Evidences of Christianity.
By Moses Hull
Having now removed the main objection to the resurrection of Christ, we will proceed to offer additional arguments in its favor. A strong argument may be predicated upon the fact that the disciples did not expect him to arise, nor were they willing to believe after he had risen. Listen to the disciples as they journeyed from Jerusalem to Emmaus. "We trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel; and besides all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and when they found not his body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive." Luke xxiv, 21-23. The expression, "we trusted," implies that they had lost all hope. The preparation for the embalming of the Saviour, and the disciples' returning to their occupations, &c., all show that they did not expect him to arise. See Luke xxiii, 56; xxiv, 1; John xxi, 3. On the third morning the women went to embalm their Lord. As they hastened toward the place they said among themselves, "Who shall roll us away the stone?" but when they reached the sepulchre, to their utter astonishment the stone was rolled away: they looked into the sepulchre, but their Lord was not there. They did not yet suspect that he had arisen. I hear them say, with aching hearts and tearful eyes, "They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him." After this the other women appear to have left the sepulchre, "but Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping; and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other 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 they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it 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 have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away." John xx, 11-15. She had not yet learned that the Lord had risen. But her suspense must now be removed. "Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself and saith unto him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master." Jesus saith unto her, "Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and your God." Verses 16, 17. In obedience to their Lord, they "returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not." Luke xxiv, 9-11. But in order to settle the question, and relieve the disciples of suspense, as well as to convince the women of their mental hallucination, Peter and John resolved themselves into a committee to investigate the matter. So they ran to the sepulchre. John being the swiftest on foot, got there first. He stooped down and looked into the sepulchre and saw the linen clothes, but saw not the Lord. Meanwhile Peter arrived, and, being naturally eccentric, jumped down into the sepulchre, and as he moved the linen clothes about in order to be sure that he was not mistaken, he became convinced that the Lord was not there. Yet he did not believe until with his own eyes he gazed upon his resurrected Lord. Luke xxii, 32. But the disciples were not yet willing to believe; hence, as before remarked, two of them, as they journeyed from Jerusalem to Emmaus, reasoned together. "And it came to pass that while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel; and besides all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done: yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive." Luke xxiv, 15-23. And yet "they believed not." Dear reader, are you astonished that Jesus should upbraid them, saying, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?" Verses 25, 26. Next he appeared to the eleven as they sat at meat. One would think that they were prepared to believe, especially if they could see him with their own eyes, but they were not. "But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of a honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them." Verses 37-48. Certainly all room for deception is gone. When they supposed they had seen a phantasma they had the privilege of undeceiving themselves on that point by handling him, and knowing that it was Jesus himself; that he really had flesh and bones. So determined was the Saviour to bar against unbelief that he called for fish and honey-comb and did eat before them. They were now fully convinced. But Thomas happened not to be of that number. The other disciples, eager to convince him of the resurrection of Christ, "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 thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." Jno. xx, 25. We may wonder whether Thomas will be gratified; whether that most convincing of all tests will be given. Yes, it will be done. Thomas must be convinced, though it is done by thrusting his hand into the wounded side of Jesus. "And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus said unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." Verses 26-29. I can but respond in the language of Thomas, "Lord, it is enough." Certainly no more can be required. Luke fully expressed it when he said, "To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." Acts i, 3. Reader, I have now finished my task upon this point.162Certainly if testimony can prove anything, the resurrection of the Lord has been proved. This same one who prophesied that he should be raised, has also said, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John v, 28, 29. Would you have the "resurrection to life?" believe on the Son of God. "God hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead." The resurrection of Christ is a pledge of our resurrection. "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead." Isa. xxvi, 19.