The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-05-28
JESUS APPEARS
TO THE APOSTLES
Sunday School Lesson Tor June7. 1908
Specially Prepared for This Paper

RECORDED APPEARANCES OF
JESUS.-first appearance OF Jesus after
the resurrection. 10 Mary Magdalene;
Mark 1911. John 20;l1-1S. Second ap-
perance, to the other women. Matt p
g. 10. Third appearance. TO Peter: Luke
2t.3i Fourth appearance. TO two disciples
on the way TO Emmaus: Luke 24.l3-31;
Mark l6I2. 10. Fifth appearance. to ten
disciples. Thomas absent: Mark l6:l4;
Luke a.3G-43; John 2o.ls-25 Sixth APP
pearance, TO the Eleven. including
Thomas. John 2O2e-29 Seventh appear
ance after his resurrection. 10 seven
disciples by the Sea OF Galilee: John p
lbs. Eighth appearance, 10 the Eleven on
mountain In Galllee: Matt. 2s.l6-20;
Mark 16:l5-1s Ninth appearance. 10 900
at once: l Cor. 1855 perhaps the same
as ID. Tenth appearance, to James:
Cor ISL. Eleventh appearance, 10 the
Eleven. on the Mount OF Olives; the as
cension' Luke 24:A-53, Mark 1918, 20;
Acts l:i-ii.
TIME. The appearance 10 the ten dis
ciples and others was ON Sunday evening.
April .. A. ID. 90. The appearance when
Thomas was present was on the following
Sunday April 16
PLACE.-In Jerusalem. probably the
upper room OF the Last supper. EInmaus,
village seven and a half miles from
Jerusalem.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
We have seen how poorly prepared
were the disciples Cor Christs resurrec-
ton, how slowly they believed. how
little they understood the meaning of
the great event. THE resurrection Of
Jesus Christ Is the turning point In
human time, changing II may be the
trend Of divine eternity itself II gives
US. first, certified Christianity, an ac-
credited salvation; and. secondly, it
gives us a present, living, communing
Saviour -Boardman. Il was the main
purpose of Christ's appearances
through the 40 days between the resur-
rection on April and the ascension
on May is 10 teach his disciples what
this resurrection meant to them and
TO the world, that II might become the
power OF their preaching in all lands
The risen Lord fret appeared to his
assembled disciples on the evening OF
Easter day, the resurrection Sunday
For a time the Christians observed
both the Jewish Sabbath and this
first day Of the week." but when
obliged TO choose between the two,
they naturally settled upon the day
when Christ roes from the dead. rath-
er than that when he lay in the grave
Our Sunday is therefore a standing
evidence OF the reality Of Chnsts res
direction.
The disciples we're perhaps in the
same upper room in Jerusalem where
they had eaten the Lords Supper.
They were brave. for in spite OF the
| Jews they dared TO assemble; they
were timid. for they barred themselves
In for fear OF the Jews. Alexander
| Maclaren. d. ID. They were eating
their evening meal together MARX,
with what sad thoughts OF the meal
eaten with their Lord only two days
before,
The eleven disciples were there.
except Thomas. who had zap
parently thrown away all hope :"
Cambridge Bible. other disciples
were also present Luke 24;33).
and the two from Emmaus were tell
ing their joyful story when the risen
Lord appeared In the room and was
at once recognized by the company.
Christ's risen body was different from
the body he had before death Il. II could
not have been no body. since II was
handled and ate food 2 II was. In
some respects, the same body that had
been crucified. since 1t carried the
wounds of the cross, while the cruel
fed body had disappeared. 3. II was.
In some respects, a changed body, for
II manifested powers which 1t lad
never before manifested" u. NJ
Wilton. Pho. II appears and disap-
pears suddenly and mysteriously, and
can quickly move from one place to
another. 1t can eat; but IL no longer
needs to eat; II can reveal itself In
one place. but is not bound to this one
place. Van Oosterzee.
Thomas doubt was met by our
Lords sixth appearance-one week
later (the Eight days" including both
Sundays. according TO the Jewish
mode of reckoning), in the same upper
room. and under quite the same cir
cumstances. The closed doors, the
mysterious entrance, the quiet opening
address. repeat the first occurrence
Thomas alone is addressed this time,
and hidden to test In his own way the
reality of Chrsts body; "and be not
faithless, but believing"
Christ's reply to Thomas confession
has been called ''the last Beatitude."
Thomas believed. but only because he
had seen with his eyes: blessed are
they that have not seen, and yet have
believed"
The first conclusion of the Gospel is
with verses 80. 81. John might 40 ON
Indefinitely, recording the wonderful
deeds and words OF his Lord John 81:
$50. He had written enough, however,
to complete his purpose. the proof of
the opening declaration OF the book.
that the Word was God" and ''the
Word became flesh"
Practical Points.
The resurrection story teaches us
how ready is Christ TO adapt himself
to varying human needs and condi-
tons.
The resurrection is food for our
faith.
The resurrection IS an assurance OF
oI~rfo..o fhtnor - .....o a..