The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-20
SUNDAY-SCH0OL LESSON.
REV. EDWARD l.. PELL DISCOURSES
on THE RISEN LORD.
Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms
spoke of Jesus, Certain Critics to the
Contrary Notwithstanding.


The Risen Lord-June 21-Luke XIV,
36-J3
Even TO his most intimate disciples
the death Of Jesus was the death OF
hope. In spite OF all that he had said
10 them OF the things which should be-
fall him at Jerusalem they had utterly
failed 70 grasp his meaning, and they
now had no thought OF a resurrection.
They had trusted that II had been he
which should have redeemed Israel" AMI
they were terribly disappointed. The
first day OF the week ddwned upon as
hopeless a set of men as ever sat amid
the ruins OF a wrecked ambition. IL Is
utterly preposterous 20 say that such men
under such circumstances may have
gore to work 10 invent a story Of the
resurrection OF Jesus. Even II they had
been IA q mood for such a task, they
could not have conceived OF the effect
the doctrine of the resurrection woull
have either upon themselves or upon the
world
II the kingdom OF God was to make
IT'S way among men, 1t was not enough
that Jesus should rise from the dead,
the world must know Of his resurrec-
ton. Not the fact Of his resurrection,
but the knowledge OF II was 10 raise
men from the death OF sin unto the life
OF righteousness IL he was not raised
from the dead then would our preaching
be vain and our faith also vain. II we
dii not know that he had risen, We could
not offer 10 men tho assurance that they
would rise again; we could not proclaim
Jesus ms the cOnqueror OF death; we
could not be sure that he came down
.lf garrfH M f4utffV
there is life beyond the grave. Ii was
OF The highest importance that after
rising again he should remain upon earth
long enough 20 convince his disciples
beyond the possibility of a doubt that
b. had conquered death, and hal brought
HIS body as well as his spirit from the
grave.
The apostles were gathered together
at meat talking over the strange ri-
mor u the day when two disciples en-
tered In haste and amid great excite
meut told them how on the way % En-
mdus they had met the risen Lord And
as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood
IN the midst Of them. and saith unto
them, Peace be tuto you" Never be-
fore did the beautiful saution mean
So much. The Prince OF Peace had come
TO bring peace 10 his troubled follow
crs. But the words meant little to them,
for they were terribly frightened They
supposed that they had seen a spirit"
That was what they had supposed the
two disciples and Peter and the women
had seen-a mere spectre.
Apparently they had said 20 one an
other that the spirit OF Jesus would hover
near for a little while. and then take its
flight 10 It's eternal home: though some
thing kept their hearts in a nutter. and
they could not be satisfied with their
own explanation. II Was necessary that
their minds should be cleared OF this
plausible theory. II what they saw was
only a spectre. il could mean nothing
except that Jesus had gone the way
Of all other men. why do you doubt?'
said Jesus. behold my hands and my
ieet. thar 10 Is 1 myself; handle me and
See" We are often told that God re-
qulres OF as am unreasonable faith; that
hc makes us walk bllndf0ldod, and re-
Quires as 90 believe without evidence.
lLhielity often askS us 20 believe with
out evidence. but here is Jesus insisting
that his disciples shall handle him and
see for themselves. We are not asked
20 take the Lords word for il that he
SIS good We are asked to taste and see
that the Lord IS good.
Nor would De- have hls disciples rest
upon single proof lie would pile up
proof upon proof until there could not
oe the slightest shadow Of doubt Have
SO here any neat he asked They
were simple men. and DE would convince
f'Iam iu thc simplest way. The most
uus0u histicatDd mind would understg=d
that Cd sririt could not eat meat. and
the test was final Now" said he.
when they had qIieted down. this Is
what ! told you when I was with you"
on the other side OF the cross they had
failed 10 understand hls words: now again
he repeats The things which were writ
ten il the lazy OF Moses. and In the
prophets and in The Psalms concerning
him, ana in the light Of the resurrection
they arc made plain. II Is worth Motto
ing here that Jesus says plainly that
Mcsts ana the prophets ana the Psalms
DO speak or him. Notwithstanding certain
critics say that Moses and the prophets
and the Psalms We're speaking Of some
body clsc We may also notice that th Sc
| disciples had heard the Scriptures even
from the lips Of Jesus without under
standing them, and that they never un-
dersto01 them until Jesus opened their
minds.
Doubtless the Master went over the
argument many times with his disciples
ana then one day, when AN doubts had
/ been removed. it came 10 pass that
while Do blessed them. he was parted
/ from them and taken up into heaven
/ The disciples strained their eyes 10 catch
/ tho last glimpse OF their ascending Lord
and tho last they saw 0f him his hands
We're stretched out ia blessing. Surely
/ those hands are stretched out IA blessing
still ErWARD l.. PEI.L.