The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-13
Sunday School
Lesson
for
April ID.


events connected with the resurrection of Jesus
VIII prepare for the present Lesson. Very carly
IN the first day of the week an angel rolled
INC stone from the scpulchrr. and Jesus came
forth. (Matthew. xviii, -. Later a company
OF women came to embalm the body. but found
the scpnlchre empty. MARK, yvi. IN. Mary
Niagdalcnc, one Of the company, supposing the
body had been stolen. hastily returned to report
to the apostles in Jerusalem, while the other
women tatied, looking into the sepulclre, and
saw Two angels. who informed them OF the
resurrection. Tho women fled, being filled with
fear and Joy. to report what they had learned
After their departure Peter and John visited the
sepulchre upon the intelligence received from
Mary, but, seeing only the linen clothes, hastily
departed, probably satisfied that some one had
indeed robbed the grave. (John. NN, 3.iO). This
brings us 10 our present lesson.
WEEPlNG.--(Verses II aud l2J.--Aftcr the
women and Peter and John had departed from
the sepulchre. Mary Magdalenc returned. Prob
ably she came by some other path and thus did
not meet the Others She stood alone in tears
her love could not he satisfied while doubt hung
over the fate Of the sacred body. She fingered
at the spot, as ii hoping that some disclosure
would be made TO solve the great mystery. Hav.
ing tor a time given way to the agony of her
sorrow, she wiped away her tears and stopped
to take one more look into the tomb How true
was all this to the prompting OF a won,nn's
heart! But as sine gazcd intently the sepulchrc
seemed to be no longer empty. Two angels in
white probably the same as seen by the other
women I.ukc, SXiv, ~ were stationed, ''onc at
the head and one at the feet where Jesus had
lain" scntines ii keeping watch over ground
made holy by the touch of the Lord Of glory.
.(ES., Iii. 81
to Mary in language w'iicI, she could UNDER
stand, proving that human nature is not unlike
that OF the dwellers IN the celestial world.
nlebiews, ii, ~ II was a simple question they
asked ''Why wcepest thon?' Tie words were
full OF tenderness and sympathy, such as the
pure ones in bliss must ever feel toward mortals
who carry such a load of and sorrow. II
is the delight of heavenly beings to wipe away
the tears Of distressed humanity. Mary's answer
was brief but complete, wtlnl womany. Her
Lord had been taken away by whom she did not
know and laid she knew not where. Whose
hands had been placed on this precious form?
Where had it been deposited? What motive had
prompted the decd? Why should all this be
done without the knowledge of those who loved
Him? Mter all the indigniticS shown in the
trial and cr1iciiyion now that blessed Jesus was
dead why should any one disturb His rest? These
were the qucstionings of the woman's heart that
found expression in her fearful reply.
STANDING. G.--Verse 14)--Littlc did Mary SUP.
pose that all her fear and doubt would be
quickly removed. II has been said that the low
ing heart finds its desires. And certain it is
that in every time of trouble one is near to help
psalm. XXxi', Isl After her answer Mary
turned herself back, possibly with purpose to
retire, probably under one OF those impulses
which come to the presence OF another is
realized. f,c et,
sought but she knew Him not. His appearance
may have been different from that lie usually
bore, or Mary may have cast but hasty glance
at Him, with the modcstv common to Oriental
women. Through her tears under the excite.
ment OF the moment, with all the peculiar sur.
ro'lndlngs it would have been strange indeed
had she recognized the Master. (Inke, xxiv, l6)
Besides, il is generally believed that in His
resurrection state the body of Jesus was greatly
changed. The inference is legitimate from the
tact that lie had the power TO appear and dis.
appear at pleasure (John, xx, 49,
sCPPOslNG.-Ncrse 15.)--Thc same question
put by the angels was raised by Jesus, ..Why
wcepest thou?' and before the reply another,
"Whom seekcst thou?" The latter question
really included the first, and showed that Jesus
knew the heart of Mary. The why OF the tears
and the whom of the search were inseparable.
Still the veil was over her eyes that she should
not sec and over her ears that she should not
hear. d-ukc, xyiv. 3l.) She thought the one
who had spoken was the gardener, a very ma.
tural inference from the last question Who
other i'll such place would seek to know on
such a subject? Then came the love OF Mary
to its ml expression Thinking that she had
the secret OF the disappearance, she offered, ii
the gardener would show where Jesus had been
laid, TO take h.ln away. There was in this an
assumption that the body had been removed for
some good reason or with pure motive, possibly