The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-04-09


have been the day of the Lords
last appearance to the Apostles
at Jerusalem and of his ascension
from the Mount of Olives. Ten
days later Sunday, May 2S) in
fulflment of the Lords promise,
the Holy Spirit descended, on the
day of Pentecost.
WITNESS OF THE WOMEN
VERSES 1-11.) -,
Where was the body of Jesus?
Listen to the witness of the, wo-
men. 1t is interesting and signifi-
cant of woman's devotion to the
cause of Chrst, that several pioas
women figured in the thrilling
scenes connected with his death
and resurrection. They were last
at the cross and they were. first
to reach the empty sepulcher.
During their visit they passed
through five: stages of experience.
The first was sorrow, With sad
'hearts they had turned away from
the tomb on Friday afternoon.
The sabbath was the most fearful
they had ever known. Yet where
else can they 60 but back again
to the city of the dead, there to
let their hearts bleed in unrc-
strained anguish? Besides, the
preparation of the body for. bur-
ial was hasty and incomplete.
with their own hands they must
make the. last touches of atfec-'
ton for, him who was gone. So
they brought spices as the dawn
strcaks appeared OH the horizon
Sunday morning. The second
stage was, perplexity. Perhaps
some of them came to the tomb
the evening before, saw the guard
stationed and the tomb sealed,
and then. returned. What was
their amazement now to find the
guard gone, the seal broken, the
Stone rolled away, the sepulcher
emptied of it's dead! There could
be no mistake as to the place, for
they had marked it well. With
hoiv holiness they went into the
scpulcher. But he whom they
sought was, not there. The third
stare was fright. 1t was a solemn
and awful ascene. The grave
clothes were lying in place. The
devoted women were crowding in
to the narrow vault in the dim
twilight of the morning and there
was the white-robed angel sitting
within the sepulchcr. No wonder
they we're affrighted. But their
fright was temporary and made
way for the happier feeling to
follow. The fourth stage was re-
membrance. In assuring tone the
women were reminded that what
they now witnessed was in full.
filmcnt Of the repeated prophe-
cies of their Lord. Those solemn
words called out of the past by
angelic tongues, flashed like a
sunbeam into their darkness.
Then their faith laid aside IT'S
crepe, brushed off the tears and
took hold upon risen, J living
Lord. The last stage was procla-
nation. Such new scould not be
kept nor such a faith concealed.
The disciples and the world must
know what has become of the
Crucified. SO the first advocates
Of the Resurrection were held IN
the highest esteem among the dis,
eiples for their ardent piety and
absolute integrity. Better minis
tiers and sweeter gospel the world
had not, heard before. ;" :.
WONDER OF THE APOSTLE
Verse l2.) ~
=. Why were the linen clothes by
themselves? Note the wonder of.
the Apostle. The Apostles receiy.
ed and regarded the report of the
women as idle talk which would
do no. good and might do. much
HARM: So Peter (and John, as
John tells us) ran out of the city
to the sepulcher. The younger
and swifter, John, arrived first at
the tomb and stood without; but
when Peter came up, he rushed
within the vault for q closer
search. The story of the women
was clearly verified; the body of
Jesus was not in the tomb where
loving hands had laid him; and
the grave clothes were arranged
as no grave robber would leave
them. There was ground for the
report Of the Resurrection. With
John, it became a matter of faith
at once. but with Peter there
was the hesitation of doubt as
thew returned.
JESUS TRUJMPHS