Kapitel 168		Paper 168
Lazarus Opvækkelse Fra De Døde		The Resurrection of Lazarus
168:0.1 (1842.1) DET var kort efter tolv at Marta gik ud for at møde Jesus som han kom over bakkekammen tæt på Betania. Hendes bror Lazarus havde været død i fire dage og var sent søndag eftermiddag lagt i deres private grav i den fjerneste ende af haven. Stenen ved gravkammerets åbning var denne morgen, dvs. torsdagen, blevet rullet på plads.		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 overbevist om at Mesteren ville gøre noget ved det. De vidste, at deres bror var desperat syg, og selv om de næppe turde håbe, at Jesus ville forlade sit arbejde med undervisning og prædike for at komme til undsætning, havde de en sådan tillid til hans kraft til at helbrede sygdom, at de forestillede sig at han bare ville udtale de helbredende ord for at Lazarus straks ville blive rask. Da Lazarus døde få timer efter budbringeren forlod Betania for Filadelfia, ræsonnerede de, at det var fordi Mesteren ikke fik noget at vide om deres brors sygdom før det var for sent, efter at han 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, blev meget forundret over det budskab, som løberen bragt tilbage tirsdag formiddag, da han nåede Betania. Budbringeren insisterede på, at han hørte Jesus sige: "... denne sygdom leder virkelig ikke til døden." 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 nærliggende landsbyer og andre fra Jerusalem kom over for at trøste de sorgramte søstre. Lazarus og hans søstre var børn af en velhavende og hæderlig jøde, en der havde været den førende borger i den lille landsby Betania. Selv om alle tre længe havde været glødende tilhængere af Jesus, blev de højt respekteret af alle, der kendte dem. De havde arvet omfattende vinmarker og olivenlunde i området, og at de var velhavende fremgik yderligere af at de kunne tillade sig et privat gravkammer på deres eget grundområde. Begge deres forældre var allerede blevet lagt væk 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, at Jesus ville dukke op og var overladt til sin sorg, men Marta klyngede sig til håbet om, at Jesus ville komme helt frem til denne morgen, da de rullede stenen foran graven og forseglede åbningen. Selv da instruerede hun en nabo dreng til at holde vagt på toppen af en bakke øst for Betania for at se ud over vejen fra Jeriko, og det var denne dreng, der bragte budskab til Marta, 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 ved hans fødder og udbrød: "Mester, hvis du havde været her, var min bror ikke død!" Mange ængstelige tanker passerede Martas sind, men hun gav ikke udtryk for nogen tvivl, hun vovede heller ikke at kritisere eller sætte spørgsmålstegn ved Mesterens adfærd i relation til Lazarus død. Da hun havde sagt dette, rakte Jesus ned og sagde, da han løftede hende op på benene: "Hold fast i troen, Marta, og din bror vil rejse sig igen." Da svarede Marta: "Jeg ved, at han vil rejse sig igen ved opstandelsen på den sidste dag, og selv nu tror jeg, at uanset hvad du end beder Gud, 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) Jesus sagde, mens han kiggede lige ind i øjnene på Marta: "Jeg er opstandelsen og livet; den, der tror på mig, skal leve, selv om han dør. Sandelig, enhver som lever og tror på mig, skal aldrig rigtig dø. Marta tror du dette?" Marta svarede Mesteren: " Ja, jeg har længe ment, at du er Befrieren, Søn af den levende Gud, som ville 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 spurgte efter Maria, gik Marta straks ind i huset, og hviskede til sin søster: "Mesteren er her og kalder på dig." Da Maria hørte det, rejste hun sig hurtigt op og skyndte sig ud for at møde Jesus, som stadig tøvede på stedet, en afstand fra huset, hvor Marta først havde mødt ham. Vennerne, som var hos Maria, og søgte at trøste hende, fulgte hende, da de så, at hun rejste sig hurtigt og gik ud, fordi de antog hun gik til graven for at græde der.		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 bitre fjender af Jesus. Derfor var Marta kommet ud alene for at møde ham, og derfor hun gik også ind for i hemmeligt at informere Maria, at han havde kaldt på hende. Selvom Marta længtes efter at være sammen med Jesus, ønskede hun at undgå enhver mulig ubehagelighed, som kunne forårsages af hans pludseligt kommen ind midt i en stor gruppe af hans Jerusalem fjender. Det var Martas hensigt at forblive i huset med deres venner, mens Maria gik ud for at møde Jesus, men det lykkes ikke for hende, for de fulgte alle Maria og befandt sig uventet i overværelse af Mesteren.		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 til Jesus, og da hun så ham, faldt hun ned for hans fødder og udbrød: "Hvis bare du havde været her, ville min bror ikke være død!" Da Jesus så, hvordan de alle sørgede over Lazarus død, blev hans sjæl rørt af medfølelse.		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 gik for at hilse på Jesus, trak de sig en kort afstand, mens både Marta og Maria talte med Mesteren og modtog yderligere trøstende ord og formaning til at fastholde en stærk tro på Faderen og fuldstændig underkastelse under Guds 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) Jesus menneskeligt sind blev mægtigt bevæget af kampen mellem sin kærlighed til Lazarus og hans efterladte søstre, som havde været alene, og hans foragt og afsky for den ydre fremvisning af hengivenhed manifesteret hos nogle af disse ikke troende jøder med deres morderiske intentioner. Jesus var indigneret over den fremtvungne og ydre sorg for Lazarus af nogle af dem, der gav sig ud for at være venner, da en sådan falsk sorg var forbundet i deres hjerter med så meget bittert fjendskab mod ham selv. Nogle af disse jøder var imidlertid oprigtig i deres sorg, for de var rigtige 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 tilbragt et par øjeblikke med at trøste Marta og Maria adskilt fra de sørgende, spurgte han dem: "Hvor har i lagt ham?" Da sagde Marta, "Kom og se." Da Jesus i stilhed fulgtes med de to efterladte søstre, græd han. Da de venlige jøder, der fulgte efter dem så hans tårer, sagde en af dem: "Se, hvor han elskede ham. Kunne han, som åbnede øjnene hos den blinde ikke have forhindret denne mand fra at død?" De stod nu foran familiegraven, en lille naturlig grotte, eller fordybning i en afsats på omkring en ti meter høj klippe i den fjerneste ende af haven.		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 bare hvorfor Jesus græd. Mens vi har adgang til registreringen af de kombinerede menneskelige følelser og guddommelige tanker, som de er bevaret i den Personaliserede Retters sind, er vi ikke helt sikker på den virkelige årsag til disse følelsesmæssige manifestationer. Vi er tilbøjelige til at tro, at Jesus græd på grund af de mange tanker og følelser der på dette tidspunkt krydsede hans sind, blandt dem:		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 ægte og sorgfuld sympati for Marta og Maria. Han havde en reel og dyb menneskelig hengivenhed for disse søstre, der 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 var foruroliget i sit sind over den tilstedeværende mængde af sørgende, nogle oprigtige og nogle blot hyklere. Han var altid fortørnet over disse ydre udstillinger af sorg. Han vidste søstrene elskede deres bror og de troede på de troendes overlevelse. Disse modstridende følelser kan muligvis forklare, hvorfor han stønnede, da de kom i nærheden af 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 var virkelig tøvede om at bringe Lazarus tilbage til jordiske liv. Hans søstre havde virkelig brug for ham, men Jesus beklagede at skulle kalde sin ven tilbage for at opleve den bitre forfølgelse, som han godt vidste Lazarus ville blive tvunget til at udstå som følge af at være genstand for den største af alle demonstrationer af Menneskesønnens guddommelige kraft.		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) Vi kan nu redegøre for en interessant og lærerig kendsgerning: Selv om denne fortælling udfolder sig som en tilsyneladende naturlig og normal begivenhed i menneskelige anliggender, indeholder den nogle interessante aspekter. Mens budbringeren begav sig på vej til Jesus om søndagen, og fortalte ham, at Lazarus var syg, og mens Jesus sendte bud om, at sygdommen "ikke ville føre til døden," fortsatte han personligt op til Betania og spurgte endda søstrene, "Hvor har i lagt ham? "Selv hvis alt dette synes at indikere, at Mesteren i overensstemmelse efter den måde, som dette liv og det menneskelige sind begrænsede viden gør, så afslører universets optegnelser, at Jesus Personaliserede Retter udstedte ordrer til tidsubegrænset tilbageholdelse af Lazarus Tankeretter på planeten efter Lazarus død, og at denne ordre blev registreret præcis femten minutter før Lazarus tog sit sidste åndedræt.		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 selv før Lazarus døde, at han ville rejse ham fra de døde? Vi ved det ikke. Vi ved kun, hvad vi hermed placerer til optegnelse.		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 rynke på næsen af hans manifestationer af hengivenhed, og sagde til hinanden: "Hvis han værdsatte denne mand så meget, hvorfor ventede han så længe, før han kom til Betania? Hvis han er, hvad de hævder, hvorfor reddede han så ikke sin kære ven? Hvad er det gode i at helbrede fremmede i Galilæa, hvis han ikke kan redde dem, han elsker?" Og på mange andre måder, hånede de og nedgjort 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) Så denne torsdag eftermiddag ved omkring halv tre tiden, var scenen klar i den lille landsby Betania for udførelsen af den største af alle gerninger, der er forbundet med den jordiske tjeneste af Mikael af Nebadon, den største manifestation af guddommelig magt under hans inkarnation i kødet, eftersom at hans egen opstandelse skete efter at han var blevet befriet fra den dødelig beboelsens bånd.		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 havde samlet sig foran Lazarus grav havde ingen idé om, at der på ordre fra Jesu Personaliserede Retter fandtes lige ved hånden en enorm mængde af himmelske væsener i alle klasser samlet under Gabriels ledelse og nu afventede i vibrerende forventning og klar til at udføre deres elskede Herskers kommandoer.		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 kommandoen, "Tag stenen væk," gjorde de forsamlede himmelske værter sig klar til at udføre dramaet om Lazarus opstandelse i hans dødelige kød. Gennemførelsen af en sådan form for opstandelse involverer vanskeligheder som langt overskrider den sædvanlige teknik med opstandelse af dødelige væsener i morontia form, og kræver langt flere himmelske personligheder og en langt større organisation 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 kommando fra Jesus om at rulle stenen væk fra graven blev de fyldt med modstridende følelser. Maria håbede, at Lazarus blev oprejst fra de døde, men Marta, som til en vis grad delte sin søsters tro, blev mere optaget af frygten for, at Lazarus ikke ville være præsentabel i sit ydre 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 kroppen allerede begyndt at rådne." Marta sagde også dette, fordi hun ikke var sikker på, hvorfor Mesteren havde anmodet om, at stenen blev fjernet. Hun tænkte at Jesus måske ønskede kun at tage et sidste kig på Lazarus. Hun var ikke afklaret og konstant i hendes holdning. Da de tøvede med at rulle stenen væk, sagde Jesus: "Har jeg ikke sagt dig fra starten, at denne sygdom ikke fører til døden? Er jeg ikke kommet for at opfylde mit løfte? Og efter at jeg kom til dig, har jeg ikke sagt, at hvis bare du ville tro ville du se Guds herlighed? Hvorfor tvivler I? Hvor længe vil det vare 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 bistand fra villige naboer, fat på stenen og rullede den væk fra indgangen til gravkammeret.		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 den generelle opfattelse hos jøderne, at dråben af galde på dødsenglens sværd begyndte at arbejde ved udgangen af den tredje dag, så den var med fuld effekt på den fjerde dag. De tillod, at menneskets sjæl kan drysse rundt ved graven indtil udgangen af den tredje dag for at forsøge at genoplive den døde krop, men de troede bestemt, at sådan en sjæl var gået videre til de afdøde ånders boliger førend den fjerde dag var begyndt.		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 afgangen af den døde ånd tjente til at sikre i alles sind, der nu var til stede ved Lazarus grav og alle som senere kunne tænkes at høre om, hvad der var ved at ske, om at dette virkelig og sandt var et tilfælde af opvækkelse fra de døde gennem personlig bearbejdning af en, der erklærede 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 skimte Lazarus form, pakket ind i linned bandager, hvilende på højre nedre niche af begravelseshulen. Mens disse jordens skabninger stod der i næsten åndeløs stilhed, havde et stort væld af himmelske væsener forflyttet sig ind til deres pladser i forberedelse til at besvare signalet til handling, så snart den blev givet af Gabriel, deres chef.		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 blikket mod himlen og sagde: "Fader, jeg er taknemmelig for, at du har hørt og bevilget min anmodning. Jeg ved, du altid hører mig, men på grund af dem, der er her hos mig, taler jeg således med dig, så de kan tro, at du har udsendt mig til verden, og at de kan vide, at du arbejder med mig i det, som vi er ved at gøre." Da han havde bedt, råbte han med høj røst: "Lazarus, kom ud!"		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) Selv om disse menneskelige iagttagere forblev ubevægelig, var hele den vældige himmelske hærskarer i bevægelse i fælles aktion i lydighed til Skaberens ord. Efter blot tolv sekunder af jordisk tid begyndte den hidtil livløse form af Lazarus at røre på sig og satte sig op på kanten af sten hylden, hvor den havde ligget. Hans lig var blevet pakket ind i gravlinned, og hans ansigt var dækket af en serviet. 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, samt Marta og Maria, flygtede til huset. De var blege af skræk og overvældet med forbløffelse. Mens nogle tøvede, 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 til betydningen med gravlinned og hvorfor han var blevet vækket i haven. Jesus og apostlene trak sig til den ene side, mens Marta fortalte Lazarus om hans død, begravelse og opstandelse. Hun måtte forklare ham, at han var død om søndagen og nu var blevet bragt tilbage til livet på torsdagen, fordi han ikke havde nogen bevidsthed om tiden, siden han var faldet 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 leder for hans slags i dette lokale univers, befalingen om at Lazarus tidligere og ventende Retter til at genoptage sin bolig i den opstandne 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 over til Jesus og knælede med sine søstre ved Mesterens fødder for at takke og prise Gud. Jesus tog Lazarus ved hånden, løftede ham op og sagde: "Min søn, hvad der er sket for dig, vil også blive oplevet af alle, som tror dette evangelium, bortset fra at de skal genopstå i en mere glorværdig form. Du skal være et levende vidnesbyrd om den sandhed, som jeg talte: Jeg er opstandelsen og livet. Men lad os alle nu gå ind i huset for at få 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) Da de gik hen mod huset sendte Gabriel de ekstra grupper af de forsamlede himmelske værter væk, samtidigt som han registrerede det første - og det sidste - tilfælde på Urantia hvor en dødelig skabning var blevet genoplivet fra de døde i lighed med den fysiske krop før døden.		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 næppe 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 at han var blevet vækket. Han kunne aldrig fortælle noget om disse fire dage i graven, fordi han var helt bevidstløs. Tiden eksisterer ikke 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, var der andre som kun forhærdede deres hjerter mere til at afvise ham. Ved middagstid næste dag havde denne historie spredt sig over hele Jerusalem. Masser af mænd og kvinder gik til Betania for at se på Lazarus og tale med ham, og de alarmerede og forvirrede farisæere hasteindkaldte jødernes råd for at beslutte, hvad der burde gøres i forhold til disse nye begivenheder.		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 fra denne mand genoplivet fra de døde gjorde meget for at styrke troen hos den store masse af dem, der troede på rigets evangelium, havde det lidt eller ingen indflydelse på holdningen hos de religiøse ledere og regenter i Jerusalem undtagen 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) Den næste dag, fredag klokken et, mødtes jødernes råd for yderligere at behandle spørgsmålet: "Hvad skal vi gøre med Jesus af Nazaret?" Efter mere end to timers diskussion og bitter debat præsenterede en farisæer en resolution som krævede Jesu øjeblikkelig død, fastslog, at han var en trussel mod hele Israel og officielt forpligtede jødernes råd til beslutningen af en dødsdom uden rettergang og på trods af alle tidligere retspraksis.		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) Igen og igen havde denne ophøjede sammenslutning af jødiske ledere besluttet at Jesus skulle arresteres og bringes for retten anklaget for blasfemi og talrige andre overtrædelser af jødernes hellige lov. De havde faktisk en gang før gået så vidt, at de havde erklæret, at han skulle dø, men dette var første gang, at der i rådet blev udtrykt et ønske om at træffe beslutning om hans død, før en retssag. Men resolutionen kom ikke til afstemning, fordi fjorten medlemmer af rådet trådte tilbage som en gruppe, da en så uhørt handling blev foreslået. Selv om disse fratrædelser ikke formelt blev behandlet de næsten to uger, fratrådte denne gruppe på fjorten denne dag og sad aldrig mere med i rådet. Da disse fratrædelser efterfølgende blev behandlet blev fem andre medlemmer udvist, fordi deres frænder troede, at de sympatiserede med Jesus. Med disse nitten mænd fjernet var Jødernes råd i stand til at forhøre og fordømme Jesus med en solidarisk grænse 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 for jødernes råd. Da deres vidneudsagn var blevet hørt, kunne der ikke være tvivl om, at Lazarus var blevet genopvækket fra de døde. Selv om rådets handlinger praktisk taget indrømmede Lazarus genopstandelse, blev referatet af resolutionen, tilskrevet dette og andre mirakler som Jesus havde udført i Djævleprinsens magt, med hvem Jesus blev erklæret for at være 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 kilden til hans undergørende kraft var disse jødiske ledere overbevist om, at hvis man ikke umiddelbart satte en stopper for ham, ville de meget snart se alle de almindelige mennesker tro på ham; og endvidere, at der kunne opstå alvorlige komplikationer med de romerske myndigheder, fordi så mange af hans tilhængere 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 på det samme møde i jødernes råd, at ypperstepræsten Kajfas første gang gav udtryk for det gamle jødiske ordsprog, som han senere så mange gange gentog: " Det er bedre, at én mand skal dø end at hele samfundet går under."		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, hvad jødernes råd gjorde denne dystre fredag eftermiddag, var han ikke den mindste smule bekymret og fortsatte med at hvile over sabbatten med venner i Betfage, en lille landsby i nærheden af Betania. Tidligt søndag morgen var Jesus og apostlene som aftalt i Lazarus hjem, sagde farvel til familien i Betania og gik til lejren ved 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 vej fra Betania til Pella spurgte apostlene Jesus mange spørgsmål, og Mesteren svarede villigt på alle undtagen dem, der vedrørte detaljerne om de dødes opstandelse. Sådanne problemer oversteg forståelses kapaciteten hos hans apostle; derfor afslog Mesteren at drøfte disse spørgsmål med dem. Da de var gået bort fra Betania i hemmelighed, var de alene. Jesus tog derfor muligheden for at tale til de ti om mange ting, som han mente kunne forberede dem på de prøvende dage som ventede lige forude på dem.		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) Apostlenes sind var meget aktive og de brugte en betragtelig tid på at diskutere deres seneste erfaringer i det omfang de vedrørte bøn og svar på bøn. De kunne alle huske Jesu udtalelse i Filadelfia til budbringeren fra Betania, da han klart sagde: "Den sygdom fører i virkeligheden ikke til døden" Men på trods af dette løfte, døde Lazarus faktisk. Hele den dag, vendte de tilbage igen og igen for at drøfte dette spørgsmål over besvarede bønner.		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 noget, det begrænsede sind udtrykker i et forsøg på at nærme sig den Uendelige. Bønnens ydeevne må derfor være begrænset af den endelige væsens viden, visdom og egenskaber. Tilsvarende er svaret betinget af den Uendeliges vision, mål, idealer og privilegier. Man kan aldrig observere en ubrudt kontinuitet i materielle fænomener mellem udførelsen af en bøn og modtagelsen af det fulde åndelige svar dertil.		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 synes at forblive ubesvaret, varsler forsinkelsen ofte et bedre svar, selv et svar, som af nogle gode grunde er stærkt forsinket. Da Jesus sagde, at Lazarus sygdom i virkeligheden ikke førte til døden, havde Lazarus allerede været død i elleve timer. Ingen oprigtig bøn nægtes et svar undtagen når den åndelige verdens overlegne synspunkt har fundet et bedre svar, et svar som opfylder det som menneskets ånd beder om i modsætning til bønnen som kun kommer fra menneskets sind.		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. Når bønnerne i tiden som udarbejdes af ånden og udtrykt i tro, ofte er så store og omfattende, kan de kun besvares i evigheden. Den endelige bøn er til tider så fuld af forståelse for den Uendelige, at svaret længe skal udskydes for at afvente etableringen af tilstrækkelig kapacitet til modtagelse; en troens bøn kan være så altomfattende, at svaret ikke kan modtages førend i Paradiset.		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 dødelige sinds bønner er ofte af en sådan karakter, at de ikke kan modtages og forstås før dette samme bedende sind har nået udødelighed. Bønnen fra det materielle væsen kan mange gange først besvares, når en sådan person har udviklet sig til åndens 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 gudbevidst persons bøn kan være fordrejet af uvidenhed og forvrænget af overtro, at svaret ville være yderst uvelkomment. Så må de mellemliggende åndelige væsener oversætte en sådan bøn så den bedende, når svaret kommer, slet ikke genkende det som svar 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 bliver rettet til åndelige væsener, og alle sådanne andragender skal besvares på åndelige vilkår, og alle sådanne svar skal bestå af åndelige realiteter. Åndevæsener kan ikke give materielle svar selv til materielle væsener på åndelige andragender. 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 faktisk på forhånd har givet dem, der hører din bøn fuld ret til at besvare dine andragender i overensstemmelse med den højeste visdom og den guddommelige kærlighed, som din tro beskriver, og som altid motiverer disse væsener, til hvem du beder.		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 handler altid i overensstemmelse med sine rettigheder, når det vover at bede forældrene om noget; og forældrene fungerer altid inden for deres forældre forpligtelser i forhold til det umodne barn, når hans eller hendes overlegne visdom kræver, at svaret på barnets bøn forsinkes, ændres, adskilles, transcenderes eller udskydes til en anden fase af åndelig 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 af ånden fødte bønner besvares med sikkerhed. Spørg og du skal modtage. Men du skal huske, at I er væsener som avancerer i tid og rum; derfor skal du hele tiden regne med tid-rum faktorens indflydelse på din oplevelse af din personlige modtagelse af det fulde svar på dine 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 han var centrum for stor interesse blandt mange oprigtige troende og mange nysgerrige individer, indtil de dage, hvor Jesus blev korsfæstet. Han blev derefter advaret om, at jødernes råd havde dekreteret hans død. Jødernes herskere var fast besluttet på at sætte en stopper for yderligere spredning af Jesu lære, og de resonerede helt korrekt, at det var nytteløst at dræbe Jesus, hvis de tillod Lazarus, der repræsenterede selve højdepunktet af Jesu mirakelarbejde, til at leve og vidne om, at han havde opvækket ham fra de døde. Allerede nu havde Lazarus lidt 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 en forhastet afsked med sine søstre i Betania, flygtede ned gennem Jeriko og på tværs af Jordanfloden, og tillod ikke sig selv at hvile længe inden han nåede Filadelfia. Lazarus kendte Abner godt, og her følte han sig sikker fra det forbryderiske råds 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) Snart herefter solgte Marta og Maria, deres ejendom i Betania og sluttede sig til deres bror i Peræa. I mellemtiden var Lazarus blevet kasserer i kirken i Filadelfia. Han var en af dem, der kraftigt støttede Abner i hans kontrovers med Paulus og Jerusalem kirken, og han døde til sidst i en alder af 67, af den samme sygdom, der bragte ham i graven i Betania, da han var yngre.		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.