The Holly chieftain., 1922-04-13

deed.-Luke N:3.
PRIMARY AND JUNIOR ToPIc-Ths
First Easter.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
why We Observe Easter Day
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Eject Of Belief in the Resurree>
ton.
I. Jesus ManIfests Himself to the
Disciples, Thomas Being Absent wv.
1925.
He appeared to several of His dis
ciples at several different times during
that day. This Is the first appearance
to the disciples as body. The rumors
OF His several appearances on that day
caused the disciples to assemble to
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
aot come with censure for their full
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
give unto you" (John IA :27; LET not
your heart be troubled" (John 14:D;
and now the first word after His resur-
rection is Peace" Having calmed
their fears, He gave them an unmis-
taxable evidence of His resurrection.
and when He had so saiS, 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 pence
needed to be UPON them. Consider:
/. The disciples commission ". Ply.
"As my Father hath sent Me, even SO
send you" This commission was not
simply to 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 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 indivldutf. but is obligatory upon
him. The Lord placed it upon a plane
Father-"As my Father hath sent me,
SO send you."
2. The disciples equipment ". 22).
HE breathed on them, and saith unto
them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost"
The mission of the disciple is verJ
great one, but every one who goes
forth in Its execution He clothes with
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.
8. The disciples authority ". 23).
Whose soeyer sins ye remit, they are
remitted unto them; and whose soever
sins ye 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.
II. Jesus Manifests Himself to the
26-29).
Thomas was absent at the first ap-
pearance of Jesus. His absence de-
prived him of vision Of the Lord. ABB
sence from the assembly of believers
always occasions loss. The other dis
ciples go 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 is
right to demand evidence, but to pre-
scribe terms is rank unbelief. Note:
1. The Lords kindness to those who
have difficulties. Thomas deserved re-
buke, but the Lord kindly supplied the
evidence which he demanded.
2. The revelation Of the Lord trans
forms doubter into possessor.
III. The Conclusion Of the Gospel
wv. 30-3D.
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 (1) Jesus of Nazareth
was the expected Messiah; (2) that
He was divine-the very Son of God;
(3) that those who believe on Him as
Gods only Son-the Messiah-would
receive eternal life. Eternal life is in
Him and only as He is appropriated by
faith can men be saved.