Evening star., 1932-03-26
Sunday School Lesson
BY
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

salutation Of peace. It was the very
message that they needed. They had
not yet graSped the fact that He had
risen The news Of the empty tomb had
disturbed them. They feared that the
authorities might visit them, and they
were puzzled as to what they should
say or how they could explain the facts
which had reached them.
The truth is that the apostles had
doubted the possibility of His resur-
rectlon. 1t may have been due to their
Skepticism that He had showed them
HIS hands and side They were glad
when they saw that without doubt it
was the Lord. His resurrection pro-
ouceo q marvellous Transformation in
their lives During the days that He
spent among them before His ascension
the Master opened up the Scriptures to
Them 1t gave them the power and cour-
age with which they faced the world
ana commenced to carry out His orders
10 WIN the world for Him through
preaching the gospel of the resurrection,
that became the fundamental fact in
developing the church of the living
God. There would never have been an
organization of the followers of the
Lord Jesus if He had not risen from the
oead- HIS victory inspired them and
became the foundation of their hope for
a future life and fellowship with Christ.
Revelation to Thcma&
Thomas was absent from the meeting
OF the apostles when Jesus appeared to
them in the upper room He discounted
the accounts that they gave of the
Masters appearance. He considered
that they had neglected to make an ex-
animation of His hands, feet and side
we owe much to Thomas. who wanted
proofs that could not be questioned, for
he told the others frankly that he would
not trust his own eyes, he would put
ms hand into the wounds before he
could be convinced that Jesus was alive.
A week later they were assembled in
the upper room. They we're not afraid
OF their enemies now, and Thomas was
present with them. Once more Jesus
surprised the apostles by suddenly ap-
pearmg among them.
Not one of them had told the Lord
about the attitude of Thomas, but
Jesus evidently knew all about his doubt
and Immediately offered Thomas the
privilege of making the test. He asked
Thomas to satisfy himself by placing
his finger into the hands that had been
wounded by the nails and He urged His
doubling apostle to put his hand into
LILO oAAACs "AL11OuI VOut1llIiS IllC AOANA'
Thomas confessed his faith Christ had
peril of his unbehef and won him by
being willing to meet all tests.
Johns Purpose.
The closing verses tell us the purpose
John had in writing the gospel that we
have been studying the last quarter.
He placed the evidence Of the resurrec-
ton at the close of his gospel that was
written that ye may believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and
that believing ye may have everlasting
life" Our hopes for future life are
all based upon His resurrection. 1t Is
the citadel of Christianity. Jesus Staked
His mission, messiahship and message
upon His resurrection. He pointed to
His triumph over death as an evidence
of His deity.
The resurrection is the epitome Of His
gospel. The basic principle OF the
apostles teaching was that He Is risen.
The good news that they preached lift
ed the veil of nature and promised
future life to all that believed in Christ
as a risen Savior AS a result We have
today the church that teStifies by its
presence and power in the world to the
resurrection of Christ. Its observance
Of the first day of the week as the
Lords day is weekly presentation OF
the evidence of the triumph of Jesus
over death. The New Testament is
by-product of His resurrection.
power of the Christian religion mani
tested in the Lords word, the Lords
day and the Lords people is the most
potent force in the world, filling men
with cheer, comfort and courage by It's
message of the resurrection.