The Green Forest tribune., 1917-06-15
INTERNATIONAL. SUNn6YSC[lO0L
 LESSON (By E. O. SELLERS, Acting Director of ths Sunday School Course of the Moody Bihle InStituteO
LESSON FOR JUNE IT
THE RISEN LORD.

The death of Christ made a deep impression upon the beholders Ouke 23 AS, 49). Joseph, who seems to have been 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- tion 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.
 I. Mary's Visit to the Tomb (vv.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 visit to the tomb late on Saturday (Matt. 2S:1, R. VI. Starting the next morn- Ing, while it was yet dark" (v. D, they came to the tomb to perform this last service of love. Jesus had no need of such service (Matt IS :27; 20:
 
 receiving the first glimpse of the risen Lord. There were five appearances on this first day of the week: CD to Mary Magdalene, (2) 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 rifled, and hastened to report to the disciples (v. 9. This report of the women to the disciples was considered "as idle tales" Nuke 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 stopping to look in (vv. 4, 5. 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 1t shows that the tomb had not been rifed, leaving disorder behind h. stead of excitedly snatching the nap kin from his face, and hurling it whither 1t might. fall, he had quietly taken 1t 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- Derience. Jesus had told his disciples over and over again that he should rise again, and it seems strange that his enemies should have remembered it (Matt. 27 :63) and his friends not. Mary looked into the tomb to see If after all there had not been some mis- take. She 1t was who saw the two angels, and, half in wonder and yet in protest, they exclaimed. "Woman, why weepest thou?" Her reply was most natural and touching, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him." In sorrow she turns from the tomb, only to see the risen Lord, though as yet she does not recognize him (vv. IA, 15). Her answer to the questions of Jesus are suggestive, and the record is certainly not one that has been adroitly painted, but Is the plain record of facts as they actually occurred
 III. Mary Worshipine (vv. 16-18). There must have been an infection in 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 go and make known the glad truth that I 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 abrond 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 a 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 value apart from his resurrec- ton.
 Apart from this, the cross is the end of a failure. The resurrection dem- onstrated that Jesus Christ's redemp- tion was not completed upon the cross. The resurrection is better authenticat- ed than any other event in history.
 The risen Lord called this weak band of disciples "my brethren" (Matt. S:10). He is our brother still, and we are to nroclaim his work of