The Carlisle independent., 1917-06-14
LESSON FOR JUNE r
THE RISEN LORD.


 risen from the dead. and become the first fruits of them that slept-I Cor. I5:so.
 The death of Christ made a deep impression upon the beholders tLuke g AS, 49) Joseph, who seems to have been a secret disciple. obtained the body, and gave it burial (Mark 15. 42-4D. In Marks record we have the story of the discovery of the resurrec- ton by the women, and Matthew tells us how his enemies dealt with that fact. Be sure to use a good harmony of the four gospels in presenting all of these lessons, else some important detail will be overlooked.
 l. Marys Visit to the Tomb tvv.1- 10). The Sabbath ended at sundown. and the shops were then open. and Mary Magdalene was able to purchase spices with which to anoint the dead body of Jesus. There is strong prob ability that the women paid a visit to the tomb late on Saturday (Slatt- 2S:1, R. VI. Starting the next morn ing, "while it was yet dark" (y. D. they came to the tomb to perform this last service of love. Jesus had no need of such service (Matt 16 :27; 20: 19), but the women were rewarded by receiving the first glimpse of the risen Lord. There were five appearances or this first day of the week: () to Mary Magdalene, CD to the "other women" (3) to Peter; (4) to those on the way to Emmaus, and (5) to the ten dis ciples, Thomas being absent.
 None of these seemed to expect Je- sus to be risen, for they had each failed to listen to and ponder his words. The extent and genuineness of the affection of the women is found in that they went to serve Jesus when apparently all hope had failed q Cor. 13:S, R. VI. As soon as Mary saw the stone rolled away. she concluded that the tomb had been rified, and hastened to report to the disciples (v. ?. This report of the women to the disciples was considered "as idle tales" Uuke 24 :1D. With intense eagerness Peter and John ran 10 the tomb thus reported as being robbed. John, the younger, reached the tomb first, but in reverence did not enter, only stooping to look in (yv. f. 3. Peter, the impetuous one. rushes in- side and sees the linen clothes lying, and the napkin that had been about the head carefully folded and lying in a place by itself (v. D. This appar- ently insignificant detail is one which is really significant, inasmuch as it shows that the tomb had not been rlfled, leaving disorder behind. In- stead of excitedly snatching the nap kin from his face, and hurling it whither it might fall, he had quietly taken it off, and in an orderly way laid it aside. It is In such minute de tails as this that we see the greatest evidence of the veracity of this rec ord
 II. Mary Weeping (vv. 11-15). The disciples returned to their own homes. and doubtless to the other disciples (v 10), but the loving Mary remained behind in this place made sacred as having housed the body of the Lord. It is natural for us to finger in silent meditation in places of our greatest revelation or of our deepest soul ex- perience. Jesus had told his disciples over and over again that he should rise again, and it seems strange that his enemies should have remembered 1t (Matt 27 :63) and his friends not
 III. Mary Worshiping (vv. 16-18). { There must have been an infection ir the voice of Jesus, for. upon the utterl ance of that one word. Mary" she l,4 -se fTrll D she exclaimed, "Rabboni." that is to say, "Master" (v 16), and would have poured out her love and worship at his feet. Jesus, however. does not suf- fer her to hold him fast. Mary must leave him, and tell the others. Liter ally, he says, Do not lay hold of me but go and make known the glad truth that am risen again" The risen Lord must return to "My Father and "My God" whereas the one who would gladly have remained at his feet must go to the brethren, and make known the facts of the fulfillment of prophecy and the resurrection of our Lord. The bribed soldiers spread abroad the tale that the disciples had stolen his body. The later lives of these dis ciples. their heroism and martyrdom, are evidence of the absurdity of any such act on their part.
 The resurrection of Jesus is vim 1 dication of his claim to being the Son | of God. We do well to emphasize his birth, and to dwell much upon his death, yet both of these have no es- sential value apart from his resurrec- tion.
 Apart from this, the cross Is the eIpd of a failure. The resurrecrion de11a onstrated that Jesus Christ's redempS ton was not completed upon the cross. The resurrection Is better authenticat- ed than any other event in history.
 The risen Lord called this weak hand of disoiploc tiny hrpthrpUr