Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-06-04
Jhe
S,n7ooq-Scf7oo(
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR JUNE z.
Subject: Jesus Appears to His Disci.
pies, John 2O:1O-31 - Golden
Text, John 2O:28 - Commit

ouuJCSs' OCSus appears W HIS DlSSH
pies, John 2O:10-31 - Golden
Text, John 2O:28 - Commit
Verses 10, 2O-Commentary.
TINIE-Evenings of Sundays, April
9 and April 1G, A. D. 80. PLACE.
| House in Jerusalem.
EXPOSITION.-I. Jesus Appears
Unto the Disciples, Thomas Being
Absent, 1925. Jesus having ap-
peared to individuals now appears to
the disciples collectively. 1t 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 a 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. 1920. His coming is the
| great cure for all fear and sorrow
lis. 1853; l Thess. 4:16, ~. 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 24:3).
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
10 be pitied. but a sin to be rebuked
and repented Of TO overcome their
persistent unbelief and to convince
them beyond question that it was in.
deed His very self, in wonderful con.
descension Jesus showed unto them
His nail-scarred hand and spear.
pierced side (cf. Luke 24:38-4O, Al.
43). The evidences of literal physi.
cal resurrection of Christ are over
whelming. The disciples were at last
convinced and gladness takes the
place or fear. They were glad when
they saw the Lord There is no
other gladness like that which comes
, from clear vision of the risen Christ
Jesus felt 1t necessary to repeat His
message OF comfort, their unbeliev-
ing hearts had not taken it in This
was common form of salvation, but
Jesus put new meaning into it. He
| not merely says Peace be unto you,"
but He actually imparts peace (Jno
l4:27; 1888. Having given them
peace, He next gives them commits
sion. First, peace in our own hearts,
then a commission to others. The
form OF the commission was thrill
ing, as the Father hath sent Me even
SO, ETC. (cf. Is. GLIB; Nix. 16:15).
Having given them the commission
He gives the improvement for it (cf
Luke 24:49; Acts IA, 5; $40, 3S).
The disciples did not actually receive
the Holy Spirit in His fulness at this
time (Acts IS; "a; Jno. 7:39: Acts
1888; Jno. 16:D. Jesus breathing
upon them was symbolical and pro-
phetical act. By breathing upon them
and thus assuming to be the One
whose breath is the divine Spirit,
Jesus claimed most Enthusiastically to
be divine (ct.. Gen. 2:7; Job 1874:
Ps. 1876; Ro. 8:9). BY reason of re-
ceiVing the Holy Spirit they were to
receive power of spiritual discern
ment whereby they would know when
men had truly repented and believed.
| ana so whosOever sins they forgaye
would be forgiven and whosoeyer
sins they retained would be re-
talhed. 1T was not by virtue of
any office that was to descend
upon line of successors, but by
virtue of receiving the Holy Spirit
| that they were to be able to forgive
sins tcf. on this power and its exer-
clse Acts 1879. 10; S:2O-23; l Cor.
5:4, 5; Cor. 2:6-10). Thomas, full
OF doubt and self will, was not with
the brethren and so missed meeting
his risen Lord. The other disciples
hastened to tell Thomas of the bless
Ing they had received. I'VE have
seen the Lord was their exultant
cry Ii We have seen the Lord we,
TOO, have duty of testimony. By
| this time Thomas should have been
| convinced, but he wasn't. Thomas
had many reasons for believing Matt.
] 1921; Jno. 2s:1S; Luke 24:13-33),
but Thomas wouldn't believe unless
he had certain kind of proof which
J In his self-will he presumed to die
| tate. Ihomas has many followers on
| his bad side. Thomas had no ground
for disbelieving but his own notions.
Many to-day are willing to set up
their own notions against the testi-
I Inony OF prophets, apostles, Jesus
| Christ Himself, and the whole Word
OF God. Conceit and self-will lie at
the bottom of it all (Ps. 1921, 22,
81, 80; 106, %, 24.. Thomas will
fulness comes out iH his words, II
will not believe"
ii. Jesus Appears Unto Thomas,
26-29. Thomas had a whole week of
unbelief and darkness and misery.
Jesus had bidden the disciples go into
Galilee 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
in the Bible, my Lord and my God"