circle of his best friends. We may learn many lessons if we
read over thoughtfully the story of the way Jesus comforted them.

It was the Bethany home. Before the sorrow came, Jesus was a familiar
guest, a close and intimate friend of the members of the household. He
always had kindly welcome and generous hospitality when he came to
their door. They did not make his acquaintance for the first time when
their hearts were broken. They had known him for a long time, and had
listened to his gracious words when there was no grief in their home.
This made it easy to turn to him and to receive his comfort when the
dark days of sorrow came.

There are some who think of Christ only as a friend whom they will need
in trouble. In their time of unbroken gladness they do not seek his
friendship. Then, when trouble comes suddenly, they do not know how or
where to find the Comforter. Wiser far are they who take Christ into
their life in the glad days when the joy is unbroken. He blesses their
joy. A happy home is all the happier because Jesus is a familiar guest
in it. Love is all the sweeter because of his benediction. Then, when
sorrow's shadow falls, there is light in the darkness.

There seems to be no need of the stars in the daytime, for the sunshine
then floods all earth's paths. But when the sun goes down, and God's
great splendor of stars appears hanging over us, dropping their soft,
quiet light upon us, how glad we are that they were there all the
while, waiting to be revealed! So it is that the friendship of Jesus
in the happy years hangs above our heads the stars of heavenly comfort.
We do not seem to need them at the time, and we scarcely know that they
are there; we certainly have no true realization of the blessing that
hides in the shining words. But when, one sad day, the light of human
joy is suddenly darkened, then the divine comforts reveal themselves.
We do not have to hasten here and there in pitiable distress, trying to
find consolation, for we have it already in the love and grace of
Christ. The Friend we took into our life in the joy-days stands close
beside us now in our sadness, and his friendship never before seemed so
precious, so tender, so divine.

When Lazarus fell sick, Jesus was in another part of the country. As
the case grew hopeless, the sisters sent a message to Jesus to say, "He
whom thou lovest is sick." The message seems remarkable. There was no
urgency expressed in it, no