The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-04-17
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL Ia.

Subject: Jesus Appears to Hary, John
*, Ills - Colder Text, Rev. l., 1S-
Memory Verses, 16-1s -ComnsntaF7
on the Days Lesson.
II. "Nary." This was Mary Magda!en,
out of whom the Lord had cast seven dev'
lis The epthet "Magdalene," whatever
NAV be its meaning, seems chosen fol the
eynress purpose OF distinguishing her from
ali other Marys. "Stood without" Peter
and John going ". TO- commends Marys
STAYING. 70 the grave she came befor,e;
them; from the grave she went to tell
them; to the grave she returns with them
at the grave she remains behind them.
love; to stay when all are gone IS constant
love "Weeping." She had great love
for her Lord; He had done much for her.
"Stooned down" Because she was a2E-
ious to see whether she might not, after
all, be mistaken about the absence OF the
body. She stopped because the top of the
entrance was so low that she. could not
otherwise obtain a nea- view OF the INSIDE
of the tomb. 'The sepulchre." The sep
ulchre seems to have been square room
hewn out of rock, partly above ground,
door, which formed its entrance.
l2. "Two angels" Peter and John did
not see the angels. The angels presence
showed the Divine hand and care. They
were ministering. spirits to comfort those
who were in such great sorrow and need:
and they gave explanation of what had
been done. no one else being able. The
supposed discrepancies in the number OF
angels seen is explained by Lessing. The
whole grave, the whole region about the
grave was invisibly swarming with angels.
There were not only two angels, but many
of them. Sometimes one appears and
speaking different things. "1n white"
This was an emblem of purity. See Rev.
10: 8.
I3. "yVhy weepest thou?" Are YOU
quite sure that this empty tomb does not
show that you ought to be rejoicing?
Taken away my Lord" While the other
women were terrified Mary seems to have
had no fear, so wholly was she taken up
with her great desire OF finding her Lord.
She was ready to brave more heroicai;y
than ever all danger il only she might find
the One she loved.
Il. Turned herself back" Still weep.
turned to go again with the other women
to Jerusalem, who had already departed,
but she had not as yet gone so far as 70
be out of the garden. Mary was SO
absorbed in grief, aud her eyes so dimmed
with tears that she failed to recognize
Christ; besides, she was not expecting TO
see Jesus alive. as she had no conception
OF His resurrection.
Is. "Jesus saith unto her." This was
His first appearance. He afterward ap.
rea.ed on this same day. to the other wom-
en- returning from sepulchre Matt. 2S: 9,
10y, to Peter luke "a: 34). to two disei-
~ 10 IT ,,1- A..
R Why 70 weepest ss spRs p}hou She % had G cause SUI
Gcient to rejoice instead of to weep.
"Whom seckest thou?" He seeks to comfort
he- in her great grief THE gardener"
And therefore servant of Joseph of Ari.
mathea, who owned the tomb, and who,
of course, would be friendly. No other
person would be likely to be, there at so
early an hour. "Have borne Him hence"
Thinking that perhaps Joseph had or
de-ed His body taken to some other place.
II viii take Him away" She would see
that it was done. She would be RESPONSE
think that stranger hands had cared for
Him when she had brought spices for that
purpose was bitter disappointment to
her.
Is. ''Mary." Jesus stirred the affection
of the weeping woman at His side by ut.
tering her own name in tones that thrilled
he- to the heart and created the new, sub
lime conviction that He had risen as He
had said. What transports of Joy must
have filed this woman's heart! Let it be
remarked that Mary sought Jesus more
feryentiy, and continued more affection
ateiy attached to Him than any Of the
rest; therefore to her first Jesus is pleased
70 show Himself, and she is made the first
herald Of the gospel of risen Saviour.
.'Rabbboni." My Master. "a whole
world Of emotion and devotion in a word"
AS Mary uttered the word she must have
cndeavored to fail down at the feet of her
Lord, embracing them.
II. Touch Me not" "Cling not to
Me-" The translation "touch Me not"
gives false impression; the verb does not
mean to ''touch." but to 'hold on to-, and
cling to-" Il am not yet assembled"
feet, and worshiped Him. Jesus says in
effect: Spend no longer time with Me
now; 1 am not going Immediately to
heaven; you will have several opportuni:
ties OF seeing Me again; but 90 and tell
Nj discDles that am, by and by, to as
cend to Ny Father and God, who is your
Father and God also: therefore, let them
take courage. Do not rest your new faith
upon My corporal life, but upon that
spiritual life soon to be consummated
with. the Father. Then I shall receive
your love, and we will resume our friend
ship. One touch through the Holy Ghost
Is worth far more than any bodily pres
ence. To be satisfied with His being re-
stored to life that she might be in His
presence as before was to lose sight Of the
merits of His death. Henccforth He must
be believed in and worshipcd as God, for
He was not to remain in a natural body.
Go to Nv brethren" First servants,
then disciples, then friends; now, after
the resurrection. brcthrc This involves
in itself eternal inheritance. II ascend to
Ny Father" I am clothing Myself with
Ny eternal form; have laid down My life
that I might take it again. and Use it for
the highest blessedness Of My brethren.
MY Father-your Father-My God and
your God" Father c: Christ by nature
and OF men by grace Ills God only in
connection with us; our God only in con-
nection with Him. His eternal conscious
ness of the Fathers love digniied all His
human relations with the Father, and be-
came the true inspiration OF all conscious.
ness of God possessed by Ills disciples.
Is. MARY told the disciples" An apos.
tie to the apostles Mary was the first to
see Jesus and the first to proclaim His
resurrection. This special message was
clearly given to the woman who held His
feet. st. Mark tells us (chap. l6: III that
the apostles could not believe what she
said. They seem to have considered it as
an effect of her troubled Imagination.
But they believed when they saw the