The National tribune., 1886-10-21
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught By Study Of the Inter
national Sunday school Lesson Appointed 70
Oct. 81. st. John, 90 Ills.

OuE last ltSSDU gave account Oh Tue
ion of Christ, which took place on Friday. We
now are to study the account of the women
visiting the sepulcher. This event occurred on
Sunday morning, very early of the day March
30, A. ID. 30 We remember there was garden
near the place of crucifxion, 10 40 and that
Christ's corpse was put into sepulcher, which
was in the garden. This was south of Golgotha
Calvary. Sunday was the first day of the
week. ". of the lesson.) By comparing the
account of ST. John with those of SITS. Mt,
2S 1; Nix, 1872, and Lu., 24:1, we find
that Mary Magdalene was accompanied by
other women. These were Mary, mother of st.
James the Less; Salome, mother of SITS. John
and James, and Joanna. CLu., 81: 10.) when
it was yet dark" ". u means before it was
toward day" Nix, 1852, and Lu., IS; 1, have
very early in the morning" Even then the
sepulcher was found empty. (See Nix, 16:9)
Hence our Savior must have risen from the
grave probably between 3 and o'clock a. m.
The women could go forth even before day
break. for the moon was full and none Of the
night would be very dark. The object of the
women in going was more fully to embalm the
body Of Jesus. They did not believe he was to
rise from the dead, and Were utterly surprised
to find the sepulcher empty. The keepers mil
itary guard of the tomb actually saw the res
direction. (Mt., 23:4.) 1t was accompanied
by a sort of local earthquake, and was superin-
tended by an angel sent from Heaven on pur-
pose
We recall the fact Jesus was placed in a Sc
pulcher and not buried in grave. Across the
opening into the tomb was a large stone rolled
and impressed with Roman seal, which could
not be broken at less penalty than death. 1t
is no marvel our Savior's Disciples wondered
and feared when they found the stone removed,
and less wonder that they saddened at the sight.
Convinced the sepulcher was empty, and thus
prevented from carrying out their purpose of
further embalming Christ. nothing was left for
the women but amaZement and sorrow. st.
Mary Magdalene went rapidly as possible to
inform SITS. Peter and John of the strange fact.
The Apostles left their lodging place at once and
fastened to the tomb. They knew how strict the
Roman law was as to breaking governmental
seal, and could not imagine who could be bold
enough to commit such a crime. They seemed
to have little idea of Christs resurrection being
possible and predicted fact. st. John being
probably younger than st. Peter Outrun him
and reached the sepulcher first. He saw Christ's
body was removed and noticed the grave-clothes
lying within the tomb. He did not, however,
venture to go inside. 1t remained for st. Peter,
goa head-a-tive as he was 10 investigate the
interior of the sepulcher. Soon st. John fol-
lowed. Both noticed the orderly disposition of
the napkin and grave clothes, which Christ had
evidently removed from his body and laid aside
neatly. Sure the tomb was empty, Sts Peter
and John returned TO their room (hOme. V. 10l
in the city utterly COMPOUNDED at the mysteries
attending our SaviOr's career.
When st. Mary went to alarm SITS. Peter and
John she said: "They have taken away the
Lord" by "they" she probably meant the
| enemies of Christ. Not content with cruelty
ing her Master, they had done violence even to
his corpse, so she thought 1t is curious the
Disciples of our Saviour had SO little idea Of the
| resurrection.
Slower to venture into the tomb, St. John
! was quicker to grasp the facts which an empty
sepulcher taught. 1t was clear our Savior had
calmly and VIGOROUSLY vacated the tomb. Rob-
bers of the sepulcher would not have left the
| grave-clothes in such an orderly way. There
would be evidence of fear. quickness and vio-
| lence. The thought began to penetrate the
mind of st. John that his Master had risen from
/ the dead. Connect VS.. and 81 lie perceived
| to some extent the bearing OF certain scriptural
statements as, e. O., Ps. 10: 10 with Acts 2,
1881, ID: "a, 80; Cor, 1854. He had de-
| gree of comprehension of some of the sayings
of Jesus before his death as, e. g., Mt. 1921
] Lu. "a: 49, As.
On their way back SITS. Peter and John proba-
bly, passed Mary blagdalene returning TO the
sepucher. She was anxious TO see if it were
really fact the body was gone. 1t is now dav
light, say half after six o'clock a. M, and hence
she is not SO alarmed as she would have beer
III udIkucoo. lHcut sue was OIdNtE Ltldl Iut
other women. She loved much, and love fire:
courage. She was in great distress, not know
| ing but the corpse was being mutilated or other
| wise dishonOred. She had come to embalm il
but 10! it is not to be found. STOPPING down
for the sepulcher was too low to admit cree
position (Lu. "a IL, and much more SO was thu
entrance-she gaZed through tears into the vaul
and verified her fears and the Apostles reports
Instead of the corpse she saw two angels, one q
| the head and the Mt her MT the foot nf the Sanul
cher. They were dressed in white, the uSua
raiment ascribed TO Heavenly visitants and sym
bOllc OF their purity. They served various pur
poses. They gave weightIuess and dignity to th'
act OF the resurrection. Their presence Shove,
the origin and cause of the empty grave. The,
could tell the whole story OF the mysteries at
taching to u vacated sepulcher. Specially the,
had power To comfort. We see this in thei
notice of Mary's tears and their inquiry as L
the cause. 1t is apparent from the aeeoun
that in asking her to explain they speak il
most tender tones, and with u disposition I
remove her sorrow.
At this moment Mary, hearing the sound o
footsteps, turned and saw person STANDING
near the sepulcher. 1t is said she did not rec
Ognize him. There are reasons. l. Her eye
were blinded by tears. 2. Christ had on dii
ferent apparel. 3. She was in very perturbe'
state of mind. A. Though there might be re
semblance, she could not imagine that the form
before her was the body of the man torn, man
gled, bleeding, wounded of Friday before.
| Ii was natural the gardener should be- in tn
vicinity, and that she might suspect him to b
the person she saw o. Then for the momen
our Saviour may not have manifested his iden
tity, but chose to make himself known by de
grces, and so save Mary the fearful blow of
sudden revelation of his resurTected body. A
length Christ speaks in his natural tone. calm
Mary by name. The excitement of Mary TO
. the moment was almost uncomfortable. She ex
, claims My Master!" (Rabboni). All her fol
mer attachment for Christ was revived an
even intensified. She extended her hands an
was about To grasp him. It was an outburst {
pent-up love for Christ, attended by the demon
strativeness of oriental ardOr.
Christ babe Mary not To touch him. VIII
not2 1t was not because there was unfitnes
, in the act. He did not thus keep of the Othe
, women. Mt. 25:9l lie even invited 5
Thomas to handle him. John. 20: 27.) w
! cannot think Christ declined Mary's touch o
the ground there was then no time for the ac
1t does not seem there was any great haste {
90 to the brethren. ". III And Christ wa
, To continue in the world for 40 days. He di
! not mean to say, Mary, away. Look to
! message for me immediately. No time fo
! Misunderstanding. You will have plenty of oppOl
! tunity To see me before | ascend" What is th
{ explanation? Evidently Mary had wron
, idea. She imagined Christ had come to sta
, and set up his personal Kingdom among mel
Her demonstrations were the outgrowth of
msconception. Christ had told of the grea
intimacy which would exist between him an
80 foil affa ia he