The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-03
Second Quarter. Lesson \. John xxs
 11-23, June {, 1905.
THE RESURRECTION.

1l~1os June q, AbUOs THE RESURRECTION.
 The record is charmingly natural when 1t describes the errand of the women to the seplucher. They run with additional spices to complete the embalmment, desisted from because of the approach of the Sabbath. They start preciptately, forgetting to take some one with them strong enough to roll away the stone for them. They we'll reflect in their action the men tai state of all the disciples. It is improbable that they had forgotten the saying of Jesus about rising the third day; but 1t is evident they did not attach a literal signification to l His words. Their ingenuousness Ia lincontestable. The resurrection was as complete a surprise to them as to their enemies The very spices In their hands were evidence of their honesty. Their sorrowing suspicion of theft of the body proved them no party to such a robbery.
 That garden near to Calvary wit messed the most remarkable guard-re- lieving of history. Four Roman sol diers, inured to all common causes of alarm, quaked like old earth herself, and swooned away and with returning consciousness probably fled into the city, leaving their spears and shields upon the ground. Angels mounted guard in their stead. One of them possibly outshone His fellows The luster of His raiment matched well His immaculate nature. The glory of His appearance was like an electric corus- cation.
 Among the holy women conspicuous at the cross and the grave, Mary Mag delene stands easily first. By some pitlfuI blunder. she has been confused. in art and Christian literature, with "the woman who was a sinner" so that her very name is used to describe a class of social outcasts. There Is absolutely no evidence for this. About all we know Of her is that she was from MagdaIa. on the southwestern coast of the Sea of Galilee. It has
 en said that there Is reason 70 sup pose that Mary Magdelene was in less humble circumstances than most of our Lords disciples. He had set her free from some terrible mental or physlcial malady, and she gave Him the holy love of a warm and generous nature.
 She. with greater fervor perhaps than the others. started earlier (while Gt was ye; dark, on the errand to the tomb. What was in her heart was richer than what was m her hand.
 The description of Mary's recognition of Jesus is one of the most unique and skillful things in literature. Much in little! Jesus saith unto her, Mary" She turned herself, and saith unto Him. My Master"
 An entirely unnecessary mystical meaning has been attached to Jesus's words. Touch Me not" Paraphrased. they might read: Don't cling to me now; there will be opportunity for you to express your affection in the future, for I have not yet left tn world. Hurry to My brethren. and tell"
 The final scene of the first Easter Sunday is an interior one. It is perhaps in that very upper room in which Jesus ate the Last Supper with Ills disciples. The shepherdless sheep are covering behind closed doors. They are afraid of eavesdroppers or even q violent as sault of their enemies. "Peace!' What a word to be spoken to such a company at such a time and by such a Personi The breathing of Jesus upon His dls- ciples was a symbolical act. IL is as if He was instituting a new sacrament. for He says to them just as He did when he handed them the bread and the cup, Take the Holy Spirit"
 The Teachers Lantern.
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