Evening star., 1925-03-21
During the 40 days following His
Jesus presented Himself


resurrection Jesus presented Himself
to His disciples at several places and
under different circumstances. These
numerous manifestations of the Mas
ter to His followers served to prove
conclusively to them the reality OF
His resurrection. These appearances
filled the disciples with an abiding
consciousness of His presence with
them. even when unseen. The gospel
records of His post-resurrection ap-
pearances would suggest that there
was some marvellous Transformation
in the appearance of His body. Death
had no more dominion over Him.
His body had not been reanimated,
for Jesus did not assume a corruptible
organism; He transfigured 1t with
spiritual force, so that the glorifica-
tion, which was revealed at the as
cension, hid for time His presence
from them. He demonstrated His alb
solute mastery over death by appear
ing and disappearing whenever He
willed to manifest Himself
The Emmaus Walk.
Luke. in one of the finest passages
of His beautiful gospel, narrates how
Jesus met two of His disciples and
walked with them to Emmaus on the
afternoon of the first Easter day. In
that brief description of the journey
the biogrspher of our Lord shows that
the followers OF Christ dill not know
of His resurrection. The wondering,
saddened disciples revealed their sense
of utter failure. Their references to
their former hopes and present condi
tion shows that they were sharing a
common human experience. They
still loved their former Master whom
they believed was dead. They had
left the faith of their fathers to fol-
low Him. They had sacrificed kim
ship, friendship and business to help
Jesus established the Kingdom. They
had witnessed the eclipse OF their
faith during the week just passed.
when their beloved Master had been
taken and crucifled by His enemies.
Their hopes were blasted and they
were surprised that the stranger, who
appeared to be a sympathizer with
them, did not share their views.
During the journey Jesus, whom
His disciples could not recognize, due
to the change in His appearance. ex-
planned to the two as they walked
toward Emmaus how that the law,
the prophets and the Psalms had pro-
claimed the eternal purpose Of God
called for the Messiah living just
such life as they told Him their
Master had lived among them, even
TO His death that was required of
Him. They had enjoyed His expo
sition of the Scriptures and in re-
sponse to their request He had ac-
cepted their invitations to become
their guest. In restoring their faith
by pointing out the harmonious re-
lation OF the life of Jesus with the
Scripture the Master had prepared
them for the climax of their expert
bot NJ
unto them that He was alive, having
risen from the dead, in the breaking
of the bread. There was something
about the way in which their guest
blessed their meal that opened their
eyes to the fact that they were
entertaining their Lord and Master
IL did not take them long to retrace
their steps to Jerusalem, where they
went and informed the incredulous
disciples about their experience. The
eleven, who had refused to accept the
words of two of their number and the
women, declined TO believe in Christ's
resurrection.
The Upper Room.
The attitude of the apostolic band
toward the resurrection was such
that they had TO be convinced Of the
reality OF His triumph over the grave
II they were to carry-on as the Lord
wished them to promote the work of
His Kingdom. While they were talk
ing over the situation behind closed
doors, which had been shut to keep
out any spies of their enemies, who
had created feeling OF fear among
them, suddenly they were startled by
the salutation of peace. Perhaps it
was the greetings OF the Christ that
made known to them the fact of His
presence. Our Lord connected up His
appearance TO the apostles in the up
per room by greeting them with the
salutation that had closed His fare
well message to them. Since He had
promised to give them His peace in
that very room our Saviour had made
peace for them and US "by the blood
of the cross"
Christ sought to remove their fears
and doubts by citing the evidence pre-
sented in His bodily appearance, es-
pecially His hands and His feet The
infallible proofs that testified OF His
being alive demonstrated that. He was
the same Jesus whom they had loved
and had known. Our risen Lord did
not show Himself to those beyond the
circle of His followers, because the
purpose of His manifestation of Him
self was to convince the apostles and
His followers of the reality of His
resurrection, so that, inspired by the
truths of His victory over the grave
and the evidence of His presence and
power, they would reveal the love of
their living Lord to all men.
The appearances were conclusive
Some of the many infallible proofs
were seen in His pierced hands and
feet, His audible voice, and to prove
beyond any question that He was
alive Jesus asked the surprised
apostles for food. They gave Him
some broiled fish and honeycomb.
and He Joined them in their meal
eating with them and before them
the food During the 40 days the
process of certification went on until
all of the apostles, even Thomas
who was absent from the service
when Christ appeared in tae upper
room and doubted what he heard
was convinced about the reality of
His resurrection, SO that when their
Master assembled them upon Mount
Olivet to deliver His parting message
to them they all believed tha. He was
risen from the dead.
Chrises Parting Message.
Forty days after Jesus had con-
quered the forces of death He as
sembled the members of His apostolic
college to deliver to them His last
message. The most influential school
ever organized was about to be
closed forever. The great Teacher,
whose messages had been, with His
life, labor and love, the very center
of their educational experiences, was
about to leave them. in q manner that
would by the supernatural culmina-
ton of His ministry prove that death
could not dissolve the unity of His
person, nor end His spiritual work in
the community of God and mankind.
Every detail of the apostles grad
uating exercises, to which Luke gives
us only brief reference in our les
son, was carefully planned and pre-