Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-03-20
LESSON FOR MARCH %
THE EMPTY TOMB.

s'OA-tG NNelNhNAe EAtlNA NhN 1NhA- d.
Of the lesson Of Israel and Rebekah.
Gen, "a, but because OF Its relative
talue and its relation to the day We
celebrate we prefer to consider the
Easter lesson.
There are five main 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; (2l the baptism Of
Jesus, 1911; (S) the TRANSPORTATION.
9:2-S; (4) the testimony OF the CEN
turian at his crucihxion. 1889. and
(5) the testimony OF the resurrection
Of Jesus. OF the ten different ap-
pearances of our Lord. Mark Tecordi
four, (a) to Mary, 16-9; Oh OIL the
way TO Emmaus. 1912, IS; (c) in the
upper room, 1914, and Id the aseen-
sion, 1919.
Purchased Spices.
Today we are TO consider the first
Of these appearances. From a care
rul reading OF this and the parallel
accounts it is evident that as soon as
the Sabbath day had closed and tho
shops were opened these friends CT
Jesus purchased spices that eatly the
next morning they might aanoint his
dead body. Matthew PSI r. V. would
indicate a possible earlier visit on
Saturday. the Jewish Sabbath.
/. "in the morning Of the first day
Of the week." w. 1-S. Starting while
1t was yet dark John 20:D these
faithful friends hurried on their way
to the tomb. II was Mary Magdaleie
who first reached the tomb. Matt.
2S:1. John 20:1, she who had received
much luke 1922 loFed much. Nor
was it the Virgin Mary that had the
privilege OF first beholding him ". 81.
1t was the love of these women ". -
that brought them to the tomb of him,
(which should have redeemed Israel"
CLuke 24:2D. That all the followers
we're 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 ".
-, so, too, IL we will but be looking
up" ". Z 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 l 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 dead body. That was tho
reason why they did not know and
that is why We do not know man =
things We ought TO know about on
Lord. II is noticeable that none o
the men were at the tomb.
Entering the tomb they found, not
his body. but a young man, and later
I two IN dazzling apparel (Luke 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:D.
In the midst OF all their perplexity
as to what had become of the body of
him whom they loved they failed TO
I recall his words (Luke 9:22) and
hence could offer no solution of the
difficulty. But the God Of mercy sup
piled their need phil 4:l9l 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 90 and
| tell the disciples and Peter" and that
they are no more to look for him
there for "He goeth before you into
/ Gelilee," Y. 7.
/ II. "And they went out quickly"
w. a-t1. It is well to reverence holy
places and TO remember sacred asso-
Citations. but God is e spirit and can
not be localized. OF course the
women would like to dwell at that
place in meditation. but having had
revealed to them the fact, their duty
was TO publish it abroad. A definite
knowledge imposes a definite obliga-
| ton of testimony.
Out OF death came forth life. The
| seeming defeat Of Jesus was the
prelude 70 the worlds greatest vic
\ tory-its most astounding miracle.
! Living unto self means claiming your
self for yourself. Ewing unto him"
means that in your mind your spirit.
your sody. you show forth the risen,
victorious, triumphant life.
This Easter day is the day of all
days TO remember such words as
/ these:
/ lust as am, young. strong and free.