Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-30

VISITING VERSES 1-1OD.-An orderly
statement of the events connected with
the resurrection of Jesus will help one
the last seven verses of our lesson. Very
early on the first day of the week an
angel rolled the stone from the sepul-
cher. and Jesus came forth. there being
no human witness Matt, xxviii:2 ~.
Later company of women came to en-
balm the body and found the sepulcher
empty MARK. xvi:1-4p. Mary Magdalene.
one of the company. supposng the body
had been stolen. hastily return to Je-
rusalem to report to the apostles. while
the other women tarried. looked into the
sepulcher and saw two angels. The wom-
en- fed. being filed with fear and joy
After their departure Peter and John.
upon the intelligence received from Mary.
visited the sepulcher hut hastily depart
cd. probably satisfied that some one had
robbed the grave. So much is stated in
the first ten verses and in the other gos-
pels. and this brings us to those more
interesting and tender scenes which are
TO be considered at greater length.
WEEPING Oversees II and 12).-After
the other women and Peter and John
had departed from the sepulcher Mary
by some other path. and thus did not
meet TIE others. She stood alone in
teaTs-her love could not be satisfied
While doubt hung over the fate OF the
sacred body. Sne fingered at the spot. as
if hoping that some disclosure would be
made to solve the great mystery. Having
for time given way to the agony Of her
sorrow, she wiped away her tears and
stopped to take one more look into the
tomb. How true was all this to the
prompting Of a woman's heart! But as
she gazed intently the sepulcher seemed
to be no longer empty. Two angels in
white. probably the same seen by the
other women luke, xxiv:N, were sta
toned. lone at the head and one at the
feet. where Jesus had lain sentinels as
by the touch Of the Lord Of glory eek,
iii:5).
QUESTIONING Verse 1a.-rhe
angels spoke to Mary in language which
she could understand. proving that human
nature is not unlike that of the jewellers
in the celestial world Heb. ito. It wa.
a simple question they asked why
weepest thou?" The words were full al
tenderness and sympathy. such as the
pure ones In bliss must ever feel toward
mortals who carry such a load of care
and sorrow. 1t is the delight of heavenly
humanity. Mary's answer was brief but
complete. withal womanly. Her Lord
had been taken away by whom she did
not know and laid she knew not where
Whose hands had been placed on this
precious form? What motive had prompt
ed the deedo Why should all this be
done without the knowledge of those
who loved Him? After all the indignities
shown in the trial and crucifixion, now
that the blessed Jesus was dead why
should any one disturb His rest? These
We're the questionings of the woman's
heart that found expression in her tear
full reply.
STANDING Verse 14-Little die
Mary suppose that all her fear and doubt
would be quickly removed. 1t has been
said that the loving heart finds it's de-
sires. And certain 1t is that in every
time of trouble one is near to helr
psalm. xxxiv:1S). After her answer
Mary turned herself back possibly with
a purpose to retire. probably under one
of those impulses which come to US as
behold there stood Jesus. the one she
sought, but she knew Him not. His ap-
pearance may have been different from
that He usually bore. or Mary may have
cast but hasty glance at Him. with
the modesty common to oriental women
Through her tears under the excitemen,
of the moment. with all the peculiar sur
roundings it would have been strange in
deed had she recognized the Master
luke. Xxiv:16). Besides 1t is general,
body of Jesus was greatly changed. Tha,
inference is legitimate from the fact tha
He had the power to appear and disap
pear at pleasure John. xx:1O.
STPPOSING Verse 15).-The same
question put by the angels was raised
by Jesus, Why weepest thou?" and be
fore the reply another Whom seekes
thou?' The latter question really in
cluded the first. and showed that Jesu.
knew the heart of Mary. The why of the
tears and the whom Of the search were
inseparable, till the veil was removed
which was over her eyes that she should
not see and over her ears that she should
not hear Guke. xxiv:3D. She though
the one who had spoken was the gardener
very natural inference from the las,
question. Who other in such a place
would seek to know on such a subject
Then came the love of Mary to its full
expression. Thinking that she had the
secret of the disappearance. she offered
if the gardener would show where Jesus
was laid. to take Him away. There was
in this an assumption that the body had
been removed for some good reason or
with pure motive. possibly to relieve
the temporary place of deposit She
proposed to give permanent and honor
able burial. deemed in the east to be a
mark of high esteem.