The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-04-04

answer, NO" Cast the net on the
right side of the ship and ye shall
find," says the stranger. They do as
they are hidden and the net is filled
with great fishes. "a hundred and
fifty and three" John whispers to
Peter, ''It is the Lord" whereupon
Peter plunges into the sea and
swims ashore and the others come
in the boat, dragging the net. There
is fire and some bread beside
it and fish are prepared and cooked
on the Goals and the Master calls
them to breakfast. They eat in ST.
lence, for though all know it is Jesus,
they are SO awed by his presence
that no one feels like asking him any
questions. The meal having ended,
Jesus questions Peter as to his love
for him and on his threefold affir-
nation of that love, solemnly COM
missions him to feed his sheep.
This is also clearly bodily appear
ance of Jesus, but nothing is said OF
how he came or whittier he went
The eighth appearance was in a
mountain of Galilee. 1t is probably
the appearance of which Paul speaks
when he says, HE was seen of five
hundred brethren at once" and the
one of which Matthew makes record
at the close of his Gospel. Then
the eleven disciples" he says, "went
away into Galilee, into mountain
where Jesus had appointed them"
Jesus had made this appointment
with the eleven, and it would seem
that large number of the "learners"
were also invited. OF this appear
ance, therefore, there were multi
tude of witnesses. Not only the eleven
but many others saw Jesus, some of
whom doubted, but the majority be-
lieved. 1t was great meeting and
one of much solemnity, for it was
then that he commissioned his dis
ciples to preach the GOSPEL to all
nations.
Paul mentions an appearance to
James, but when, where and under
what circumstances, we do not know.
The final appearance was at or near
Bethany on the Mount of Olives.
The record is given by Luke both in
his Gospel and in the Acts of the
Apostles. Jesus appears to the dis.
ciples and leads them out to this
sacred spot, and there, as he lifts up
his hands in final benedictiop, he is
parted from them and carried up
into heaven, and cloud received him
out of their sight, and the resurrec-
ton of Jesus from the dead is COM
pleted.
The great epiphany has lasted
for forty days. During this time
Jesus has appeared again and again
to his disciples. The browning
fact of his whole wonderful ca
reer is testified to in such way that
it becomes fact of the worlds his
tory. The seed of the great hope, of
the doctrine of the resurrection, is
surely and firmly planted. 1t is to
grow into great tree in whose shade
multitudes are to find rest and re-
freshment, and its leaves are to be
for'the healing of the nations" In the
hearts of the disciples it is rooted,
and the faith nourished here is to ex-
tend in an ever widening circle. Dur
ing these days we have some ten re-
corded appearances. Were these all?
Probably not. While living in the
flesh Jesus wrought many more won
ders, we are assured, than are re-
corded. Those given us are but
specimens of the whole. So we may
believe that the appearances after his
death were but specimens or types of
all. They are survivals of the fittest.
By an unconscious spiritual selection
these were remembered and recorded.
Others there were but they are not
recorded. These recorded appear
ances are sufficient to show us their
nature and give us to understand
how the disciples came to believe go
firmly in the resurrection of Jesus.
1t was because he appeared to them
so many times and under such vari-
Gus circumstances that they could not
doubt. And these appearances have
one thing in common,-they are all
to the senses. They are not in Wis
ions like that of Paul and Stephen,
but in reality. They are within the
range of sense perception. What do
they teach us as to mans resurrec,
ton? We shall see. SC.