Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/179

Rh the Saviour stood. Unabashed, unflinching, beneath its scorching rays, with eyes that seemed to pierce, like eagles, through the circles of blazing light beyond, even to the very throne of truth itself, to the feet of the Eternal I Am, the Christ uplifted His fair head to heaven; and at that moment forked tongues of fire, silvery and golden, like the sun dancing on waves, or a shower of gold, played round about His head. Then the Saviour of the world upraised His voice in prayer to Heaven, in accents of such certainty of answer, such oneness of communion with the Father, as could leave no doubt within the hearts of men!

"Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me. And I knew that Thou hearest Me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that Thou hast sent Me."

There was a momentary silence, while the crowd, believing now, without a doubt, that this was indeed the Christ, stood also with eyes upturned to heaven, waiting, expecting, for they knew not what; each weaving in his own fancy the next act of this colossal drama. Then, in a voice that thundered, as though calling across endless æons of years and days, and floating across the waves of time and of eternity, beyond the bounds of heaven and hell, Jesus gave forth those words that ranked Him God: "Lazarus, come forth! "