The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-06-10

CONTENT death of Jesus was
attended by startling phenomena. The
veil of the temple was rent in twain,
the earth quaked, (Matt: xxvii:5D and
darkness covered the land. luke xiii:
44) When the death was officially GER
titled, Joseph of Arimathea, secret
disciple of Jesus, John xix:3S) having
obtained pilates permission and secured
the assistance of Nicodemus, removed
the body from the cross, embalmed 1t,
and laid IT away in a new tomb. To
prevent fraud. as they claimed, the
chief priests and Pharisces caused the
stone at the mouth of the sepulchre to
be sealed, and strong guard of Roman
soldiers was stationed there. Night
came on and Jesus rested in the house
of the dead. Very early Sunday morn
Ing certain women went to the sepul-
chre to embalm the body, but 1t was
gone. One of them, Mary Magdalene,
FASTENED to inform Peter and John, who
came and quickly withdrew. After their
departure Mary returned, and our les
son recitcs what followed.
APPEARANCE.-The sepulchre of
the East was not unlike the vault to
it had an inner apartment where the
dead was deposited and an outer vesti-
bule where one might stand or sit at
pleasure. For a time Mary remained
alone in this vestibule weeping, her
sorrow occasioned partly by the Lord s
death, but increased by the fact that
His body had been taken away. (V. IL
Stopping down to peer through the
I,,,r .
yet hoping that the mystery might be
disclosed she saw two angels, who
were stationed at the head and feet,
where the body of Jesus had been. ".
12.) This appearance strange as it may
seem to us, was in full harmony with
the entire earthly career of the Saviour,
which was marked on many occasions
Uuke 1;2S), by the visitations Of beings
from the heavenly world. Matt. 1:21D
The interest OF angels in Him and in
His mission was publicly announced.
Matt. xvi:27)
INTERVIEW.-The two bright ones
from the realms of glory had not come
merely as sentinels in the empty Sc
pulchre, by their presence to mark the
spot where the body of Jesus had lain,
although such a service would have
been worthy of them. But they were
there to advise and comfort. Invisible
when Peter and John visited the spot
| (John XX:O they appeared when wo-
| man came in sorrow. "Why weepest
| thou?" they inquired. employing hu-
| man language to reach a troubled
| heart. (V. 13) The emphasis should
| be laid on the first word of this ques-
| ton. There was no occasion for weep
| ing. Rejoicing would be more appro-
pirate. How often in this life do meT
| see one side of an event only, and that
| the dark and forbidding side. Mary's
| answer told the whole story in few
| words. The body of Jesus had been re.
moved and she did not know where
| She knew nothing of a resurrection
and could only suppose that the SACRED
| remains of the one she loved had beer
stolen. The bare thought, after the
tragic scenes of the cruCitiXion, was
enough to fill wOman's heart with
agony.
I RECOGNITION.-,W thus ac.
| counting for her tears Mary became
! conscious of another Presence. Turn
| ing backward she saw a person stand
ing near. 1t was Jesus, but not as sh,
| had known Him. V. IA After Hi
resurrection He had the power to ap
| AAAAAIAAAAAAAaAAA
at S y. m, al which time a good pro
| gramme will he rendered, under TIL
| management Of Mrs. 5. J. Morton. Tn
public is cordially invited to any or al
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