1.   And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2   And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb when the sun was risen. 3   And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb? 4   and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great. 5   And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed. 6   And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him! 7   But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 8   And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid. 9.   Now when he was risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10   She went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11   And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved.

Verses 1, 2. Who was "last at the cross and first at the tomb?" Had all been done when they had hastily laid Him in the tomb? What had these women now come to do?

Verses 3, 4. What troubled them especially as they drew near the tomb? Was it a large stone? What else would have prevented, of which perhaps they knew nothing? Matt. 27:65, 66. But what, to their astonishment did they find?

Verses 5-7. What further amazement awaited them within the tomb? Of what did the "young man" assure them? What proof did he offer them? Matt. 28:5. On what errand did he send them?

Verse 8. Who met them on the way? (Matt. 28:8-10). Did they carry the message through to the disciples? What is meant by "they said nothing to any one?" (See Notes).

Verses 9-11. To whom did the Lord appear specially? Comp. John 20:11-19. Why did not the disciples believe?

      Upon the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ rests the whole truth of the gospel. If Christ was not raised then our faith is vain, and we are yet in our sins. In that case those who fell asleep in Jesus, being deluded by [228] a false hope, are lost and perished. (1 Cor. 15:13-19). If this pillar falls, the whole gospel and all the true faith falls with it. But thanks be unto God, it stands fast, against all the attacks of unbelief, against all the folly of proud "Higher Criticism," which has surrendered the truth, against all the false doctrines and systems of our day which deny His actual, bodily resurrection--the fact of the Resurrection stands, buttressed by the most unexceptionable evidence. We have a Savior who has conquered death. He is the First and Last and the Living One, who was dead and is alive for evermore, and has the keys of the prison-house of death and Hades. (Rev. 1:18).

      The death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord has a further and most personal significance for each of us. Since He died in our stead, and for us, His death is reckoned to us, and our old self is crucified in it; in His burial we are buried; in His resurrection we come forth endued with a new life and power--the Lord's resurrection life. (Rom. 6:3-11; Phil. 3:10). [229]

Source: Fourth Lord's Day Lesson of June. Lesson 12. June 23, 1918. Jesus Triumphs over Death (Mark