Part 18 (1/2)
<u>Jesus Seeking Out Peter.</u>
And now Mary Magdalene has gotten back to the tomb. In her zeal for the safety of that precious body, she had made quite a journey into the city and back. Her zeal took her quickly to Peter. Her sorrow makes the way back longer. She had been first to come, but had not heard the news that came to her companions. Now she stands at the open tomb weeping. She stoops and looks in to see if it can be really true that _He_ is not there. To her surprise two angel beings are seated, one at each end of where Jesus' body had been lying. They say to her, ”Why are you weeping?”
She replies, ”Because they have taken away _my Lord_, and I know not where they have laid Him.” Turning back in her grief as the words are spoken, she sees some one else standing. Again the same question by this One. Why was she weeping? Whom was she looking for? Her eyes are blinded with the rain of tears. This is likely the man in charge of the garden wherein this family tomb was.
With earnest tones she says, ”Sir, if _thou_ didst carry Him away, tell me where thou didst lay Him and _I_ will have Him taken away.” Then that one word came to her ears, her name, in that unmistakable voice, ”Mary.”
Quicker than a flash came the response, ”_Oh, my Master_!” That same wondrous, quiet voice continues, ”Do not continue to be clinging to Me. I am not yet ascended to my Father. Be going to my brethren and tell them I ascend to My Father and your Father, My G.o.d and your G.o.d.” And Mary quickly departs on her glad errand for Him. She was the first to see His face and hear His voice, and have her hand upon His person, and do something at His bidding.
And now the other women who had been at the tomb in the garden and fled away are on the road approaching the city. As they hurry along, to their utter amazement--here is Jesus in the road approaching them. With a glad smile in His eyes, the old, sweet voice speaks out in rich tones the usual simple salutation of greeting, ”Good morning.” At once they are down on their knees and faces, holding His feet and wors.h.i.+pping. And Jesus softly says, ”Do not be afraid. Go tell my brethren to meet Me in Galilee, up by the old blue waters of the sea.”
While these incidents were occurring, all in such short time, something else is going on of a different sort. The Roman soldiers guarding that tomb had had a great shock. They had been suddenly displaced by another guard. The sacred Roman seal had been ruthlessly broken, the stone rolled back from the opening, and some one sat upon it. Their bewildered, stupefied senses heard the movements and were aware of a strange, blinding light. Then they knew that the body they were to guard was no longer within. That was about as much as they could get together. They hurry to town and tell the chief priests. Quickly the chief priests gather their clique to confer about this new phase. Was there ever such mulish obstinacy? No thought of candid investigation seems to enter their mind.
The way of covering this new difficulty is after all easy. Money will buy the soldiers, and they will do as they are bid. It took a good bit of gold. The soldiers probably were keen to know how to work so good a mine.
And the story was freely circulated that the body was stolen while the soldiers slept.
Peter has gone down the road from the garden toward the city after having satisfied Himself that Jesus was not in the tomb. He was _wondering_ what all this meant. John, lighter of foot, had hurried ahead to his home in the city, very likely to tell the news to Jesus' mother, his own new mother. Peter plods slowly along. There is no need of haste now. He is thinking, wondering, thinking. It was still early morning, with the sweet dew on the ground, and the air so still. Down past some big trees maybe he was walking, deeply absorbed, when--Somebody is by his side. It is the Master! But we must leave them alone together. That was a sacred interview, meant only for Peter.
<u>Made Known in the Breaking of Bread.</u>
The news now quickly spread; the two stories, that of the soldiers, that of the disciples. Folks listened to the one they preferred. Everybody was discussing this new startling appendix to the crucifixion. A bit later in the day two others were walking along one of the country roads leading out of the city, toward a village a few miles away. They jog along slowly as men who are heavy footed with disappointment. They are intently absorbed in conversation, eagerly discussing and questioning about something that clearly puzzled them.
A Stranger, unrecognized, overtakes them and joins in their conversation.
He asks, ”What is this that you are so concerned about?” So absorbed are they with their thoughts, that at His question they stand still, looking sad and unable for a moment to answer. Where would they begin where there was so much? Then one of them says, ”Do you lodge by yourself in the city, and even then do not know the things that have been going on there?” The Stranger draws them out. ”What things?” He says. Thus encouraged, they find relief in unburdening their hearts. It was all about Jesus, a man of great power in word and deed, before G.o.d and all the people; the great cruelty with which the rulers had secured a sentence of death for Him--and--crucified--Him.
”We were, however, hoping,” they said, ”that He was the One who was about to redeem the nation. And now it is the third day since these things occurred. And most surprising word was brought by certain women that has greatly stirred us. They went early to the tomb, and did not find His body, but saw a vision of angels who positively said that He was alive.
And some of our party went there and found it true as the women said.
But--they did not see _Him_.”
Then the Stranger began speaking in a quiet, earnest way that caught them at once. ”O foolish men, so slow you are in heart to believe the messages of the old prophets! Was it not needful that the Christ should suffer these very things and to enter into His glory?” Then He began freely to quote pa.s.sages from all through their sacred writings. As they walk along listening to this wonderful explanation, which now sounds so simple from this Man's lips, they come up to their home in the village. The Stranger seemed inclined to go on. But they earnestly urge Him to come in and get some refreshment and stay over night. He may talk more. They have heard no such winsome talk since Jesus was with them.
He yields. And, as they gather over the simple evening meal, the Stranger picks up the loaf, and looking up repeats the simple grace, and breaking the loaf reaches the pieces over. But as their hands go out for the bread, their eyes turn toward the Stranger's face. Instantly they are spell-bound--_that face_--why--it is the _Master!!_ Then He is not there.
And they said to each other, ”Did you ever hear such talking?” ”My heart was burning all the time He was talking.” ”And mine, too.” Then they hasten back to the city. Those miles are so much shorter now! They go straight to the house where they have been meeting.
”_Even So Send I You_.”
Here were gathered most of the apostles and several others. Eagerly they were discussing the exciting news of the day. Some _know_ that Jesus has risen. Mary Magdalene, with eyes dancing, says, ”I _saw_ Him.” But some are full of doubt and questionings. How _could_ it be? The door is guarded, for if the frenzy of the national leaders should spread, _they_ come next. There's a knock at the door. Cautiously it is opened. Two dusty but radiant faces appear. ”The Lord is risen _indeed_,” they exclaim. And then they tell the story of the afternoon and His wondrous explanation and of that meal.
As they are talking, all at once--who's that?--right in their midst. It looks like Jesus. There is that face with those unmistakable marks. And you can see their eyes quickly searching between the sandal straps. Yes, it looks like Him. But it can't be. Their eyes befool them. It's been a hard day for them. It must be a spirit. As they start back, there comes in that voice they can never forget, the old quiet ”Good evening.”--”Peace unto you.” Then He holds out His hands and feet, saying, ”Do not be troubled--it is I Myself--handle Me, and make sure. A spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Then He said, ”Have you something to eat?” and He ate a bit of broiled fish.
Rea.s.sured by such simple practical evidence, a glad peace fills their hearts and faces. They talk together a bit. Then Jesus rising, said again, ”Peace unto you--as the Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.” Then He breathed strongly upon them, saying in very quiet, solemn tones, ”Receive ye the Holy Spirit--Whosesoever sins ye forgive they are forgiven.
Whosesoever ye retain they are retained.” And again, as they look, He is not there.
But one man was absent that new Sabbath evening hour. Thomas simply could not believe, and would not, without the most sane, common-sense evidence.