The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-12-16
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
DECEMBER 10.
Lesson Text: "Christ Risen," John
Z, 1-1S-Golden Text: Rom.
viii, 34-Commentary.

1. 1.-THE first day Of the week cometh
Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet
dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the
stone taken away from the sepulcher." She
was one of those who saw His death and
burial, then with the Others returned and
prepared spices and ointments, and rested
the Sabbath day according to the command
ments Mark XIV, Al; Luke xiii, IS, 56).
2. "Then she runneth and cometh to Simon
Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus
loved, and saith unto them, They have taken
away the Lord out Of the sepulcher, and we
know not where they have laid Him"
There had been an earthquake and a resur-
rection not only Of the body Of Jesus, as He
had foretold, but also of the bodies of many
Of the saints (Math. xvii. 51-b3I, and when
Mary and the other women reached tho
tomb an angel sat upon the stone by the
mouth Of the tomb and said that Jesus was
was the first to run with the tidings to the
disciples, but she did not take in the angels
word that He was risen any more than she
had received Jesuss own word that He
would rise. How fearful is unbelief!
8. "Peter therefore went forth, and that
other disciple, and came to the sepulcaer."
4. $50 they ran both together; aud the
other disciple did outrun Peter, and came
to the ~sepulcher."
5. Sand he, STOPPING down and looking
in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he
not in" Joseph and Nicodemus had wrapped
the body in linen clothes with about a hun
chapter xix. SO, 4V. Had His body been
taken away by either friends or foes they
would not likely have disrobed it.; friends
would not, and enemies would not have been
careful to leave the clothes lying even If
they disrobed it.
6. "Then cometh Simon Peter following
him. and went into the sepulcher, and seeth
the linen clothes lie." Impulsive as usual;
the same Peter who would die with Him
before he would deny Him; who would walk
on the water to Him, and who a little later
to Jesus. And yet it Is Peter who by the
spirit teaches US that "a meek and quiet
spirit Is in the sight of God of great price,"
and that we are to be clothed with humil-
ity,n and take things patiently until the
revelation of Jesus Christ. Peter l., 10;
H., 90; i'll, 4; ", 5, g.
Z. sand the napkin that vas about His
head, not lying with the linen clothes, but
wrapped together in a place by itself" Who
wrapped up the napkin that was about
Jesus's head and laid 1t by itself? Or better
still, what is the significance Of the fact? Let
those tell who know; / am still bordering 1t
lQ ul1 "a v, "h1kO WotOAhS 1SA ShS AASAN@
Of light never to be laid aside.
8. t"Then went in also that other disciple
which came first to the se%puloher, and he
saw and believed" he saw the clothes and
the napkin and that the body wa gone, and
he now fully believed Mary's story that the
Lords body was taken away; but that Jesus
had actually risen from the dead the next
verse would seem to teach US they do not yet
believe.
9. 'For az yet they knew not the Scrip
ture; that He must rise again from the
dead"
10. "Then the disciples went away again
unto their own home" Had He not risen
all preaching and faith would be vain, all
people would be yet In their sins, all the dead
have persisted Il Cor. XIV, 1910, and yet this
great fact being all but proved to these fore
most disciples, they go disconsolate to their
homes. Oh, what patience our Lord has
with them and with US. Let us be patient
with all who still cling to earth instead of
heaven.
II. "But Mary stood without at the sep
ulcher weeping; and as size wept, she stopped
down and looked into the sepulcher." She
loved Him greatly, she was truly His dis
ciple $50 were Peter and john, but it wasall
dark, her heart was sad, her tears flowed
fast, and why? She was, unbelieving, and
looked for the dead when she ought to have
been looking up to see the living.
IL, 'And seeth two angels in white, sit
ting, the one at the head and the other at
the feet, where the body OF Jesus had lain"
When He died He committed His spirit into
the hands of His Father; the angels kept
guard over His body. We wonder what they
thought of that other guard whom one OF
them caused almost to die with fright (Math.
xviii, A.. What have you committed to
Jesus's care, and how fully are you persuaded
that He does and Will care for you and keep
ali you have committed unto Him?
13.'"And they say unto her, Woman, why
wsepest thou? She saith unto them. Because
they have taken away my Lord, and l know
not where they have laid Him
IA. "And when she had thus said she
turned herself back, and saw Jesus stand
ing, and knew not that 1t was Jesus" why
did she turn? Did the angels look up and
thus call her attention to n behind her!
Possibly! And now she sees Him whom sae
sought, and does not know even Him. IN
how blind we are made by grief and unbe-
lefl
Is. "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why
weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She,
Surprising Him to be the gardner. saith un-
to Him, Sir, if Thou have borne Him hence:
tell me where Thou hast laid Him, and viii
take Him away" In answer to whom
seekest thou!" or "What seek YET" Chapter
l.. So may our hearts say, Jesus. awe Tor
ever more.n See in Jer. XIX, u, how we
shall find Hin. But observe from this verse
In our lesson that He may b speaking TO US
and we may not recognize Him
16. "Jesus saith unto her. Mary: Sne
turned herself and saith unto Him, Raooonl;
which Is to say master" She seems atter
turning from the sepulcher, and supposinS
Him to have been the gardner, 10 naYe
turned back to the sepulcher again. but
that one word .'Mary" reached her heart.
II. Jesus saith unto her, Touca NE not;
for I am not yet assembled to My Fatner;
but 20 to My brethren and say unto tnem,
I ascend unto My Father and your FaGner;
and to My God and your God" Wnat
grace and love beyond description, that on
the way to the Father in His risen body, be
should wait to see and speak with mary
Magdalene. Oh, for such heart longingS LOT
Him as she had.
IS. MARY Magdelene came and told ths
disciples that she had seen the Lore, an .
that He had spoken these things unto ner:'
gone. her heart Is at rest. The risen
Savior did it and a word from Him, and
now she bears the first glad tidings IRON a
risen Christ. Lesson Helper.
The earthquake across the central
portion Of the Mississippi Valley
from Memphis to Keokuk, extending
on the east to Louisville and west fo1
O shorter distance from the river, re.
calls the great earthquake which had
=