Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-04-15


We have the choice this week OF a
lesson on Joash, the boy king. or
resurrection lesson. and as next week
we shall have another lesson on Joash
we choose the Easter lesson for this
week The resurrection of Jesus from
the dead Is in many respects the great
est topic In the Scriptures. for II Christ
be not risen preaching Is vain. faith IL
vain, there Is no forgiveness of sins,
and no one is saved q Cor. Ky. IL. II.
49,.
His great atonement includes His
perfect life In "A mortal body. His death
In our stead bearing our sins. Ills res
direction from the dead, all of which
may be included in the saying. THE
precious blood Of Christ Il Pet. 1. 19).
At present. as our great high priest,
He Is at the right hand OF God. for
us. and He will come again TO receive
His body. the church, and TO set mp
His kingdom OF peace and righteous
ness on this earth.
That the Messiah OF Israel the great
King, should be a man was plainly
foretold in Gen. iii. 10; xii. IS: Deut.
xviii, IS: Isa. tx. g, Z. and many other
places. That He should be Il man
risen from the dead. an immortal man.
was also foretold In Gen. iii. 10; III
Sam. vii 10. 16: lisa. tx, Z; ILL. 10, IL;
Ps. xvi. TO-: xxi. 30. 81, %, and else
where. and forshadowed in Isaac, and
Joseph and Jonah as well as In the
two birds OF Lev. xiv and the two
goats of Lev. xvi.
When He was on earth In His hui
initiation He repeatedly foretold His
death and resurrection In such pas
sages rs John II. 1921; Matt. XII. 40;
xvi, 4, 81: xvii. %: Xxx, 10; XVI. "a,
and yet even His own disciples did not
receive 1t, for In verse o Of our lesson
we read that even Peter and John
"knew not the Scripture that He must
rise again from the dead" He said to
the two with whom He walked TO
Emmaus, who were so cast down be-
cause Of His death, and so disappoint-
ed because He had not redeemed Is
rael, 20 fools. and slow Of heart TO be-
lieve all that the prophets have spo-
ken" He also said 10 the disciples In
the upper room that same evening.
"All things must he fulfilled which
were written in the law OF Moses and
In the prophets and In the psalms
concerning me" luke xiv. %. 40.
He appeared at least ten times to
one or more OF His disciples during
those forty days between His resur-
rection and ascension from Olivet. five
times on the first day. and our lesson
tells of His first appearance. and that
was to Mary Magdalene Mark xvi, %.
We do not find that Mary of Bethany
was with the other women ut the
tomb on the resurrection morning. for
she seems to have believed what He
had said about His death and resur-
rection. and she anolnted Him before
hand for His burial Matt XVI. II;
Mark Ky. 81. The purchase of spices
by the other women was an act Of
love, but not OF faith. for had they
believed that He would rise again they
would not have purchased spices with
which TO anoint His dead body.
As soon as Mary Magdalene saw
that the stone was rolled away from
the sepulcher she ran back to tell
Peter and John. and they both ran TO
the tomb. and both went In. Peter GO
ing first. and saw the linen clothes
evidently as when His body had been
In them. and the napkin that was
about His head wrapped together In
place by itself. and they believed
that lie was risen and went away
again unto their own home. Mary. hav-
ing returned 10 the tomb, remained
and was so intent upon finding the
body of her Lord that she had no eyes
even for angels. and when Jesus Him
self spoke to her she supposed Him TO
be the gardener. so binding is unbe
lieving grief.
Not until He called her by name did
she recognize Him. One of the pre-
cious words of the Spirit To my soul
Is found In lisa. kill, !. Fear not. for
! have redeemed thee. | have called
thee by thy name; thou art mine"
How wondrously gracious Of our Lord
to appear 10 Mary and speak 20 her
while on His way 10 His Father Verse
IL, and how wondrous His words to
her. and through her 10 us. "My Fa-
Their and your Father. my God and
your God"
II we would only believe fully that
He has made us one with Himself, n
part Of Himself. children OF God and
Joint heirs with Himself. Il does seem
rs II our lives would declare that
Jesus lives.
Note the words with which He greet
ed the disciples that evening and also
week later, peace be unto you"
oversees 10. 81. 26l. and remember John
xiv, 81: Jcr. xxx. II. See Him ask
ing them TO handle Him and TO thrust
the hand into His side and see Him
eating broiled fish and honcycomb he
fore them that they might see the
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