The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1914-12-03
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 6
CHRIST RISEN FROM THE DEAD.

LESSON TEXT-Mark 1918; Matt 2S:11-
Is.
GOLDEN TEXT-Why seek We the liv-
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 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, Matthew's
record of how his enemies dealt with
that fact.
I. 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. 28:1 r. V. Starting the next
morn, while it was yet dark" John
2O: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; 2O: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 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 24:11. 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, 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 difdculty-"Who
shall roll away the stone?' The words
of verse four are significant-'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 our
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: II,
IL, and the two disciples to whom she
reported found the linen cloth and the
napkin and believed" John 1929.
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 seven. This Is
also in accord with the Savior's last
earthly message, Mark 1918; Matt
28:18-20. It is 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 inn
portant to brook any delay.
Spread False Tale.
II. The Watch at the SepuIcher,
Matt. 27:62-66 and 2s:11-15. Evident
ly the manner Of his death and his re-
ported prophecies as to the resurrec-
ton made an impression upon 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, ap-
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. It Is 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