Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 265, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1915 — “EXPEDIENT THAT I GO AWAY” [ARTICLE]

“EXPEDIENT THAT I GO AWAY”

Henry Drummond’s Beautiful Idea of the Thoughts of Jesus at the Grave of Lazarus. One day when Jesus was in Perea, a message came to him that a very dear friend was sick. He lived in a distant village with his two sisters. They were greatly concerned about their brother’s illness, and had sent in haste for Jesus. Now Jesus loved Mary, and Martha, and Lazarus their brother; but he was so situated at the time that he could not go. Perhaps he was too busy, perhaps he had other similar cases on hand; at all events, he could not go. When he went ultimately, it was too late. Hour after hour the sisters waited for him. They could not believe he would not come; but the slow hours dragged themselves along by the dying man's couch, and he was dead and laid in the grave before Jesus arrived. You can imagine one of his thoughts, at least, as he stands and weeps by that grave with the inconsolable sisters—"lt is expedient that 1 go away. I should have been present at his deathbed scene if I had not been away. I win depart and send the Comforter. There will be no summons of sorrow which he will not bo able to answer. He will abide with me forever. Everywhere he will come and go. He will be like the noiseless, invisible wind, blowing all over the world whereat* ever he listeth.” —Henry Drummond.