The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-06
Sunday School
Lesson
for
April Z

1NTRODtCTiON.---onr lesson has reference 10
the great church festival tActs xi: ~ which is
observed by hundreds of millions Of believers.
II Is a comforting reflection that oriental, Calo
lie, Lutheran, Anglican and Reformed, divided
| ON many matters OF creed, government and wor.
ship. nevertheless unite in co,nnemorating the
resurrection Of Jesus. Around the globe may he
heard the Joyous notes oi the Easter anthem,
proof ol that spiritual unity which Is in Him.
prophecy Of that Kingdom which lie came to
| estihiish. At euch succeeding anniversary new
interest is awakened in tho narrative. because
from Il thousand sources. INCREASING iph has
been sled upon it. until its every incident is re-
splondent with uncarthly lmstrc. Art and liter
ATTIRE combined have enlisted the highest genius
Of all the centuries to render vivid the scenes
at the scpuch,ic OF Joseph Of Aramatlica. And
yet the story which has so inspired painter and
sculptor. painter anr musician. may lie tod
(;uided by the outline oi Luke. and weaving IN
the uttc,ances OF the Other ovansclists, we shall
occupy but little space.
EVENTS -.Irsus was crucihcd on Friday after
noon The Sabbath Of the Jews, beginning at @
o'clock on the same day. ended at O'Clock OH
Saturday. During all this time while the ritual
services were being rendered in Jerusalem ac-
cording TO law the body OF Jesus rested in the
embrace of Garth The night Of Saturday came
on, rcckoncd by the Jews as the beginning OF
tii' hel uay VI tnclr week. anu Tue NOIi'ah
soldiers continued their watch over the icpul.
chmrc Finally. the tumult of the great mctropo-
lis ceased, and its inhabitants sank into sluinber.
So ia ras mortal could Judge the Nazarenc and
His cause had pcrishcd and His enemies had
triumphed. But the events OF that night
changed the prospect. The record has been
| made by single hand, guided by inspiration
(Matt. Nxviii 2D and that the hand of the
publican apostle. There was an earthquake. The
angel OF the Lord descended from heaven. His
| counenance was like lightning. his rainmcnt
white as snow. For fear OF Him the keepers
of the scpuc!i;rc trembed and became as dead
mm The angel rolled back the stone and sat
upon il. Through that open door Jesus walked.
hclcd by no human eye. the mighty conqncror
Of death psalm xviii: 2O).
\lSltORS.-'Ihc precise hour in which the fore.
going events occurred is unknown, but it is
recorded that the soldiers, recovering from their
fright, fed to the city and reported (Niatt.
A&yiii: ~. After they had left company OF
women to the scpulchrc. Among them
were Mar" Magdalenc, Joanna. Mary, the mother
OF James, and others Versc ~. They we're
moved by a commendablc purpose to annont the
body OF their loved Master, whose death they
supposed to be absolute and final. They brought
sweet Spices which had been purchased (Ch.
Xxiii 5.6) probably Friday evening after
the burial. They were ignorant of the watch
and seal which had been set after their dc.
partnro from the sepulchure (AIatt xvii: 65),
also OF the occurrences Just described They,
therefore, only knew one hindrance to the easy
performance Of their service of love, namely,
the great stone which Joseph and his servants
had placed at the mouth Of the scpulchurc.
They drew near in tic carly morning, while it
yet quite dark, Just as the first rays OF the
sun began to appear in the cast Naturally they
quericd among themselves concerning the stone,
for its removal, whether assistance could be had.
whether, possibly, the gardener himself might
be found at that hour. a matter which, in their
haste, they had overlooked.
PERPLENiTi.-On coming nearer the women
discovered that the stone was already removed.
One Of the apostles (John ny: 1.2) informs ,,s
that Mary Magdalcnc, when her eyes rested
the open sepuchurc. inferred that it had been
robbed and hastened into the city to report to
the disciples. 1t was the impulse OF ardent love
that led her to turn without knowing, to break
the tidings and seek sympathy and help, an in.
tcresting instance in which the heart controlled
the head. The othe' wonien perhaps. disposed
to wait for her return, or, it may be, sharing
Marys fears and quite overcome thereby, tarrcd
at the sepulchure. As the increasing light OF the
morning sufficiently disclosed the situation, calm.
thoughts possessed the minds of the women,
and they entered into the scpulchure. But the
body was not found. Conflicting opinions were
formed by the little group. Can it be- as Mary
thought, that enemies have invaded the resting
place of the dead? After the ignominious treat.
mcnt at the trial and on the cross could the
Jews be wicked? Or have friends, Joseph,
the owner of the scpuchurc, or some other. re.
moved the body to another place for saie.kcep.
ing? There was much perplcxity in consequence.
.\NGELS.-Whilc these questions we're agitat.
ing the minds Of the women, the scene suddenly
changed Messengers from the heavenly world,
two men, Luke calls them (Verc a.. angels in
human form 'sood by them in dazzling ap-
parel" (Mark xvi: -. In this passage VIC And
that Mark says there was young man on the
right side OF the tomb. This agrees substantial
ly with Matthew's statement (Ch. xviii: 81. The
two evangelists do not contradict the third
Evidently they refer TO the one angel who had
been seated on the stone. The different accounts
harlnonze. IL suppose that he removed to
the interior of the sepulchure; that he concealed
hinlsel! as the women entered, after being seen
by one or two of them; that with another angel
he reappearcd when the women were consulting.
The supernatural features of the gospel narrative
are very numerous and startling. There are
many accounts Of strange phenomena and OF the
appearance Of heavenly beings related, however,