The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02
INTERNATIONAL
LESSON
day School Course, Moody Bible Instt-
tute, Chicago.)sf r IN
LESSON FOR DECEMBER


LESSON FOR DECEMBER 6
CHRIST RISEN FROM THE DEAD.
LESSON TExT-Mark 1918; Matt zs:11-
16. st
GOLDEN TEXT-Why seek We the liy-
ing among the dead? He is not here. but
Is risen.-Luke A:5. 6.
The death of Christ made a pro
found impression, Luke 23:48, 40. Jo-
seph, who had been q secret disciple,
obtained the body and gave 1t burial,
Mark 15:42-47. In the lesson selected
for today we have, first, Marks record
Of the discovery Of the resurrection
by the women, and, second, Matthews
record of how his enemies dealt with
that fact.
!. The Resurrection Morn, Mark
1918. The Sabbath ended at sum
down,and the shops were then opened.
Mary Magdalene then purchased
spices that they might anoint the dead
body OF Jesus. They may have paid
the tomb a visit late ON Saturday. see
Matt. 2S:1 r. v. Starting the next
morn, while It was yet dark" John
20:1. they came to the tomb to per
form their last service Of gratitude
and love. He had no need OF this sery-
ice, Matt. 1921; 20:19; however, IT
was acceptable and they were reward.
ed by receiving the first glimpse Of
the risen Lord.
Women's Love Genuine.
The reason they did not expect TO
see a risen Jesus was in their failure
to listen to and to ponder on his
words. The men alss failed to com
prehend the note OF his resurrection
which he so frequently sounded. In
deed, the report of these same women
is by these men considered "as idle
tales Luke PAIL. The women ap
pear in a better light than the men In
this story. The women, especially
Mary Magdalene, loved much because
he had done SO much for them. The
extent and the genuineness Of their
affection Is found in that they went to.
the tomb to serve Jesus when appar-
emily hope had fled and faith was
blighted, I Cor. 1881 r. ". Their visit
was the fulfilment Of their ministry
Of love, yet 1t reveals the darkness OF
their minds. This was common toSaIl
OF his followers as we have already IN
Dictated.
Approaching the tomb they are con-
fronted by a Eew dificultyL"Who
shall roll away the stone?" The words
of verse four are signifcant-4Look-
ing up, they see that the stone is rolled
back" Am. R. v. This undoubtedly
refers to the situation Of the tomb and
their approach thereto, yet the fact
remains that looking VI" most OF Y
difficulties r removed. Let US be
constantly looking unto him." It has
been suggested that God rolled away
the stone, not that Jesus might get out
but rather that the women might ger
in. Mary found two angels sitting, z
one at the head and one at the foot,
where the body had lain, John 20:1l,
10, and the two disciples to whom she
reported found the linen cloth and the
napkin and believed" John 29:29.5
The women were overwhelmed with
perplexity and, like Peter and John.
knew not the Scripture that he must
rise again from the dead" The an.
gelic message, "He is risen; he is not
here" was the sounding forth OF q
message as great and as glorious as
that sounded by the angels on the
night of his birth. To add impression
to the message, they are bidden to
behold the place where they laid
him." v. 6.
Such experience and such knowledge
entails a definite burden of RESPONSE
bility, therefore the logical message
and command of verse seven. This Is
also in accord with the Savior's last
earthly message, Mark 1915; Matt
2s:18-20. 1t is natural for US to lin.
ger In silent meditation at the place
of our greatest. revelation or Of u
deepest soul experiences, but these
women are urged to go quickly"
The message Of salvation is too Inn
portant to brook any delay, and 'ths
kings business requireth haste"
There is a tender touch in Marks rec
ord of the allusion to Peter in particu-
lar when we recall that Mark re-
ceiyed his gospel chiefly from that
source. 1t adds light to that dark pic
ture we saw in the palace Of the high
priest when Peter so miserably failed.
What a blessed privilege is entrusted
to these women, to proclaim to thes sol.
sowing, hopeless disciples a risen Lord,
and to a backslider that this risen
one belonged to him as much as to
any of the others. Such an experience
and such a message filled the women
With awe, and they fled" to the dis
clples and on the way they said moth
ing to anyone, for they were afraid"
". 8 R. V.
Spread False Tale.
IL. The Watch at the Sepuleher,
Matt. 27:62-66 and 2a:11-15. Evident