Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-13
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. ]. o. SHERBURN.

before his death. 1t is remarkable that
bis first appearance was to one who had
been most deeply sunken in sin. The
expression "seven devils" is only He
braism for complete demonical possession !;
it indicates that Mary Magdalene had been
given over to sin, and that her rescue had
been marked achieve ment in the history
of Christ's ministry. 1t was said of her
that having been forgiven much she loved
much. Her affection was attested by the
fact that she was constant in her devotion
to Christ while he was living, and was
near the cross at his death. also near the
tomb at his burial, and now again we
find her first to meet him after his resur
rectiou. All these facts point to a very
endearing relationship between this saved
one and her Savior. Having seen tn
Lord, she goes at once to tell his sorrow.
ing disciples that he is indeed alive. In
the midst of their great sorrow at the
death of Christ they were unable to receive
the news that he was risen from the dead
Though he had told them plainly of his
rising again, and it had been a matter of
debate among them what his Language
meant, still they were unprepared for he
event and doubted the testimony OF one
who was able to say positively, l have
seen him. But we are not to wonder 50
much at their sowness after all. The
work of Christ was all new work. Il
reached out beyond all the former expo
riences of mankind. His death was
attended with remarkable manifestations;
vet he was dead beyond doubt. Now
wha. could they think of the statemsn
that he had been seen alive. Their mind
were in such state of bewilderment
that it was well nigh impossible for them
to recall his words, and reason that what
they now heard was n direct fulfillment OF
those words. The experiences through
which the disciples passed often seem easy
and natural for us, because we know the
sequel, but the disciples made their way
as best they could through these experien =
ces, when the way was altogether untrod
den. The second appearing of Christ after
he was risen is here said to be Sin
another form" There has been some
dispute among scholars as to how this
expression should be understood, but
many are disposed to think that it only
means that his manner of appearing to
them was different, or perhaps his counte.
nance assumed different look, rather
than that he assumed a different bodily
form than that in which he was first and
afterwarl seen. At least the scripture
accounts for the disciples failure to
recognize him on the ground that their
eyes were holden. and says that they knew
him when they witnessed his familiar way
of breaking bread; but it is not intimated
that his form changed in the sleast before
they recognized him. The two who were
walking into the country were part of the
disappointed band of his followers who
were now separating, since he was dead
who had held them together. Luke gives
the name Of one, and also records the
theme of conversation which engaged
them "as they walked and were sad ~
Mark asserts that, when these two had
retdrned to jerusalem and reported. their
witness was not cred tied any more than
Mary's had been, earlier in the day.
Luke says that on their return they
found the eleven fully convinced of the
resurrection, and saying indeed he is risen
and hath appeared unto Simon. We can
reconcile these accounts on the ground
that part were really convinced while
others were not; and this we know to be
the case for even the united testimony oi
the whole company was not received by
Thomas who happened to be absent when
he appeared to them as they were taking
their evening meal.It is not to be wonder
ed at that Mark records the reproof Jesus
gave them for this persistent disbelief.
1t would appear that they had seen enough
Of the miraculous in the life of Christ to
make them ready to believe that he had
proved n conqueror over death. Bat
human weakness and hardness of hear is
as wonderful as anything else, save divine
compassion and divine power. The verse,
Of this passage are not Immediately con-
nectod with each other, but simply give in
fragments some of the events after bis
resurrection. From the fourteenth to the
fifteenth verse is a long gap. All the
forty days from his resurrection to his
ascension are passed over and we come at
once to the final scene when he commits
stoned his followers sjust before leaving
Nom. The stirring words of this commis
sion we cannot dwell upon now more
than to say that the command has been
very imperfeotly hecded, and even in our
own time when it is better understood
thn ever before, the "doing of the word
yet fingers. With the seventeenth verse
We come upon list of promises TO believ.
ers which are not recorded by any other
evangelist rs among the last words ol
jesus.
Yet all have found fulfilment many
times in the history of the church. Casting
out devils and speaking with tongues
Weretamong the constant works of the
early disciples. Nor have they been dis
continued in our later time. Everywhere
Satan's power over human hearts is being
broken, and in almost every tongue men
are hearing Of Christ the Lord. The next
Two promises are against physical harm,
and have had less frequently verified in
lhe church, but, sufficiently verified to
leave no doubt of the divine power or
Willingness to make them good. The
promise of power to heal the sick was
constantly proved in the apostolic age,
and has not lacked its fulfillment in later
times.