at the head and the other at the foot of the sepulcher. These messengers spoke to the now lone Mary; for Peter, John, and the other women were gone to spread the joyful tidings to other friends. The angels asked, "Woman, why weepest thou?" Mary replied, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him."

Just as Mary finished speaking, she turned, and, for the first time, Jesus showed himself to her. But the appearance was too much for Mary to take in instantly. The joy would perhaps have killed her, and especially since she was already much depressed through intense grief during the last three heart-breaking days of the cruel passion. Jesus knew Mary's weakness, so he revealed himself to her gradually. After he had shown his unknown body to her, he then gave a more familiar evidence of himself. He said, "Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?" But not yet did Mary fully know him, but supposed him the gardener, since he seemed ignorant of her troubles. So she said to the supposed gardener, "Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away." Right here the gradual introduction broke into full splendor; for Jesus spoke as he had always done. He said, "Mary." That was enough. She turned herself again, and said, "Rabboni, my Master." Then she, with joy, began to touch him; but he said, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God."

Mary now had indeed a great story. It was not as the first. Before she told of the message of angels and the empty tomb. Now she tells that "I have even seen the risen Lord," and brings the happy news that he calls his followers brethren, and his Father their Father, and his God their God, to whom he will ascend for them.

JESUS APPEARS TO THE WOMEN.

Matt. xxviii, 9, 10; Luke xxiv, 9-11.

SECOND APPEARANCE.

The women who first went to the sepulcher were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others, not named, if known by the apostles. When they reached the tomb and saw the angels and heard their message, glad Mary Magdalene ran to find Peter and John. But while these were being found, and before they arrived perhaps, the women band who were originally with Mary left the tomb to return unto their homes or lodgings. And while returning by the way, Jesus showed himself to them. These women were going to perform the message of the angels who said, "Tell his disciples and Peter that he is risen." The second appearance was on this wise: As the women walked, Jesus met them and said, "All hail!" And they came and grasped his feet, and worshiped him. But they needed assurance in this mysterious company; for they trembled without and burned within. Jesus said, "Be not afraid. Go tell my brethren, that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me." This second appearance was more positive than the first; for the first was to one witness only, and then without handling. But this one was with handling and to several. It was also attended with reassuring words. These first two appearances were very positive, convincing, and encouraging. They went far to establish the faith of these faithful and abiding women. And no more faithful witnesses could be found in the earth to first declare the glorious resurrection.

THE GUARD REPORT THE RESURRECTION.

Matt. xxviii, 11-15.

It can be no strange thing that the grave guards should report the resurrection; since, in the first place, they were put there under arms to prevent that very occurrence,

They were to keep that body in the tomb, or give some good reason why it was out. They were overcome by a shining one, whose countenance was like lightning; yet he used no sword, made no effort, and spoke no word. Under his mere appearance the guard fell as dead men; and when they came to themselves, the stone had been moved away, and the tomb robbed of its victim. There lay the grave clothes, but no body. This was very strange and wholly new experience to the guards. For the shining one was first seen above the earth, and overcame them by mere appearance.

They had never seen a man that could overcome them as Romans; for the world was at their feet. They could not claim negligence of duty or sleep; for both were death to Roman guards. So they frankly and boldly went into the city, and got together the priests and elders, and showed them what happened at the tomb. The elders and priests, being completely outdone, counseled to give the guards large money to make a false report. It was to the effect that they were to say that "His disciples came by night, and stole Jesus while they slept." The priests and elders further bribed the guard by telling them, if the governor complained of their negligence, they would stand between them and the governor. And the story was told by the guards and kept up among the Jews to the time Matthew wrote his Gospel.

JESUS APPEARS TO TWO DISCIPLES.

Mark xvi, 12, 13; Luke xxiv, 13–35.

THIRD APPEARANCE.

Mark and Luke only give us this third appearance of Jesus after his resurrection. Mark only mentions it; hence we must depend upon Luke almost entirely for details. This appearance was to two disciples, as they left the city, Jeru

salem, and walked to Emmaus, a village about seven and one-half miles away. These took the walk on the same day of the resurrection. Just who these disciples were is not known, except in one case, as one is called Cleopas; but the other can never be known, since Luke does not say. There have been many guesses. Among the guesses is Luke himself. I think this is the most likely, since Luke names one and says nothing of the other-a fact hardly probable, had it been some other disciple than himself.

This third appearance was as follows: As the two walked and talked together of the crucifixion and all its connections, Jesus himself drew near and went with them on the way. But their eyes were so held that they could not see that it was the very Christ. They would have become so overjoyed that Jesus could never have opened the Scriptures to them concerning himself had he suffered them to know him from the first. So while he had them, he asked, "What manner of communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk, and are sad?" Cleopas replied, “Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?" Jesus asked, "What things?" And they said, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had . been he which should have redeemed Israel; and beside all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulcher. And when they found not his body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of those which were with us [Peter and John] went to the sepulcher, and found it even so as the women

had said; but him they saw not." This is their tale of woe, and, when fully related, Jesus had a great opportunity to set them right and then impressively reveal himself to them. He began to talk: "O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken, was it not necessary for Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory?" Then Jesus began with the Pentateuch, or first five books of the Bible, going through the prophetic writings, and expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

And when they came near to Emmaus, Jesus acted as if he would pass on, but they persuaded him to stop, at least awhile, as it was late. They made ready supper, and Jesus, in his usual manner, took bread and blessed it, and broke, and gave it to them. Just then he turned loose their holden eyes, which were opened, and they knew him, which caused him to vanish out of their sight. Then they began to talk, "Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the Scriptures?" This was too much and too good news for them to keep. They got up the same hour, and hastened back to Jerusalem, to tell the story to the eleven disciples, who said to them joyfully, "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." Then they related all that was done in their way, and how Jesus was revealed to them by his familiar breaking, blessing, and eating of bread.

JESUS APPEARS TO SIMON PETER.

1 Cor. xv, 5.

FOURTH APPEARANCE.

All the appearances of Jesus thus far were on the same day that he rose. Even this account by St. Paul took place at Jerusalem on the day of the resurrection. It has not