John 20:18

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord.

The women were last at the cross; they followed the body to the tomb; they were first to see the open tomb; first to hear the story of the resurrection from an angel, and Mary was the first to see the Lord. Great is the faith and devotion of the sex; great is the honor with which the Lord has crowned the faith and devotion of women.

PROOFS OF THE RESURRECTION.

. have been used for many years to study the history of other times, and to examine and weigh the evidences of those who have written about them; and. know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better and fuller evidence of every sort, to the mind of. fair inquirer, than that Christ died, and rose again from the dead.-- Dr. Arnold.

I. Proved by the enemies of Christ. (1) It was impossible for these enemies to deny that Christ had by some means left the grave. (2) It was impossible for them to give any other explanation than that which they now invented--that his disciples stole the body. (3) It was impossible for this, the only explanation they could give, to be credited; for the disciples could not have stolen him if they would.

II. Proved by the friends of Christ. (1) The apostles had the most powerful faith in the fact. They were unanimous in their declaration of it. few days after, on the very spot on which it occurred, and that to men who were prepared to do anything to conceal the fact. (2) This faith came in direct opposition to their previous beliefs and worldly interests. They had no expectation and no hope of such resurrection. (3) They had every opportunity for thoroughly satisfying themselves on the point. (4) By their declaration of the fact they induced thousands of the enemies of Christ to believe in it, and that close to the time and near the spot on which it occurred. The early Church universally believed in it; and it is incredible that. myth,. false story, should have So grown up without substantial foundation.-- From Thomas' Genius of the Gospel. (5) They attested this fact, not only by their lives, but by their death. (6) Only the fact of the resurrection can account for the marvelous change in the spirit and character of the apostles. The resurrection completely transformed them; inspired them with. new conception of Christ's, kingdom as for all people, with. new courage to suffer for the sake of their risen Lord and his kingdom, and with. new purpose to preach Christ and him crucified everywhere as. spiritual redemption for sin (Acts 2:39; Acts 5:41; Acts 10:43). Neither fraud nor fiction is competent to account for the moral contrast. (7). singular and significant testimony to the truth of the resurrection is afforded by the change in the Sabbath day. It was changed, not by any express command in the New Testament, but by the almost universal consent of the Church, which could not endure to observe as. day of joy and gladness that on which Christ lay in the tomb, nor forbear to mark as. weekly festival that on which he arose.-- Abbott.

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.

1. The most glorious hopes are sometimes born out of the womb of darkness.

2. The stone that was rolled away from the door of the sepulcher has been rolled from human hearts.

3. Those that seek Christ need not fear though they do not find him at first, and in the way they expect.

4. Go to the cross and tomb of Christ and perhaps there will be revealed to thee the risen Lord.

5. THE RESURRECTION.--(1) It demonstrates that Christ is the Son of God. If he could not conquer death, and come back from heaven, he could prove that at the first he came from heaven. (2) It is the proof of immortal life beyond the grave: that death does not end all, but the soul lives after the body dies. (3) It is the assurance of our own resurrection. (4) It shows that our Savior has power over every one of our enemies. (5) It teaches the moral resurrection, that being dead to sin we should be alive unto God.

6. THE DEATH OF CHRIST.--The death of our Lord is the most remarkable event of history, far more astounding in the development of the plans of God than his coming into the world. Yet it has. fitness that demonstrates it to be in harmony with the divine arrangement. Though the Jews could not understand, their own law with its sacrifices and its types, and their own prophets were pointing forward all through their history to the sacrifice of Calvary. Their Scriptures showed "that it behooved Christ to suffer and to be raised again from the dead." All prophecy points him out as one who came into the world to die, the only being who ever came with death as the principle object of his coming. Yet "it behooved him to die," 1. To demonstrate the exceeding sinfulness of man; 2. The surprising love of God; 3. To accomplish human redemption; 4. To bring to light immortality; 5. To achieve the victory of the cross. By the cross he conquered.

THE LORD SEEN BY THE APOSTLES (John 20:19-31)

After the Savior's first recorded appearance, that to Mary Magdalene, he revealed himself at some time during this eventful day, the first Lord's day in the history of the world, to Simon Peter, and late in the evening appeared to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. These hurried back at once to Jerusalem with the glad story, and found the eleven gathered, with others, discussing the account told by the women and by Peter. They added their testimony, but still there was such skepticism of the resurrection that many refused to believe. Then, while the company sat at meat, with the doors closed for fear of the Jews, suddenly the Lord appeared in their midst, with the salutation, "Peace be unto you."

The following are the recorded appearances of the Savior after his crucifixion. There were ten or eleven in all.

1. To Mary Magdalene alone (Mark 16:9; John 20:11-18), near Jerusalem,--Sunday, April 9.

2. To the women returning from the sepulchre (Matthew 28:9-10), near Jerusalem,--Sunday, April 9.. suspect this is another version of the appearance to Mary Magdalene.

3. To Simon Peter alone (Luke 24:34), near Jerusalem,--Sunday, April 9.

4. To the two disciples going to Emmaus (Luke 24:13), etc.,--Sunday, April 9.

5. To the apostles at Jerusalem, excepting Thomas, who was absent (John 20:19),--Sunday, April 9.

6. To the apostles at Jerusalem. second time, when Thomas was present (John 20:26; John 20:29),--Sunday, April 16.

7. At the Sea of Tiberias, when seven disciples were fishing (John 21:1).

8. To the eleven disciples on. mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16).

9. To above 500 brethren at once (1 Corinthians 15:6), in Galilee, near the time of the last. It is possible that these two are identical.

10. To James only (1 Corinthians 15:7).

11. To all the apostles on Mount Olivet at his ascension (Luke 24:51),--Thursday, May 18.

19. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week.

John particularly marks the time of this important event. It is the third or fourth appearance of the Savior upon this memorable day, and the first one to the apostolic body. By. comparison with Mark 16:14-16, and Luke 24:36, we learn that at the moment of his appearance they were discussing the story of the resurrection of which many refused to be convinced, so incredulous were they.

The doors were shut... for fear of the Jews.

Probably barred as well as shut. It was only natural to suppose that the vengeance that had fallen on the Master would also visit his followers. He had himself forewarned them of persecution. Peter's fear had been shown by his repeated denial of Christ.

Came Jesus and stood in the midst.

They suddenly saw him among them. How he came, whether by miracle, or whether his body now had new conditions which freed it from material hindrances, it is useless for us to discuss, as it is an untaught question. It is enough for us to know and accept the fact. Luke states that they were "affrighted," which was only natural, and this explains the loving salutation that John records,

Peace be unto you,

the usual salutation of friendship and love.