The miracles of Jesus - Classical Christian Literature by Athleo.net

AND THE LIFE 351
ship was cold and still, and the voice whose accents
had been so dear to us had but just passed into the
eternal silence. What a feeling these words brought
to us then as of a presence which death could not
conquer, of a strength which vanquished the grave, of
a yearning love and pity which could more than any
other in all
the tear.
the world heal the wound and wipe away
It was in such a season of affliction that they
were first used. How impressive is the narrative
which this chapter contains !
If the whole fourth
Gospel has been justly termed a prose poem upon
the theme, " The Word was made flesh," as truly
may this chapter be called a poem, a drama circling
round the thought, " I am the resurrection and the
life." With the exception of the last hours of
Jesus Himself, the Gospels do not present such
another episode so minutely described, so perfect
in its climax, so thrilling in its every detail. With
the unstudied simplicity, the perfect art of perfect
truthfulness, scene follows scene, the action unfolds
itself from point to point. And we feel it not
less because we know that here we are but in the
antechamber to the great agony, that upon Him
who thus rescues its prey from the jaws of death,
the shadow of the Cross is already falling—nay, that
His is the heroism of friendship, for in turning back
the tide of sorrow for His friends at Bethany, He
gave the signal which brought His enemies around
Him and sealed His own doom. In a true sense
He gave His life for the life of His friend.
In the unsettled regions beyond the Jordan Jesus
had been comparatively safe. His foes "sought to