ind i huset. De var blege af skræk og overvældede af forbløffelse. Mens nogle blev hængende, skyndte mange sig hjem.		168:2.4 (1846.3) All, save the apostles, with Martha and Mary, fled to the house. They were pale with fright and overcome with astonishment. While some tarried, many hastened to their homes.
168:2.5 (1846.4) Lazarus hilste på Jesus og apostlene og spurgte, hvad gravklæderne betød, og hvorfor han var vågnet op i haven. Jesus og apostlene trak sig til side, mens Marta fortalte Lazarus om hans død, begravelse og opstandelse. Hun måtte forklare ham, at han var død om søndagen og nu blev bragt tilbage til livet om torsdagen, fordi han ikke havde haft nogen tidsbevidsthed, siden han faldt i søvn i døden.		168:2.5 (1846.4) Lazarus greeted Jesus and the apostles and asked the meaning of the grave cloths and why he had awakened in the garden. Jesus and the apostles drew to one side while Martha told Lazarus of his death, burial, and resurrection. She had to explain to him that he had died on Sunday and was now brought back to life on Thursday, inasmuch as he had had no consciousness of time since falling asleep in death.
168:2.6 (1846.5) Da Lazarus kom ud af graven, gav Jesu Personaliserede Retter, som nu var den øverste af sin slags i dette lokalunivers, ordre til Lazarus’ tidligere Retter, som nu ventede, om at genoptage sit ophold i den genopstandne mands sind og sjæl.		168:2.6 (1846.5) As Lazarus came out of the tomb, the Personalized Adjuster of Jesus, now chief of his kind in this local universe, gave command to the former Adjuster of Lazarus, now in waiting, to resume abode in the mind and soul of the resurrected man.
168:2.7 (1846.6) Så gik Lazarus hen til Jesus og knælede sammen med sine søstre ved Mesterens fødder for at takke og lovprise Gud. Jesus tog Lazarus i hånden, løftede ham op og sagde: “Min søn, det, der er sket med dig, vil alle, der tror på dette evangelium, også opleve, bortset fra at de vil genopstå i en mere herlig skikkelse. Du skal være et levende vidne om den sandhed, jeg talte om—jeg er opstandelsen og livet. Men lad os nu alle gå ind i huset og indtage næring til disse fysiske kroppe.”		168:2.7 (1846.6) Then went Lazarus over to Jesus and, with his sisters, knelt at the Master’s feet to give thanks and offer praise to God. Jesus, taking Lazarus by the hand, lifted him up, saying: “My son, what has happened to you will also be experienced by all who believe this gospel except that they shall be resurrected in a more glorious form. You shall be a living witness of the truth which I spoke—I am the resurrection and the life. But let us all now go into the house and partake of nourishment for these physical bodies.”
168:2.8 (1846.7) Mens de gik mod huset, afskedigede Gabriel de ekstra grupper af den forsamlede himmelske hær, mens han optegnede det første og sidste tilfælde på Urantia, hvor et dødeligt væsen var genopstået i lighed med dødens fysiske krop.		168:2.8 (1846.7) As they walked toward the house, Gabriel dismissed the extra groups of the assembled heavenly host while he made record of the first instance on Urantia, and the last, where a mortal creature had been resurrected in the likeness of the physical body of death.
168:2.9 (1846.8) Lazarus kunne næsten ikke forstå, hvad der var sket. Han vidste, at han havde været meget syg, men han kunne kun huske, at han var faldet i søvn og var blevet vækket. Han var aldrig i stand til at fortælle noget om de fire dage i graven, fordi han var helt bevidstløs. Tiden er ikke-eksisterende for dem, der sover dødens søvn.		168:2.9 (1846.8) Lazarus could hardly comprehend what had occurred. He knew he had been very sick, but he could recall only that he had fallen asleep and been awakened. He was never able to tell anything about these four days in the tomb because he was wholly unconscious. Time is nonexistent to those who sleep the sleep of death.
168:2.10 (1846.9) Selvom mange troede på Jesus som et resultat af dette mægtige værk, forhærdede andre kun deres hjerter endnu mere for at afvise ham. Ved middagstid den næste dag havde denne historie spredt sig over hele Jerusalem. Snesevis af mænd og kvinder tog til Betania for at se Lazarus og tale med ham, og de alarmerede og forvirrede farisæere skyndte sig at indkalde til et møde i jødernes råd, så de kunne afgøre, hvad der skulle gøres ved denne nye udvikling.		168:2.10 (1846.9) Though many believed in Jesus as a result of this mighty work, others only hardened their hearts the more to reject him. By noon the next day this story had spread over all Jerusalem. Scores of men and women went to Bethany to look upon Lazarus and talk with him, and the alarmed and disconcerted Pharisees hastily called a meeting of the Sanhedrin that they might determine what should be done about these new developments.
3. Møde i jødernes råd ^top		3. Meeting of the Sanhedrin ^top
168:3.1 (1847.1) Selvom vidnesbyrdet om denne mand, der var opstået fra de døde, gjorde meget for at styrke troen på evangeliet om riget hos de mange troende, havde det kun ringe eller ingen indflydelse på holdningen hos de religiøse ledere og magthaverne i Jerusalem, bortset fra at det fremskyndede deres beslutning om at ødelægge Jesus og stoppe hans arbejde.		168:3.1 (1847.1) Even though the testimony of this man raised from the dead did much to consolidate the faith of the mass of believers in the gospel of the kingdom, it had little or no influence on the attitude of the religious leaders and rulers at Jerusalem except to hasten their decision to destroy Jesus and stop his work.
168:3.2 (1847.2) Klokken et den næste dag, fredag, mødtes Sanhedrinet for at drøfte spørgsmålet yderligere: “Hvad skal vi gøre med Jesus af Nazaret?” Efter mere end to timers diskussion og bitter debat fremlagde en vis farisæer en resolution, der krævede Jesu øjeblikkelige død, proklamerede, at han var en trussel mod hele Israel og formelt forpligtede Sanhedrinet til at træffe beslutningen om døden uden retssag og i modstrid med alle fortilfælde.		168:3.2 (1847.2) At one o’clock the next day, Friday, the Sanhedrin met to deliberate further on the question, “What shall we do with Jesus of Nazareth?” After more than two hours of discussion and acrimonious debate, a certain Pharisee presented a resolution calling for Jesus’ immediate death, proclaiming that he was a menace to all Israel and formally committing the Sanhedrin to the decision of death, without trial and in defiance of all precedent.
168:3.3 (1847.3) Gang på gang havde dette ophøjede organ af jødiske ledere besluttet, at Jesus skulle pågribes og stilles for retten anklaget for blasfemi og adskillige andre anklager om at have overtrådt den jødiske hellige lov. En gang før var de endda gået så vidt som til at erklære, at han skulle dø, men dette var første gang, at Sanhedrinet officielt havde ønsket at erklære ham død forud for en retssag. Men denne beslutning kom ikke til afstemning, da fjorten medlemmer af Sanhedrin trak sig i samlet flok, da en så uhørt handling blev foreslået. Selv om der gik næsten to uger, før der formelt blev taget stilling til disse opsigelser, trak denne gruppe på fjorten sig fra Sanhedrin den dag for aldrig mere at sidde i rådet. Da der efterfølgende blev taget stilling til disse udmeldelser, blev fem andre medlemmer smidt ud, fordi deres medarbejdere mente, at de nærede venskabelige følelser over for Jesus. Med disse 19 mænds udstødelse var Sanhedrinet i stand til at forsøge at fordømme Jesus med en solidaritet, der grænsede til enstemmighed.		168:3.3 (1847.3) Time and again had this august body of Jewish leaders decreed that Jesus be apprehended and brought to trial on charges of blasphemy and numerous other accusations of flouting the Jewish sacred law. They had once before even gone so far as to declare he should die, but this was the first time the Sanhedrin had gone on record as desiring to decree his death in advance of a trial. But this resolution did not come to a vote since fourteen members of the Sanhedrin resigned in a body when such an unheard-of action was proposed. While these resignations were not formally acted upon for almost two weeks, this group of fourteen withdrew from the Sanhedrin on that day, never again to sit in the council. When these resignations were subsequently acted upon, five other members were thrown out because their associates believed they entertained friendly feelings toward Jesus. With the ejection of these nineteen men the Sanhedrin was in a position to try and to condemn Jesus with a solidarity bordering on unanimity.
168:3.4 (1847.4) Den følgende uge blev Lazarus og hans søstre indkaldt til at møde op foran Sanhedrinet. Da deres vidnesbyrd var blevet hørt, var der ingen tvivl om, at Lazarus var blevet oprejst fra de døde. Selv om Sanhedrinets forhandlinger stort set indrømmede Lazarus’ opstandelse, indeholdt referatet en beslutning, der tilskrev dette og alle andre af Jesu undere til djævleprinsens magt, som Jesus blev erklæret at stå i ledtog med.		168:3.4 (1847.4) The following week Lazarus and his sisters were summoned to appear before the Sanhedrin. When their testimony had been heard, no doubt could be entertained that Lazarus had been raised from the dead. Though the transactions of the Sanhedrin virtually admitted the resurrection of Lazarus, the record carried a resolution attributing this and all other wonders worked by Jesus to the power of the prince of devils, with whom Jesus was declared to be in league.
168:3.5 (1847.5) Uanset hvad kilden til hans mirakuløse kraft var, var disse jødiske ledere overbeviste om, at hvis han ikke straks blev stoppet, ville alle almindelige mennesker snart tro på ham; og desuden ville der opstå alvorlige komplikationer med de romerske myndigheder, da så mange af hans troende betragtede ham som Messias, Israels befrier.		168:3.5 (1847.5) No matter what the source of his wonder-working power, these Jewish leaders were persuaded that, if he were not immediately stopped, very soon all the common people would believe in him; and further, that serious complications with the Roman authorities would arise since so many of his believers regarded him as the Messiah, Israel’s deliverer.
168:3.6 (1847.6) Det var ved det samme møde i jødernes råd, at ypperstepræsten Kajfas for første gang gav udtryk for det gamle jødiske ordsprog, som han gentog så mange gange: “Det er bedre, at én mand dør, end at hele samfundet går til grunde.”		168:3.6 (1847.6) It was at this same meeting of the Sanhedrin that Caiaphas the high priest first gave expression to that old Jewish adage, which he so many times repeated: “It is better that one man die, than that the community perish.”
168:3.7 (1847.7) Selvom Jesus var blevet advaret om Sanhedrinets gøren og laden denne mørke fredag eftermiddag, blev han ikke det mindste forstyrret og fortsatte med at hvile sig over sabbatten hos venner i Betfage, en flække nær Betania. Tidligt søndag morgen samledes Jesus og apostlene efter aftale i Lazarus hjem, og da de havde taget afsked med familien i Betania, begyndte de deres rejse tilbage til lejren i Pella.		168:3.7 (1847.7) Although Jesus had received warning of the doings of the Sanhedrin on this dark Friday afternoon, he was not in the least perturbed and continued resting over the Sabbath with friends in Bethpage, a hamlet near Bethany. Early Sunday morning Jesus and the apostles assembled, by prearrangement, at the home of Lazarus, and taking leave of the Bethany family, they started on their journey back to the Pella encampment.
4. Svaret på bøn ^top		4. The Answer to Prayer ^top
168:4.1 (1848.1) På vejen fra Betania til Pella stillede apostlene Jesus mange spørgsmål, som Mesteren frit besvarede, bortset fra dem, der handlede om detaljerne i de dødes opstandelse. Sådanne problemer lå uden for apostlenes fatteevne, og derfor nægtede Mesteren at diskutere disse spørgsmål med dem. Da de havde forladt Betania i al hemmelighed, var de alene. Jesus benyttede derfor lejligheden til at sige mange ting til de ti, som han mente ville forberede dem på de svære dage, der lå forude.		168:4.1 (1848.1) On the way from Bethany to Pella the apostles asked Jesus many questions, all of which the Master freely answered except those involving the details of the resurrection of the dead. Such problems were beyond the comprehension capacity of his apostles; therefore did the Master decline to discuss these questions with them. Since they had departed from Bethany in secret, they were alone. Jesus therefore embraced the opportunity to say many things to the ten which he thought would prepare them for the trying days just ahead.
168:4.2 (1848.2) Apostlene var meget oprørte i deres sind og brugte lang tid på at diskutere deres seneste oplevelser, som de havde haft i forbindelse med bøn og bønnesvar. De mindedes alle Jesu udtalelse til budbringeren fra Betania i Filadelfia, hvor han klart og tydeligt sagde: “Denne sygdom er ikke virkelig til døden.” Og alligevel, på trods af dette løfte, døde Lazarus faktisk. Hele den dag vendte de igen og igen tilbage til diskussionen om dette spørgsmål om bønnesvar.		168:4.2 (1848.2) The apostles were much stirred up in their minds and spent considerable time discussing their recent experiences as they were related to prayer and its answering. They all recalled Jesus’ statement to the Bethany messenger at Philadelphia, when he said plainly, “This sickness is not really to the death.” And yet, in spite of this promise, Lazarus actually died. All that day, again and again, they reverted to the discussion of this question of the answer to prayer.
168:4.3 (1848.3) Jesus svar på deres mange spørgsmål kan sammenfattes således:		168:4.3 (1848.3) Jesus’ answers to their many questions may be summarized as follows:
168:4.4 (1848.4) 1. Bøn er et udtryk for det endelige sind i et forsøg på at nærme sig det uendelige. Fremsigelsen af en bøn må derfor være begrænset af det endeliges viden, visdom og egenskaber; på samme måde må svaret være betinget af det uendeliges vision, mål, idealer og privilegier. Der kan aldrig observeres en ubrudt kontinuitet af materielle fænomener mellem fremsættelsen af en bøn og modtagelsen af det fulde åndelige svar på den.		168:4.4 (1848.4) 1. Prayer is an expression of the finite mind in an effort to approach the Infinite. The making of a prayer must, therefore, be limited by the knowledge, wisdom, and attributes of the finite; likewise must the answer be conditioned by the vision, aims, ideals, and prerogatives of the Infinite. There never can be observed an unbroken continuity of material phenomena between the making of a prayer and the reception of the full spiritual answer thereto.
168:4.5 (1848.5) 2. Når en bøn tilsyneladende ikke bliver besvaret, er forsinkelsen ofte et tegn på et bedre svar, selvom det af gode grunde er meget forsinket. Da Jesus sagde, at Lazarus’ sygdom virkelig ikke var dødelig, havde han allerede været død i 11 timer. Ingen oprigtig bøn bliver nægtet et svar, medmindre den åndelige verdens overlegne synspunkt har udtænkt et bedre svar, et svar, der imødekommer menneskets ånds bøn i modsætning til det blotte menneskes fornufts bøn.		168:4.5 (1848.5) 2. When a prayer is apparently unanswered, the delay often betokens a better answer, although one which is for some good reason greatly delayed. When Jesus said that Lazarus’s sickness was really not to the death, he had already been dead eleven hours. No sincere prayer is denied an answer except when the superior viewpoint of the spiritual world has devised a better answer, an answer which meets the petition of the spirit of man as contrasted with the prayer of the mere mind of man.
168:4.6 (1848.6) 3. Tidens bønner, når de er indskrevet af ånden og udtrykt i tro, er ofte så store og altomfattende, at de kun kan besvares i evigheden; den endelige bøn er undertiden så fyldt med det uendeliges greb, at svaret længe må udsættes for at afvente skabelsen af tilstrækkelig kapacitet til modtagelighed; troens bøn kan være så altomfattende, at svaret kun kan modtages i Paradis.		168:4.6 (1848.6) 3. The prayers of time, when indited by the spirit and expressed in faith, are often so vast and all-encompassing that they can be answered only in eternity; the finite petition is sometimes so fraught with the grasp of the Infinite that the answer must long be postponed to await the creation of adequate capacity for receptivity; the prayer of faith may be so all-embracing that the answer can be received only on Paradise.
168:4.7 (1848.7) 4. Svarene på det jordiske sinds bøn er ofte af en sådan art, at de først kan modtages og erkendes, når det samme bedende sind har nået den udødelige tilstand. Det materielle væsens bøn kan mange gange først besvares, når et sådant individ har udviklet sig til det åndelige niveau.		168:4.7 (1848.7) 4. The answers to the prayer of the mortal mind are often of such a nature that they can be received and recognized only after that same praying mind has attained the immortal state. The prayer of the material being can many times be answered only when such an individual has progressed to the spirit level.
168:4.8 (1848.8) 5. En bøn fra en person, der kender Gud, kan være så forvrænget af uvidenhed og så deformeret af overtro, at svaret på den ville være højst uønsket. Så må de mellemliggende åndelige væsener oversætte en sådan bøn på en sådan måde, at når svaret kommer, kan den bedende slet ikke genkende det som svaret på sin bøn.		168:4.8 (1848.8) 5. The prayer of a God-knowing person may be so distorted by ignorance and so deformed by superstition that the answer thereto would be highly undesirable. Then must the intervening spirit beings so translate such a prayer that, when the answer arrives, the petitioner wholly fails to recognize it as the answer to his prayer.
168:4.9 (1848.9) 6. Alle sande bønner er rettet til åndelige væsener, og alle sådanne bønner skal besvares i åndelige termer, og alle sådanne svar skal bestå i åndelige realiteter. Åndelige væsener kan ikke give materielle svar på selv materielle væseners åndelige bønner. Materielle væsener kan kun bede effektivt, når de “beder i ånden.”		168:4.9 (1848.9) 6. All true prayers are addressed to spiritual beings, and all such petitions must be answered in spiritual terms, and all such answers must consist in spiritual realities. Spirit beings cannot bestow material answers to the spirit petitions of even material beings. Material beings can pray effectively only when they “pray in the spirit.”
168:4.10 (1849.1) 7. Ingen bøn kan håbe på et svar, medmindre den er født af ånden og næret af tro. Din oprigtige tro indebærer, at du på forhånd virtuelt har givet dine bønhørere den fulde ret til at besvare dine bønner i overensstemmelse med den højeste visdom og den guddommelige kærlighed, som din tro skildrer som altid virkende på de væsener, du beder til.		168:4.10 (1849.1) 7. No prayer can hope for an answer unless it is born of the spirit and nurtured by faith. Your sincere faith implies that you have in advance virtually granted your prayer hearers the full right to answer your petitions in accordance with that supreme wisdom and that divine love which your faith depicts as always actuating those beings to whom you pray.
168:4.11 (1849.2) 8. Barnet er altid i sin gode ret, når det formaster sig til at bede forældrene; og forældrene er altid i deres gode ret til at være forældre for det umodne barn, når deres overlegne visdom dikterer, at svaret på barnets bøn skal forsinkes, modificeres, adskilles, transcenderes eller udskydes til et andet trin i den åndelige opstigning.		168:4.11 (1849.2) 8. The child is always within his rights when he presumes to petition the parent; and the parent is always within his parental obligations to the immature child when his superior wisdom dictates that the answer to the child’s prayer be delayed, modified, segregated, transcended, or postponed to another stage of spiritual ascension.
168:4.12 (1849.3) 9. Tøv ikke med at bede de bønner, der udtrykker længsel; tvivl ikke på, at du får svar på dine andragender. Disse reaktioner er i forvaring; de venter på at du opnår de fremtidige åndelige niveauer af faktisk kosmisk fremskridt, i denne verden eller i andre verdener, hvor det vil være muligt for dig at forstå og værdsætte de længe ventende svar på dine tidligere, men dårligt timede andragender.		168:4.12 (1849.3) 9. Do not hesitate to pray the prayers of spirit longing; doubt not that you shall receive the answer to your petitions. These answers will be on deposit, awaiting your achievement of those future spiritual levels of actual cosmic attainment, on this world or on others, whereon it will become possible for you to recognize and appropriate the long-waiting answers to your earlier but ill-timed petitions.
168:4.13 (1849.4) 10. Alle ægte åndsbårne bønner er sikre på at blive besvaret. Spørg, og du skal få. Men I skal huske, at I er progressive skabninger af tid og rum; derfor må I konstant regne med tids-rum-faktoren i oplevelsen af jeres personlige modtagelse af de fulde svar på jeres mangfoldige bønner og andragender.		168:4.13 (1849.4) 10. All genuine spirit-born petitions are certain of an answer. Ask and you shall receive. But you should remember that you are progressive creatures of time and space; therefore must you constantly reckon with the time-space factor in the experience of your personal reception of the full answers to your manifold prayers and petitions.
5. Hvad der skete med Lazarus ^top		5. What Became of Lazarus ^top
168:5.1 (1849.5) Lazarus forblev i hjemmet i Betania og var centrum for stor interesse for mange oprigtigt troende og mange nysgerrige, indtil dagene for Jesu korsfæstelse, hvor han modtog en advarsel om, at Sanhedrinet havde dekreteret hans død. Jødernes herskere var fast besluttet på at sætte en stopper for den videre udbredelse af Jesu lære, og de vurderede, at det ville være nytteløst at slå Jesus ihjel, hvis de tillod Lazarus, som repræsenterede toppen af hans underværker, at leve og bære vidnesbyrd om, at Jesus havde oprejst ham fra de døde. Lazarus havde allerede lidt under bitter forfølgelse fra dem.		168:5.1 (1849.5) Lazarus remained at the Bethany home, being the center of great interest to many sincere believers and to numerous curious individuals, until the days of the crucifixion of Jesus, when he received warning that the Sanhedrin had decreed his death. The rulers of the Jews were determined to put a stop to the further spread of the teachings of Jesus, and they well judged that it would be useless to put Jesus to death if they permitted Lazarus, who represented the very peak of his wonder-working, to live and bear testimony to the fact that Jesus had raised him from the dead. Already had Lazarus suffered bitter persecution from them.
168:5.2 (1849.6) Så Lazarus tog hastigt afsked med sine søstre i Betania og flygtede ned gennem Jeriko og over Jordan, og han tillod sig ikke at hvile længe, før han var nået til Filadelfia. Lazarus kendte Abner godt, og her følte han sig i sikkerhed for det onde Sanhedrins morderiske intriger.		168:5.2 (1849.6) And so Lazarus took hasty leave of his sisters at Bethany, fleeing down through Jericho and across the Jordan, never permitting himself to rest long until he had reached Philadelphia. Lazarus knew Abner well, and here he felt safe from the murderous intrigues of the wicked Sanhedrin.
168:5.3 (1849.7) Kort tid efter afhændede Marta og Maria deres jord i Betania og sluttede sig til deres bror i Peræa. I mellemtiden var Lazarus blevet kasserer for kirken i Filadelfia. Han blev en stærk støtte for Abner i hans strid med Paulus og kirken i Jerusalem og døde til sidst, da han var 67 år gammel, af den samme sygdom, som tog livet af ham, da han var en yngre mand i Betania.		168:5.3 (1849.7) Soon after this Martha and Mary disposed of their lands at Bethany and joined their brother in Perea. Meantime, Lazarus had become the treasurer of the church at Philadelphia. He became a strong supporter of Abner in his controversy with Paul and the Jerusalem church and ultimately died, when 67 years old, of the same sickness that carried him off when he was a younger man at Bethany.