The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-06-01
The Resurrection
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when it describes the errand of the
women to the sepulcher. They run
with additional spices TO complete
the embalmment. desisted from be-
cause of the approach OF the Sabbath.
They start precipitatelv, forgetting
to take some one with them strong
enough to roll away the stone for
them. They we'll reflect in their ac-
ton the mental state of all the dis
ciples. 1t is improbable that they
had forgotten the saying of Jesus
about rising the third day; but it is
evident they did not attach literal
Specification to His words. Their in
genousness is incontestable. The res
direction was as complete a surprise
to them as to their enemies. The
verv spices in their hands were cyl
dence of their honesty. Their sor-
rowing suspicion of a theft of the
body proved them no party to such a
robbery.
That garden near to Calvary wit
relieving of history. -Four Roman
soldiers, Injured to all common causes
of alarm, quaked like old earth her.
self, 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 thempossiblyo utshone HIS fellows.
The snowy luster of His raiment
matched well His immaculate nature.
The glory of His appearance was like
an electric coruscation.
Among the holy women conspicu-
Gus at the cross and the grave, Mary
Magdalene stands easily first. BY
some pitiful blunder, she has been
confused. in art and Christian litera-
ture, with the woman who was
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 Magdala, on the
western coast of the Sea of Galilee. 1t
has been said that there is reason to
suppose that Mary Magdalene was in
less humble circumstances than most
of our Lords disciples. He had set
her free from some terrible mental or
physical 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
it was yet dark on the errand to the
tomb. What was in her heart was
richer than what was in her hand.
The description of Mary's recogni-
ton of Jesus is one Of the most unique
and skillful things in literature. Much
in little! Jesus saith unto her,
Mary She turned herself,a and saith
unto Him, NV Master"
An entirely unnecessary mystical
meaning has been attached to Jesus
words, Touch Me notmParaphrased,
they might be read: Don't cling to
me now; there will be opportunity for
you to express your affection in the
future, for l have not yet left the
world. Hurry to Ny brethren, and
tell.n
The fiual scene of the first Easter
Sunday is an interior one. 1t is per-
haps in that very upper room in which
Jesus ate the Last Supper with His
disciples. The shepherdless sheep
are covering behind closed doors.
They are afraid of eavesdroppers or
even a violent assault of their enemies
"Peace!n What word to be spoken
to such a company at such time
and by such Person The "breathingn
of Jesus upon His disciples was q
symbolical act. 1t is as if He was in
shutting new sacrament, for He says
to them just as He did when be hand
ed them the bread and the cup, Take
the Holy Spirit
The Teachers Lantern.
These women were in the way of
loving service. That is how they came
to be the first witnesses Of the resur-
rection. Loyal doing leads to royal
knowing. "If any will do, he shall
know
4
The stone was rolled away to ex-
hibit the emptiness of the tomb. 1t
was not rolled away for Jesus, but
for His disciples; not that He might
come forth, but that they might en-
ter and see that He was gone.
The Crusades were fight for will
o'the-wisp. The holy sepulcher, so
called, is in the heart of the city, and
it is now conceded, can not have
been the place of entombment. The
true site is lost. 1t is well. We Wor.
ship not the place, but the Person.
K