The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-14
International
SundaySchoolLesson
BY WILLIAM 4. ELLIS.

John 20:19-31.
The Worlds Greatest News Story.
/ A woman once told the most SEN
sationaI and important news in the
world. Had modern newspapers ex-
listed at the time, and had the edi-
tors been alert to their task, every
daily would have run the story in
| display type on the first page as the
surprising news of the day. Most
/ of the members of the news staff
would have been assigned to cover
| it.. All the antecedent facts would
have been dug up. The woman
/ herself would have been over
whelmed with interviewers. Her
personal responsibility would have
| been investigated. The city's great
| est authorities upon the general
theme of her story would have been
called upon for signed statements of
| their views. A diagram of the place
of the story would have been print
ed. The editorial writer's would
have made the news the theme of
| their leader for days in succession.
In a word, the earthquaking story
of this one woman, subsequently cor
roborated by many other witnesses,
was at the time more important, and
has continued to be so, than the re-
port of any battle or political over
turn or fate of king or emperor, or of
any discovery or adventure.
1T have seen the Master!" she set her
own day and the centuries by the
ears. Hers it was to give the first
clear testimony to the bodily resur-
rection from the dead. the fact of SUI
preme importance to all people every
where. AS a reward for woman's be-
ing "last at the cross, and first at the
tomb it was given to her to be the
bearer of the tidings that changes
everybodys attitude toward existence
and conduct. Behaviour is controlled
by belief; the truth of the resurrec-
ton is the greatest single factor in
shaping Christian character.
The Real Meaning of Easter.
What that one woman said at the
first Easter underlies everything that
is worth saying about the Easter
which the world celebrates in this
year of our Lord. 1922. All the talk
about new millinery and new clothes
and holiday-maNing is but family
sym bolic of the newness wrapped up
in the message of Mary.
For Easter really means that the
dead live again; that the grave is not
our goal: that man is born for two
worlds; that the power of DEATH and
of all the sin it sym boliZes, is broken;
and that our immortal spirits, which
are our true serves, are meant by God
to be victorious over all the defeats
and limitations of the flesh. 1t is the
greatest of crowns that is thus placed
of the resurrection of Jesus; who
pledged His own life as token that
His friends should live as He lives.
Despite all that the ancients be-
lieved about the possibility of con-
tinued existence after death; and de-
spite the poets "intimations of immor-
tality'; and despite all the beautiful
Easter symbolism of nature, the sim
pie fact remains that our one real
warrant for a belief in a resurrec-
ton is the word of Mary of Magdala
and her fellow witnesses of the risen
Jesus. Natural religion does not give
us any satisfactory foundation for the
hope of the resurrection of our dear
dead and of ourselves; only the reve-
lation of the New Testament does so.
Easter beauty and Easter music sim
ply re-echo the Books triumphan
cry. He is risen. The Lord is risen |
indeed"
EIbowing Out King.
In the ordinary course of Interna-
tional Lessons in Old Testament his |
tory which We have been following, |
-oday'S theme would have been the |
reforms and rebuilding by good Kingi
Ioash- But the Lesson Committee, |
the paramountcy of the |
Resurrection Story, provide this !
Easter lesson as optional. Judahs |
King Joash is of small consequence !
alongside of the King of Life. The |
portion of the evidence assigned for
special study is as follows; 1 quote |
rom the Weym translation, for |
he sake of it's freshness:
ION that same first day of the week. !
when it was evening and. for fear of /
he Jews, the doors of the house where
he disciples were. were locked. Jesus
anne and stood in their midst, and
aid unto them, Il
Peace be to your
Having said this He showed them |
His hands and also His side; and the l.
disciples were filled with joy at seeing
he Master. A second time, therefore,
He said unto them.
g Peace be to youi AS the Father {
ent Me, also now send you
Having said this, He breathed upon
hem and said.
g" Receive the Holy Spirit If you
emit the sins OF any persons, they re-
main RENTED unto them. If you
lind fast the sins of any, they remain
,ound.'
Thomas. one of the twelve-sur-
Iamed The Twin'-was not among
hem when Jesus came So the rest
f the disciples told him.
We have seen the Masterl'
His reply was,
"'Unless I see in His hands the
wound made by the nails and put my
niger into the wound, and put my
and into His side, will never be-
eve it
"A week later the disciples were ,
gain in the house, and Thomas was I
9lIn IDe0l, When j 6SuS Cane-tnO the Z
oors were locked-and stood in their !
midst. and said
" Peace be to you
Then He said to Thomas,
Bring your finger here and feel
ny hands; bring your hand and put {
into my side; and do not be ready
D disbelieve. but to believe.
My Lord and my Godi' replied ;
'homas. !
Because You have seen me- re-
lied Jesus you have believed. | ,
'lessed are those who have not seen {
nd yet have believed
..,rh ere were alsn a great numherl i.