The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-04-13
LESSON FOR APRIL is
EASTER LESSON

LESSON TExr-John 2o:1s-sl.
GOLDEN TEXT-The LORD is risen In,
deed.-Luke X:34.
PRIMARY AND JUNIOR ToPIC-rhs
First Laster.
iiHNTEkMEDlATE iH AND SENIOR TOPIC
| l-Nhy We Observe Easter Day
!noONG PEOPLE ANU ADULT TOPIC
me Lilect of Belief in the Resurrec-
!. Jesus Manifests Himself to the
Disciples, Thomas Being Absent wv.
1920.
He appeared to several of His dis.
clples at several different times during
that aay. This Is the first appearance
~ the disciples us body. Tie rumors
ol his several appearances ON that day
caused the disciples to assemble to
talk over the matter. For fear Of the
jews, they met IN Il private room and
barred tile 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 full
| ufe ana deSertiOn. at His birth the
angels announced Peace" Just be-
lore he took His departure, He said:
Peace leave with you; my peace 1
give unto you" (J0hn ii :27) Let not
your heart be troubled" (Jom ll:D:
and now the first word after His rpsur-
rectiom is "reace." Having Gained
their fears, He gave them an unmis-
taknbie evidence OF His resurrection.
And when He had SO SaiI. He showed
unto them Ills hands and His side.
Ihen were the disciples glad when
they saw the Lord" Their doubts
needed to he scattered, and His peace
needed to be upon them. Consider:
l. The disciples commission (v. 2D.
"As my Father hath sent Me, even so
send you This commission was not
simply TO Il 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 Il 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 individuf, hut is obligatory upon
him. The Lord placed it upon 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 is very
great one, but every one who goes
forth In It's 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 (v. 23).
"Whose socvcr sins We remit, they are
remittcd 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.
II. Jesus Manifests Himself to the
Disciples, Thomas Being Present wv.
26-29).
Thomas was absent at the first ap-
penrunce of Jesus. His absence de-
prived him of II vision Of the Lord Ab-
Sence from the assembly Of believers
always occasions loss. The other dis
ciples 90 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. hut TO pre-
scribe terms is rank unbelcf. Note:
l. The Lords kindness to those who
have difficulties. Thomas deserved re-
buke. hut the Lord kindly supplied the
evidence which he demanded.
2. The revelation Of the Lord trans
forms doubter0into posscssor.
~. The Conclusion Of the Gospel
(vv. 3O-31).
In these verses Johns arguments are
summarized, and an explanation is
given as to why he wrote is Gospel.
| Many other things could have been
written, but these that he wrote he
judged adequate to prove his point
To prove that G) 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
receive eternal life. Eternal life is in
Him and only as He Is appropriated by
faith can men be saved.
Whaf ChriaA ca,.. e., Marld