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eek Jesus； which was crucified。 He is not here： for He is risen； as He said。 Come； see the place where the Lord lay。 And go quickly； and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead。〃 Again they look into the tomb； and again they hear the wonderful news。 Another angel in human form is there； and he says； 〃Why seek ye the living among the dead？ He is not here； but is risen： remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee； saying； The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men； and be crucified； and the third day rise again。〃
He is risen； He is risen！ The women repeat the words again and again。 No need now for the anointing spices。 The Saviour is living； and not dead。 They remember now that when speaking of His death He said that He would rise again。 What a day is this to the world！ Quickly the women departed from the sepulcher 〃with fear and great joy； and did run to bring His disciples word。〃
Mary had not heard the good news。 She went to Peter and John with the sorrowful message； 〃They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher； and we know not where they have laid Him。〃 The disciples hurried to the tomb； and found it as Mary had said。 They saw the shroud and the napkin； but they did not find their Lord。 Yet even here was testimony that He had risen。 The graveclothes were not thrown heedlessly aside； but carefully folded； each in a place by itself。 John 〃saw； and believed。〃 He did not yet understand the scripture that Christ must rise from the dead； but he now remembered the Saviour's words foretelling His resurrection。
It was Christ Himself who had placed those graveclothes with such care。 When the mighty angel came down to the tomb； he was joined by another； who with his company had been keeping guard over the Lord's body。 As the angel from heaven rolled away the stone； the other entered the tomb； and unbound the wrappings from the body of Jesus。 But it was the Saviour's hand that folded each； and laid it in its place。 In His sight who guides alike the star and the atom； there is nothing unimportant。 Order and perfection are seen in all His work。
Mary had followed John and Peter to the tomb； when they returned to Jerusalem； she remained。 As she looked into the empty tomb； grief filled her heart。 Looking in； she saw the two angels； one at the head and
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the other at the foot where Jesus had lain。 〃Woman； why weepest thou？〃 they asked her。 〃Because they have taken away my Lord；〃 she answered； 〃and I know not where they have laid Him。〃
Then she turned away； even from the angels； thinking that she must find someone who could tell her what had been done with the body of Jesus。 Another voice addressed her； 〃Woman； why weepest thou？ whom seekest thou？〃 Through her tear…dimmed eyes； Mary saw the form of a man； and thinking that it was the gardener； she said； 〃Sir； if thou have borne Him hence； tell me where thou hast laid Him； and I will take Him away。〃 If this rich man's tomb was thought too honorable a burial place for Jesus； she herself would provide a place for Him。 There was a grave that Christ's own voice had made vacant； the grave where Lazarus had lain。 Might she not there find a burial place for her Lord？ She felt that to care for His precious crucified body would be a great consolation to her in her grief。
But now in His own familiar voice Jesus said to her； 〃Mary。〃 Now she knew that it was not a stranger who was addressing her； and turning she saw before her the living Christ。 In her joy she forgot that He had been crucified。 Springing toward Him； as if to embrace His feet； she said； 〃Rabboni。〃 But Christ raised His hand； saying； Detain 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。〃 And Mary went her way to the disciples with the joyful message。
Jesus refused to receive the homage of His people until He had the assurance that His sacrifice was accepted by the Father。 He ascended to the heavenly courts； and from God Himself heard the assurance that His atonement for the sins of men had been ample； that through His blood all might gain eternal life。 The Father ratified the covenant made with Christ； that He would receive repentant and obedient men； and would love them even as He loves His Son。 Christ was to complete His work； and fulfill His pledge to 〃make a man more precious than fine gold； even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir。〃 Isa。 13：12。 All power in heaven and on earth was given to the Prince of Life； and He returned to His followers in a world of sin； that He might impart to them of His power and glory。
While the Saviour was in God's presence； receiving gifts for His church； the disciples thought upon His empty tomb； and mourned and wept。 The day that was a day of rejoicing to all heaven was to the disciples a day of uncertainty； confusion； and perplexity。 Their unbelief
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in the testimony of the women gives evidence of how low their faith had sunk。 The news of Christ's resurrection was so different from what they had anticipated that they could not believe it。 It was too good to be true； they thought。 They had heard so much of the doctrines and the so…called scientific theories of the Sadducees that the impression made on their minds in regard to the resurrection was vague。 They scarcely knew what the resurrection from the dead could mean。 They were unable to take in the great subject。
〃Go your way；〃 the angels had said to the women； 〃tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee： there shall ye see Him； as He said unto you。〃 These angels had been with Christ as guardian angels throughout His life on earth。 They had witnessed His trial and crucifixion。 They had heard His words to His disciples。 This was shown by their message to the disciples； and should have convinced them of its truth。 Such words could have come only from the messengers of their risen Lord。
〃Tell His disciples and Peter；〃 the angels said。 Since the death of Christ； Peter had been bowed down with remorse。 His shameful denial of the Lord； and the Saviour's look of love and anguish； were ever before him。 Of all the disciples he had suffered most bitterly。 To him the assurance is given that his repentance is accepted and his sin forgiven。 He is mentioned by name。
〃Tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee： there shall ye see Him。〃 All the disciples had forsaken Jesus； and the call to meet Him again includes them all。 He has not cast them off。 When Mary Magdalene told them she had seen the Lord； she repeated the call to the meeting in Galilee。 And a third time the message was sent to them。 After He had ascended to the Father； Jesus appeared to the other women； saying； 〃All hail。 And they came and held Him by the feet； and worshiped Him。 Then said Jesus unto them； Be not afraid： go tell My brethren that they go into Galilee； and there shall they see Me。〃
Christ's first work on earth after His resurrection was to convince His disciples of His undiminished love and tender regard for them。 To give them proof that He was their living Saviour； th