406
THE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
how the thought of a suffering Messiah pervaded the entire Scriptures. THURSDAY, April IS. John 20:24-31. Jesus and Thomas. Thomas was absent upon this memor able occasion. We may be glad that he was not there. No forged or fabricated story would suggest that the resurrec tion of Christ was doubted or denied by one of His closest followers. For an en tire week Thomas heard from others the oft-repeated story and was doubtless distracted between doubt and hope and fear. At last Jesus came again, not to scold him nor exclude him, but to re assure and restore him. He stooped to meet the hard conditions which the weak faith of Thomas had laid down. Thomas would hardly avail himself of the Master’s invitation. It was enough to see and hear. His unbelief was swept away. The triumphant, confession burst from his lips, “ My Lord and my God,” and - he fell at the Saviour’s feet in adoring praise. FRIDAY, April 14. John 21:1-8. Jesus in Galilee. After Jesus had risen from the dead, He made an appointment with His dis ciples to meet Him in Galilee. It was natural that He should desire to iden tify His new life of resurrection with those scenes where He had spent the greater part and the most successful part of His earthly ministry. There He would find the safest and quietest opportunity of meeting with five hun dred brethren at once. In all probabil ity the Great Commission was also given in “ Galilee of the Gentiles.” This was fitting because it pertained unto the Gentiles. When the disciples went back to their fishing, the Master found them as at the first, among their nets and boats. The night of failure was not an accident nor a chance. It was a provi dence divinely arranged by Infinite Wis dom to teach them a lesson which would enrich and establish them forever. There is not a defeat or disappointment in a believer’s life which is not controlled by the Saviour and designed to teach some lesson which could not otherwise be learned. SATURDAY, April 13. John 21:9-14. Jesus and the Disciples. The Saviour makes provision for the needs of His servants. He knew that they were chilled by the night air and wet with spray, anNd so He prepared a fire. He fills their: nets with fish to show how easily He can supply their
scarcely convinced by the spectacle of an empty tomb, and some even doubted after meeting the Saviour face to face. Matt.^ 28:17. The new life of the be liever dates not. from the cross, but from the tomb. Rom. 5:10. They who deny the fact of the Saviour’s resurrec tion undermine the very foundation of Christianity. As the denial of the virgin birth takes away His Deity, the denial of His resurrection takes away our sal vation. Rom. 4:25. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the corner stone of the Gospel, the confirmation of the Scriptures, the consolation of the bereaved, the seal of immortality, and the pledge of our own resurrection. TUESDAY, April 11. John 20:11-18. Jesus Appears to Mary. Mary came with fragrant spices to anoint the Master’s body. She did not know that His garments were already smelling of aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces of Heaven. She came as she thought to a victim who had fallen before the malice of His enemies as a lamb led to the slaughter. She did not realize that He was a victor over death and the grave with the keys of hades hanging at His girdle. We may make a similar mistake. We stand beside a grave and imagine that there Is no more happiness for us. Just beyond us, how ever, some radiant and transfigured blessing awaits our recognition to turn our sorrow into joy. We may suppose that God has forgotten to be gracious, that His mercies are clean gone forever, but He gives us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. WEDNESDAY, April 12. John 20: 19-23 Jesus Appears to the Ten. The apostles were sitting at meat be hind closed and bolted doors fearing the hate and vengeance of the Pharisees. Suddenly, without announcement, the form of their beloved Master stood be fore them and they heard His familiar greeting of peace. He was clothed in the spiritual and resurrection body of which Paul speaks in 1 Cor. 15. He could pass through solid walls and could manifest Himself at will in different forms. For the first time He addresses His disciples as brethren, standing among them as the first born from among the dead. He shows His wounded hands and side. A look at the wounds of Jesus will give rest to the penitent and believing soul. Then He opened their understandings and showed them
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs