The Sabbath School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 3, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 22.

The Sabbath School

International Series.

LESSON XII.—SABBATH, JUNE 19, 1897.

THE INFALLIBLE PROOFS.

Lesson Scripture, John 20:11-31, R. V.

11 "BUT Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping; so, 12 as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where 14 they have laid him. When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not that it 15 was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where 16 thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith unto him in Hebrew, 17 Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father; but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and 18 your Father, and my God and your God. Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, I have seen the Lord; and how that he had said these things unto her.

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, 20 and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had said this, he showed unto them his hands and his side. The 21 disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you; as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, 22 he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy 23 Ghost; whosoever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whosoever 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 not 28 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.

30 "Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the 31 disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name."

QUESTIONS.

Who still remained at the sepulcher?
What did she do?
What did she see?
What inquiry did the angels make?
What answer did Mary give?
Whom did she then see? Did she recognize him?
What questions did Jesus address to her?
Whom did she suppose him to be? What did she say to him?
How did Jesus reply? What response did this call out?
What did Jesus request her not to do? What message did he intrust to her?
To whom did Mary then go? What did she say to them?
How did Jesus then reveal himself to his disciples? What day of the week was it? What time of the day? What precautions had been taken? Why? What did Jesus say to them?
What proofs did he then give of his real presence? What was the effect upon the disciples?
What did Jesus further say to them?
What did he then impart to them?
What authority was thus to be exercised through them?
Who was absent on this occasion?
What did the other disciples tell him?
What evidence did he demand before he would believe?
How long before the next meeting? Who was present? Who came to them? How did he greet them?
What did Jesus invite Thomas to do? What did he urge upon him?
What effect did this have upon Thomas?
What did Jesus say of his faith? What experience did he commend?
Were all the acts of Jesus recorded by John?
What was the purpose in writing the things which were recorded? What was to be the result of such faith?

NOTES.

1. "The same day at evening, being the first day of the week." This was the same day in which the events took place which are narrated in the previous eighteen verses. From this we know that the meeting recorded in verse 19 occurred in the evening following the first day of the week. The following account of the arrival at Jerusalem of the two disciples from Emmaus after Jesus had made himself known to them, will be of interest to the student:—

"When the disciples arrived at Jerusalem, they entered the eastern gate, which was open on festal occasions. The houses were dark and silent, but they made their way through the narrow streets by the light of the rising moon. They knew that they would find their brethren in the memorable upper chamber where Jesus had spent the last night before his death. . . . Cautious hands unbarred the door to the repeated demand of the two travelers; they entered, and with them also entered Jesus, who had been their unseen companion all the way. . . . When the disciples from Emmaus entered with their joyful tidings, they were met by the exclamation from many voices, 'The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.'"—Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, pp. 216, 217.

2. "WHOSESOEVER sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them." "Jesus, in giving the disciples their first commission, had said, 'I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou [referring to responsible men who should represent his church] shall bind upon earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.' In renewing the commission of those to whom he had imparted the Holy Ghost, he said, 'Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained.' These words conveyed to the disciples a sense of the sacredness of their work, and its tremendous results. Imbued with the Spirit of God, they were to go forth preaching the merits of a sin-pardoning Saviour; and they had the assurance that all heaven was interested in their labors, and that what they did on earth, in the Spirit and power of Christ, should be ratified in heaven. . . . The Saviour taught that he is the only name given under heaven whereby men shall be saved. Jesus, however, delegated to his church upon earth, in her organized capacity, the power to censure, and to remove censure, according to the rules prescribed by inspiration; but these acts were only to be done by men of good repute, who were consecrated by the great Head of the church, and who showed by their lives that they were earnestly seeking to follow the guidance of the Spirit of God.'—Id., pp. 244, 245.

Through the labors of the apostles and God's servants in preaching the Word, people would believe the Gospel, and their sins would be remitted, as illustrated on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:37, 38. The power of God's Word over the people, when proclaimed by God's servants, is also illustrated in the case of Jeremiah. (See Jer. 1:9, 10.)

Suggestions for Further Study.

What lesson is there for us in the tarrying of Jesus to meet Mary at the sepulcher?
Jesus said to Mary, "Touch me not" (verse 17), and yet later he permitted his disciples to touch him (see Matt. 28:9). How do you explain this?
In the light of verse 23; Matt. 18:15-18, and Jer. 50:20, is there any importance attached to membership in the church?