The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-12-14

opiy uo not 10" nave the same lmpOr-
tance that they had when they were
written. From this distance we feel
inclined to ask about the general char
acter Of Jesus disciples who declared
his resurrection, rather than to inquire
particularly respecting all the details
which they enumerated In broad
terms we say, If the characters Of the
Apostles prove themselves satisfactory
to us, we are ready to take their word
respecting the resurrection Of Jesus
and his subsequent appearances to
them. On the other hand, If they were
bad men or otherwise unworthy to be
believed, no amount Of details respect
Ing the tomb, the watch. the seals, etc,
would be satisfactory to us, because
cunning and designing men could make
up the story to suit their desires
But 1t was not SO at the time of our
Lords death and resurrection. 1t was
then very necessary that every little
detail should be explicitly specified
The parts Of three days and nights,
for instance, were unimportant to
them because Of Jesus words, which
they remembered He likened his pc
riod In death to the period in which
Jonah was in the whales belly. There
are some today disposed to quibble
over the matter and to claim that
Jesus died on Thursday and not on
Friday. Surely, however, all can con-
cede that it matters nothing to us on
which day of the week he died, nor
the number Of hours he was in the
tomb, whether seventytwo hours to
the minute or q less exact time With
us the important question is, Did he
die? Did he arise from the dead? Was
there value In his sacrifcial DEATH
from the Divine standpoint, and how
Is that value or merit made applicable
to mankind, and have we obtained our
interest therein according to the Di-
vine terms?
"He Rose Again on the Third Day"
With the majority of Christians for
these many centuries we agree that
Jesus was In the tomb parts of three
days and nights: that he died on Fri
day afternoon. and that he arose from
the dead early on Sunday morning
But we are not contentious. Let who
likes believe that he died on Thurs
day or Wednesday or Tuesday or an
other day; this is matter of no i'm
pOrtance. The all-impOrtant matter Is,
"He ever liveth to make intercession
for u.s." Rom. S:34l The stone at the
mouth Of the scvulchre was not a
large boulder, as many suppose, but
was shaped like wheel-like large
grindStone. 1t rolled in groove. but
being heavy, would be cumbersome
and difficult for the women, as sug-
gested.
The SOrrowing friends of Jesus did
not realize at the time what he had
taught them respecting his crucifixion
and subsequent resurrection. Hence
they were surprised with every Incl
dent OF their experience on that event
full Sunday morning. The angel ap-
peared in dazzling brightness, that he
might not be mistaken for a man. He
told the women who brought spices
for the Cmbalming of the Lords body
that their Master was risen from the
dead-that he was no longer dead; chat
they would see him in Galilee; and to
SO tell his disciples. On the way Jesus
met them and revealed himself TO
them.
Another account tells us that
Mary. separated from the others. met
Jesus alone and. mistaking MIN for
the gardener, asked whittier the corpse
had been removed. Then Jesus re-
vealCd himself TO her. Recognizing her
Master she claspcd him by the feet IA
though afraid that he would leave her:
but. Gimercnt from his previous course.
he declared, "Touch me not. for have
not yet ascendcd to my Father and
your Father, TO my God and to your
God" Instead Of delaying to com
munc with me. hasten at once to tell
Peter and the others of my resurrec-
ton. How careful was the Master
that Peter should be mentioned by