The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-06-10
Sunday y-SchoOH Lesson for June III.
Christ Risemo
JOHN xix, 1l-20.
BY J. e. GILBERT, d. d. L. D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education.
JOHN xix, 1l-2O

pear and disappear at pleasure, but In
a form so different as not to be known.
duke xiv :30-31.) Jesus put to Mary
the same question asked by the angels
and added, Whom seekest thou?"
Thinking that he was the gardener,
and hoping that he might explain the
secret of the empty and angel-haunted
grave, she replied with a tender APP
peal, IF you took Him away, tell me
where He is and l will take Him."
". 15) There is in these words such
an outburst of affectionate solicitude
as one rarely discovers, most adj
mirable exhibition of a woman's heart.
One word only was spoken by Jesus.
the woman's name, Mary" (v.l6)
Something in the tone of His voice
possibly, or something in His manner.
now slightly changed and made like to
the old habit. caused Mary to recognize
Jesus, and she exclaimed, "Raboni,"
that is Master.
INSTRUCTION. an instant Mary
was transferred from the profoundest
grief to the most exalted JOY. Twice
had she lost the Christ-once In the
crucifXion, once in the disappearance
of His body from the tomb. Now that
He stood before her she desired to
throw herself at His feet, to seize and
hold Him and enjoy His society. but
He restrained her. Touch me not"
He said, assigning two reasons ". ~.
He had not yet ascended to the Father,
the statement being a support to the
doctrine of the intermediate state, as
held by some Il Peter iii:19) 1t is evil
dent that the post-resurrection inti-
| macy of Christ with His disciples was
intended to be on a higher plane than
that allowed before the crucifiXion.
! q Cor. v:16.) Besides, Jesus desired
this woman to be the first evangel. He
would not have her tarry to express
her affection for Him, but He directed
her to hasten to the disciples, whom He
called brethren and declared to them,
that having broken the bands of death,
He would ascend unto His Father. In
all this Jesus gave Mary instruction on
| four important doctrines which after
ward had large place in the church.
| REPORT.-Did Jesus Immediately
| disappear after instructing Mary? We
may reasonably suppose that He did,
for nothing could be gained by con-
tinuing longer with her. Shortly after
| He came to the other women, who had
| approached the sepulchre with Mary
and had been separated from her, and
! having allowed them liberty before
denied, He gave them orders to report
| to the brethren Matt. xviii, 9-1O),
| that He would meet them in Gallee, a
promise made before His death Matt,
xvi, 32), which the angels recalled
| mark, xvi, y. Thus two messages
were borne-one by Mary alone one by
the other three women-all Of them an
nouncing the resurrection, one of them
proclaiming a meeting, the other an
ascension. Mary was true to the duty
laid upon her and as she first received
instructions it is probable that she was
first to arrive in Jerusalem ", 10
honOred in being permitted before any
other to bear the glad tidngs that the
| dead was alive. The other women
coming after confirmed her words
leaving no good ground for the disci-
pies to doubt.
SALUTATION.-All through that
| first day strange and conflicting ru.
/ mors floated about Jerusalem, causing
much excitement. The statements OF
the women, repeated by the disciples
seemed to most persons incredible. be-