Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/308

296 branches of the fig trees and the pomegranates lest a traitor should be lurking there. How awe-inspiring and mysterious were the surroundings, how pregnant with agony was each moment that came and went!

At the gate of Gethsemane Jesus paused for a moment and gave His last command.

"Bear witness because ye have been with Me from the beginning." Then, while they stood round weeping, He added, to leave a little glimmering of comfort in their souls' dark night: "After I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee."

So this was the end, the end of the familiar friendship, the inspiring presence, the miraculous words of teaching and of help. It seemed impossible that one so great could pass away so simply.

Then, when they tried to follow Him, He turned and said: "Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder.

But they made an impetuous movement to follow Him. Then Lazarus said: "We must needs watch, or, maybe, He will not even have time to pray."

Then, when Jesus saw the distress of the warm-hearted Peter and James and John, He bade them come with Him; and, with one human cry for sympathy, He said: "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me."

Who can dare to dwell on that great agony and live. The agony of God brought low. The haunting fear of His humanity that at the last His strength might fail! Oh, ye who scoff at this one moment of weakness and in those two cries—"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" and, "Father,