Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-06-15
LESSON FOR JUNE II
THE RISEN LORD.
LESSON TExT-John 2o:2-1s.

impression upon the beholders Ouke
% :4S, 49). Joseph, who seems to have
been a secret disciple, obtained the
42-4O. 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.
J. Mary's Visit to the Tomb (vv.1-
10Y. 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 Matt.
PSI, r. W. Starting the next morn
ing, while it was yet dark" ". u,
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 on
this first day of the week: (1) 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 Il Cor.
1873, r. W. AS soon as Mary saw
the stone rolled away, she concluded
that the tomb had been rif1ed and
hastened to report to the disciples
". p. This report of the women to
| the disciples was considered "as idle
tales" duke "a :11). 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, 81.
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 ". y. This appar-
emily Insignificant detail is one which
is really significant, inasmuch as II
shows that the tomb had not been
rifed, leaving disorder behind In
stead of eXcitedly snatching the nap
kin from his face, and hurting il
whittier it might fall, he had quietly
taken 1t off, and in an orderly way
laid it aside. 1t is in such minute de
tails as this that we see the greatest
evidence of the veracity of this rec
ord.
disciples returned to their own homes
and doubtless to the other disciples
". 10Y, but the loving Mary remained
behind in this place made sacred a!
having housed the body of the Lord
1t is natural for us to linger in silen
meditation in places of our creates
revelation or of our deepest soul ex
perience. Jesus had told his disciples
over and over again that he should ris,
again, and it seems strange that hi
enemies should have remembered
Matt. 81 :63) and his friends not
Mary looked into the tomb to see 1
after all there had not been some mis-
take. She it was who saw the tw,
angels, and, half in wonder and We
in protest, they exclaimed. woman
why weepest thouY Her reply wa
most natural and touching, "Becaus
they have taken away my Lord, AM
1 know not where they have lait
him." In sorrow she turns from tn
tomb, only to see the risen Lord
though as yet she does not recogniz
him wv. IA, 15). Her answer to tn
questions of Jesus are suggestive, an
the record is certainly not one tha
has been adroitly painted, but is tn
plain record of facts as they actuall
occurred.
III. Mary Worshiping wv. 1913
There must have been an infection 4
the voice of Jesus, for, upon the utter
ance of that one word, MARY" sh
recognized her risen Lord. Joyful
she exclaimed, "Rabboni," that is t
say, master" ". 16), and would hav
poured out her love and worship q
his feet. Jesus, however, does not sui
fer her to hold him fast. Mary mus
leave him, and tell the others. Litel
ally, he says, do not lay hold Of m
but go and make known the glad trut
that am risen again." The risen Lor
must return to "My Father" and IN
, God" whereas the one who woul
gladly have remained at his feet mus
go to- the brethren, and make know
the facts of the fulfllment of prophec
and the resurrection of our Lord.
The bribed soldiers spread abroa
the tale that the disciples had stole
his body. The later lives of these di!
ciples, their heroism and martyrdon
are evidence of the absurdity of an
such act on their part.
The resurrection of Jesus is a vii
dication of his claim to being the So
of God. We do well to emphasize hi
birth, and to dwell much upon hi
death, yet both of these have no e
sential value apart from his resurre
ton.
Apart from this, the cross is the en-
of a failure. The resurrection den
onstrated that Jesus Christ's redemI
ton was not completed upon the eros
The resurrection is better authentica
ed than any other event in history.
The risen Lord called this wea
band of disciples "my brethrer
Matt. % :10). He is our brother sti
and we are to proclaim his work
| redemption, the proof of which is Il
Il resurrection, unto others who know
Il not, for this story is no fiction. 1t
] the worlds most tremendous and aw
inspiring and glorious fact.