The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-06-04

Text, John 2O;2S - Commit
Verses 10, 2O-Commentary.
TINIE--Evenings of Sundays. April
and April 16, A. d. go PLACE
House in Jerusalem.
EXPOSITION.-I. Jesus Appears
Unto the Disciples, Thomas Being
Absent, 1925. Jesus having an.
peared TO individuals now appears to
the disciples collectively. 1t was i'm.
mediately after the return of the two
from Emmaus (Luke 24:S6). 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. 16;22). His coming is the
great cure for all fear and sorrow
us. 25:9; 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:S7),
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
hau not, and out of their fancy weave
a legend of His resurrection. Jesus
sternly rebuked their determined un.
Deliet and hardness of heart (Mk
10: l4). Unbelief is not a misfortune
10 Oe pltied, but a sin to be rebuked
ana 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 nall-scarred hand and spear.
pierced side (cf. Luke 24:3S-4O. Al.
49,. The evidences of a literal physi.
cal resurrection of Christ are over
whelming. The disciples were at last
convinced and gladness takes the
pace Oh fear. They were glad when
1ney saw the Lord" " There is no
olher sladness like that which comes
from clear yisionof the risen Christ
Jesus Ielt 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"
put lie actually imparts peace (Jno.
1f:ZG 1889. Having given them
peace He next gives them a commits
SION FIRST, peace in our own hearts.
then a commission to others. The
iorH OF the commission was thrill
lns' as the Father hath sent Me even
So etc Cct Is. 61:1-3; Nix. 16:15).
IiaVlns given them the commission
ne gives the improvement for it (cf
Luxe "a AZ; Acts Ia, 5; $40, 3S).
ne disclples did not actually receive
tne Hoiy Spirit in His fulness at this
time facts l:5; ga; Jno. 1888; Acts
z'ooi Jho. l6:D. Jesus breathing
upon tnem was a symbolical and pro-
phetlcai act. BY breathing upon them
anu thus assuming to be the One
Tnose breath is the divine Spirit.
Jesus CANNED most Enthusiastically to
De De divine (ct Gen. 2:7; Job 33:4;
o. 800 10. SGD. By reason of re-
celYihs the Holy Spirit they were to
IeceIFe power OF spiritual discern
inehI "hereDy they would know when
men nau truly repented and believed.
anu so "hosoeYer sins they forgaye
Moulu De forgiven and whosoeyer
SINS they retained would be re-
laiueu' IL was not by virtue of
any once that was to descend
upon line of successors, but by
virtue OF receiving the Holy Spirit
lHat they were to be able to forgive
SINS CT. on this power and its eyer
cise ACTS 1872, 10; S:2O-23; l Cor.
7, Cor. 2:6-10). Thomas, full
Oh doubt and self will, was not with
me brethren and so missed meeting
us 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 IL we have seen the Lord we.
100 nave duty of testimony. BY
thls tlme Ihomas should have been
convinced, but he wasn't. Thomas
nau many reasons for believing Matt.
Io:zI; Jno. 2e:1S; Luke 24:13-33).
put Inomas wouldn't believe unless
ne had certain kind OK proof which
IN MS self-Will he presumed to die
tate; Ihomas has many followers on
ms pad side. Thomas had no ground
LOT disbelleYing but his own notions.
MANY to-day are willing to set up
thelr own notions against the testi-
mony OF prophets, apostles, Jesus
Chrlst Himself and the whole Word
OF God. Conceit and self-will lie at
- HOttoih VI IL All rs. IS:21. 22
81 32; lO6, 23, 24). Thomas viii.
fulness comes out in his words "I
will not believe"
II. Jesus Appears Unto Thomas.
@O-20. Thomas had a whole week of
unbelief and darkness and misery,
Jesus had hidden the disciples 90 into
Galilee Matt. 2S:10), but they have
seemed to have waited a 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. Jesns
came with the same message of
peace. The wonderful grace and
pity and long suffering OF Jesus an.
pear in His words to Thomas and His
whole treatment OF him. Thomas
fully convinced at last, and cries Ia
Jesus with one of the most remark
able Inscriptions of deity to be found
In the Bible, MY Lord and my God"
AN EGGsHELL OSTRICH.