May 1931
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
224
A pproach to the L esson T H E body of Jesus was given to Joseph 1 of Arimathaea and other disciples just before the beginning of the Jewish Sab bath, necessitating very hasty preparations for burial. On the third day (Sunday morning), women went to the tomb in tending to complete the embalming of the body, Finding the tomb empty and re ceiving the message of the angels that Christ was risen, they rushed back to the city with the glad news. The unbelieving disciples considered their language but “idle talk.” Peter and John went to the tomb to investigate, and found the tomb empty, as the women had said. When they returned to the disciples, Mary Mag dalene came with the wonderful story that she had met and talked with the risen Lord. Some time on the same day, Jesus had-a private interview with Simon Peter. Later in the day, He appeared to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus. As they walked toward their village, they were in earnest conversation concerning the strange events of the last few days. The reports of the resurrection had given them no hope. They said, “We hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel,” im plying that all their Messianic expecta tions had been completely lost. * * * H eart of the L esson I. The Risen Christ at Emmaus (25-32). V. 25. O foolish men. The word “fools,” used in the Authorized Version, is too strong. It is a different word from that which Jesus applied to the Pharisees (Lk. 11:40). Slow of heart. They had have spoken. During the three years of His ministry,- the Lord Jesus had often referred to the plan of redemption as un folded by the prophets. The disciples seemed to be- willing to accept those pro phetic predictions which d e sc rib e the greatness and glory of Messiah’s king dom. But they were unwilling to receive the message concerning Messiah’s death (Matt. 16:21-23). V. 26. Behooved it not. Not only must Christ suffer and die, but He must die on the cross in order to fulfill prophecy and to carry out God’s plan of salvation. En ter into his glory. It was perfectly right for them to expect Him to have a glorious kingdom. What they needed was assur ance that the cross was- necessary before the crown could be received. V. 27. Beginning from Moses. The Pentateuch contains many Messianic prophecies both in type and in direct statement, such as Gen. 3:15; 22:18; Ex. 12; Lev. 16; Deut. 18:15-18, etc. From all the prophets. There is an ascending scale in the predictions of Messiah’s kingdom in the prophetic books, especially begin ning with the great prophet Isaiah. Many of these are familiar to every careful reader of the Bible (Isa. 9 :6, 7; 53 :4-6; Mic. 5:2; Zech. 9:9; Mai. 3:1; 4: 2, etc.). He interpreted . . . in all the scriptures. If people would only read the Bible and dull m inds ; bu t w hat was worse, they had slow hearts. The skeptic’s trouble is more likely to be in his heart than in his head (cf. John 5:44; 7:17; 8:47). A ll that the prophets
Lord Jesus displayed His “ruling passion strong in death” (Lk. 19 :10). 9. Death loses its terror to every be liever in Christ when he knows that im mediately after he departs from this life he will be with Christ (Phil. 1:21-23). 10. If we really come to know some thing of the meaning of Calvary, we will hate the sin that caused the Lord Jesus to suffer. * * * G olden . T ext I llustration In the history of Persia, this incident is related. Twelve men had been robbed and murdered under the walls of the city* and the king resolved that those guilty of the crime, if found, would be put to death. After a time, they were appre hended, and their guilt was established be yond a doubt* The oath of the king had been taken upon the Koran, and the sentence of death had been passed. On the day of execution, men and women were in tears as they looked upon one young man of exceptional promise and cried out, “Can’t this young man be pardoned ?” But no way for his escape could be seen. A little before the execution, the father of the young man came and was admitted into the king’s presence. He besought the king that he might die in his son’s place. Said he, “Oh, sir, be merciful and let me be executed in' his place. He is young and just betrothed in marriage. I know that he is guilty and deserves death. But I love him and will cheerfully die for him.” The king was greatly moved by the father’s appeal, and he accepted the fath er instead of the son. Then the son, wild and almost dis tracted with grief, pleaded with the king to reverse' his decree and save the life of his innocent father. But the son was spared, while the father met for him the just demands of the law and was executed with the other eleven who died for their own sins.. Such substitution is magnani mous, but the vicarious sacrifice of Cal vary far exceeds even this. 3|c 3ft Jesus’ Death on the Cross Luke 23 :33-46 Memory Verse. —“Thou shalt call his • name Jesus; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). Approach .—A short time ago, thousands of people were following Jesus and were calling Him “King,” and then, suddenly,
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looked sadly at Peter. Peter was so sorry for the lie that he had told that he went out into the darkness and cried. It did look as if Jesus hadn’t any friends. All night long His enemies treated Him cruelly. In the morning they took Him before the priests who hated Him. They said many things to Him and asked Him many questions. Jesus didn’t an swer. He knew that they were mocking Him. At last He was taken before the rulers. They knew that He had done no wrong, and they wanted to let Him go. But the priests and their friends said He must be killed. Then the rulers were afraid not to do as the priests wanted. So at last Pilate, one of the rulers, said, “Here He is, do as you wish with Him.” So they took Him outside of the city and crucified Him, and He was laid in a new stone grave. Jesus gave up everything for us and even died for u s.. If we are His friends, we must be willing to do anything for Him. Lesson: Luke 24. ( Lesson Text: Luke 24: 25-40, 50, 51.) Golden Text: “It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Rom. 8:34). ♦ * * L esson in O utline I. The Risen Christ at Emmaus (25- 32). 1. Opening the Scriptures (25-27). a. The learners—“ fo o lish and slow of heart.” b. Scope of study—“all the scrip tures.” c. Subject of study—suffering and glory of Christ. 2. Opening eyes (28-32). a. The Lord, a guest (28, 29). b. The Lord, a host (30). c. The Lord revealed (31). 3. The vanishing vision (31). 4. The effect of the vision (32). II. The Risen Christ at Jerusalem (33- 40). 1. The assembly (33). 2. Witnesses and th e ir testimony (34, 35). 3. Jesus in the midst (36-40). a. His message—“peace be unto you” (36). b. His reassuring words (37, 38). c. Visible proofs of the resurrec tion (39, 40). June 14, 1931 The Resurrection and the Ascension
that night in the garden, it seemed as if He h a d n ’t a friend. , Lesson S to r y .— The soldiers who captured Jesus took Him to the high priest’s house. Pe ter was the only disciple who follow ed Him there, and he stayed out in the
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hallway. When people asked him if he was Jesus’ disciple, he said, “No.” Three times they asked him, and three times he said that he didn’t even know Him. He was afraid of the soldiers and of the crowds of people who were trying to hurt Jesus. Just then, Jesus turned and
III.. The Ascension (50, 51). 1. The Lord leading. 2. The Lord blessing. 3. The Lord leaving. 4. The Lord at home.
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