The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-02

/ tSoIN1H<AI.--Inca ~ Qeatn VI ocou' was
attended by startling phenomena. The
veil Of the temple was rent in twain, the
earth quaked (Matthcw xxvii;61) and
darkness covered the land duke xXii:4G.
When the death was officially certified,
Joseph Of Arimathea, a secret disciple
Of Jesus (John XIX 1857, having obtained
Pilates permission and secured tho assist
ance of Nicodemus, removed the body
| from the cross, embalmed 1t and lnid 1t
| away in q new tomb. TO prevent fraud.
as they claimed, the chief priests ana
| Pharisees caused the stone at the mouth
| of the sepulchre to be sealed and strong
guard Of Roman soldiers was stationed
there. Night came on. and Jesus rested
in the house Of the dead. Very early
Sunday morning certain women went to
the sepulchre to embaln the body, but 1t
was gone. One OF them, Mary Magda1,
1ene, hastened TO Inform Peter and John.
who came and quickly withdrew. After
their departure Mary returned, and our
lesson rectes what follows.
APPEARANCElsTh scpuchre of the
East was not unlike the vault to be found
in the modern cemetery. 1t had an inner
apartment, wl,ere5tile dead was deposited.
and an outer vestibule, where one might
stand or sit at pleasure For time
Mary remained alone. in the vestibule.
weeping, her sorrow occasloned partly BY
the Lords death, but Increased by the
fact that His body had been taken away
(verse 11). STOPPING down to peer through
the narrow passage-way, her loving heart
yet hoping that the mystery might be
disclosed, she saw two angels who were
stationed ut the head and feet, where
the body Of Jesus had been Verse 49,.
This appearance, strange as It may seem
to us. was in full harmony with the
entire earthly career OF then Saviour
which was marked on many occasions
(Luke i:2S) by the $visitations Of beings
from the heavenly world (Matthew i:21) !
The interest of angels in Him and In Els
mission was publicly announced (Matthew
xvi:27).
INTERVIEW-The two bright ones
from the realms of glory had not come
merely as sentlnels In the empty sepul-l
chre, by their presence to mark the spot
where the body OF Jesus had lain. al
though such service would have been
worthy Of them. But they were there to
advise and comfort. Invisible when Peter
and John visited: the spot (John xix:O,
sorrow. ''Why weepest thou?" they in.
CURED, employing human language to
reach q troubled heart (verse 49,. The
emphasis should be laid on the first
word Of this question. There was no oc-
caslon& for weeping. Rejoicing would be
more appropriate. How often in this life
do men see one side Of an event only.
and that the dark and forbidding side.
NJ &o1d lx1yhn1 n IN,
few words. The body Of Jesus had been
removed, and she did not know where.
She knew nothing OF resurrection and
could only suppose that the sacred re-
mains Of the One she loved had been
stolen. The bare thought, after the tragic
scenes Of the cruclnxion. was enough to
fill a woman's heart with agony.
RECOGNTTION.-Wh thus account
ing for her tears. Mary became conscious
of another presence. Turning backward.
she saw a person standing near. It was
Jesus, but not as she had known Him
(verse 1D. After His resurrection He had
the power to appear and disappear at
pleasure. but in form $50 different as
not to be known duke xiv :3073D. Jesus
put to Mary the same question asked by.
tho angels, and added. Whom seekest
LllOu We HiIlhIlS tilt1L IlS WIS Ihc 6al
dener, and hoping that he might explain
the secret of the empty and angel-haunt-
ed grave, she replied. with a tender ap-
peal: IT you took Him away, tell me
where He is, and will take Him" (verse'
15). There is in these words such an out
burst Of hffcctionate solicitudo as one
rarely discovers. a most admirable exh-
bition of a woman's heart One word
no t,,>,,, ~,
name, MARY" Verse 16). Something in
the tone of His voice, possibly, or some
thing in His manner. now slightly changed
and made like to the old habit, caused
Mary to recognize Jesus. and she ex-
claimed "Rabbonl." that is. Master.
lNSTRUCTlON-In an instant Mary
was translated from the profoundest grief
to the most exalted joy. Twice she had
lost the Chrlst-once in the crucifXion.
once in the disappearance of His body
from the tomb. Now that He stood be.
fore her, she desired to throw herself
ut His feet, to seize and hold Him and
enjoy His society; but He restrained her.
'"rouch mo not" he said. assigning two
reasons (vcrse ~, He had not yet as
cended to the Father, the statemant be-
ing the support to the doctrine of the
IllSIlilcuittlo SlfttEI as 'Ilelu ny solllc "
Peter iii:lO. 1t is evident that the post
resurrection intimacy OF Christ with His
disciples was Intended to be on higher
plane than that allowed before the cruci-
1ixton g Cor. v:lO. Besides. Jesus de-
sired the woman to be the first evangel.
He would not have her tarry to express
her affection for Him, but He directed
her to hasten to the disciples,' whom
He called brethren and declared to them
that, having broken the bands of DEATH
He would ascend unto His Father. In
all this Jesus gave Mary instruction on
four important doctrines, which after
ward had large place In the church.
REPORT-Did Jesus Immediately dis
appear after instrucing Mary? We may
reasonably suppose that He did. for
nothing could be gained by continuing
longer with her. Shortly after He came
tc the other woman, who had approach
ed the SeDNlrhra r, 4 Mary. md hnd