The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-20
TODAY'S BIBLE TALK
BY GEORGE L EVILS BALES

great fact Of history-the great fact
VI eternity.
But is it q fact?
Did Jesus Christ rise from the tomb
on the third day after the crucifixion
The prophets said it was to be.
The Master himself promised 1t.
500 Christ Is Tried
| The Jewish elders considered the
very foretelling of the alleged fact
to be blasphemy. They made it the
basis of a criminal prosecution. They
tried the Christ in court Of law
found him guilty of the charge al
legged sentenced him to death: secured
the approval of PLATE which meant
the authority of the Roman civil law
to support their verdict Snd carried
it to execution at Golgotha.
The Master himself had repeated
the promise: he reminded the people Of
what the prophets of old had said he
affirmed that the prophesies should be
fulfilled and proclaimed both to his
friends and his enemies that he would
arise after three days following his
! physical death. ..en
But did he?
Where is the proof?
Evidence is that out of which proof
Is made. Let the witnesses be called.
There are 10: of them.
There are the four women. Mary
Magdalene. Mary the mother Of James.
Salome and JOANNA Their testimony
has been given. 1t is nthe written
record. Each. Of these went early TO the
tomb that Faster Sunday morning
found the seal broken and the stone
rolled away; they saw the angel there
they heard what he said-but this
would not be admissible i'm evidence,
| it is hear-say testimony.
But Mary Magdalene talked to the
Savior there at the empty tomb. She
is leading witness, unequivecal. elo-
quent' forceful, almost conclusive.
Then there were the two men,
Cleopas and Simon. They were on
their way down to the village of EN-
manus. seven miles out from Jerusalem
They were walking along. crushed by
seeming disappointment and defeat
Testimony Offered
What is their testimony? Why, as
they were on the road. Stranger"
overlook them. walked with thenz,
quoted to them all the scriptures
touching the matter at issue. He had.
supper with them. He assembled from
their midst.
Call the three Roman sentries. fur
nlshed by PLATE, to stand guard at the
tomb. Let them perjure themselves and
say they went TO sleep on post-a
capital Offense-and that the disciples
came and stole the body away.
Then ten of the disciples saw the
risen Christ and were with him on.
three separate occasions subsequent to
his crucifixion.
Thomas. the eleventh of the number
was absent during the first of these
instances. When told about it by the
ten, he could not accept the report
unless he could put his finger in the
nail holes in the Masters hands and
feet. and the spear wound in his side.
But Thomas will testify that at the
second appearance Of the Master TO
the group. Jesus called him by name
and babe him thrust his fingers in the
holes.
And 10, these mute evidences re-
quired to satisfy Thomas, have gone
in the record as proof unequivocal and
conclusive. for all eternity.
The angel even, said to Mary: "He
is not here; he is risen -
And John, the disciple whom Jesus
loved. thunders from the record with
ever increasing force, as Easter Sun
day comes and goes: This is the tes-
.Hmony which / gave and know to be
true"