The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-12-03
INTERNATIONAL
.S(JNMS0lO0L
LESSON
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 6
CHRIST RISEN FROM THE DEAD.
by e. o. SELLERS, Acting Director sun.
day School Course. Moody Bible Inst-
tute, Chicago)

CHRIST RISEN FROM the DEAD.
LESSON TExT-Mark is;i-s; Matt. S;ii-
GOLDEN TExT-why seek We the ny-
Ing among the dead1 lie In not here, but
is risen.-Luke 2:b 9.
The death of Christ made a pro
found impression, Luke 23:ts, ~. Jo-
seph. who had been a secret disciple,
obtained the body and gave Il burial.
Mark l5:t2-47. 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
t6:t-s. The Sabbath ended at sun
down and the shops we're then opened.
Mary Msgdalene then purchased
spices that they might anoint the dead
body OF Jesus They may have paid
the tomb visit late on Saturday. see
Matt. 2s:1 X. W Starting the next
morn. while II was yet dark" John
20:l. 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; 2o:1s; however. IL
was acceptable and they we're 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
IL by these men considered as idle
tales" Luke 2t:1i. The women sp
pear In a better light than the men In
this story. The women. especially
Mary Magdalene, loved much because
he had done 30 much for them. The
extent and the genuineness OF their
affection IL found In that they went TO
the tomb to serve Jesus when appar.
emily hope had fed and faith was
blighted. I Cor. 1873 X. V. Their visit
was the fulfillment OF their ministry
OF love. yet IL 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 stoneY" The words
OF verse four are s,snincant-"Look.
ing up. they see that the stone Ia rolled
back" Am. II. v. This undoubtedly
refers to the situation Of the tomb and
their approach thereto. yet the fact
remains that looking up" most OF our
difficulties are removed. Let US be
constantly looking unto him" II Las
been suggested that God rolled away
the stone. not that Jesus might get out,
but rather that the women might get
In. Mary found tvo angels sitting.
one at the head and one at the foot.
where the body had lain. John coll.
~. and the two disciples to whom she
reported found the linen cloth and the
napkin and believed" John 20:2.e.
The women were overw helmed with
perpiexity and, like Peter and John.
knew not the Scripture that he must
rise again from the dead" The an
selic 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.
Such experience and such knowledge
entails a definite burden Of RESPONSE
bility. therefore the logical message
and command OF verse seven This 10
also In accord with the Saviors last
earthly message. Mark 1918: Matt
rs: 1920. II IL natural for US to lin
ger In silent meditation at the place
OF our greatest revelation or OF our
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. ~
". The Watch at the sepuleher,
Matt 27:62-ee and 2s:tf-t5. Evident.
ly the manner of his death and his re-
ported prophecies as to the resurrec-
ton made an impression upon the enc
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 theIfact 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 tale is evidenced by the fact
that the rankest infdei has not the
temerity to make such claim today.
The resurrection. as Paul afiirms. Is
the declaration that Jesus is the Son
OF God. II Is q vindication OF his
supremacy and OF the supremacy OF
the spiritual over the natural. We do
well TO emphasize his birth. and to
dwell much upon his death. yet both
OF these have no essential value apart
from the resurrection. Apart from
this and the cross Is no more than
the tragic and awe-inspiring end OF a