The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-12-14
SUNDAY SCHOOL COLUMN.

Dec. 1S.-The Resurrection.-M
20, 1-20.
We have for our lesson this week
the browning accomplishment of the
life of Jesus the Christ. Other men
have lived, taught, been prosecuted
for their ideas, suffered martyrdom
with heroism, but none have risen
from the dead and seen of their fellow
men. 1t is therefore the fact OF the
resurrection which stamps Jesus as
more than human, the fit person for
our trust and worship.
Saint Paul we'll says that if Christ
be not risen, then is our faith in vain,
and we are of all men most misera BILE.
He contemplates that dark picture for
but moment, and then declares: 'But
now is Christ risen from the dead and
become the first fruits of them that
slept AS Jesus triumphed over
death so shall we, and have blessed
immortality.
Our lesson begins with that most
familiar account of the resurrection,
found in Matthew telling of the visit
of the faithful women to the grave
of the Savior in the early morning
of. the first day of the week. TO
make sure that the body should re-
main in the tomb, the Jews had Sc
cured band of Roman soldiers to
guard it, thus thinking to make GER
tain that the contents be not spirited
away by the friends of the despised
Nazarene. The plans of men are soon
brought to naught when they conflict
with those of God, so even the seal
of the Roman empire. and the watch
fitness of its far-famed soldiers were
of no avail to stop the coming forth
from the grave of the immortal Jesus.
The angel of the Lord rolled away
the stone before the mouth of the Sc
pulchel, the guarding soldiers being as
special messenger of the Almighty.
The women found the open grave and
were addressed by voice in the tomb
making the startling declaration 'He
is not here, for he has risen." The
dark clouds which had settled down
on the believers in the Christ We're
banished away by the glorious sun OF
of the resurrection morn.
That Christ had indeed risen,
changed defeat in victory, death from
that time forward had lost it's sting,
because Christ rose, we shall rise also.
Human language is inadequate to eX-
press the joy and blessing which
came to the world, and thus to us, with
the rising of Jesus. The heavenly
chorus sang on the remarkable night
when Jesus was born, and now great
err wonder has been made manifest.
Many have heard of this so often
that they are not moved to strong feel
ings on reading of it again. 1t should
however cause each of us to break
forth in prayers of gratitude.
Jesus was not only seen by the
women, but by many others. He
walked and talked with His disciples,
and others for many days. The fact
of His resurrection was notorious
thing and caused a great sensation
None thought of denying it at the
time. He showed His wounded side
to Thomas. ate meal, gave further
commands as to what He wanted done
by the disciples and then assembled to
heaven. Among the commands. was
one directing that the disciples should
go forth to the ends of the earth tell
ing the news of the resurrection, and
of the bible religion. With this COM
mand came the promise good to us
81 am with you Away, even unto the
end of the world" There is also the
other most precious statement as to
Jesus, that having loved His own, He
loved them even to the end.
The resurrection of. Jesus gives us
the assurance OF eternal lie ana
blessed reunion with our loved ones.
He had told of Immortality, and said
that any who believed in Him should
never die. All this was a mere claim
with no great foundation for belief,
until the time of He himself arising
from the dead. In its light, the COM
mands and promises given during His
ministery become verities, the very
truth. There is now hope beyond,
physical death does not end all, our
immortal spirits experience new
scenes. Well can we join in the tri-
umphal words of Saint Paul, Thanks
be to God who giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ"