The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1904, Page 83

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

83

* Christ’s Resurrection from the Dead.

Ivs CERTAINTY.

On Friday evening Christ was buried; on the
third day, Sunday, He rose again from the dead.
For this reason we often speak of Sunday as the
Lord’s day. Every Sunday we therefore commem-
orate the resurrection of our Saviour.

The Gospel lesson for Easter Day tells us that
the holy women, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother
of James, and Salome, early on Sunday morning
went to the tomb to anoint the Saviour’s body. As
they wended their way to the sepulcher they were
troubled about how the stone might be removed for
them from the entrance to the tomb. But an angel
from heaven had already removed the stone, and the
Lord had risen. The watchmen, terrified at the sight
of the heavenly messenger, had fled. So the women
found the watchmen gone and the tomb empty. But
an angel, whom they met at the grave, told them:
“T know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come,
see the place where the Lord lay.’’

The Lord was risen. Soul and body were again
united, and He had come forth from the dead. But
His resurrection was not like that of Lazarus or the
young man of Nain, who had risen only to die again.
The body which Jesus brought out of the grave was
indeed the same body that had been buried, butitwas
now glorified and immortal. As the apostle writes,
Rom. 6,9: ‘‘Christ being raised from the dead dieth
no more; death hath no more dominion over Him.”

As wonderful as is the resurrection of Jesus, so
sure and certain is it.

The disciples hoped not for the Saviour’s return

to life, though prophets had foretold it (Ps. 16, 10.
Is.‘53, 8), though Christ Himself had declared the
prophet Jonah to have been His prototype and had
definitely stated that He would rise again on the
third day. When the Saviour died on the cross, all
their hopes.were shattered, and not one of them be-
lieved that he would see Him alive again. And what,
now, was it that convinced the disciples that Jesus
wasrisen? The fact that they saw Him, spoke with
Him, touched Him, ate and drank with Him after
His return to life. The Scriptures tell us of ten
' different appearances of Jesus after His resurrection.
Only a few hours after His resurrection, He appeared
to Mary Magdalene, and soon after to the other
women. In the evening of the same day He ap-
‘peared to the two disciples on their way to Emmaus.
_ These latter hastening back to Jerusalem to bring
the glad tidings to the others, whom they had left

‘‘The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared unto
Simon.’’ While they are yet conversing upon this
joyful topic, behold, the Lord suddenly stands in
their midst and greets them, ‘‘Peace be unto you!”
They see Him, they hear Him, they are convinced
that it is He, indeed, and no spirit. — Thomas, how-
eyer, was not present. The joyful tidings he hears
upon his return leaves him still doubtful and de-
spondent. He refuses to believe until he sees. On the
following Sunday Thomas is convinced, and seeing
the living Lord, ‘he cries, ‘‘My Lord and my God!”

Later the Lord appeared to seven disciples on
the shores of Lake Tiberias, and Paul tells us that
He was seen by five hundred brethren at one time,
1 Cor. 15, 5—8.

Last of all the risen Lord appeared to Saul as he
was on the way to Damascus, and so caused Saul,
His persecutor, to become Paul, His greatest apostle.

The apostles could therefore truthfully say:
“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all
are witnesses. Ye killed the Prince of Life, whom
God hath raised from the dead, whereof we are wit-
nesses. We cannot but speak of the things which
we have seen and heard,’’ Acts 2,32; 3,15; 4,20.
John can truthfully say: ‘‘Which we have heard,
which we have seen with our eyes, which we have
looked upon, and our hands have handled declare
we unto you,’’ 1 John 1, 1—3. And Paul writes:
“If Christ be not risen . . . we are found false wit-
nesses of God,’’ 1 Cor. 15, 14. 15.

The unanimous testimony of all apostles as eye-
witnesses is that Christ rose from the dead; and
these apostles were the most truthful and conscien-
tious men that ever lived, yes, they sealed their tes-
timony with their own blood, preaching Christ, the
crucified and risen Saviour, unto their end.

There is no fact of history that is more certain
than the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

F. J. L.

Thy Will be Done.

A friend came to Dr. Luther one day and com-
plained, ‘‘Everything goes against me;. none of my
wishes are fulfilled; my hopes are shattered my

.plans all miscarry. »

“so despondent, were greeted with the joyful cry,

“My dear friend, eoat is your own fault, eTe-o8
plied Luther.

“My fault??? said the man in surprise.

‘CYes,’? said Luther, ‘‘why do you pray daily,
‘Thy will be done’? You ought to pray, “My will
be done.’ But as long as you pray that God’s, will
should be done, you have to be satisfied if He.does
according to your prayer.”