The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-06-07
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
~ FOR JUNE II. ----uu

meut8ry on DAy'b LebSOns
II. "But Mary stood without" As soon
az she had told the disciples her fears, she
returned to the sepulcher, and reached 1t
probably soon after Peter and John had
left for home. "And as she wept she
stopped down and looked into the sepul-
cher" Because she was anxious to see
whether she might not, after all, be mis-
taken about the absence Of the body. She
stopped because the top OF the entrance
was so low that she could not otherwise
get near view of the inside OF the tomb.
IL. "And seeth two angels in white" In
white raiment. White signifying the pur-
ity OF their character. Matthew speaks Of
the angels raiment being white as snow,
one at the head. and the other at the feet. "
The idea Is apparently that OF sitting and
Watching the body. The angels presence
showed the divine hand and care. They
were ministering spirits to comfort those
who we're In such great sorrow and need;
and they gave explanations OF what had
been done, no one else being able to give
them.
IS. "she saith unto them" While the
have had no fear, so wholly was she taken
up with her great fdeslre OF finding her
Lord. She was ready to brave more hero
ically than ever all danger II she might
only find His corpse. "They have taken
away my Lord" This has been applied
typIcally to those who have tried to take
the divine nature Of Jesus from the Scrip
lures, and left them but an empty tomb.
IA. "She turned herself back" She was
turned away, perhaps hearing footsteps be-
hind. "And saw Jesus standing and knew
not that 1t was Jesus" Why did she not
recognize Him at frst7 Q) She had her
eyes dimmed with tears, and (2) her mind
occupied and excited With other thoughts;
besides, (3) she was not at all expecting to
see Him alive; (D His garments certainly
must have been changed, as the soldiers
had those He was accustomed to wear; (5)
she may not have looked up to His face,
perhaps hardly looked at all; (6) the long
agony on the cross must have made some
difference in His appearance.
Is. "She, supposing Him to be the tar-
dener," and therefore servant Of Joseph
of Arimathea, who owned the tomb, and,
OF course, friendly. No other person would
be likely to be there at so early an hour,
unless 1t were the Roman guard, OF which
she probably knew nothing. "And will
take Him away" See that 1t is done. She
would take the care and responsibility on
herself.
16. "Jesus salth unto her. Mary" This
word spoken in the old, familiar tones, and
showing that Jesus knew who she was, led
her instantly to recognize Him. The voice
is one OF the last things to change. I'have
known ministers, after many years. ab-
sence, to be recognized by the voice, when
allthings else had changed beyond recogni-
tion, "She saith unto Him, Rasboni," He
brew for my master or teacher.
II. "Jesus saith unto her, Touch Me not"
The verb primarily means to fasten to;
hence 1t implies here, not mere momentary
touch, but a clinging to.-M. R. Vincent.
The translation touch me not" Is made
quate and give false impression. The
verb (haptesthaD does not mean to "tvuch"
and"Eandle" with view to seeing whether
His body was real; this CSrlst not only al
lowed but epjoined (v. q; Luke "a: So:
comp. I John /; y; rather 1t means to
"hold on to" and "cling to-" Moreover, It
is the present (not aorist) imperative; and
the full meaning Will therefore be, do
not continue holding Me-" or simply "hold
Me not" "For I am not yet assembled to
My Father" This Is the reason given why
Mary should not cling to Jesus at this
time. How Is 1t a reason? O 1t means,
do not stop now to embrace Me, but hasten
away to the disciples, for you will have
other opportunities to express your de-
votion to Me- since remain some time on
earth before T ascend to heaven. Or (2)
the grasp OF earthly affection and love.
She seems to have thought that Jesus was
to remain henoeforth with them in the
body. Jesus reminds her that this is not
true, but that only after His ascension could
there be the trues:, fullest, most spiritual
expressions OF devotion. (3) Grimm ex-
plains It thus: "Do not seek to learn by
touching Me whether am even now
clothed with body; there is no need OF
this search. for have not yet assembled to
the Father"-and am. therefore. still in
"But &C to My brethren" "Here, for the
first time, Jesus speaks of His disciples az
brethren. ."-Hovey. In spite Of their fall.
ures, the disciples were His true brethren In
love, and service, and fello Tship with God
being sons OF the same Father. ~ ascend"
The next step In the work OF redemption,
the completion Of His earthly intercourse
with them, was at hand.
18. Mary Magdalene came and told
She obeyed the command Of Jesus. It IS
matter Of no little interest that the first
appearances Of Jesus were not to the
apostles, but to women. ~ Probably be.
cause they slowed much" and showed theit
love by going earliest to the sepulcher.
The first, the highest, the best revelations
OF God are to love. (2) It was typical OF
the changed position which the gospel was
to bestow upon woman. Much as the gos-
pei has done for man, It has done still more
for woman. (O 1t was typical o. her work
In the church, as a messenger OF Christ.
Mark speaks OF the angel rs = young man.
It strikes one as very remarkable that
this superhuman being should be described
as a young man. Inmo ortal youth, with all
OF buoyant energy and fresh power which
that attribute suggests, belongs to those
beings whom Scripture family shows as
our elder brethren. No waste decays their
strength. no change robs them OF forces
which have ceased to increase. Age can
not wither them.
10. "The same day" on which He arose.
During this day Jesus appeared five times.
"The doors were shut for fear OF the
Jews" who might easily be angry at the
disappearance OF Jesus from the tomb. and
the rumors OF His resurrection. "Where
the disciples were assembled" In some
upper room In Jerusalem belonging tc
some disciples. "Came Jesus and stood In
rhe midst" Either by some miracle, as
when He walked on the sea, or escaped from
the mob at Nazareth, or by quietly opening
the door. The fact that Jesus entered
that the body was other than the natura.
body which lad been laid in the grave; and
Christ's language at this very time, as re.
ported by Luke, "a spirit hath not flesh
and bones, as ye see me have" appears to
be conclusive that Ills resurrection body
was His physical body.
90. "Shewed unto ther2 His hands and
His slde." To prove to them that He was
the same Jesus, with the same body, that
had been cruclied, but now come to lie
again. This was essential to the complete
proof OF His resurrection. ---.-.--
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