LESSON 4.—APRIL 28.—JESUS APPEARS TO THE APOSTLES.
19 “When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when He had said this, He showed unto them His hands and His side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you; 22 as the Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, 23 Receive ye the Holy Ghost; whosesoever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained. 24 “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not 25 with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 26 “And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and 27 stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into My side; and be 28 not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered and said unto 29 Him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” Golden Text: “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” Verse 29. (1) As the disciples were together the evening after the resurrection, who suddenly appeared in their midst? Why had they fastened the door? What did Jesus say to them? Verse 19. Note 1. (2) When He had thus spoken, what did He do? What effect did this have upon the disciples? Verse 20. Note 2. (3) What words did Jesus repeat to them? What mission did He propose for them? Verse 21. Note 3. (4) Then what gift did He bestow upon them? Verse 22. Note 4. (5) What authority did He give them? Verse 23. Note 5. (6) Which one of the apostles was not present? Verse 24. Note 6. (7) What did the other disciples afterward tell Thomas? What was Thomas’ reply? Verse 25. (8) When did Jesus again appear to the disciples? What was His salutation this time? Verse 26. (9) What did He then say to Thomas? Verse 27. (10) How did Thomas express his conviction? Verse 28. Note 7. (11) What important principle did Jesus then set forth? Verse 29. 1. The Fifth Appearance.—In our last lesson we left the two disciples who returned from Emmaus just as they reached the lodging-place of their brethren in Jerusalem. It was on the evening of the day of the resurrection. Jesus had appeared that day (1) to Mary Magdalene, (2) to the other women, (3) to Simon Peter (4) to Cleopas and his companion; and now He manifests Himself the fifth time, just as the two latter brethren had reported their experience. 2. Not Sunday Observance.—People who maintain that the apostles established the Sunday-sabbath institution sometimes represent that they were religiously observing Sunday at this time. But the Scripture records show that they were abiding there for the time, and that they were not yet established in the belief of the resurrection. At this very meeting He showed them His hands and feet, in order to convince them that it was indeed He, and “they yet believed not for joy.” See Luke 24:36–47. They were still so bewildered that they did not know what to do, and kept their doors shut for fear of the Jews. 3. “Peace.”—Twice on this occasion Jesus proclaimed peace to His disciples, in order to reassure them and to quiet their fears. At this meeting He began to give them instruction regarding their future labors—that they were to take up the Gospel work in behalf of their fellow-men. They were to continue the message of “Peace on earth, good-will to men.” 4. “Receive Ye the Holy Ghost.”—The parallel of this expression in Luke’s account is, “Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures.” This was also the impartation of spiritual life—the breath of Christ. It was not only essential to the understanding of the Word, but to practical godliness of life, and the ability to impart spiritual instruction to others. 5. Remitting and Retaining Sin.—No man can of himself remit or retain sin for another. This power lies with God alone. The individual can only work thru the Word. The reception of the Word will insure the remittance of sin; its rejection will retain the sin. The church, however, is to deal faithfully and earnestly with those members who fall into sin. If they repent, their forgiveness by the church will be recognized in heaven; but if they persist in their sin, the judgment of the Word pronounced by the church will be indorsed by the great Judge of all. They that persist in the works of the flesh “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal. 5:19–21. 6. Thomas is a Hebrew word meaning “a twin,” and Didymus is the Greek form of the name. 7. Doubting Thomas.—It was possible for Thomas to have his doubts dispelled by visible evidence, and Jesus, in His pitying love, gave him the evidence He desired. Sometimes doubters of to-day excuse their lack of faith by the example of Thomas. They deem it a virtuous caution to demand that everything must be minutely demonstrated before they will believe. But those who now take the stand that Thomas did, must suffer disappointment; for Christ will not condescend to appear in person to those who will not accept His Word. When He does appear again in such form that “every eye shall see Him,” the doubters will not be able to stand before Him. It will then be too late. In addressing His Father in behalf of His disciples on the night of His betrayal, He said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me thru their word.” The Scriptures are able to make us “wise unto salvation, thru faith which is in Christ Jesus,” and to demand more than this is to cut ourselves off from the favor of God.