The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-12-02
SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES
Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and Pupils
Edited by Charles x. Meyers.

Is.
The bible records many wonderful
and striking events, the announcement
of words of far reaching consequences
OF these none stands out more strong
ly and triumphanty than the words of
the angels at the tomb of Jesus say
ing, He is not here, but is risen
This short sentence spoken near the
city of Jerusalem some nineteen hun
drcd years ago marked one of the
turning points in the history of the
human race. 1t gave to you and me
the positive hope of life after physical
death, of resurrection with loved
ones gone before. From that moment
onward there was triumph over death
and the grave through faith in Jesus,
the Son of God.
Our last lesson told of the death of
Jesus on the cross. 1t is needless to
speak of the gloom and desolation in
the hearts of His relatives, disciples
and friends. Their bright hopes were
blasted. The all powerful one had
seemingly weakened and allowed Him
self to be beaten, Knocked, executed
| on the dcspised cross. They knew not
what to do. The faithful women of
His followers decided to at least show
all honor to His body, and SO at the
first dawning light after the Jewish
Sabbath started for the grave bearing
spices and oils customarily used in
caring for the dead. To seemingly
make sure that by no means should
the body escape from its tomb of
hewn out rock there had been
stone and this was sealed in place by
seal of the Roman government, Fur
Their, a detail Of Roman soldiers was
placed about the grave. These human
precautions awaited little when they
ran counter to the will of God. So in
the night the stone was rolled away,
not by human hands, the soldiers be-
ing powerless to prevent.
The women had wondered how they
were to enter the tomb, knowing of
the huge stone and the seal. So great
was their surprise and relief to find
the tomb open for their entrance.
Greater was their wondcrmcnt when
they found the body of Jesus gone,
the grave clothes neatly wrapped and
saw two angels near at hand who
hailed them with the words, "Why
seek we the living among the dead. He
is not here but is risen.' Then were
given directions that they so tell the
disciples and Peter that Jesus would
meet them i'll Galilee as He had prom
Used while with them before the cruci-
fixion. One of the women later in the
day saw Jesus in tho garden and
spoke to Him. Further bible history
tells us that not only did Jesus meet
with the disciples once, but many
times, establishing that He indeed
had risen and become the first fruits
of them that slept.
This is a lesson of triumph. 1t tells
not only of the triumph to Jesus, but
triumph for us. The great apostle,
Paul, well says that if Christ had not
risen then all the teachings of the
bible are vain. Paul ends with the
declaration. But now is Christ risen
from the dead and become the first
fruits OF them that slept" and then
the apostle cries forth. 20, Death.
where is thy stins?" Thanks be to
God who Eivetl us the victory through
our Lord, Jesus Christ"
The positive promises OF Jesus and
the bible are that we have eternal life.
We urge all to note them well and to
learn to know them perfectly as they
are the sheet anchor of hope for cv-
cry person possessed of an immortal
sou.
'In Him was life and the life
was the light of men,"
81 am come that they might
have life, and that they might
have it more abundantly."
Let not your heart be trou-
blcd; believe in God, believe also
in me. In my Fathers house are
many mansions"
81 so to prepare Il place for
you
81 am the resurrection and the
life; he that bclieveth in me.
though he die, yet shall he live;
and whatsoever liveth and believ
eth on me shall never die"
"I'he trumpet shall sound and
the dead shall be raised incOr-
ruptible and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on
interruption and this mortal must
put on Immortality"
Standing on these promises which
cannot fail, the christian faces life
now, death and the future beyond. To
him life here is but a time of prepare
ton for the life for all eternity. Death
has no terrors except the physical
suffering which may go with il, and
the grief of leaving loved ones here
on the earth. Once that ordeal over,
the victory is won and blessed eternal
life, free from physical infirmities,
is entered upon. Words fail to but
feebly express the joy, comfort, salts
faction of this situation. st. Paul
says, ut hath not entered into the
heart of man the things God hath pre-
cared for those who love Him." We
know I'VE shall see Him face to face"
md that is enough to know.
l can but express here the feryent
prayer that the precious truths of the
of Jesus may find lodg
ng in the hearts of all, that they by
aith may believe on His name and
DIN the triumphant throng which is
low in heaven giving thanks for the
,reat salvation given by God to our f,
ace through tho life, death and ris- i.
ng from the dead of His Son.