Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-16
Sunday School
Lesson
BY BEN NEWSoME-

Lesson June ~, MARK l6. l-ZO.
The modern mind has just enough
| understanding of certain chemical
physical processes to jump at Ger
tain conclusions that little deeper
study would demonstrate to be un-
tenable. 1t has been the great err
ror OF men from the beginning to
exalt their own mental processes
and assume that all things divine,
all things spiritual. all things re-
lating to the universe outside OF
this little world, could be reduced to
terms of human logic and measured
by standards OF human mentality.
That was why the most vital truths
! Of Christianity were hidden from
the wise and prudent and revealed
unto babes. The man who realizes
his own mental limitations, who re-
allies that all he knows is but as "a
pebble on the beach compared with
what he has yet to learn, does not
have the trouble in accepting the
teachings OF the scriptures that be-
set the intellectual man. The lat
ter is prone to conclude. because
he cannot measure things divine by
mortal standards. that they are un-
true. His pride In mental efficiency
ts too great to permit him to ac-
knowledge the vastness OF his ignorN
apce. And that In why we yet find
people who cannot comprehend the
resurrection.
The question of the survival OF in
dividual personality after death was
not alone 4 question debated by the
Jews, nor was its belief confined to
people Of Hebrew extraction. Plato,
| you remember, advanced that
thought in his day, and many others,
/ cropping blindly. caught a glimpse
| OF the great truth of eternal life.
But II was left for Jesus tosdem on
strate that IL was not only possible |
to rise from the dead, but that such |
was the reward OF those who were
faithful. Lyman Abbott, who can
not be charged with being a witness
prejudiced in favor OF the deity of
Christ, says positively that "the res
direction Is one of the best attested
facts of history" II was the one
thing needed to break the power OF
death, which had imposed his PEN
atty upon sinful mankind. and open | !
the doors of blissfu eternity to |
the souls ofShe redeemed. As for Z
Its mystery, 1t is no more inexplain- 4
able by mortal argument than
thousand things we concede in every
day life. The phenomenon OF sleep
Tor instance, has baffied the most in
tense research OF scientists to ex. II
plain. Then there is the mystery OF II
termination OF life, both animal and III
vegetable. Lots OF us know that Il III
happens, but we cannot explain how; II
yet we do not doubt the facts be- III
'ause we cannot analyze and explain Iii
hem. Neither should we doubt the III
'act OF resurrection simply because II
we cannot prove it by the same II
methods by which we prove an ex- II
ample in arithmetic. II
There was ample provision made II
'or the overcoming OF any doubts II
as to the fact on tho part OF all II
Except those who did not want to II
believe. The priests believed the II
-eports OF the guards from the II
omb but they did not want others II
% hear and believe, 40 they bribed II
he soldiers to tell lie about 1t. II
They believed to their confusion, for II
[ was the pangs OF conscience that II
would not permit them to dishe- II
ieve. They realize then in better II
hess of spirit In which rem orse, per. II
laps but not repentance, had n part II
hat they had been the instigators II
md accessories to the greatest crime II
Jf the age. The consciousness II
" their guilt so far from moving II
hem to repentance. made them the II
more bitterly hard hearted. But the II
borrowing disciples, with their fond II
'st hopes apparently broken, at first II
'efused 10 believe, but to them the II
evidence was presented in such Gu II
nulative power as to leave them II
10 room to doubt II
There are many reasons why an II
Intelligent man can assure himself II
hat the resurrection was histor- II
cal fact We have not alone the II
estimony Of four good men laid II
lown for us in plain language, but II
here are three circumstances un- II
challenged that make doubt impossi- II
lie. First, IL his body had remained ii
n the tomb, II would have been II
Produced to refute the claims Of III
he apostles that he who was Killed III
IN the cross was alive and walking II
lbout among men. Second, the dig II
'iples were themselves converted III
rom the most desperate unbelief III
ntO enthusiastic belief In the depth III
II their sorrow and disappointment II
hey were harder TO reach with. con III
5iCuou than even the enemies who II
lad slain the Savior, but the fact II
yas so conclusively brought to their II
perception that they were compelled II
o believe. Third, the men who be- II
icve and preach the resurrection II
lave infinitely greater results in can. II
uring the souls Of men than those II
who do not The resurrection re- II
mains not only the best aitested II
fact OF history, but the greatest
power 70 win the souls Of men to II
eternal life
The part played by the women in
his hour Of crisis in the worlds I,