Untitled article by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 47.

EDUCATION IN THE HOME. NO. 25

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

(Continued from "Signs" of November 8.)

WELL, Beth, little girl, we will begin the evening's study with your Bible story. Can you tell us about some one who has had that most wonderful experience—a resurrection from the dead?"

"Yes, papa; I have chosen the story of the little girl whose father was a rich Jewish ruler. Grandma said it would be nice for me to tell that story, because this was the only little girl who ever died and was raised to life again, that the Bible tells us about."

"That is true, my child; and now we shall watch you very closely as you proceed with the story, so that we may notice any reference made to the conscious condition of the little maiden while in the embrace of death."

"The story is found in all of the first three books of the New Testament," began Beth. "I wish I knew the little girl's name, but I have to be contented with knowing that her father was called Jairus, and that the girl was twelve years old. One day she was taken sick. Her father loved his little child very much, and I presume he got a great many doctors to see if they could not cure her; but they could not. At last, when she was dying, he hurried to Jesus, and asked Him to come quickly to see his poor child. I always wondered why he didn't go sooner. But the Saviour went right along with him, and did not even ask him why he had put off his visit until his child was dying. When they came to the house, she was dead, and every one was crying. Then the Saviour took Peter and James and John and the parents of the child, and went into the room where she was lying dead, and took her by the hand and said, in the musical tongue He spoke, 'Tabitha Cumi' (Maiden, arise)! Then she arose and walked, and the people were astonished, and the father and mother were glad."

"Do you suppose she told them what she was thinking about?" queried grandma, "and what she had been doing, while dead?"

"I don't much believe she had anything to tell; and maybe they knew better than to ask her," ventured Billy Black.

"It does seem a bit strange, now that I think of it," mused Mr. Gray, "that nothing is said about the child's condition in death."

"It plainly states that she was asleep," declared Elsie. "Of course, when people are sound asleep they are unconscious."

Story of Lazarus

"There are not very many instances of this kind recorded in the Bible," continued Brother Hartman. "But we will hear from Walter, next. Possibly he has something which will throw light on the condition of man in death."

"I have simply to tell of the death and resurrection of a young man named Lazarus," began Walter. "This man lived in Bethany, with his sisters. They were close friends of Jesus. Finally, while Jesus was away from Bethany, Lazarus was taken very sick. His sisters sent to the Master with the sad news of the sickness of their beloved brother, but He did not come until Lazarus had been dead four days. Martha went to meet her Lord, almost reproaching Him because He had not come at once. But Christ assured her that her brother should rise again."

"See here, Walter," interrupted John, "did Christ not declare that Lazarus had risen already, and was then in heaven, happy and glorified?"

"O, no," smiled Walter, "indeed, Martha seemed to be looking forward to the resurrection at the last day. Finally, Jesus went to the sepulcher and all the people followed Him. Then, when He had prayed, He cried aloud, 'Lazarus, come forth!' and the dead man came out of the tomb, wrapped in his grave clothes."

"Do you not think it would have been more in conformity with the general belief nowadays, to have said, Lazarus, come down?" asked grandma.

"Well, I must confess," declared Mr. Gray, "I did think there was something in the Bible to favor the idea that the spirit of man was conscious after death, but I begin to believe that we are entirely dependent upon the resurrection for a life beyond the grave."

"It surely does seem strange," said Mrs. Wilber, "that nothing is said about the thoughts or experiences of Lazarus during those four days. It is the very first thing I should have asked him."

"Evidently there was nothing to record, or surely this most interesting subject would have been touched by some one of the sacred writers. But it is all plain when we believe God's Word, that 'the dead know not anything.' Josie, have you some little story to relate?"

"I only learned that in the days of Elisha, there was a woman whose little son was out in the field with the reapers. The day was very hot, and when the child complained of his head, they carried him to his mother. Finally he died; and the mother felt so badly that she rode a long distance to find the prophet Elisha; but at last she found him, and he, by praying very earnestly to God, raised the boy once more to life and health."

"Did you find that the mother asked her child anything about his condition or thoughts while dead?" asked Elsie.

"Not a single word—strange, isn't it?" said Josie, glancing archly at her mother.

"Maybe the mother had been too well taught by the prophet while he lived in her house, to need to ask any question of this kind," replied Mattie.

"Well, Billy, my lad, what Bible story have you learned on this important subject?" asked grandma.

"I'm not used to telling stories in a company like this, but I'll try to tell the one I read in Luke, seventh chapter. The name of the city where these things happened was Nain. There was a widow who lived there, and she had one son—that was all—and he died. Of course, she felt pretty bad. I presume my grandmother would feel bad if I should die," said Billy, while his cheeks flushed. "But just as the people went through the city gates, they met Jesus and His disciples. Christ then commanded the men who carried the dead man, to stand still. I presume they must have been surprised. Then the Lord said, 'Young man, arise!' and he sat up and began to talk. That's all the story, I believe."

"You have done first rate, my boy," said Sister Hartman. "Yes, the narrative says that the young man began to talk at once. But if he dropped a single word concerning his thoughts while dead, it is unrecorded; all of which goes to show very conclusively, I think, that these people who were raised to life did not sense anything at all while dead."

"Now," continued Brother Hartman, "there are but two more instances of the resurrection of dead men given in the Bible, and in neither of these is there so much as a hint given that they were conscious after death. Now, perhaps it would be well to see what the Word of God has to say about Spiritualism."

(To be continued.)