April 8, 1958

Easter has come and gone and what a beautiful day to commemorate the resurrection of our Lord, and as the theme of our Sunday School lesson was centered around the resurrection of Christ, we find many incidents surrounding His resurrection.

We are told by different writers that very early in the morning of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene with other women came bringing sweet spices to the Sepulcher that they might anoint the body of their Lord but questioned who would roll away the stone.  But to their amazement they found the stone already rolled away and the tomb empty. 

Mary Magdalene ran and told Peter and John, who returning with her found the tomb empty as she had said.  Entering the tomb they found the linen cloths and napkin but saw no man and while John believed they returned to their own homes.

But Mary standing without stooped down and looking in saw two angels who asked her why she was weeping and said, "He is not here but is risen."  And as she turned she saw someone standing behind her and he asked her, "Why weepest thou and whom do you seek?"  She supposing him to be the gardener asked him that if he had borne him away to tell her and she would take him away.  Then in a gentle tone he said, "Mary," and she recognized the voice and said, "Master," but he suffered her not to touch him and he commissioned her to go and tell the world and his friends that He was alive forever more.  Saying that "As I live ye shall live also."  Thus we find that the faithfulness and loyalty of these women that was last at the crucifixion and first at the tomb were rewarded by giving the world the first message of the resurrection.  Peter and John saw only the clothes but Mary saw the Christ.

Another beautiful incident happened as we see two disciples traveling toward Emmaus, and sad as they communed together, a third person joined them and asked them why the sad communion.  And they marveled that one should be ignorant of the things that had happened in Jerusalem in the last few days, and thinking he must be a stranger they related to him the cause of their sorrow and said, "We had thought that He would have redeemed Israel."

The stranger then revealed them the scripture and expounded to them all the scripture concerning himself and when they drew nigh to the village they constrained him to abide with them and as he sat at meat with them he brake bread and gave thanks and their eyes were opened and they knew Him but He suddenly vanished out of sight.

And remembering His gracious word that He had spoken to them and the unfolding of the scripture they said one to the other, "Did not our hearts burn with us as He talked with us?"

Yes, we have tried in a greater way to find the risen Lord and to feel the warmth of His gracious words as we hear Him say, "Behold I am alive forever more and as I live ye shall live also."  And may everyone find a new experience in life while we wait for another Easter to come.

B. C. Money
Union Cross