The Resurrection of Jesus Christ 89 one who is already a believer. Why is this so? For the self-evident reason that this was the way that things oc- curred, and the Gospel narratives are not concerned with producing a story for effect, but simply with recording events precisely as they occurred and as they were observed. We find still another instance in the fact that the re- corded appearances of Jesus after His resurrection were only occasional. He would appear in the midst of His disciples and disappear, and not be seen again perhaps for several days. Why this was so, we can easily think out for our- selves—He was evidently seeking to wean His disciples from their old-time communion with Him in the body, and to prepare them for the communion with Himself in the Spirit that was to follow in the days that were to come. We are not, however, told this in the Gospel narratives. We are left to discover it for ourselves, and this is all the more sig- nificant for that reason. I t is doubtful if the disciples them- selves realized the meaning of the facts. If they had been making up the story to produce effect, they would have repre- sented Jesus as being with them constantly, as living with them, eating and drinking with them, day after day. Why then is the story told as recorded in the four Gospels? Be- cause this is the way in which it had all occurred. The Gos- pel writers are simply concerned with giving the exact repre- sentation of the facts as witnessed by themselves and others. We find another very striking instance in what is re- corded concerning the words of Jesus to Mary at their first meeting. (John 20:17.) Jesus is recorded as saying to Mary, “Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to My Father.” We are not told why Jesus said this to Mary. We are left to discover the reason for it if we can, and the commentators have had a great deal of trouble in discovering it. Their ex- planations vary widely one from another. I have a reason of my own which I have never seen in any commentary, but which I am persuaded is the true reason, but it would prob-
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