the desire of ages-第138章

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　of　their　lives　had　borne　testimony　to　the　truth。　Now　they　were　to　be　witnesses　for　Him　who　had　raised　them　from　the　dead。

During　His　ministry；　Jesus　had　raised　the　dead　to　life。　He　had　raised　the　son　of　the　widow　of　Nain；　and　the　ruler's　daughter　and　Lazarus。　But　these　were　not　clothed　with　immortality。　After　they　were　raised；　they　were　still　subject　to　death。　But　those　who　came　forth　from　the　grave　at　Christ's　resurrection　were　raised　to　everlasting　life。　They　ascended　with　Him　as　trophies　of　His　victory　over　death　and　the　grave。　These；　said　Christ；　are　no　longer　the　captives　of　Satan；　I　have　redeemed　them。　I　have　brought　them　from　the　grave　as　the　first　fruits　of　My　power；　to　be　with　Me　where　I　am；　nevermore　to　see　death　or　experience　sorrow。

These　went　into　the　city；　and　appeared　unto　many；　declaring；　Christ　has　risen　from　the　dead；　and　we　be　risen　with　Him。　Thus　was　immortalized　the　sacred　truth　of　the　resurrection。　The　risen　saints　bore　witness　to　the　truth　of　the　words；　〃Thy　dead　men　shall　live；　together　with　My　dead　body　shall　they　arise。〃　Their　resurrection　was　an　illustration　of　the　fulfillment　of　the　prophecy；　〃Awake　and　sing；　ye　that　dwell　in　dust：　for　thy　dew　is　as　the　dew　of　herbs；　and　the　earth　shall　cast　out　the　dead。〃　Isa。　26：19。

To　the　believer；　Christ　is　the　resurrection　and　the　life。　In　our　Saviour　the　life　that　was　lost　through　sin　is　restored；　for　He　has　life　in　Himself

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to　quicken　whom　He　will。　He　is　invested　with　the　right　to　give　immortality。　The　life　that　He　laid　down　in　humanity；　He　takes　up　again；　and　gives　to　humanity。　〃I　am　come；〃　He　said；　〃that　they　might　have　life；　and　that　they　might　have　it　more　abundantly。〃　〃Whosoever　drinketh　of　the　water　that　I　shall　give　him　shall　never　thirst；　but　the　water　that　I　shall　give　him　shall　be　in　him　a　well　of　water　springing　up　into　everlasting　life。〃　〃Whoso　eateth　My　flesh；　and　drinketh　My　blood；　hath　eternal　life；　and　I　will　raise　him　up　at　the　last　day。〃　John　10：10；　4：14；　6：54。

To　the　believer；　death　is　but　a　small　matter。　Christ　speaks　of　it　as　if　it　were　of　little　moment。　〃If　a　man　keep　My　saying；　he　shall　never　see　death；〃　〃he　shall　never　taste　of　death。〃　To　the　Christian；　death　is　but　a　sleep；　a　moment　of　silence　and　darkness。　The　life　is　hid　with　Christ　in　God；　and　〃when　Christ；　who　is　our　life；　shall　appear；　then　shall　ye　also　appear　with　Him　in　glory。〃　John　8：51；　52；　Col。　3：4。

The　voice　that　cried　from　the　cross；　〃It　is　finished；〃　was　heard　among　the　dead。　It　pierced　the　walls　of　sepulchers；　and　summoned　the　sleepers　to　arise。　Thus　will　it　be　when　the　voice　of　Christ　shall　be　heard　from　heaven。　That　voice　will　penetrate　the　graves　and　unbar　the　tombs；　and　the　dead　in　Christ　shall　arise。　At　the　Saviour's　resurrection　a　few　graves　were　opened；　but　at　His　second　coming　all　the　precious　dead　shall　hear　His　voice；　and　shall　come　forth　to　glorious；　immortal　life。　The　same　power　that　raised　Christ　from　the　dead　will　raise　His　church；　and　glorify　it　with　Him；　above　all　principalities；　above　all　powers；　above　every　name　that　is　named；　not　only　in　this　world；　but　also　in　the　world　to　come。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　82

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Why　Weepest　Thou？〃


The　women　who　had　stood　by　the　cross　of　Christ　waited　and　watched　for　the　hours　of　the　Sabbath　to　pass。　On　the　first　day　of　the　week；　very　early；　they　made　their　way　to　the　tomb；　taking　with　them　precious　spices　to　anoint　the　Saviour's　body。　They　did　not　think　about　His　rising　from　the　dead。　The　sun　of　their　hope　had　set；　and　night　had　settled　down　on　their　hearts。　As　they　walked；　they　recounted　Christ's　works　of　mercy　and　His　words　of　comfort。　But　they　remembered　not　His　words；　〃I　will　see　you　again。〃　John　16：22。

Ignorant　of　what　was　even　then　taking　place；　they　drew　near　the　garden；　saying　as　they　went；　〃Who　shall　roll　us　away　the　stone　from　the　door　of　the　sepulcher？〃　They　knew　that　they　could　not　remove　the　stone；　yet　they　kept　on　their　way。　And　lo；　the　heavens　were　suddenly　alight　with　glory　that　came　not　from　the　rising　sun。　The　earth　trembled。　They　saw　that　the　great　stone　was　rolled　away。　The　grave　was　empty。

The　women　had　not　all　come　to　the　tomb　from　the　same　direction。　Mary　Magdalene　was　the　first　to　reach　the　place；　and　upon　seeing　that　the　stone　was　removed；　she　hurried　away　to　tell　the　disciples。　Meanwhile　the　other　women　came　up。　A　light　was　shining　about　the　tomb；　but　the　body　of　Jesus　was　not　there。　As　they　lingered　about　the　place；　suddenly　they　saw　that　they　were　not　alone。　A　young　man　clothed　in　shining　garments　was　sitting　by　the　tomb。　It　was　the　angel　who　had　rolled　away　the　stone。　He　had　taken　the　guise　of　humanity　that　he

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might　not　alarm　these　friends　of　Jesus。　Yet　about　him　the　light　of　the　heavenly　glory　was　still　shining；　and　the　women　were　afraid。　They　turned　to　flee；　but　the　angel's　words　stayed　their　steps。　〃Fear　not　ye；〃　he　said；　〃for　I　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。　And　go　quickly；　and　tell　His　disciples　that　He　is　risen　from　the　dead。〃　Again　they　look　into　the　tomb；　and　again　they　hear　the　wonderful　news。　Another　angel　in　human　form　is　there；　and　he　says；　〃Why　seek　ye　the　living　among　the　dead？　He　is　not　here；　but　is　risen：　remember　how　He　spake　unto　you　when　He　was　yet　in　Galilee；　saying；　The　Son　of　man　must　be　delivered　into　the　hands　of　sinful　men；　and　be　crucified；　and　the　third　day　rise　again。〃

He　is　risen；　He　is　risen！　The　women　repeat　the　words　again　and　again。　No　need　now　for　the　anointing　spices。　The　Saviour　is　living；　and　not　dead。　They　remember　now　that　when　speaking　of　His　death　He　said　that　He　would　rise　again。　What　a　day　is　this　to　the　world！　Quickly　the　women　departed　from　the　sepulcher　〃with　fear　and　great　joy；　and　did　run　to　bring　His　disciples　word。〃

Mary　had　not　heard　the　good　news。　She　went　to　Peter　and　John　with　the　sorrowful　message；　〃They　have　taken　away　the　Lord　out　of　the　sepulcher；　and　we　know　not　where　they　have　laid　Him。〃　The　disciples　hurried　to　the　tomb；　and　found　it　as　Mary　had　said。　They　saw　the　shroud　and　the　napkin；　but　they　did　not　find　their　Lord。　Yet　even　here　was　testimony　that　He　had　risen。　The　graveclothes　were　not　thrown　heedlessly　aside；　but　carefully　folded；　each　in　a　place　by　itself。　John　〃saw；　and　believed。〃　He　did　not　yet　understand　the　scripture　that　Christ　must　rise　from　the　dead；　but　he　now　remembered　the　Saviour's　words　foretelling　His　resurrection。

It　was　Christ　Himself　who　had　placed　those　graveclothes　with　such　care。　When　the　mighty　angel　came　down　to　the　tomb；　he　was　joined　by　another；　who　with　his　company　had　been　keeping　guard　over　the　Lord's　body。　As　the　angel　from　heaven　rolled　away　the　stone；　the　other　entered　the　tomb；　and　unbound　the　wrappings　from　the　body　of　Jesus。　But　it　was　the　Saviour's　hand　that　folded　each；　and　laid　it　in　its　place。　In　His　sight　who　guides　alike　the　star　and　the　atom；　there　is　nothing　unimportant。　Order　and　perfection　are　seen　in　all　His　work。

Mary　had　followed　John　and　Peter　to　the　tomb；　when　they　returned　to　Jerusalem；　she　remained。　As　she　looked　into　the　empty　tomb；　grief　filled　her　heart。　Looking　in；　she　saw　the　two　angels；　one　at　the　head　and

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the　other　at　the　foot　where　Jesus　had　lain。　〃Woman；　why　weepest　thou？〃　they　asked　her。　〃Because　they　have　taken　away　my　Lord；〃　she　answered；　〃and　I　know　not　where　they　have　laid　Him。〃

Then　she　turned　away；　even　from　the　angels；　thinking　that　she　must　find　someone　who　could　tell　her　what　had　been　done　with　the　body　of　Jesus。　Another　voice　addressed　her；　〃Woman；　why　weepest　thou？　whom　seekest　thou？〃　Through　her　tear…dimmed　eyes；　Mary　saw　the　form　of　a　man；　and　thinking　that　it　was　the　gardener；　she　said；　〃Sir；　if　thou　have　borne　Him　hence；　tell　me　where　thou　hast　laid　Him；　and　I　will　take　Him　away。〃　If　this　rich　man's　tomb　was　thought　too　honorable　a　burial　place　for　Jesus；　she　herself　would　provide　a　place　for　Him。　There　was　a　grave　that　Christ's　own　voice　had　made　vacant；　the　grave　where　Lazarus　had　lain。　Might　she　not　there　find　a　burial　place　for　her　Lord？　She　felt　that　to　care　for　His　precious　crucified　body　would　be　a　great　consolation　to　her　in　her　grief。

But　now　in　His　own　familiar　voice　Jesus　said　to　her；　〃Mary。〃　Now　she　knew　that　it　was　not　a　stranger　who　was　addressing　her；　and　turning　she　saw　before　her　the　living　Christ。　In　her　joy　she　forgot　that　He　had　been　crucified。　Springing　toward　Him；　as　if　to　embrace　His　feet；　she　said；　〃Rabboni。〃　But　Christ　raised　His　hand；　saying；　Detain　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。〃　And　Mary　went　her　way　to　the　disciples　with　the　joyful　message。

Jesus　refused　to　receive　the　homage　of　His　people　until　He　had　the　assurance　that　His　sacrifice　was　accepted　by　the　Father。　He　ascended　to　the　heavenly　courts；　and　from　God　Himself　heard　the　assurance　that　His　atonement　for　the　sins　of　men　had　been　ample；　that　through　His　blood　all　might　gain　eternal　life。　The　Father　ratified　the　covenant　made　with　Christ；　that　He　would　receive　repentant　and　obedient　men；　and　would　love　them　even　as　He　loves　His　Son。　Christ　was　to　complete　His　work；　and　fulfill　His　pledge　to　〃make　a　man　more　precious　than　fine　gold；　even　a　man　than　the　golden　wedge　of　Ophir。〃　Isa。　13：12。　All　power　in　heaven　and　on　earth　was　given　to　the　Prince　of　Life；　and　He　returned　to　His　followers　in　a　world　of　sin；　that　He　might　impart　to　them　of　His　power　and　glory。

While　the　Saviour　was　in　God's　presence；　receiving　gifts　for　His　church；　the　disciples　thought　upon　His　empty　tomb；　and　mourned　and　wept。　The　day　that　was　a　day　of　rejoicing　to　all　heaven　was　to　the　disciples　a　day　of　uncertainty；　confusion；　and　perplexity。　Their　unbelief

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in　the　testimony　of　the　women　gives　evidence　of　how　low　their　faith　had　sunk。　The　news　of　Christ's　resurrection　was　so　different　from　what　they　had　anticipated　that　they　could　not　believe　it。　It　was　too　good　to　be　true；　they　thought。　They　had　heard　so　much　of　the　doctrines　and　the　so…called　scientific　theories　of　the　Sadducees　that　the　impression　made　on　their　minds　in　regard　to　the　resurrection　was　vague。　They　scarcely　knew　what　the　resurrection　from　the　dead　could　mean。　They　were　unable　to　take　in　the　great　subject。

〃Go　your　way；〃　the　angels　had　said　to　the　women；　〃tell　His　disciples　and　Peter　that　He　goeth　before　you　into　Galilee：　there　shall　ye　see　Him；　as　He　said　unto　you。〃　These　angels　had　been　with　Christ　as　guardian　angels　throughout　His　life　on　earth。　They　had　witnessed　His　trial　and　crucifixion。　They　had　heard　His　words　to　His　disciples。　This　was　shown　by　their　message　to　the　disciples；　and　should　have　convinced　them　of　its　truth。　Such　words　could　have　come　only　from　the　messengers　of　their　risen　Lord。

〃Tell　His　disciples　and　Peter；〃　the　angels　said。　Since　the　death　of　Christ；　Peter　had　been　bowed　down　with　remorse。　His　shameful　denial　of　the　Lord；　and　the　Saviour's　look　of