The Tupelo journal., 1914-12-04

Is.
GOLDEN TEXT-Why seek we the liv-
ing among the dead? He is not here. but
is ~risen.-Luke 24:5, 6.
The death of Christ made O pro-
found impression, Luke 23:fS, 40. so
| seph, who had been a secret disciple,
obtained the body and gave it 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 sun
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. ISL 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 serv-
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 also 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 fed and faith was
blighted, I Cor. 1873 R. V. Their visit
was the fulfllment of their ministry
of love, yet it reveals the darkness OF
their minds. This was common to all
of his followers.
Approaching the tomb they are con
fronted by a new dificulty-"Who
shall roll away the stone?" The words
of verse four are signifcant-"Look-
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 up" most of u
difficulties are removed. Let us be
constantly looking unto him" 1t has
been suggested that God rolled away
the stone, not that Jesus might get out,
but rather that the women might get
in. Mary found two angels sitting,
one at the head and one at the foot,
where the body had lain, John 20:11,
II, and the two disciples to whom she
reported found the linen cloth and the
napkin and believed" John 20:2-9.
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 a
message as great and as glorious as
that sounded by the angels on the
night of his birth.
Such experience and such knowledge
entails a definite burden of RESPONSE
bility, therefore the logical message
and command of verse eve This is
oJ-o =, oooo,d With 4ha Gayinrfc Loot
earthly message, Mark 1915; Matt.
2&1S-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 i'm
portant to brook any delay.
Spread False Tale.
II. The Watch at the Sepulcher,
Matt. 27:62-66 and 28:11-15. Evident
ly the manner of his death and his re-
ported prophecies as to the resurrec-
tion made an impression pom the ene-
mics of Jesus. This guard is an ex-
preston of the ultimate antagonism
Of the priests and rulers. AS this, the
morn of the first day of the week, APP
preached the guard saw the vision of
the angel and in its presence became
as dead men. When later they had re-
covered they fastened into the city
and reported to the priests the fact of
the coming of the angel and that the
stone, upon which the seal rested, had
been removed. Bribed, they spread
abroad the tale that the disciples had
stolen his body. The %falseness of
such a tale is evidenced by the fact
that the rankest infidel has not the
temerity to make such a claim today.
The resurrection, as Paul affirms, is
the declaration that Jesus is the Son
of God. 1t is a vindication OF his
supremacy and of the supremacy Of