Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/174

162 was as if the power of God had been for a brief moment laid aside, to let the griefs of manhood have their sway; nay, more, it was as if Satan had been allowed in these last hours to tempt the Messiah with a temptation that assailed alike His Godhead and His Manhood. What greater temptation to the Man than to use His God-given energy for the sake of human friendship? What to the God than to assert His power by one transcendent act? What more heartrending task than to wait in meek submission to God's will amidst the taunts of scoffing enemies and the tears of those beloved?

Jesus wept. Surely all earthly grief and desolation, the disillusion of friendship that has failed, the inability of expressing one's tenderness to those one loves, the general impotence of humanity, are forever comforted by those divine tears wrung forth from the aching heart of the sorrowing Saviour. Slowly they rolled down those troubled features on to the white garment, crystal drops of mingled purity and love; but they were not allowed to fall to earth.

Ever foremost in his devotion, John pressed forward and stayed them in their course, as though he would fain be washed in those pure waters. Yet one fell to earth, and, as it fell, a snow-white starry flower with seven points united by a tiny corona sprang into life.

But while the disciples were exclaiming at this wonder and trying to attract the attention of the bystanders to it, the cry went up: "Behold how He loved him." And others cried again, as so many had cried before: "Could not this Man, which