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THE KING’S BUSINESS
medan came up and said, “You must admit we have one thing you have not and it is better than anything you possess.” The missionary smiled and replied, “I should be pleased to hear what it is,” The Moham medan replied, “When we go to Mecca, we find at least a coffin, but when you Christians go to Jerusalem you find noth ing but an empty grave.” The missionary replied in glad response, “That is just the difference, Mohamet is dead and in a cof fin; Jesus, whose kingdom is to include all nations, is not here, He is risen and all power on earth and in heaven'is given unto Him—that is our hope.” Palaux, a member of the French Direc tory, invented a new religion to be called “Theophilanthropy.” Disappointed in its not being readily approved and adopted, he complained to Tallyrand of the diffi culty he found in introducing it. “I am not surprised,” said Tallyrand, “It is no easy matter to introduce a new religion, but there is one thing I would advise you to do and then perhaps you might suc ceed—go and be crucified, then be buried and then rise again on the third day, then go on working miracles, raising the dead and healing all manner of diseases—then you may accomplish your end.” The phil osopher was crestfallen and silently went away.
If it be pulled up in two weeks, it is a black, ugly, decayed thing, but the new life is beautiful and will yield fruit. Jesus used the same illustration in speaking of His death and resurrection. John 12:24. During an excavation in Egypt a few grains of wheat were found in the folds of an Egyptian mummy’s dress. These were planted and their yield planted again and today ,we are eating our bread made from „the same kind of wheat they used in Egypt over 4000 years ago. What a resurrection! Jesus’ Resurrection. —In Schliemann’s excavation among the ruins of Mycenae, he came upon a royal tomb. The noble rank of its inmate was betrayed by many infallible tokens, but chiefly by a golden mask, a rusted sword and a dented shield. He concluded that this was the grave of Agamemmon, who was known as the King of men. The mask was here, but where was the face? The sword was here but where was the hand that held it? The shield was here, but where was Agamem- mon’s right arm? The grave clothes and the napkin were left in Jesus’ tomb but He was changed; living now in a resurrec tion body. We know not how—we know it is true. In a village in North India a missionary was preaching. After the sermon a Moham M ARY brought spices (v. 1). Well might He appear first to a woman. Not one woman mentioned in the N. T. ever lifted her voice against the Son of God. Last at the cross; first at the tomb. —Moody. v. 2. Came to sepulchre. That is true faith which sees in the darkness as well as in the light; which goes to the grave bearing no spices but the spices of the immovable certainty of the resurrection and life.—Parker.
COMMENTS FROM SUNDRY SOURCES
By K. L. Brooks.
v. 3. Who shall roll the stone? Those who are carried by a holy zeal to seek Christ dilligently, will find the difficulties that lie in their way strangely to vanish and themselves helped over them beyond their expectation.—Henry. v. 4. Stone was rolled. God did not roll away the stone for Jesus to get out but for the women to get in.—Torrey. v. S. A young man sitting. How else could the narrative read? God could have sent no old man, having none in flis great
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