The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-27
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.


ApOstles-JOhn Nx, 1879.
Sea of Galilee itself was never in a greater
commotion than this company OF Gaileans. shut
in the upper room. dear to them probably as
the scene of the paschal supper. Winds of con-
trary opinion blew upon them from every quar-
ter. There was a tumult of Incredibly. amaze
ment, fright, sorrow. To some the report OF
the women was idle talk" Others greeted the
Emmaian pilgrims with the declaration Of the
appearance to Peter. Some may have imagined
the body Of Jesus supernsturally removed TO a
grave that should henceforth be as impossible
of identification as that of Moses. For the most
part they may have been given up TO critical
questionings. and, as Richter asserts. were dis
putting away their faith. Unannounced.
instantaneously. in the midst. Jesus stood His
words were the common Aramaic form OF sefu-
tation; gesture and accent sublimated il. no
doubt. But this stormy sea did not instantly
quiet itself, as Gennesaret once did at sound OF
the same voice. They were in mortal terror. as
If before them was the apparition of a disem-
bodied spirit. . . . With condescending gen.
tleness Jesus meets them on the low level OF
their thought. He mildly upbraids them for al
lowing themselves 20 get into such a ferment at
all He then submits himself TO the test OF
their physical senses OF sight and touch. First
the reality Of the body is established. 1t is no
docetistic, phantom frame. Ii is substantial
enough TO De called q DOdN OF neSn n DOneS-
Again. the identity of the body with that which
Jesus had before and during His crucifxion is
proven by the stigmata. Luke proves
himself a psychologist as we'll as a physician.
With a happy stroke he shows the rising faith
retarded by the joyous surprise at the substance
OF the very thing hoped for. By the act OF eat
ing Jesus sets all minds completely free from
the lingering idea that His body is a phantasm.
80 Now He rises from this successful APP
peal to their physical senses to address their
minds. He caused them TO remember how ex-
plicit and biblical had been His instructions
concerning His impending crucihxion and resur-
rection. There was a simultaneous double open
ing Of the Scriptures and of their perceptive fac
ulties. There was a sudden and great advance
in their apprehension of the expiatory character
of Christ's suffering, and the confrmatory effect
Of His resurrection. The advantages Of
a lifetime of theological training were com
pressed in that hours interview with the risen
Christ. His presence and words cast a flood Of
light Upon the law. prophecy and psalter. Their
sensibilities. quickened to the best by a super
natural environment, took in the whole of soteri-
ology at a sitting. All they needed now was
the Pentecostal tongue of fire to make them
faithful witnesses of the cross and the resurrec,
ton. and successful preachers of repentance and
the remission of sins among all nations.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
Faith in the resurrection of Jesus is insepara-
BILE from the Scriptures. Cut of from them. IL
withers as the branch severed from the vine.
No amount OF watering serves TO keep il alive.
Neglect of the Bible, indifference TO il, or con-
tempt of II. is the fruitful cause OF unbelief.
. . . We still need the double opening of the
Scriptures to our understanding. and Of our un-
Outstanding TO the Scriptures; to find the event
correspondent to the prediction, as the tenon 10
the mortise, Thus it is written that Christ
should rise. . . . Only the resurrection ade-
quately accounts for Christianity. 1t has been
said that il is more rational to believe the sys-
tenn founded upon a miracle than on a lie. Far
rsr arrms a conscious falsehood could never
have had power to convince the disbelief and
regenerate the morality Of the world. = .
The crown of yesterday appearances was. as
Lange says. this showing of himself to the a.
sembled disciples. other appearances were indi-
vidual; this was 10 the united circle Of His
church. . +" To Mary He said: Cling to Me
not for the day for the grasp Of human ten
derness was now over But 10 the disciples He
said: Handle Me" This was for the purpose
Of Identification. He who had allowed His muir
derers to lay their violent hands upon Him now
urged His disciples TO touch HIS person. . . "
Tho stigmata were not the only seals to His
identity: they were principally insignia-tokens
of triumph. There was direct connection be-
tween the wounds He bore and the peace He
brsathed. His chastisement Is the procuring
cause Of our peace. Lazarus. possibly
-esent in their company. was their ideal Of the
resurrection body. No wonder that. in compari-
son. they thought Jesus body spectral .
Much note has been taken OF the incredulity OF
Thomas, but. after all, he only DEMANDED the
same eign which the other disciples had all has.
II has been aptIy said that 1t was while Jesus
was convincing Thomas OF His perfect humanity
that he recognized His divinity. . : BY the
act Of eating Jesus showed himself 20 be stu in
connection with the natural world. and Mast
OF its elements. As Augustine says. He hal
the power. but not the need OF eating" . .
Westcott afhrms that Matthews viewpoint ~
Chrisr's resurrection shows especially ITS lnajeS-
~ and glory: Marks. the fact ncontrovertibly
established. Luke's. it's spiritual necessity:
Johns. the resurrection a touchstone Of charac-
ter. . The Savior's breathing upon His dis
cipIes was not an importation Of the Holy Ghost
10 them. II was an anticipatory symbolical act.
When the Holy Ghost should. az the appointed