Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/380

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368
LAZARUS.

—how that each incident of His Passion had been foretold by Moses and the prophets. Then many matters that to them had seemed inexplicable stood out bold and clear before their understanding, amazing them with their simplicity. And then He vested them with power over serpents and evil spirits and to heal disease, and further, to pardon sins and to perform miracles; and He bid them bear true witness of what they had seen and heard, and to preach repentance and remission of sins.

Then from before the eyes of Lazarus there seemed to rise a veil, and he saw with unerring vision that as he had once died to witness to the glory of the Lord, so now he was to live to show it forth.

They reached Lazarus's garden, and there fell in adoring worship at His feet, pouring out their hearts in gratitude for all that He had done for them; and Mary Magdalene, with faced bowed to the ground, cried out: "For my sins, my Saviour, wast Thou crucified; for my sins, for my sins!"

Then, in one last great act of love, He stretched forth His hand and blessed them with a blessing that should protect and guide them for evermore, and stamp them with the seal of heaven.

The faint odours of budding flowers, the gentle breeze that seemed to soften the chill of spring and to waft into it a breath of summer; the dull glow that was neither light nor darkness; a strange burning of dread and expectancy in their hearts; the hush of nature, as if all living things were listening to the choir of angels waiting to welcome the coming of their Lord all—these combined to stamp the scene upon the disciples' minds forever.