The Morris County chronicle., 1908-06-02
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR JUNE 4.
Subject: Jesus Appears to His Disci-
pies, John 2O:10-31 -- Golden
Text, John 2O:28 - Commit

VSSeAS appears " Ills AIASCA-
pies, John 2O:f9-31 - Golden
Text, John 2O:28 - Commit
Verses I'D, 2O-Commentary.
TIME-Evenings of Sundays, April
and April Is, A. D. 80. PLACE
House in Jerusalem.
EAPOSITION.--I. Jesus Appears
Unto the Disciples, Thomas Being
Absent, 1925. Jesus having an
peared to individuals now appears to
the disciples collectively. Ii was i'm
mediately after the return of the two
from Emmaus (Luke 24.36). The
disciples were in fear of the Jews (cf.
Matt. 14:25). With word He ban
ishes their fear, Peace be unto you.
AS He said this He was standing in
their midst. When He stands in the
midst there is always peace no matter
how great the turmoil without. He
was fulfilling His promise to them
(Jno. 16:22) His coming is the
great cure for all fear and sorrow
lis. 1858; / Thess. 4:16, 17). Shut
doors were no barriers to the entrance
Of the resurrection body of Jesus.
Strangely enough the first result of
the appearance and words of Jesus
was increased fear (Luke 24:37).
The heart of sinful man shrinks back
from the supernatural These surely
were not the kind of men to imagine
Jesus had risen again when He really
had not, and out of their fancy weave
a legend of His resurrection. Jesus
sternly rebuked their determined un-
belief and hardness of heart (Mk.
1910. Unbelief is not a misfortune
20 be pitied, but sin to be rebuked
and repented of To overcome their
persistent unbelief and to convince
them beyond question that it was in
iced His very self, in wonderful con-
1escensiOn Jesus showed unto them
His nail-scarred hand and spear
pierced side (cf. Luke 24:38-4O, A.
a5) The evidences of a literal physi-
cal resurrection of Christ are over
whelming. The disciples were at last
convinced and gladness takes the
place OF fear. They were glad when
they saw the Lord. . There is no
other gladness like that which comes
from clear visionof the risen Christ.
Jesus felt it necessary to repeat His
message OF comfort, their unbeliev-
ing hearts had not taken it in. This
was common form of salvation, but
lesus put new meaning into it. He
not merely says Peace be unto you,''
out he actually imparts peace Ono.
l4:zf; 1888 Having given them
peace, He next gives them commits
Son. FIRST, peace in our own hearts,
Then commission to others. The
form of the commission was thrill
ing, as the Father hath sent Ne even
10, ETC. (cf. Is. GLIB; NIX. 16:15l.
Having given them the commission
he gives the improvement for it (cf
Luke "A: 40; Acts Ia, 5; $40. 381.
The disciples did not actually receive
the Holy Spirit in His fulness at this
Time tActs 1:5; I'D; Jno. 1899; Acts
1888; Jno. 1870. Jesus breathing
dpon them was symbolical and-pro-
ohetlcal act. BY breathing upon them
ana thus assuming to be the One.
whose breath is the divine Shirt.
Jesus claimed most Enthusiastically to
oe divine lcf. Gen. 2:7; Job 1874:
rs. 53;6; Ro. 8:9). BY reason of re-
celvlng the Holy Spirit they were to
receive power of spiritual discern
ment whereby they would know when
men mad truly repented and believed.
and so whosoever sins they forgaye
would be forgiven and whosoeyer
SINS they retained would be re-
tanned. 1t was not by virtue of
any office that was to descend
upon line of successors. but bv
virtue of receiving the Holy Shirt
that they were to be able to forgive
sins (cf. on this power and its exer-
else Acts 1879, 10; 8.2O-23: / Cor.
5:4, 3; Cor. 2:6-10). Thomas. fnll
of doubt and self will, was not with
the brethren and so missed meeting
ms risen Lord. The other disciples
hastened to tell Thomas of the bless
ing they had received. 1--WE have
seen the Lord" was their exultant
cry. II we have seen the Lord we.
too, have a duty of testimony. By
tnls time Thomas should have been
convinced, but he wasn't. Thomas
mad many reasons for believing (Matt.
1921; Jno. 20:18; Luke 24:13-33).
but Thomas wouldn't believe unless
he had certain kind of proof which
IN his self-will he presumed to die
tate. Thomas has many followers on
his bad side. Thomas had no ground
Tor disbelieving but his own notions.
Many to-day are willing to set nm
their own notions against the testi-
mony OF prophets, apostles, Jesus,
Chrlst Himself, and the whole Word
OF God. Conceit and self-will lie at
eAo pOttoAu Va ~ all us. 1921. %.
81, 32; LOG, 23, 24). Thomas will
fulness comes out in his words. Il
will not believe"
II. Jesus Appears Unto Thomas.
-o-zS: Inomas had whole week OF
unbelief and darkness and misery.
Jesus had hidden the disciples go into
Gaiilee Matt. 2S:10), but they have
seemed to have waited week rather
than leave Thomas behind. Their
testimony had, after all, made some
impression upon Thomas, for on the
next Lords day he took pains to be
with them There was on his part
some readiness to believe. Jesus
came with the same message OF
peace, The wonderful grace and
pity and long suffering OF Jesus ap-
pear in His words to Thomas and His
Whole treatment of him. Thomas
fully convinced at last, and cries to
Jesus with one OF the most remark
able Inscriptions of deity to be found
Ia the Bible, MY Lord and my God