Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-06-13
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson xll.-Second Quarter, For
June II, 1917.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, John XXX, 118.
Memory Verses, IS, 16-Goiden Text,
! Cor. XIV, 2o--Commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.


As the next lesson will be the quar-
terly review. we must endeavor to sum
Marie the last two chapters in this
lesson. 1t may be little difficult to
arrange all the events OF the resurrec-
ton day and Of the forty days before
His ascension in their correct order,
but that is a grand and comprehensive
saying In Acts |, 3. He Showed Him
self alive by many infallible proofs"
Then in John Xxx. 81, the reason of
Johns gospel, These are written that
We might believe that Jesus is the
Christ. the Son Of God. and that beliey-
ing We might have life through His
name" In His great prayer He said
to His Father, This is Life Eternal
that they might know thee, the only
True God, and Jesus Christ whom
Thou hast sent" tJohn xvii, ~. He is
alive forevermore. has the keys of
hades and OF death and has all power
in heaven and on earth tRev. /, Is:
Matt. xviii, 49,, and it is for US to
show these facts In our lives that 9th
ers may know Him too. 1t does seem
an amazing thing that even Peter and
John had not received any of His say
ings that He would rise from the dead
on the third day (verse 81. though he
had again and again so plainly said
so Matt. xvi, II; xvii. %: Xxx, is, 19).
Neither had Mary Magdalene nor the
other women received these truths.
with the one exception of Mary OF
Bethany.
How wonderful that He should ap-
pear first TO Mary Magdalene and call
her by name, Mark xvi. o; John Xxx.
16J His reason for not allowing her
to touch Him is SO clearly and simply
stated in Xxx, II, that we cannot but
wonder that it does not satisfy every
one. The other women met Him a lit
tie later and held Him by the feet ane
worshiped Him Matt xviii. 0, 10l.
SO that between these two eppearings
He must have been to His Father and
returned. Between His death and res
direction He was surely with the Fa-
Their, according TO Luke xiii. 43. As,
but He was on His way to His Father
in His resurrection body when He ap-
peared to Mary and called her by
name. Some time that day He had
special interview with Peter. then the
walk TO Emmaus with the two. and In
the evening He appeared in the midst
of those who were gathered In the up
per room, with the doors shut for fear
of the Jews He showed them His
hands and His side and twice said.
Peace be unto you" Xxx, 1929. He
also commissioned them to go in His
name and proclaim the forgiveness of
sins. See also Acts xiii, IS, 80. 1t was
on that evening that He said, "a Spirit
hath not flesh and bones, as We see Me
have; handle Me and see that II is |
Myself" and He ate a piece OF broiled
fish and honeycomb before them Luke
xiv. 3S-43).
Thomas missed a whole week OF
peace because he was not with the
others that evening. But week later
Jesus came again and with the same
Peace be unto you" and asked Thorn
as to do just what he had said to the
others he would need to do before he
the dead. He saw and believed and
exclaimed. MY Lord and my Cod
Jesus said, BLESSED are they that have
not seen and yet have believed" Xxx.
24-29. We should walk by faith. not
by sight, for 1t is as we believe that
we see John xi. 40; II Cor V. .. In
chapter xxi we have the record Of the
seven who went fishing. led into 1t by
Simon Peter. perhaps because they
were hungry, had no money and. II
may be. had not seen the Lord for
some time. Well, their toll was fruit
less, for they caught nothing. So 1t is
always without Him-aothing. In the
morning some one called from the
shore. Have We any meat?" and they
had to answer. No" At his bidding
they cast the net on the right side of
the ship and caught 153 great fishes
without breaking the net. Then John
recognized the Lord.
When they came ashore, before they
brought the fish that. they had caught.
anticipated. and they saw a fire of
Goals with fish laid thereon and bread
And Jesus said. Come and break your
fast" Greater faith in Him might
have saved them the night OF fruitless
toll. for the blessing of the Lord max
eth rich. and toll addeth nothing there
to prov X. %. r. VI. 1t was at that
time Jesus three times asked Simon
Peter. Lowest thou MeT perhaps be-
cause of his threefold denial. and gave
him the thrice repeated command
Feed My sheep and My lambs" He
also told Peter by what manner Of
death he should glorify God. remind
ing US OF Paul's determination that
Christ should be magniHed In his body
either by life or death xxi IS, 10; Phil
l, 20. As Peter inquired what His
plan for John was. Jesus replied: IF
l will that he tarry till come. what is
that to thee? Follow thou Me" xxi
Fl. 221.