The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-04-19
DID JESUS ARISE
FROM THE DEAD?
A spEgfAL EASTER SERMON ny THE REV
CHARLES sTEiLIE

There T. more evidence to prove that IesHs
from the dead than that Julius Caesar ever lived"
ones sasd famous historian.
And pcrhap. the most fascinating par, Of that
evidence that which " commonly called "clrcum'
stsbtaithe It,lc Incidents In the story which make
real and human.
IL will be a worthwhile exercise Easter Sunday
for you Go read again those sections az the four
gospels In the testament which tell about Jesus
resurreotion-soinE over u as lawyer or a judge
would review the testimony OF vfineraca.
Here is a narrative which the
world than any other act In hstpr, for IL Jesus did
rise from the dead then the whole fabric Of
Christianity falls to pieces and Christians the world
"of all men most miscrabe'--to quote the
Apostle Paul.
For your guidance In this reading. may poin,
out several important considerations
First note tsat the four "witncssss' Me- THEW.
Mark, Luke and John-seem to disagree In some
minor details. Now. II their stories made up
they would have got together and compared notes.
so that there would be difforenccA but cash
wrote just he the facts about Jesus
ton. REGARDLESS Of what any other man wrote. They
just put down the things that impressed each Of
them
Second. in the main there is absolute agreement,
They were all persuaded that Jesus from the
dead-and you will observe that this testimony is
given by who expected that Jesus would
return them. They had all back TO their old
occupations believing that Jesus actually dead.
and that lie mistaken about His mission. and
particularly about his resurrection, which 70 had
foretold.
Third there are Htte touches IA the story which
no writer OF fiction would think OF introducing.
For example, The three women who were first
told about Jesus resurrection said nothing about
"they afftighted"
When Jesus appeared to Mary Magdaiene she went
and told Ills disciples. but they refused believe
her. Thomas said not until he had seen in His
hands the print OF the nails" would he believe
Peter and John 20 the tomb together. and
John. the younger naturally outran Peter, coming
first to the sepulchrc, butr-as would expect OF
Johnnie reverenty hcsitated. merely STOPPING and
looking IN but Peter-bod and impetuous always
brushed John aside and entered the tomb.
Tell where they have laid Him. and I win
take Him away" wecpingly said Mary Magdaene
to who she supposed the gardener. Imagine
a fraii woman carrying the body OF a fullgro~ On
man--but wasn't this Just like grateful woman
who had been greatly helped by Jcsus3
And wasn't It natural that she should ilnger at
the sepulchrc after the men-the discples-had gone
homer
Touch not" said Jesus TO Mary when He
appeared 10 her Nobody has found out why
lie said It, Maybe wen know-some day. But Il
was put down In the record because II happened. y
Blindly. two disciples walked with Jesus on the
road to Emmaus and only they down to eat
did they recognize Him--by the way that he blessed
the bread and broke IT,
Ono more outstanding fact: After these disciples
were convinced of Jesus they were con.
verted from timid. denying swearing men into fear.
less champions of Christianity all OF them finally be.
coming martyrs for their convctions--and men do
not ordinarily become martyrs for n cause unless
there isn't the slightest doubt In their minds about
its reality and gcnuineness.