The Brinkley argus., 1917-06-15
INTERNATIONAL SUND6yS0lOOL
 LESSON CBy E. O. SELLERS, Acting Director Of the Sunday School Course of the Moody Bible Institute)
 Copyright, 1917. Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR JUNE IT
THE RISEN LORD.

LESSON TEXT-John 20:2-16.
 GOLDEN TEXT-But now is Christ risen from the dead. and become the first fruits of them that slept.-I Cor. 15:2O.
 The death of Christ made deep impression upon the beholders Iuke 23 AS, 49) Joseph, who seems to have been a secret disciple, obtained the body and gave it burial (Mark 15: 42-47). 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 (vv1- 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 visit to the tomb late on Saturday (Matt. 28:1, R. V). Starting the next morn- ing, "while it was yet dark" (v. D, they came to the tomb to perform this i last service of love. Jesus had no need of such service (Matt. 6:27; 20: 19), but the women were rewarded by receiving the first glimpse of the risen Lord. There were five appearances on this first day of the week: :,Q) to Mary Magdalene, (2) to the "other women" l (3) to Peter; (D 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 rif1ed, and hastened to report to the disciples (v. ?. This report of the women to the disciples was considered "as idle tales" Ouke 24: :1D. With intense eagerness Peter and John ran to 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 (vv. 4, D. 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 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 rified leaving disorder behind. h. 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. 16), 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 1 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 1 enemies should have remembered It 1 (Matt. 27 :63) and his friends not. III. Mary Worshiping (vv 16-1S), | There must have been an infection in 1 the voice of Jesus, for, upon the utter ance of that one word, Mary" she recognized her risen Lord. Joyfully 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 % and make known the glad truth that am risen again" The risen Lord must return to My Father" and My Cod" whereas the one who would gladly have remained at his feet must go to the brethren. and make known the facts of the fuifllment 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 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 vSlue apart from his resurrec tion.
 Apart from this, the cross is the enc of a failure. The resurrection dem onstrated that Jesus Christ's redemp ton was not completed upon the cross The resurrection is better authenticat ed than any other event in history.
 The risen Lord called this veal band of disciples ''my brethren (Matt. 2S :1O). He is our brother still l and we are to proclaim his work O rndauntion thp nroof of which is th,