Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-10-28

Lord Is Risen Indeed, and Hath APP
peared Unto Simon"-Lesson Text, John
III, lis.
If the report Of any startling occurrence
goes to the parties concerned by those who
happen to know" and not by one special
messenger, they get their information at vari-
GUS times and in various ways. Some hear
soon, some late, some from one party, some
from another, some one portion Of it, some
another. So it was here. Hence four writ
ers, each having his own object in his selec-
ton of facts, may easily seem to vary one
from the other. Their seeming variations
prove that there was no collusiOn or con-
spiracy. John is here bent on showing how
Mary Msgdalen came to be the messenger to
confirm the faith of the disciples. Hence the
beginning of his narrative.
v. l. So early in the morning that it was
yet dark Mary Magdalen was at the sepul-
cher not alone, as the other gospels show,
though she speaks only for herself in V. 13
She had been at the cross John nix, 25). She
noticed the stone rolled away by an angel, as
Matt. xviii, 2, describes. But she did not
know how it was done, and unprepared like
the rest for the esurrection-plainly, as Jesus
had foretold it-she felt as the disciples did So
W. p in her eager haste she runs to Peter
and John, and in words characteristic Of her
states the case. He is still her Lord; she has
not changed her view of Him from His hav-
ing died on the cross. She does not feel it
necessary to defino the doer of this second
wrong. 'They have, " his enemies, who cruel
fed him She Matt xviii, 8 had others
with her, but she is singled out, hence,
perhaps, @,Us know not" etc. So in sorrow,
helplessness and bereavement the human
heart Graves sympathy.
v 5. Peter and John at once went to the
sepulchre, accepting her view so far, yet nat
uraIly wishing to see for themselves. John
was the younger, Peter was the more impul-
sive. John was first at the door, Peter was
first to go into the sepulchre ". A.. Little
things show character.
v 5. Hence John only stopped down into
the opening cut into the rock and saw the
linen clothes lying. Yes, there were the gar J
ments; the body was not there. So far
Mary's account is confirmed
V. 6. Now Simon Peter comes up, passes
on, sees the same thing and more. The nap
kin ". q, which it was the custom, as we see
from Lazarus case John xi, "a, to bind
about the head, was not thrown with the
linen clothes, but wrapped together in place
ence for all connected with the buried Master,
and certainly the feeling of right and time TO
make all decent. Who had loosed Him and
let Him goa
VS.. One believer gives courage to an
other. John now enters and sees the same
facts and reaches the same conviction. Yes;
Jesus body has been somehow taken away.
He believed this, or that Jesus had risen in
the true sense
V 81, for as yet they know not, did notun-
derstand, his meaning and its fulfillment Of
Scripture when he spoke of rising from the
dead. "Yes," they probably thought, che
when he has founded the kingdom, like David
and Solomon, will fail asleep and like others
rise again. But he had defined the time
the third day, This they did not take in;
they did not have the preparation of mind for
it which the Scriptures understood would
have given them Cps. xvi, 10). So it is that
the Bible, rightly understood, prepares US to
realize the meaning of the facts and state
ments otherwise dark
V. 10. There seemed no more to be DONE
The disciples turned homeward. Not so
Mary Women to this day visit and linger
around graves when men are otherwise Occu.
pied. She fingered at the tomb weeping.
She, too, was moved to look in. To her
appeared what the disciples were not per-
mitted to see. The honor was for her. She
stopped down, and there were two angels
sitting, the one where had been the head and
the other where had been the feet of the
sacred body ". 12). Their look and bearing
showed what they were according to the ira
ditional and Bible view of the ministering
spirits. But she is so absorbed with the
thought of Christ that she does not inger
upon them. They are calm, at their posts
for the time. They have been serving the
Lord of angels. They have been permitted
to look into the mysteries Of redemption.
They can report to "principalities and powers
in heavenly places" what took place
V. 13. There is nothing we see disrespectful
in woman" They so address her. They
speak in sympathy. Angels have much in
common with human believers. We shall be
with, and equal to, the angels. They put the
question to draw out her mind and to prepare
her for the answer. Her reply is as she had
spoken to the two disciples. The Gospel Of
Matt. xviii, 1-S having given all this-dwell-
ing on the angel who acted as spokesman
John does not dwell on it, but hastens on to
the interview with Jesus himself.
Y. a. Still absorbed in the thought of
Jesus, she noticed man standing, and the
gardener being the natural person to look for
in the place, and the natural person to do
anything in the garden, she set down the
words even of Jesus to him ". 15), and re-
piled accordingly-"Sir, if thou have" etc.
Here it is that Jesus speaks her name.
v. l6. The voice is familiar; she remembers
its tones. She turns. 1t is Jesus, her Lord;
and "MasterI" she calls him, i'll glad surprise,
and probably with movement toward him,
as would be natural in the circumstances.
V. II. This would imply a heightened in
terview, questions, answers, etc, and he tells
her that it is not neeGful or wise to linger
over them now, for he is not Immediately
going. The immediate thing is to relieve
the minds of, as he tenderly puts it, "my
brethren" and to tell them that the new
form of his work, the triumphant part, and
the part which also looked to them-namely
the giving of the comforter-is close at hand.
Again he puts the utmost tenderness into his
words-@my Father and your Father" ets.
He indicates even here the cloSeneSS of union
between him and them. How wonderful
not word of their weakness, not reproach,
not hint of injured feelingsl All is forgiven
and forgotten: my God and your God"
v. Is. Mary Magdalen, warned against
any show of feeling or delay so produced, i'm
mediately does as she is directed. She told
the disciples she had seen the Lord, and that
he had spoken these things unto her. On the
feelings thus called out he does not linger.
(See John xxi, 25.
In summing up the practical truth taught
in this lesson it is fit to raise such questions as
the following:
~ This day, the finishing in a sense of the
new creation, deserves to be remembered.
He rose on "the Lords day." Again and
again the risen Saviour appeared to disciples
on this day; ON the next Lords day to the
eleven; on later Lords day sent down the
Spirit No wonder preaching was usual on
that day as at Troas (Acts Xxx, q, and meet
ings for worship as we see in 1 Cor. xvi, Ia
So believers often are like John REV. i, 10,
Gin the Spirit on the Lords day.
C9 Why are the little details regarding the
garments of the dead and buried, even the
napkin, reportedi Do they show that this
was not deed Of secret plottingi of hurried
violencel Of stealingl
60 Why does Mary Magialen come so
prominently forwardl Is st meant to show
how Christianity gives woman high placei
Has it any lesson Of love and faithful adheri
ence to Christ as sure to be acknowledged
(4 Does the look of quiet and repose and
II N-Ak N--A H. aN aNaaAh