When Jesus saw the tears of Mary and her sister and their friends He
wept also, not for Lazarus, but His heart was moved for them, and He
shared their sorrow.

They brought Him to the tomb--a cave with a stone lying upon it. When
He asked them to take away the stone Martha's faith began to fail; but
the stone was rolled away, and when Jesus had prayed He called with a
loud voice,

"Lazarus, come forth!"

And all who were bending forward toward the low, dark door of the tomb
saw a man wrapped in linen come forth from the darkness and try to
ascend the stone steps.

"Loose him and let him go," said Jesus. And then there was a scene so
full of sacred joy that John, the disciple, who tells the story, does
not show it to us.

After this many believed in Jesus, but others went and told the
Pharisees all about it.

It was spring in Peraea, and the valley of the Jordan was full of the
singing of birds and the color of blooming trees and wild flowers,
while in the fields the young wheat was growing. The people thronged
to Jesus in crowds, for He taught them in the open air. The disciples
were busy with the people, explaining to the dull, listening to those
who wished to ask something of the Master, or keeping back the curious.
This had to be done in every village through which they passed. There
were many mothers with their children around them who came out of their
low white houses to follow Jesus in the way, and to listen when He sat
down to teach.

The mothers loved to have the Rabbi's bless their children, for since
the days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the blessing of a good man means
much to the Israelite.

One day some mothers brought their little ones to Jesus, and begged Him
to bless them. The disciples told the mothers to stand back, and not
trouble the Master while he was teaching. Jesus knew what they were
saying, and He called them unto Him and said,

"Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of
such is the Kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not
receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter
therein."

In this way he made it clear to His disciples, to the mothers, and to
all who have read His word since that day, that every child is a
citizen of the Lord's Kingdom, and dear to the heart of the King.

Perhaps the mothers had heard that the Lord was about to leave the
country east of Jordan to go up to Jerusalem, and they longed t