From the Resurrection Sunday, April, A. D. 30, to Ascension, May, A. D. 30; 40 Days.

During these forty days Jesus manifests himself as a risen Savior and meets his disciples on different occasions to confirm their faith in him as a living Savior.

I. THE WOMEN VISIT THE SEPULCHER (Matt. 28:1-4; Mark 16:1-4; Luke 24:i, 2; John 20:i). Before they laid Jesus
in the tomb he was embalmed very hurriedly and the women resolved to complete it on the day following the Sabbath. They had prepared spices and ointments for that purpose. With these ointments early Sunday morning, the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, set out to go to the sepulcher. On the way they wondered who would roll away the stone from the door of the sepulcher. After they arrived at the sepulcher they found the stone was rolled away. There had been a great earthquake, and the angel that had rolled away the stone was sitting upon it. His countenance was like lightning and his raiment was as white as snow. The Roman guards had fallen prostrate and had become as dead men.

II. MARY INFORMS PETER AND JOHN (John 20:2). While the women were at the sepulcher and experienced the trembling of the earth and were in the presence of the angel that had opened the sepulcher for them, and as they advanced nearer to the door they discovered that Jesus was no longer there. Mary Magdalene, one of their number, hurried back to Jerusalem, found Peter and John and announced to them that the tomb was empty and she did not know whither the body of the Lord had been conveyed.

III. TWO ANGELS APPEAR TO THE WOMEN (Matt 28:5-8; Mark 16:5-8; Luke 24:3-8). The women who had remained at the sepulcher approached still nearer, and even entered. At this time two holy messengers stood by them in shining garments, who announced to them that their Lord was risen and that it was not necessary to look for the living Christ amongst the dead. They told them that he would go before them into Galilee, where they should see him. Without a moment's hesitancy these women hurried to the apostles and gave an account of the messengers and their experience at the tomb.

IV. PETER AND JOHN RUN TO THE SEPULCHER (Luke 24:12; John 20:3-10). The apostles, though in deep sorrow, when they heard the words announced of the cheering tidings, regarded them as no better than an idle tale. However, Peter and John had already started towards the sepulcher with all speed. John outrunning Peter reached the tomb first. When John arrived at the sepulcher he stooped down and looked in and saw the linen clothes lying, but did not enter. When Peter arrived he went into the sepulcher and he saw the linen clothes lying and the napkin that had been about Jesus' head, not lying with the linen clothes, but folded together and put in a place by itself. There was nothing to indicate that any violence had been done and John, being encouraged by Peter, also entered and saw and believed.

V. ANGELS AND JESUS APPEAR TO MARY MAGDALENE (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18). Mary Magdalene returned to the sepulcher after making her announcement to Peter and John, and was not able to solve the mystery of her Lord. She was standing outside the sepulcher weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the sepulcher, and she saw two angels, one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of her Lord had lain. These angels said to her: "Woman, why weepest thou? " She answered them, " Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him." At this very time she turned around and saw Jesus standing by her, and she knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus asked her the same question, "Why weepest thou?" and she, thinking him to be the gardener, asked him to tell her if he had taken away the Lord and if so to tell her where he had placed him. Then Jesus said unto her, " Mary." and she turned herself and he gave her this message for her people: "I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God."

VI. THE WOMEN REPORT TO THE DISCIPLES (Mark 16:Jo, 11; Luke 24:0-11; John 20:18). Mary Magdalene with the other women left the sepulcher to go to tell the disciples. Mary went and became the first witness and message bearer of his resurrection to his disciples.

VII. JESUS APPEARS TO THE WOMEN (Matt. 28:9, 10). After the women had left the sepulcher to go to the city they were met by their risen Lord who saluted them with the words, "All hail." They drew near and worshiped Jesus; and as he had bidden Mary Magdalene he told the women to announce to his brethren the joyous news that he was going before them into Galilee.

VIII. THE GUARDS REPORT TO THE PRIESTS (Matt. 28:11-15). After the women were gone certain of the Roman guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests what had occurred at the sepulcher. A meeting of the Sanhedrim was immediately called, and by giving heavy bribes to the soldiers they persuaded them to give out the report that his disciples had stolen him while they slept. And this story became very common among the Jews. The soldiers, when sleeping while on duty, would violate the Roman law.

IX. THE WALK TO EMMAUS (Mark 16:12, 13; Luke 24:13-35). During the same day, perhaps early in the afternoon, Cleopas and another disciple, whose name is not recorded, left Jerusalem for the village of Emmaus. And as they were journeying their conversation was about the events that had so lately been reported concerning Jesus. On the way a stranger met them and asked them why they looked so sorrowful; he also asked about their earnest conversation. They were surprised that any one could be at Jerusalem and not know of the strange reports that were being circulated. He asked them what things, and they gave him a full account of Jesus of Nazareth, how he had been put to death and that now was the third day, and what the women had reported who had visited the sepulcher early in the day, and that some from Jerusalem had gone and found that what the women had said was true. To their surprise the stranger rebuked them and said, "Oh foolish and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets had spoken! Ought not the Messiah to have suffered these things?" He preached them a sermon in which he set forth what Moses and the prophets said concerning him in the Old Testament. At this time, as they arrived at Emmaus, they invited the stranger to abide with them, and the Savior entered their abode. After preparing an evening meal Jesus took bread, broke it and gave it to them, and to their surprise when their eyes were opened they were in the presence of Jesus. And when they knew him he vanished out of their sight.

X. HE APPEARS TO THE TEN (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25). After the two had recognized Jesus at Emmaus they instantly hurried back to Jerusalem and ascended into the upper room where they found the apostles and others assembled, and they reported to them their experience on the way to Emmaus. They were behind closed doors for fear of the Jews, and although the door was closed the Lord appeared in their midst and saluted them saying, " Peace be unto you." They were terrified and thought him a spirit, and he showed them his hands and his feet. He asked them whether they had any meat, and after they had given him something to eat he took it and did eat before them. Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them, and when he heard the report of the ten said, " I will not believe 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."

XI. HE APPEARS TO THE ELEVEN (John 20:26-29). Just one week after the former occurrences the apostles were again in the upper room. Thomas being with them. The doors being shut Jesus entered and stood in their midst. Jesus again said, "Peace be unto you." Jesus, knowing all the doubts of Thomas, asked him to reach forth his finger and touch his hands and reach forth his hand and touch his side. We do not know whether he touched the wounds of the Savior, but in the fullness of believing faith he exclaimed, "My Lord and my God."

XII. HE APPEARS TO THE SEVEN (John 21:1-23). At some time after the second Sabbath the apostles returned to the Sea of Galilee, where they resumed their former occupation as fishermen. Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John and two others whose names are not recorded, entered a boat and toiled all night, and caught nothing. In the early morning a voice was heard saying, " Children, have ye any meat? " And they answered " No." And he told them to "cast the net on the right side of the ship " and they would find. They obeyed the voice, and they were unable to drag the net for the multitude of fishes. The Apostle John now recognized the voice to be that of Jesus and told Peter it was the Lord. Peter immediately put on his fisher's coat and plunged into the water to get to his Master. The others brought the ship, dragging the net with fishes. When they came to the land they saw a fire of coals there and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus told the disciples to bring some of their fish and after the meal was prepared he asked them to dine with him. Jesus gave them bread and fish for their breakfast. As Jesus prepared this meal for the apostles by the Sea of Galilee to satisfy their fleshly appetites, he has constantly spread a table on the shore of eternity to which he invites us daily to satisfy our spiritual life. After this meal was over Jesus asked Peter once to " feed his lambs " and twice to " feed his sheep."

XIII. HE APPEARS TO THE MULTITUDE (Matt. 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18). A short time after his appearance to the seven at the lake the eleven were together at a mountain in Galilee, a place indicated by the Savior himself, and there he appeared not only to the eleven, but in all probability to the five hundred brethren referred to by St. Paul (I Cor. 15:6). And when they worshiped him he gave them the great commission, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations."

XIV. HE APPEARS AND ASCENDS (Mark 16:19, 20; Luke 24:44-53). Jesus assured his disciples that the words that he spoke to them while with them and all the sayings in the law, prophets and Psalms concerning him must be fulfilled. He opened their understanding so that they might grasp the Scriptures and again repeated the great commission that repentance and remission of sins should be preached among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, and assured the apostles that they were his witnesses. He now instructed the apostles to return to the city of Jerusalem and to remain there until they were endued with power from on high. When they arrived at Bethany he lifted up his hands and blessed them, and as he blessed them he was taken away from them and carried up into heaven. The eleven stood watching him as he receded more and more from their view. At length two heavenly messengers clad in white apparel appeared and spoke to them saying, " Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who hath been taken from you up into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." The apostles now returned to Jerusalem and followed the command of their Lord.

XV. CONCLUSION OF JOHN'S GOSPEL (John 20:24, 25). Jesus did many miracles and works that are not found in the record that we have studied. Those that we have studied are to bring us into closer relation with him, that they may give us life through Jesus' name. If all the sayings of Jesus were written, it would take many volumes to give a record of them all.

QUESTIONS.

• Name the opening and closing events of this period.
• What is the time of this period?
• Why did the women visit the sepulcher?
• When did they go to the sepulcher?
• What did they see when they arrived at the sepulcher?
• Who informed Peter and John?
• What did the women see when Mary Magdalene was absent?
• Name the two apostles that visited the tomb.
• Who went into the tomb first, and what did he say?
• To whom did Jesus appear first, and what was his message?
• Where did he-appear unto the women, and what did he say?
• What report did the guards make?
• What influenced them to tell a falsehood?
• Name the disciples that met Jesus on the way to Emmaus.
• Why did they not know Jesus?
• Who was absent when he manifested himself to the ten the first Sunday?
• What testimony have we of Christ's resurrection on the second Sunday?
• Where did Jesus appear to the seven?
• Did they know Jesus, and what did he do?
• What special mission had he for Peter?
• Where and to whom was the great commission given?
• What was the great commission?
• What was to be fulfilled?
• Who were present at the ascension, and what did he tell them?
• Tell what occurred at the time of the ascension.