12 "AND after these things He was manifested in another form unto two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. 13 And they went away and told it unto the rest; neither believed they them.
14 "And afterward He was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and He upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen."
36 "And as they spake these things, He Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit. And He said unto them, Why are ye troubled? 38 And wherefore do reasonings arise in your heart? See My 39 hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold Me having. 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands 41 and His feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, He said unto them, Have ye here anything to eat? 42 And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish. And He took it, 43 and did eat before them.
44 "And He said unto them, These are My words which I spake 45 unto you, while I was yet with you, how that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the Psalms, concerning Me. Then opened He their mind, that they might understand the Scriptures."
19 "And when He had said this, He shewed unto them His 20 hands and His side. The disciples therefore were glad, when 21 they saw the Lord. Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace 22 be unto you; as the Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. 23 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, 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 27 Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then 28 saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see My 29 hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into My side; and be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered and said unto 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."
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
NOTE.—The texts inclosed in marks of parentheses, while not essential to the lesson study, will be found to throw much light upon the lesson, and are suggested for those who wish to study further.
How did the eleven receive the statement of the two disciples who met Christ on the way to Emmaus? Mark 16:12, 13. (Luke 24:13-35.)
What then took place to confirm their testimony? Luke 24:36.
Why was it necessary for the disciples to have this miraculous enlightenment? John 20:21. (John 17:17, 18.)
How was this purpose accomplished? Verse 22.
What work would the reception of the Holy Spirit enable them to do? Verse 23. See note 2. (Acts 3:6; James 5:15; Acts 5:1-11.)
Who of the disciples was absent on this occasion, and so lost the valuable grace bestowed? Verse 24.
When told by the others what had happened, how did he receive the testimony? Verse 25.
Some days after, when Thomas was with the others, what occurred? Verses 26, 27. (1 John 1:1.)
Upon Thomas expressing satisfaction with the demonstration, what reproof did the Lord administer to him? Vs. 28, 29. (2 Cor. 5:7.)
Side Lights.—"Desire of Ages," chapter 84.
NOTES.
1. THE reason for their terror was that through unbelief they were unprepared to meet Jesus. This incident revived in their minds the superstitious view which the Jews had received from the pagans in regard to spirits.
2. "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] shalt bind on 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, 'Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever 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.'—Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, p. 244. See also "Desire of Ages," chapters 45 and 84.