"Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment, and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends." But the father said, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry and be glad, for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again, and was lost and is found." [Illustration: The return of the prodigal] There are other stories told by Jesus while in Peraea, which you will find in the gospel by Luke, the beloved physician. One is about the "Unjust Steward," and another is the story of the "Unjust Judge." Still another is called "Dives and Lazarus," or the "Rich man and the Beggar." The parable of "The Pharisee and the Publican," describes two men who went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. [Illustration: The Pharisee and the publican] The Pharisee prayed with _himself_, thus, "God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, or even as this publican. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all I possess." And the publican, standing afar off, dared not even lift his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" "This man," said Jesus, "went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." CHAPTER XXXI. THE VOICE THAT WAKED THE DEAD--THE CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM. While Jesus and His disciples were still east of the Jordan trouble fell upon the happy home in Bethany where Jesus had been an honored guest. A messenger was sent to Jesus in great haste, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick." It was from Mary and Martha concerning their brother Lazarus. Jesus sent the messenger back with this message, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby," and He remained two days longer where He was. Then He said, "Let us go into Judea again." The disciples reminded Him that the Jews there had tried to take His life. "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth," said Jesus, "but I go that I may awaken him out of sleep." The disciples thought that if he slept he was doing very well, until Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead." Then Thomas was full of sorrow and said, "Let us also go that we may die with him." Bethany was not far from Jerusalem, and when they reached the house of Martha, Lazarus had been dead four days, and was placed in a rock tomb. Many Jews from Jerusalem had come out to Bethany to comfort Mary and Martha, and to mourn for their friend Lazarus. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming she ran to meet Him, but Mary sat still in the house. She thought, perhaps, that He had come too late, and the same thought may have been in Martha's mind when she said,