The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-04-06

II lISl Faster.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
why We Observe Easter Day.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Effect vt Belief in the Resurreo-
ton.
!. Jesus Manifests Himself to the
Disciples, Thomas Being Absent wv.
1920.
lie appeared to several Of His dis
ciples at several different times during
that day. This is the first appearance
To the disciples as a body. The rumors
OF His several appearances ON that day
caused the disciples to assemble 10
talk over the matter. For fear of the
Jews, they met in private room and
barred the door. While they were dis
cussing the strange happenings of the
day, the Lord mysteriously appeared
before them with the greeting of good
cheer. Peace be unto you" He did
not come with censure for their fail
ure and desertion. AT His birth the
angels announced Peace" just be-
fore he took His departure, He said:
Peace ! leave with you; my peace l
give unto YOU John IA 20; Let not
your heart be troubled" (John IA ~;
and now the first word after His resur-
their fears, He gave them an unmis-
taxable evidence of His resurrection.
And when He had so said, He showed
unto them His hands and His side.
Then were the disciples glad when
they saw the Lord" Their doubts
needed to be scattered, and His peace
needed to be upon them. Consider:
/. The disciples commission ". 21).
LAS my Father hath sent Me, even SO
send / you" This commission was not
simply to a class, as the eleven, but Is
TO all Christians. In Luke "a :33 we
find that there were others there In
that meeting besides the eleven when
Jesus showed himself to them and
commissioned them, showing that the
commission is not confined to a class
or order, but is wide as the Christian
body itself. All Christians, therefore,
are ENJOYS and representatives Of
Christ. The exercise Of this great
function is not merely optional with
the individu'f, but is obligatory upon
him. The Lord placed it upon a plane
with His own commission from the
Father-"As my Father hath sent me,
so send you"
2. The disciples equipment ". 22).
HE breathed on them, and saith unto
them. Receive We the Holy Ghost"
The mission Of the disciple 10 q very
great one, but every one who goes
forth In Its execution He clothes with
the power Of new life by the bestow-
ment of His spirit. No one who has
this equipment shall ever fail. The
Lords representatives have His life in
them. The barrenness Of our efforts
Is due to our failure to take by faith
our equipment.
3. The disciples authority ". 23).
Whose soever sins We remit, they are
RENTED unto them; and whose soever
sins We retain, they are retained This
authority was not by virtue Of office.
but by virtue Of having the Holy
Ghost. This would give the spiritual
discernment to know who had or who
had not repented. and consequently.
TO pronounce pardon or not.
u. Jesus Manifests Himself to the
Disciples, Thomas Being Present wv.
26-29).
Thomas was absent at the first ap-
pearance Of Jesus. His absence de-
priyed him Of vision Of the Lord. Abb
NJ
always occasions loss. The other dis
ciples 20 to Thomas at once with the
glad news Of the resurrection, but he
will not believe. His stubborn disbe-
lief is such that he doggedly declares
that unless he sees the prints Of the
nails, etc, he will not believe. 1t In
right TO demand evidence. but to pre-
scribe terms is rank unbelief. Note:
/. The lords kindness TO those whe
have difficulties. Thomas deserved re-
buke, but the Lord kindly supplied the
evidence which he demanded.
. The rev$ation of the Lord trans
forms doubter into possessor.
~. The Conclusion Of the Gospel
wv. 3O-3D.
In these verses Johns arguments are
summarized, and an explanation Is
given as to why he wrote this Gospel.
Many other things could have been
written, but these that he wrote he
judged adequate to prove his point:
To prove that "a Jesus OF Nazareth
was the expected Messiah; (2) that
He was divine-the very Son Of God;
go that those who believe on Him as
Gods only Son-the Messiah-would
receive eternal life. Eternal life is Ia
Him and only as lie is appropriated by
faith can men be saved.