The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-03-21
SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
MARCH %.
Lesson Text: ssThe Resurrection OF
Christi Gan Easter Lesson), Mark
xvi, 1-S-Golden Text: Cor.
xv., 2O-Commcntary.

When the Sabbath was past. "They woula
not break the Sabbath" The Sabbath WIS
really only about 10 begin. There ara no
endings in Gods blessings. Tnere is an end
to sin, to death, but not to blessings.
Anoint Him. With spices This IS PROOF
that they did not expect Him to rise again;
and this fact adds new force to tEeir testi-
mony.-Jacobus.
Very early in the morning. John says,
while it was yet dark: Matthew, as it besan
to dawn. Yes, that is just what it did. That
is the very poetry of the occasion-the word
written with apparent accident Is the very
expression of heavens truth. 1T began 10
dawn" When Christ comes, the light comes.
There is joyousness. an activity, hopelul-
ness, an energy about the early morning.
Parker.
The first day of the week. The day has
kept its place ever since, always the first.
s'This is the day the Lord hath made.
! Christianity has its primacy in persons
Christ; in graces-charty; in days--the
Sabbath.
They came to the sepulchre. But not to
Christs. They who seek Christ in unbelief
to-day are simply visiting empty tombs. Do
not be disturbed nor wonder If In trumpet
tones they declare: "He is not here"
And they said among themselves. How
many of our anxleties are needless, ground
less and absurd. "The worst difficulties are
those which never happen"
The stone was rolled away. The stone was
turned to new uses, for an angel sat upon II.
Parker. The seal, the watch, the guard
and yet the open tomb. Who can stay HIS
hand?
Entering-they saw young man. There
was the vision and the voice. The vision was
vision OF youth. Young-life, power, prom
ise, eagerness. belong to youth.
The voice was ympathetic-"Fear not
ye." Heart .rending, II know that ye seek
Jesus" Explanatory-''Hei Is not here; He
is risen."
Comtorting-"come, see the place where
the Lord lay"
Inspiring-"Go ye-tell." Parker.
The empty tomb brought confusion, ter
ror, fearful forebodings to the enemies OF
Christ I, but hope, comfort, confidence, to His
friends.
Tell his disciples and Peter. Christ's first
appearance was to Mary Magdalene. John
Xxx, 18, out OF whom He had cast seven
devils 80 His special message is to Peter,
who had denied Him.-Abbott.
Tell Peter-although he has sinned so
grieyously. Tell Peter-for he has wept.
Gods anger against His children ceases with
the commencement OF their penitence.
Tell Peter-for he hats suffered.
Tell Peter-for he Is dear to Christ. Sin
can grieve Christ, cause Him to withdraw,
wound and disfgure US, but 1t cannot alter
His love.
Tell Peter-for he is your brother. They
Stems and Twigs.
The result OF 1t all on the women-fear,
haste, energy. They were afraid, they ran,
they trembled and were amazed. From
Matthew we learn that as they "met Jesus in
the way" All who go upon gracious errands
meet Him in the way.
He Is risen. "Through woman death was
first introduced into the world;to TO woman
the first announcement was made of the
resurrection"
Proofs OF Christ's resurrection. I have
been used for many years to study the his
tory Of other times, and to examine and
weigh the evidences OF those who have
written about them and I know Of no one
fact in the history Of mankind which is
proved by better and fuller evidence OF every
sort. to the mind OF a fair inquirer, than that
Christ died and rose again from the dead
DR.. Arnold. Moreover, 1t was precisely the
same body which was buried that rose again,
or oil the proofs fail.
I. Proved by the friends OF Christ. /.
The apostles had the most powerful faith in
the fact. They were unanimous in their
declaration of 1t a few days after on the very
spot on which it occurred, and that TO men
who were prepared to do anything to con-
ceal the fact. Q. This faith came in
direct opposition TO their previous beliefs
and worldly interests. They had no expecta-
ton and no hope of such resurrection. 8.
They had every opportunity for thoroughly
satisfying themselves on the point. a. BY
their declaration OF the fact they induced
thousands of the very ensmies OF Christ to
believe in 1t, and that close to the time and
near the very spot on which it occurred, me
early Church universally believed In 1t !;
and 1t is incredible that q myth, false
story, should have so grown up without sub
stantial foundation-From Thomas'S Genius
OF the Gospel. 5. They attested this fact not
only by their lives, but by their death.
Only the fact OF the resurrection can account
for the marvellous change in the spirit and
character OF the apostles. The resurrection
completely transformed them inspired them
with new conception Of Christ's kingdom
as for all people, with new courage to suf-
ter for the sake of their risen Lord and His
kingdom. and with new purpose to preach
Christ and Him crucifed everywhere as
spiritual redemption for sin, Acts H., 80 W,
Al K, 43. Neither fraud nor fiction Is COM
petent to account for the moral contrast.
II. Proved by the enemies of Chr.at. l. 1t
WAS Impossible Tor these enemies 10 deny
that Christ had by some means len the
grave. .. 1t was impossible for them to give
any other explanation than that Whlcn tney
now invented-that His disciples stole tho
body. 8. It was impossible for this, the only
explanation they could give, to be credited ;
for (a) the disciples could not have stelen
Him ii they would CD 1t was in the last de-
gree improbable that all the Roman watch
were asleep: (c) nor would the Jewish
council have voted money merely to have re-
ported truth (d) if the soldiers slept,
they could not have known that the disciples
stole the body: their story contradicted It
sell.--Genius Of the Gospel
Arc Mon Growing Smaller?