St. Benedict s
Father J. C Daly; Pastor
Madoline E: Sterling; reporter
The Altar Society held its weekly
meeting in the Church Club room and
were busily engaged in finishing the
surplaces for the Altar boys, an ex
cellent entertainment is being plan
ned for the near future, by this so
ciety, and more will be said about it
in the next writing, when plans are
more complete. The St. Peter Claver
Guild was entertained by Mrs.
Brooks at it’s last meeting, and the
Coming Easter Breakfast was the
topic of interest to all- The Guild is
working hard to make this event an
outstanding success and it is well
organized to handle the crowd that is
expected to attend. We are very
pleased to see the youth of the church
taking an active interest in the af
fairs of the church; on last Sunday
(Palm Sunday) the Gospel, was read
in English by Mr. Samuel Barton at
the 9:00 o’clock mass; and by Mr j
Alvin Goodwin at the 10:15 mass
St. Benedict’s Church was well re
presented at the Large Banquet giv
en by the NAACP. at the Northside
“Y” last Monday evening is honor of
Mrs- Daisy Lampkin, National Field
Secretary. Rev. Father Daly, the
Pastor made a short but very impres
sive talk to the group, and the Cru
saders Quartette, furnished the mu
sical numbers. Mrs- Fields, who is an
active worker in the organization
was largely responsible for the in
vitation. Those who sang were: Mr.
George Barton, Mr- Robert Floyd,
Mr. Willie Harris and Mr- Alvin
Goodwin, Mrs. Sterling accompanied,
and assisted by singing the alto
Don’t forget The Easter Breakfast
next Sunday morning, at St- Bene
dict’s dining room, everyone is invit
ed the cost is very small
Christ Temple
O. J- Burckhardt, Pastor
J. W. Goodwin, Assistant Pastor
Mrs. Verda Gordon, Reporter
We had a splendid service Sunday
beginning with the Sunday School.
At 11 a. m- the pastor brought us a
splendid message on Christian char
acter building- And at 8 p. m- Elder
Tandem ore brought us a message the
great subject of man and God’s rela
tionship to him.
Our Bible Classes and institutes
are very interesting. Sunday we will
have our usual Easter services begin
ning at 7 p. m- We will have an Eas
ter program followed by an Easter
message by the pastor. The public is
cordially invited to attend these
services.
The Missionary Band under the
presidency of Deaconness Willie
Vann rendered a splendid program
Monday night- The Trustees have on
a financially rally for the month
of May. We are looking forward to
accomplish much good thru these
agencies.
CHURCH OF GOD
2025 North 24th Street
The Omaha Guide
Recommends
The State
Furniture Go.
Corner 14th and Dodge
Streets. As One of the Most
Reliable and Accomodating
Firms to Buy from.
Prices the Lowest
and
Terms the Easiest
Ross
Drug
Store
Now Located
At
2122 N. 24th SL
We. 2770
M. E. Ashley, Pastor
E. V. Dixon, Assistant Pastor
Mrs* B* M. Welch, reporter
Sunday was a great day. The Sun
day School was full of interest- At
11 a- m- the Assistant Pastor brought
a message, the name of the church,
Isaiah 62 chapter, 2nd verse, at 8:30
p. m- Her message was wash you,!
make you clean, put away the evil of ]
your doings, from before mine eyes-'
Close to do evil- Isaiah 1st chapter
and the 16th verse
Cleaves Temple
The Sunday School was opened at
9:45 by the assistant superintendent,
Mr. Earnest Wiley. There was a
large number present- The Sunday
School is planning many different
affairs this season. One of the most
unique affairs of the very near fu
ture will be an Easter Egg 'Hunt- All
young people are welcome to come
and hunt eggs. The egg hunt will
begin at 5:30 o’clock p. m. The
young people of Cleaves Temple Sun
day School will present an Easter
Pageant- Mrs. Beatrice Gray is in
charge. She has been working hard
to reproduce this wonderful dramatic
pageant. Some of the leading, young
society girls and boys of our city are
in this pageant. It will really be
worth seeing
On Easter Sunday morning at 5:30
the young people will have an early
Easter service. This service will con
sist chiefly of singing Easter songs.
Sunday was a glorious day in
Cleaves Temple. The pastor, Rev- O
A- Calhoun, preached a noble sermon
His text was taken from Matthews
21:10- He based his argument on the
last mile of Jesus’ Life. He talked of
the triumphant entery. With vivid
words he painted the picture of the
Christ as he entered Jerusalem amid
throngs and throngs who made their
pilgrimage to this great mecca of
Christianity to celebrate the pass
over- In part, he said: “Christ enter
ed Jerusalem amid crowds, who were
rejoicing shouting and singing. Some
strew psalm branches before him,
while others spreaded their clothes
for his beast to trod upon. But six
days later he went out bearing the
cross on his shoulders and lashes on
his back- This same crowd were the
ones who did it.” Then he talked of
the falsity of man; how they pat
each other on the back just as long
as he thinks he can use you or as
long as they think you are going to
do something to advance their selfish
aims- ,
.Then He said: “The world looks at
success in the wrong way. We can
not count success in terms of dollars
and numbers. If we do, then, Christ
was a failure. He did not do what
the people expected of him
He did not enter in style and splend
or. He did not enter on a roving
steed of war, bue he entered on the
peaceful and humble animal of the
lowly, yet carrying out an ancient
custom.” He talked of the few who
followed Jesus, and how men must
have what their appetites call for at
the cost of their Christian integrity
Sunday evening at 3 o’clock the
K- C. P-’s had their annual sermon
The pastor, Rev. A- O. Calhoun,
preached the sermon- Everything
went over in a grand style and their
program was enjoyed by all.
The foward Stept Club gave a
program and baby contest, Sunday
night- The house was packed. The
Junior Choir made its first appear
ance. Everybody enjoyed their me
lodious singing. At the close of the
program, the babies were awarded
prizes Mjrs- Flowilda Anderson’s
baby was awarded first prize- Mrs.
Thomas baby awarded second prize,
and Mrs- Eva Mae Hayes’ baby was
awarded third prize
As I go to Press there is an un
usual racket about the unknown
groom He sure has stirred the ladies
up. Ten ladies are saying they are
going to marry him. The pastor is
trying to uphold the status of this
country. He says can’t but one
marrythis man- But the thing that
has puxxled the men which man is it
The men have become stirred up too
We will all find out Monday night,
April 2nd. Purchase your ticket and
witness this scene- The admission
is only 15 cents
Charles Stallworth—Reporter.
Salem Baptist Church
22nd and Seward St.
Rev. E- W- Anthony-Pastor.
Minnie Harris—Reporter
The Sunday School opened at 9:30
a. m- with Supt- Wesley presiding.
Since this was a review lesson each
department was combined Everyone
seemed to be getting much from
their quarters work. The officers and
teachers have done much in stimulat
ing interest among the pupils.
The eleven o’clock services was well
attended by the members- Everyone
was elated over the fact of being in
the main auditorium. Our pastor
brought to us a very helpful message.
His subject was “Jesus and the
City,“ Test 41 chapter of Luke and
the -7th verse
At 3 o’clock p. m. the NAACP held
a mass meeting at our church. Feat
uring Mrs- Daisy Lamkin as the
principal speaker. The aroused much
enthusiasm among the people of
Omaha. We welcome the NAACP
again
The B. Y. P. U. opened at 5:45
p- m. with President Rosenbaugh
presiding. Group No- 2. rendered a
wonderful program. Mrs- A. D.
Turner gave a short talk on Mission.
President Qooper explained bo the
Union the contest between the groups
which began next Sunday. Each
group will see who can give the
best programs- The judges will
judge several ^points such as group
appearance, constructive deliverance
and so on.
You are welcome to Salem at all
times. ,
St. John A. M. E. Church
“The Friendly Church*”
22nd and Williams Ave.
Rev L P Bryant—Pastor.
The bright and beautiful sunshine
brought out a big crowd last Sunday
to all services- Now that Spring is
here and the cold weather is about
gone, we hope that more and more
will come each Sunday and take a
ne wstand to give more service to the
cause of Christ.
Rev. Bryant preached from the
27th chapter of Matt, and the 10th
verse- He preached a sermon very
fitting for the day, Psalm Sunday.
It was a full day for Rev. Bryant
and his choir sang over station
“KOIL,” and at 7:45 p. m. the choir
gave its regular 4th Sunday night
all request program, after which the
NAACP presented Miss Daisy E
Lampkins of Pittsburgh, Pa-, who
gave a very strong address in which
she showed horn important it was for
all colored people to join the NAACP.
The church was very pleased at
the morning services to have Mrs
Maumice Booth and little Evelyn to
join the Church on the confession of
faith and in the evening to have Mrs
W. R. Johnson to renew her cov
enent.
,The sick of the church are Mrs.
Made Ray Miss Mable Ray, Mrs. S.
M. C- Baker and Brother M. Wright
We wish for all a speedy recovery.
Nxet Sunday is Easter Sunday and
will be a full day at St. John. At 9
a. m. the Sunday school will have
its Easter Program- At 10:45 a. m.
the Pastor will preach his regular
Easter Sermon- and at 7:45 p. m. the
Choir under the direction of Mr. H
L Preston and assisted by Mrs. H.
L. Preston and Miss Tamar O’Neil
will render a Cantata, “The King in
Zion.”
Now that winter is over, the of
ficers and teachers of the Sunday
school are asking the parents to send
all children to Sunday school on time
at 9:30 a- m. and are invited to come
and see and hear the Children in
their Easter Program- In fact the
officers and teachers would be very
pleased to have them attend Sunday
School each Sunday morning. Why
not make yourself feel young again
by attending Sunday School? Watch
for your Church, Social and Club
news in The Omaha Guide. It is very
pleased to keep you informed.
Morning: Star B. Y. P. U.
Among the events of the season
was an Excelsor Spring Social spon
sored by the Morning Star B. Y. P.
U. Friday night, March 23, 1934 at
the home of Mr. and Mrs- G. W.
Stromile. The home was beautiful
ly decorated in green and white with
beautiful flowers and ferns every
where representing Springtime.
The table setting was very elabo
ate. Mrs. V. B. Lewis and Mrs.
Lee McGee was in charge of serv
ing. Mr. Lee Bryant, Mr. Paul
Saunders, Mr. Volley Saunders of
Pilgrim Baptist Church, and Mr. j
Lewis Stromile who served on the en
tertainment committee spared no
pains in making it pleasant for every
one. The evening was spent enjoy
ing different games, such as the
Donkey Party, Bean Guessing and
son, the charming daughter of Mr
and Mrs. Lewis Artison was chosen
as sweetheart of the evening. She
was presented with a beautiful bo
puet of sweet peas. Mrs. Lewis made
the presentation with a beautiful
boquet of sweet peas. Miss Connie
Dent wa sawarded the first prize in
the Donkey Party; Mr. John Rogers
was awarded the booby prize. Mrs.
A. M. Jones was awarded first
prize in the Bean Guessing contest.
Mrs. Smith, the booby prize. A hun
dred and thirty attended this affair.
The B. Y. P. N. is progressing un
der the leadership of Mr. Lewis
Stromile. Visit our B. Y. P. U.
You are welcome.
Lewis Stromile—President
Rev. J. S. Banks—Pastor.
SEEING WHITE
.-By A- B. Mann.
The saddest feature of this un
fortunate color affliction is that it
intrudes itself into the realm of re
ligion, the very last place in which
it should find lodging- Perhaps it
would be better to say the realm of
Christianity, for though sad to admit,
Christianity is the only religion the
votaries of whidi are so largely in
fluenced by race prejudice. It s the
only religion which allows the posion
of race-hatred to impede its progress
and nulify its influence to so great an
extent- It is sad to know that the
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to thank the many kind friends and the
members of the R. R. Waiters’ Ass’n., for their
heartfelt sympathy and words of condolence in our
recent bereavement in the loss of our dear daughter
wife, and sister, Irene King Langley.
The Family
white man, especially the American
white man, sees white, even in reli
gon
In all fairness it must be emphasiz
ed that what has been said has to do
not with the principles of Christiani
ty, but the practice of those who pro
fess to believe and honor those prin
ciples. The most hopeful aspect of
the whole affair is that there are
thousands who are able to distinguish
between the religion of Jesus and the
sins of His latter day disciples. The
black folk of America must make this
distinctios or become atheists, for if
they believed God to be biased as the
professing white Christians, they
would repudiate Him; and reasonab
ly so!
Not long ago a missionary from In
dia wras telling of the hardships and
handicaps in the work there- She de
clared that race prejudice is the most
severe handicap under which mission
aries are placed- Sad! Yes, it is sad
that the American white Christians
and other wThite Christians should
thus hinder the work for which they
sacrifice
—
LOOKING BACK
Ignoring Parents in Selection of
Mates.
By Videtta Ish
It used to be that a girl would nev
er consider marriage without first
“talking it over” with her mother
But these days, a girl will “become
engaged” and then tell mother “I’m
going to marry Tom,” And boys
would consider any father a meddler
if he’d attempt to advise in these
things, as serious as they are
No sensible person would contend
that parents should select mates for
their children. There is logic in the
contention that parents selected for
themselves and the children have the
same right. But being older and
wiser, parents are in a position to
give acfvide this very serious
matter. This manifestation of inde
pendence and this precipates rushing
into marriage without or against the
advice of parents is responsible for
much of the martial trouble in the
world today
MAXIE MILLER WRITES
For The Literary Service Bureau
Older sister’s fellow loves younger
sister—big sis says she’ll never for
give little sis—refuse him, Anna B.
and give her a chance to win him
back—if she cannot, then take him
if you love him and can trust him
For advice,write to Maxie Miller,
care of Literary Service Bureau, 516
Minnesota Ave- Kansas City Kans
For personal reply, send self addres
sed, stamped envelope.
Maxie Miller: My older sister has
a beau- They got along swimmingly
till I came home from school and he
fell in love with me- I declare be
fore God I did not try to take him,
but he just came- Now, he wants
to marry me. My sister sees and
she’s almost crasy. She blames me
and says she’ll never forgive me if
I take him- He says he doesn’t love
her and never will marry her- I do
love him and I think he’d make me a
good husband, but I hate to hurt my
sister. What must I do?—Anna B
Anna B: This is an unfortunate
affair, but it often happens so- Your
sister is hurt, her pride is wounded
but she takes the wrong attitude- If
I were you, I’d refuse his attentions
Tell him you will not marry him;
give your sister a chance to win him
back if she can. Then, if he still
loves you and refuses t marry her,
take him and the consequences—
Maxie Miller.
Risen With Christ
By R. A- Adams
(For The Literary Service Bureau)
If Jesus Christ did not arise,
If it is naught but cunning lies
That angels rolled the stone away,
And He arose from death, that day,
Then evermore it will remain
Our faith and hope are all in vain
If Christ arose not from the tomb,
Then sad and hopeless is our doom;
For all the dead are perished then,
If Christ did not arise again—
But Christ arose and we can sing
“0, death, where is thy boasted
sting-”
Yes, Christ arose and bo may we,
By virtue of His victory,
Though dead In trepasses and sin
Arise, a new life to begin.
Then, let us join with heart and
voice
And in Christ’s victory rejoice.
“Resurgam”
(I SHALL RISE AGAIN)
By R. A. Adams
(For The Literary Service Bureau)
As a general thing, our considers
tion of Easter has to do with the re
surrection of Jesus and its signifi
cance as a pledge of our own resur
■ recion from the dead- But while it
means more. Its benefits do not wait
for the end of things and the final re
surrection
It is well known that the term re
surrection comes from the Latin i
“surgo" to rise; and that resurgam'
means “I shall rise again.” This title |
is used in order to emphasize the
second meaning specified.
The thought in mind is not that of
the final resurrection but of the
possibility of arising from conditions
detrimental, destructive and inimi
cable, to better conditions; a resur
rection from the deepest degradation
to a higher plane of life and service;
from the sepulchre of buried faith,
and hope, to a new elevation of in-1
spiration and of trust; from the death;
of sin to a life of righteousness, to
“walk from henceforth in the new
ness of life.”
The grain of wheat, a gram of
corn, an acorn or a mustard seed be
ing planted, might cry with- assur
ance “Resurgam”—I shall rise
again! So, the lowliest, the meanest,
the most degraded, the most deprav
ed of men may take hope, and with
faith and courage born anew, cry
“Resurgam ” All this comes through
the resurrection of Jesus, hence as
such, merits a place in consideration
and enumeration of Easter blessings- j
ID might be added that to rise with ■
Christ one must die the death to sin;
the old nature must be “crucified,
dead and buried,” in order to be “ris
en with Christ” to the newer and
better life.
Weekly Short Sermon
By Dr. A. G- Bearer
THE RESURRECTION DAWN
(For The Literary Service Bureau)
In the end of the sabbath, as it be
gan to dawn toward the first day of
the week, came Mary Magdalene and
the other Mary to see the sepulchre •
. • And the angel said He is not here:
for he is risen, as he said.—St. Mat
thew 28:1-6
The story of the dawn of the re
surrection morning is of greater
significance than the immediate con
quest of the powers of death and the
gTave- As it concerns humanity it in
volves and includes other glorious
things
1. Dawn of Hope- It was the
dawn of new hope- The disciples,
themselves, had become hopeless
They had given up in despair- When ,
they knew that the tomb had been
sealed with the seal of the Roman
governor, and that a guard of sixty
Roman soldiers was there, they lost
hope. But new hope was born when
the women reported having seen the
Lord
2. Confirmation of Prophecy
Failure of the resurrection of Jesus
would have meant the failure of pro
phecy concerning Him. Inspired, Dav
id had proclaimed, “For thou wilt
not leave my soul in hell; neither
wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to
see corruption.” It is generally con
ceded that this refers to Christ and
that it was fulfilled in His resur
rection
3- The Revival of Faith. The faith
of the disciples had failed- The i
spokesman of the two on the way to
Emmaus, said, “We had trusted that
it was he who would redeem Israel-”
Note, “had trusted,” showing their
faith had failed. The story of Tho
mas, the doubter, is too familiar to
need enlargement, here- His conver
sion and the cry, “My Lord, and my
God,” are representatives of the
sentiments of the others whose faith
was buried in Joseph’s tomb and
raised with Christ in His resurrect
ion
4. Triumph, Divine and Human.
The first Easter morning was a day
of glorious triumph. On Calvary
death had won what seemed to be a
complete victory. In the sepulchre
slept the destiny of the world- But,
according to St. Paul, rising. “He led
captivity captive.” In Revelation 1:18
John makes Jesus declare, I am he
that was dead and liveth again; and
behold I am alive forevermore- Paul
emphasized that “we are risen with
Christ;” and boasting and defying
the powers of darkness cried, “O,
death, where is thy sting; O, grave,
where is thy victory.”
Considering all these, well might
the people of the earth sing their
songs of triumph at this glorious
Easter season.
Better Homes Ease Fin
ancing
In the effort to speed recovery,
there can be no greater service to the
nation at large than to stimulate pri
vate construction—both by creating a
wider demand for homes, and by
making financing easier.
A start has been made, through
the Home Loan Banks, toward loos
ening credit for residential building
Building and loan groups, as the'
leaders of a number of them have
said, should follow. The home-builder
himself can help by building a high
er-quality structure, both for reasons
of economy and comfort, and because
the better the home, the more worthy
it is of a loan.
Nowadays there is no excuse for
building poorly. Methods and mater
ials have been improved—and depres
sion has actually forwarded progress
in this field, due to the need to make
sales appeal stronger than ever- The
jerry-built home is doomed
Is a house fire-resistant? Is it rig
id in construction? Will maintenance
cost be low ? Has it the modern con
veniences that wise buyers demand?
I These and similar questions, answer
ed in the affirmative, point the way
to better homes for America.
“The weekly press is essential to
sane and good government and radi
cal legislators who would endeavor
; to cripple it by freak laws . . should
get little consideration.” — Howard
Africa, Publisher, Leader, Limon
Colorado.
CHORUS OF 350 SING IN
WESTCHESTER MUSICAL
FESTIVAL
New York City—(CNS)—A Negro
r chorous of 350 voices was the feat
| ure of the second night of the three
day Westchester Musical Festival at
White Plains on Thursday, Friday
and Saturday nights, May 17, 18 and
19.
Groups from Yonkers and Tuckahoe
rehearsed under Austin Burleigh,
while other groups from White Plains !
and Tarrytown prepared under Arsel
Emanuel’s direction- Mr. Burleigh
conducted the full chorous on May 18
in “Go Down, Moses,“ “Steal Away,”
I “Deep River” and “Certainly, Lord ”
Mr- Sander Harmati conducted
“Swing Low Sweet Chariot,” “I Got
Religion,” “Fare Ye Well” and “Lift
Every Voice-”
‘Nuts — Raspberries — Ap
plesauce’
.__
WASHINGTON, March 28 — (CN
S)—Barbers under the dome of the
Capitol have to cut prices to meet
competition in the New House Office
Building—a sign outside the shining
barber shop in the swanky office
building reads: “Hair cuts, 25 cents;
shave, 15 cents ”
For years the barbers in the House
side of the Capitol and in the old of
fice building have charged 50 cents
for a hair cut and 25 cents for a
shave- But the new office building
was put up and a new bunch of bar
bers let in- They saw a chance for1
business, and promptly started to
trim both Congressional locks and
prices to the tune of a quarter.
The other barbers let out a wail
! They took their case to Joseph Sin
not, doorkeeper, who has charge of
j the barbershops in the Capitol and
the old office building- Now he has
put out new orders- All House hair
cuts are to be two bits and shaves 15
cents, just about 50 per cent below
prices in other parts of town
And now the barbers interpret N.
R- A- to signify—“Nuts, Raspberries,
Applesauce” along with many others
‘Little Willie’ Jones Buy
Jimmie Walker’s Cast •
Off Dusenberg
' -
NEW YORK CITY, March 28—(C
NS)—In May 1930 when Jimmie
W alker was mayor of New York the
city purchased for him a Dusenberg
Limousine for $7,000, the agency
knocking off $9,500 because it want
ed the Mayor to drive it for adver
tising purposes. Now William Jones,
a Lenox Avenue celebrity known to
Harlem night friends as “Little Wil
lie” Jones is the owner of the $16,500
Dusenberg, with the bird-of-prey on
the radiator cap.
The well known man-about-Harlem
confided to friends that he had been
jnore impressed by the automobile
than its history and that he bought
it because it was a bargain at $5,900
and that, anyhow, his wife “wanted
something swell and proper for her
use”
For some months, the ear like
Walker, has been out of sight and
out of mind- It has been gathering
dust in the municipal garage, Avenue
C and Sixteenth Street, where it was
interned on the second day of the I
McKee regime- A city permit was re
quired before one could seet it- The
Walker automobile is a convertible
town car capable of making 110 miles
an hour and outfitted with every
thing from a portable bar to a horn
that runs the musical scale is his
own secret. Jones bought the car on
January 9, 1934, from Fred C- Hilton
used car dealer- Hilton made an ap
parent profit of $2500 on the sale, as
he had bought the car from the city
for $3,400- The transaction between
Jones and Hilton, however, was a
time-payment deal Jones turning in a
used limousine in part payment
Willie Jones is of medium height,
usually dressed in the latest sporting
fashion, goes in foe fawn spats and
affects camel’s hair coats and wears
a black derby most of the time.
Hartsville, S. C. Gives $25 to
N. A. A. C. P. Fund
NEW YORK, March 23—The Nat
ional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People has received
a check for $25 from Dr- George W
Johnson of Hartsville, N. C. as that
city’s contribution to the Cent-A-Ne
gro 25th Anniversary Fund of the
Association There is no branch of the
Association in Hartsville but the
money was raised with the coopera
tion of club women, ministers, school
teachers and private citizens- The
sum represents one cent for each
Negro in Hartsville- In his letter of
transmittal Dr. Johnson writes: “I
think it would be fine to make this
an annual affair for getting funds
for the NAACP-” Efforts are being
made to establish an NAACP- branch
in Hartsville
IMPROVEDmkdmMl
UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY I
chool Lesson
(By REV. P. B. FITZWaTER, D D
Member of Faculty, Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago.)
©, 1954, W’©stern Newspaper Union.
.. ' ' " ' . . —
Lesson for April 1
THE CHRIST RISEN
(Easter Lesson)
LESSON TEXT—John 20:1-29.
GOLDEN TEXT—If ye then he risen
with Christ, seek those things which
are above, where Christ sitteth on the
right hand of God.—Col. 3:1.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIC—Living With the Living Christ.
' YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC—The Reality of the Resurrection.
The resurrection of Christ is one of
the foundation truths of Christianity.
It Is the grand proof that Christ was
{what he claimed to be, the Messiah,
the Son of God (Matt. 12:29-40; John
2:19-21).
I. The Empty Tomb (vv. 1-10).
John does not enter into a descrip
tion of the resurrection of Christ, or
give any proof other than the empty
tomb and that Jesus had repeatedly
manifested himself afterward. To see
the body of Christ disfigured with a
■pear thrust and nail prints, and the
empty tomb, was all that faith needed,
tn this lesson John describes the proc
esses of his own conviction touching
Christ's resurrection.
1. The testimony of Mary Magda
lene (vv. 1, 2). Thig woman, out of
whom Jesus had cast seven demons
(Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2), announced
fhe fact of the empty tomb to E’eter
nnd John. Prompted by great love to
him for his kindness to her, she went
early to the tomb even “when it was
yet dark.” She had realized great good
at his hand, therefore she could not
test until she had done her utmost for
him. The measure of one’s service for
phrist is the degree in which he real
izes the benefits conferred.
2. Personal investigation by Peter
■nd John (vv. 8-10). The news of the
empty tomb which Mary brought so
moved John and Peter that they both
tan to investigate. Their investigation
■ssured them of the reality of the res
urrection. The removal of the stone
from the sepulcher, and the arrange
ment of the grave clothes, convinced
Ihem that this would not have been
flone by an enemy. v
II. The Manifestations of the Risen
Lord (vv. 11-29).
1. To Mary Magdalene (vv. 11-18).
a. Mary weeping at the empty tomb
(v. 11). Peter and John went home
but Mary could not. She stood ther%
weeping. She really shv^ld have been
rejoicing that the grave was empty.
b. Mary questioned by the angels'
(vv. 12, 13). Through her tears she;
saw angels at the tomb who inquired
as to the cause of her sorrow.
c. Jesus revealed himself to Mary
(vv. 14-16). She first saw the angels!
and then her eyes lighted upon the;
Lord. She did not recognize him la
his resurrection body but his voice was,
familiar to her. As soon c? he called!
her by name she recognized him and
fell at his feet weeping.
d. Jesus forbade her to touch him
• (v. 17). This showed that she was now
coming into a new relationship to him.,
Besides this, the disciples were still la|
doubt and sorrow. ‘‘Go tell my breth
ren” was the message she must carry.
e. Mary’s testimony (v. 18). She told
the disciples that she had seen the
Lord.
2. To the disciples (w. 19-20). This
Is the first appearance to the disciples
as a body. For fear of the Jews they
met in a private room and barred the
door. While they were discussing the
strange happenings of the day, the
Lord mysteriously appeared among
them.
a. When Thomas was absent (w.
19-23).
(1) His message of peace (V. JW).
He did not come with censure for their -
failure and desertion. Their conduct
merited censure, but his consideration
was too tender for that
(2) He showed his hands and Us
side (▼. 30). Haring, calmed their
fears be gave them unmistakable evi
dence of hla resurrection.
(3) He commissioned. them (v. 21).
“As my Father hath sent me, even so
send I you.” This commission was not
simply to the eleven but to all the be
lievers (Luke 24:88).
(4) He bestowed the Holy Spirit
upon them (v. 22). He breathed on
them and said unto them, "Receive ye
the Holy Ghost." Only as empowered
by tfae Holy Ghost can a disciple go
forward as a successful witness foi •
hla Lvrd.
(5) The disciples’ authority (v. 28).
This authority was not by virtue of
office but by virtue of having the Holy
Ghost
b. When Th etnas was present (rr.
24-29). His absence deprived him of a
vision of the Lord.
(1) The victory of slaht and tc^Ui
(w. 24-28). Jesus graclOTsly sup^K
the evidence which Thomas needed.
(2) Greater blessing for those who {
,m» only by faith (r. 29).