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.
      19.   So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
      20   And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.

Questions and Brief Comments.

Verse 1. When was the sabbath past? (At sunset Saturday). Why did they wait till the sabbath was past? (The Law required it).

Verse 2. When did they come to the tomb (day and time of day)? What for? (v. 1).

Verse 3. What question arose in their minds? WOuld they have been able to do that themselves? Why not? (See last of v. 4). What sort of tomb was this? (Matt. 27:60).

Verse 4. When they arrived at the tomb what did they find? Who had [120] rolled the stone away? (Matt. 28:2).

Verse 5. Did the women go into the tomb? What did they see? How was the young man dressed? Was it a man? (Matt. 28:5). How were they affected?

Verse 6. What did the "young man" say to them? Why was Jesus of Nazareth not there? What did the angel show the women? (See in John 20:6, 7 what marked the place where He had been laid).

Verse 7. With what message did the angel charge the women? To whom were they to carry it? What possible reason for Peter's being mentioned specially? Did the disciples see the risen Lord before they went to Galilee? (Luke 24:13-43).

Verse 8. What effect did all this have on the women? Did they actually carry the message? (Yes: Luke 24:9). Did they see Jesus Himself before? (Matt. 28:8-10).

Verse 19. What had the risen Lord just spoken to them? (See vs. 15, 16. Comp. Matt. 28:16-20; Luke 24:44-49). When He ascended where did He go? Where did He sit down? Is He still there? Till when? (Acts 3:21; Heb. 1:13).

NOTES AND TEACHING-POINTS.

"EASTER" LESSON.

      This lesson does not follow in regular order. Why not? It is chosen for today because it is "Easter;" celebrated as the anniversary of our Lord's resurrection. However, the Lord never sanctioned the keeping of "Easter" as a special holy day, nor any other "holy" days or seasons. The one and only day that has any prominence for the Christian is the first day of the week, every first day of the week. (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2). No "Lent," or "Good Friday," was ever authorized or enjoined upon us to keep. The new covenant knows no religious seasons or festivals. (Gal. 4:10; Col. 2:16-17).

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.

      The momentous importance of the Savior's resurrection is emphasized throughout the New Testament. It demonstrated His victory over sin and death. (Rev. 1:18). It was proof of His Divine Sonship and Messiahship. (Rom. 1:4). The resurrection sealed the validity of His claim and of all the work He came to do. Without the Resurrection we should have only an executed and dead Savior. But by His resurrection He reversed the sentence of man, and broke the shackles of death and Hades, obtained the control over that dark and evil power.

IF CHRIST BE NOT RISEN.

      If Christ be not risen, says the Apostle Paul, then

      1. Our preaching is vain. (1 Cor. 15:14).

      2. Your faith is also vain. (1 Cor. 15:14).

      3. The apostles were false witnesses. (1 Cor. 15:15).

      4. Ye are yet in your sins. (1 Cor. 15:17).

      5. Then they also that are fallen asleep in Jesus have perished. (1 Cor. 15:18).

      6. We are of all men most pitiable. (1 Cor. 15:19).

      7. We might as well "eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." (1 Cor. 15:32). [121]

THE TESTIMONY TO THE RESURRECTION.

      The circumstances of Christ's resurrection, as set for by the testimony of His witnesses, were such as to preclude all mistake or deception or wilful perversion. That the tomb was found open and empty cannot be denied, and not explanation of that open, empty tomb is possible, except that which is given in the New Testament. The new empty tomb, the great stone before the tomb, the Roman guard and the Roman seal, the full-moon of the passover-week. the grave-clothes left behind in the sepulchre, the weakness and fearfulness of the disciples, forbid any though of theft, even if there had been a motive for such a deep, which was not the case. The witnesses were slow to believe, hard to convince, but once assured, they proclaimed the wondrous truth of His resurrection, though they were paid for their testimony by persecution, prison, stripes, and death. They had nothing to gain by it in an earthly way, but lost all things willingly. The witnesses were so many in number, and their knowledge of His actual bodily resurrection came by so many varied and palpable proofs, as to exclude all possibility of mistake or imaginary vision. They were perfectly competent to testify. Their gospel is also attested by the profound and powerful influence for good it has exerted through many centuries over unnumbered millions of human beings, so that, if it were false, we should be obliged to confess that a foolish falsehood brought more blessing to mankind than all the combined wisdom and truth of the world ever did. The resurrection of the Christ was predicted in the Old Testament scriptures, centuries before it came to pass. (Ps 16; Isa 53).

QUESTIONS FOR CLASS USE.

1. Who came first to the tomb?
2. What did they come for?
3. When did they arrive at the tomb?
4. Why were they troubled about the stone at the door?
5. But how did they find it?
6. Whom did they see in the tomb?
7. What did the "young man" tell them?
8. What evidence did he offer them that Jesus was risen?
9. To whom were the women sent?
10. What appointment did the Lord make with them?
11. How were the women affected by all this?
12. What had the risen Lord spoken to the disciples? (v. 19. See Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:46-51).
13. Where did He go?
14. What did His disciples do? (But not until Pentecost).
15. Who did the Lord work with them and confirm His word?

Source: Second Lord's Day Lesson of April. Lesson 2. April 8, 1928. The Resurrection (Mark 16:1-8, 19, 20). The