The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-03-22
LESSON FOR MARCH %
THE EMPTY TOMB.
LESSON TEXT-Mark l6:1-1l.

value and its relation 10 the DAY we
| celebrate we prefer to consider the
Easter lesson.
There are five maip points in the
evidence ST Mark presents to show
us that Jesus was the True Son OF
God, % the testimony of John the
Baptiser. 1928; ~ the baptism OF
Jesus, 1911; 90 the TRANSPORTATION,
9:2-S; (G the testimony OF the CEN
turian at his crucifiXion, 1888, and
90 the testimony of the resurrection
Of Jesus. OF the ten different ap-
pearances of our Lord, Mark records
four, (a) to Mary, 1863; OBJ Oil the
way to Emmaus, 1912, 10; (c) in the
upper room, 1914, and cd the ascen-
sion, 1919.
Purchased Spices.
Today we are to consider the first
OF these appearances. From a care
full reading of this and the parallel
accounts it is evident that as soon as
the Sabbath day had closed and the
shops were opened these friends Of
Jesus purchased spices that early the
next morning they might annoint his
dead body. Matthew ISL r. V. would
indicate a possible earlier visit on
Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath.
l. ain the morning Of the first day
Of the weeH." w. 1-8. Starting while
it was yet dark John Pod these
faithful friends hurried on their way
to the tomb. 1t was Mary Magdalene
who first reached the tomb, Matt.
2S:1. John pol, she who had received
much duke S:2) loved much. Nor
was it the Virgin Mary that had the
privilege of first beholding him ". 81.
II was the love of these women ". u
that brought them to the tomb of him,
which should have redeemed Israeli
duke 24:2D. That all the followers
were shaken in faith the records clear
ly suggest, yet love remained, hence
this desire to annoint his body. This
service though unnecessary Matt.
1921, 20:19) was, however, rewarded
by the revelation of the angelic mes
sengers.
Serious Question Raised.
Pursuing their way a very serious
question was raised ". 81, but God
had already removed the difficulty ".
A., SO, too, if we will but be looking
up" ". r. w, God will give us all
necessary knowledge, (Jas. 1:5), and
will enable us to overcome all Difficult
ties. The empty tomb is the standing
rebuke for all skeptics. II he be not
risen let his enemies tell us where
and what became of his body. The
true basis CT Christianity is in the
risen Christ, see / Cor 15:1-1S.
Had the friends pondered well the
words of Christ they would not have
wasted their time and money seeking
to annoint a dead body. That was the
reason why they did not know and
that is why We do not know many
things we ought to know about our
Lord. 1t is noticeable that none of
the men were at the tomb and when
they were told that the Lord had
risen they refused to believe an idle
tale"-see Luke 24:10, IL. It is In
this evidence of the depth and genu-
tneness of a love that was willing to
serve Jesus at the time when nothing
more was expected of him that causes
their conduct to appear in such a bet
ter light than that of the men. Few
people today would arise so early for
the Christ. Before going to the tomb
today the probabilities are we would
appoint q committee of investigation,
and have survey. thereby preparing
ourselves in practical way for the
difficulty they encountered. It is this
cold, practical, calculating spirit that
so often hinders the church of Jesus
Christ. 1t was serious difficulty; all
the precautions that Jewish and Ro-
man authority could invent had been
taken to guard against his followers,
but God had interviewed (Rom. S:31).
1t was not necessary to roll away the
stone for Jesus to escape John 20: 26),
but rather that his followers might get
q sight Of the empty tomb.
Entering the tomb they found. not
his body. but young man, and later
two in dazzling apparel duke 23:D
stood beside them. When Mary re-
turned from the city, having told the
news. the two angels were sitting one
at the head and one at the feet of
where the body had lain. John notes
that the disciples found the napkin
which had bound his head lying fold
ed In its original folds In a place by
Itself John 20:O.
In the midst Of all their perplexity
as to what had become of the body of
him whom they loved they failed to
recall his words duke 9:22) and
hence could offer no solution of the
difficulty. But the God of mercy SUD
piled their need phil. 4:19) and
hence the glad triumphant message
OF the angel, He is risen; he is not
here; behold the place where they
(enemies and friends) laid him." v. 6.
CT. Matt. 2s:6. Then, as though to
make their knowledge Of service to
others. he commands them to 20 and
tell the disciples and Peter" and that
they are no more to look for him
there for He goeth before you into
Galilee," VI.
II. "And they went out quickly"
w. Eli. It Is we'll to reverence holy |
places and to remember sacred asso-
but God is a spirit and can
not be localized. or course the
women would like to dwell at that
place In meditation, but having had