The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-27
Sunday School
Lesson
for
April 2S.

| lNIRODUCTIuN.-The silence OF the Gospels
Is most coquent.it displays a Divine quality in
the writings. Men are disposed to follow along
the trains OF thought to discover the secrets Of
| actions in their relations. That is done because
| 1t is the only way open TO them. They arc
compelled to reason from effect to cause. Hence
circumstances even OF q trivial character are at.
| ranged with great eHactnC@. But the infinite
| mind sees things as they arc and knows without
| reasoning why they arc so. Hence in the mar.
| iativc VIC have only lew incidents concerning a
| few disciples. Some women, Mary in particular,
Peter and john and two Others names not given,
| appear and disappear with great abruptncss.
What men would naturally tell of the larger com
pany OF the followers Of Jesus the sacred penmen
pass over in total silence Where they went,
what they did, what were their feelings and ut.
tcrances--on these points nothing is said. We
left therefore TO conjecture, or, what is bet.
| ter, to silence.
| ASSEMBLED (Verses 10 and 20).Wc are now
| to consider the disciples in one company. u
was at the close OF the day, Sunday, on which
| Jesus arose from the dead They were probably
| in that same room where they ate the paschal
supper together, where Jesus prayed and taught
| (John xiii: 1s.21), on Thursday evening just
| three days before. room which had been hired
| for the purpose (Matt. XVI: 1S). This assem-
| hlagc shows that they had not yet scattered
! abroad, that there was some bond OF fellowship
| among them. Perhaps they had been sought out
| In their lodgings and brought together BY some
who desired that the reports made concerning the
| resurrection should be considered. II is highly
| probable that they would give attention to that
| matter The doors were closed for fear that
| the Jews might disturb them. suddenly, with,
out warning, JESUS stood in their midst and
| saluted them with "reacc he unto you." Adj.
,ancins he showed to all the prints of the nails
| IN His hands and of the spear in His side, and
all we're convinced and male joyful.
BESTOWED ,vcses u and 22,.--!is soon as the
disciples had recognized their Master, being fully
convinced OF Ills resurrection and presence
| among them Jesus proceeded to ilnpart untr
| them what from the beginning He had designed
! them to possess. His words were preceded by
! another salutation OF peace. Then came their
| commission, in harmony with His early promise
| Ciatt. iy lP), and with His prayer uttered in
that salIc room (Jchn xviii 1s) by which they
were to be sent out as messengers OF Jesus e.
Tim. ii: y as lie had been a messenger Of the
Father Hleb. iii: y. commission which was
afterward greatly expanded Mark xvi: l5). After.
ward lie made them know the conditions of Sue
cess in executing that commission, saying Re.
oeive yc the Holy Gllost (Acts i: 81, the same
conditions appointed under the old dispensation
Czech iv: 6). Thus In single evening those
men were called to new career. Previously
they had been learners, hcnceforth they shall be
spirit. endowed advocates Of Jesus Christ.
RENTED (Vcrsc 23).--It will he remembered
by all Bible students that on one occasion Jesus
gave authority to Peter Matt Nyi: l0), seem.
ingly distinguishing him from all the others.
Whatever may have been included in that gilt
it. must be observed that here it is freely offered
to allso that the eleven are lifted into equality
with the fisherman apostle. The power here OF.
fercd was undoubtedly to he applied in govern.
ing the church. As inen who had received the
Holy Ghost that is, inspired mon, they should
be qualified to found the church upon such prin.
ciplcs as would he pleasing to God, to make IFS
laws and to establish its doctrines That would
be prerogatyc to be exercised by them only,
not to he transmitted. They had it because the
Holy Ghost would guide them into all truth
(John xvi: 13). They would teach as the ora
elcs OF God, and lay the enduring foundations
of the church. Jesus Christ being the chief cor.
ncr stone (Eph. ii: 2O).
DOUBTED (Nerses 81 and "5).-~Onc of the
disciples was absent when Jesus made Himself
known and gave His blessing, commission and
authority Thomas was the Aramaic, and Didy.
toned among the apostles with Matthew Matt,
X: j. Three incidents only are recorded with
which he was connected, two besides this. III.
determined to share the peril which awaited Jesus
in Judea (John ri: l6), entertaining no hope of
escape from death. During the last supper when
Jesus spoke Of His departure Thomas declared
that the disciples did not know where the Lord
purposed to go (John xiv: 81. These two
brief uterances are in harmony with what he
says in this place. On learning from the ten
that Jesus had appeared to them he refused to
accept their united testimony as he should have
done, and asserted that he would believe only
upon the testimony of his own senses. Tho per.
soilal pronouns arc very prominent in his little
speech by which he acquired the title, ''thc
doubling Thomas" However. he demanded only
the evidence granted to the Others.
SA.UIED--(Verse 2G The disciples reds
sembled in the same place after eight days. OF
on the eighth day, counting the other meeting
on the first, thereby completing week. Fron1
this it appears that they had thus early set apart
this day for public assembling, with what mo.
tive no one can say, unless it was through the
mutual love and need which they found largely
supplied by the new hope OF the resurrection.
Gradually by such observance the first day Of
the week because the Christian Sabbath, called
also the Lords day (Rev. :l0. At this second
meeting 1homas was present, and the doors were
closed as before, shutting out the curious and
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
for the good music rendered. y short address
al thn leo n,rir