The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-15

i
Risen from the Dead Matt
2s:1-15. The Golden Text is HE is
Risen, as He Said.''-Matt. 2s:6.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
The story opens with a woman
weeping by a grave. a familiar
enough scene truly woman weep be-
cause they have borne most of the
of womanhood is that it is at once
great sorrow and a great glory Tears
are oftenest caused by death; there
are worse griefs than this one, but
over it we weep most The mystery,
the silence. the separation Of death stir
the hearts deep fountains
This woman had best cause for
weeping. In the grave beside which
she stood had been buried the body of
her Healer. her Teacher, her best
Friend; the personal loss was beyond
measure And in the tomb also had
been laid away the hopes of band OF
eager disciples hopes for the redemr-
ton of Israel and for a new reign OF
Righteousness for all the world. On
Jesus these friends had builded every
thing: with him in the grave the house
Of their hopes had TOPPED about their
bowed heads. Now at dawn Mary and
the other women had come@the alert
ness of love is woman bearing spices
for their dead; the cold body of their
Lord was all that they expected, but
God Is always doing better than His
children expect or think Mary and
the women entered upon a new estate
that day which has been beQueathed
to all womanhood since. As Mrs
Browning sang:
Not she with traitorous kiss her Mas
Not she denied Him with unfaithful
tongue;
Last at His cross, and earliest at His
grave.
What Is in Name.
Jesus is never beyond the reach Of
the tears of His friends; He would
not even leave the comforting of Mary
to the angels by the empty tomb, but
He Himself stood by though she knew
not His nearness- Christ often comes
when eyes are holden, and the COM
fort that He gives IS not always recog-
nized as from Him. Mary thought she
was seeking help from the gardener,
but It was the Lord. Even when He
tenderly said. why wee pest thou"
she did not comprehend; He had to
call her by name before she under
stood.
All the sweet adjectives that love
bestows upon a loved one are not so
1neanfngfui as the personal familiar
name, with the melting tenderness and
deep significance that may be put into
It. So when Jesus turned and said;
Mary she knew Him instantly: no
one else could pronounce her name
Ike that. The Good Shepherd calls
his sheep by name, and each is, as
Mary was. a beloved personality.
In a transport OF rapture she would
have flung herself at his feet and chung
70 Him. but the Master restrained her;
the risen Lord did not keep the same
intimacy of human relations as be-
fore; He had new powers and new
work Mary. too had an Immediate
mission; She could not sit and adore.
for the brethren awaited the glorious
news, He Is riseni'
TIE Message of Mary.
The first preacher of the full gospel
was woman To Mary It was given
TO utter the word that unfolded the
complete significance of the acts and
teachings of Jesus. What a revolu-
ton In feeling and outlook the news
much have created in the minds of the
diSciplesi All was clear now; the say
1Isgs that they formerly had been I'M
able to comprehend shone with divine
meaning. Jesus had risen. even as He
had said He had done exceedingly
abundant1y above all that they could
ask OF think Not defeat. but victory,
was their programme.
Now the infant church had a mes
sage for the world. the very message
OF life and hope which IS most needed.
The last great enemy who had blanch-
ed The cheek Of the bravest had been
conquered. Men need no longer be
prison ers to dread and fear. A new
attitude toward life and death had
been created. Thenceforward the dis
ciples would go forth, as thousands
since have done. facing even maryr-
dom songfully- The worlds wonder
ment, Behold. how these Christians
dte!" would be a new gateway to the
kingd of. The resurrection hope is the
capstone Of the edifce of Christian
truth Before I live, We shall live
also" Christ's resurrection was the
first fruits Of an immeasurable har-
vest
An Fventide Wonder.
At dawn Christ had appeared to
Mary; at eventide He suddenly stood
in the midst Of the affrighted com
pany Of disciples, as they talked in
hushed and awe-struck tones of the
words OF the woman. of Peter, of the
Emmaus disciples. who had reported
that they had seen the Lord Prob