Notes on Lesson for December 30.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
JESUS APPEARS TO HIS DISCIPLES.
LATE in the afternoon of the day on which Christ rose, two disciples started to return to their home at Emmaus, about eight miles from Jerusalem. The crucifixion of Christ and the exciting news of the morning had destroyed their interest in the passover, and, confused and discouraged, they wished to leave the crowd, and be where no one could witness their humiliation. They did not credit the story that Christ had risen from the dead. They still believed that he was a mighty prophet, but thought he had been deceived in regard to his Messiahship. "AND it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near and went with them." These disciples were anxious to know the truth in regard to what had just happened; it filled their minds completely. And Jesus, knowing their perplexity and their honesty of purpose, drew near to enlighten them. In like manner he will ever guide those who candidly and seriously desire to know the truth. He will ever guide those who sincerely try to serve him. These disciples were talking about Jesus, and he came into their company; if Christians would make Christ and his truth the subject of conversation when they are together, they would not so often be in darkness. His presence would accompany them, and would fill their minds with light. This truth always holds good: "If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine." "But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel." Here is shown the condition of mind of the disciples. Their hope that Jesus was the Messiah was gone, and yet they had no word of unbelief in him and his work. They knew that he had been "a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and the people." The evidence of his miracles and teachings could not be denied; they unmistakably proved him to be more than a mere man. Both God and man had honored his work, and they would not detract from the honor due him. Indeed they had no idea of denying anything; their minds were simply confused, and they did not know how to properly connect the events that had transpired. "To-day is the third day since these things were done." The question has been asked, "How can the fact that Christ was in the tomb only a part of three days be harmonized with Matt. 12:40, where it is said that he would be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights?" In view of this seeming discrepancy, some have endeavored to show that Christ was crucified on Wednesday or Thursday, instead of Friday. But we think such a position is untenable; the crucifixion evidently took place on Friday, and the resurrection on Sunday. We think an explanation of the difficulty may be found in Christ's own words. In Matt. 12:40, as before quoted, he stated that the time would be three days and three nights. But in Mark 9:30 he said, "The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him, and after he is killed, he shall rise the third day." See also Matt. 16:21; 20:19; Mark 10:34; Luke 18:32, 33. To show how long a time is meant by the expression "the third day," see Luke 13:32: "Behold I cast out devils, and I do cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected." This corresponds exactly with the length of time Jesus lay in the grave, so that his words in Mark 9:30, and the other passages referred to, were exactly fulfilled; the disciple himself said "to-day is the third day since these things were done," thus agreeing with the predictions of Christ. We are then forced to the conclusion that among the Jews the expressions, "three days and nights," or, "three days and three nights," and the third day," are used to designate the same period of time. At any rate they were so used by Christ in reference to his burial. We find examples of this in the Old Testament. Esther told Mordecai to gather the Jews together that were in Shushan, and fast, neither eating nor drinking night or day, and she would do the same and then go in to the king. Esther 4:16. Here we have an expression equivalent to that in Matt. 12:40. Now mark the fulfillment of her promise. In chapter 5:1, we read that "on the third day" Esther put on her royal apparel, and went to the king. Again in Gen. 42:17-20 we read that Joseph put his brethren in ward three days, that he released them on the third day. From these examples it appears that, according to Jewish custom, it did not require three full days, or seventy-two hours, to meet the expression "three days and three nights;" but that it was applied to a period of time covering a part of one day, the whole of another, and a part of the third. For a full exposition of this subject, see Volume 7, No. 5, of the SIGNS, bearing date of Feb. 3, 1881. prophecies concerning Christ. If the disciples had read and understood these prophecies, they would not have been so confused. So Christ calls them fools (thoughtless persons) because they had not discerned the import of that with which they had all their lives been familiar. Take away the Old Testament, or destroy men's confidence in it, and you have destroyed the whole Christian system. The New Testament is of no value, if the Old be not true. We might notice here that men may have the Bible and be familiar with it, and yet fail to understand some of its plainest teachings. It was so with the Jews, and especially with those whose business it was to teach the people. It is often the case now. No one, however learned, or however much he has read the Bible, should hold himself aloof from receiving more light. WE should not fail to mark the way which Christ took to convince these disciples. It was not by revealing himself to them suddenly, and then teaching them. In that case the word and presence of Jesus would have convinced them, and his exposition of the Scriptures would have been lost. But first he caused them to understand the prophecies, so that afterwards they might be able to expound them to others; then when they fully comprehended them, and had an intelligent faith in them, he made himself known. COMPARE the account in Luke 24, especially verses 33-35, with Mark 16:12, 13. When the two disciples reached the house in Jerusalem where the eleven abode, they were met with the words, "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon;" but when they told their story, "how he was known of them in breaking of bread," Mark says, "neither believed they them." Their minds were still so unsettled that they knew not what to believe. One moment they would feel assured that Christ had risen; the next moment they would doubt. This state of things causes the oft-repeated theory that the eleven were assembled in prayer-meeting to celebrate Christ's resurrection, to fall to the ground. Men do not celebrate that which they do not believe. Their condition was more nearly like that of children excited over some strange occurrence, than of men met together for worship. Besides we are not left to conjecture what they were doing. Luke goes on to say that while they were thus assembled Christ came into the room. Mark, in speaking of the same event, chapter 16:14, says that he appeared unto them "as they sat at meat." The occasion, then, was simply this: Christ made himself known to the two disciples at Emmaus, during the evening meal. Having done so, he disappeared, and the disciples immediately left their supper and hastened to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven also at supper. Then Christ came in, and ate with them to prove that he was a real, substantial being. E. J. W.