Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 44

29. What divine purpose was wrought out in the sufferings of Christ?

"For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, _to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings_." Heb. 2:10.

30. For whom did Christ suffer all these things?

"He was _wounded for our transgressions_, He was _bruised for our iniquities: the chastis.e.m.e.nt of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed_." Isa. 53:5.

31. How much was included in the gift of Christ for the salvation of man?

"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, _how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?_" Rom. 8:32.

'Tis midnight; and on Olives' brow The star is dimmed that lately shone: 'Tis midnight; in the garden, now, The suffering Saviour prays alone.

'Tis midnight; and from all removed, The Saviour wrestles lone with fears; E'en that disciple whom He loved Heeds not His Master's grief and tears.

'Tis midnight; and for others' guilt The Man of Sorrows weeps in blood; Yet He who hath in anguish knelt, Is not forsaken by His G.o.d.

'Tis midnight; and from ether plains Is borne the song that angels know; Unheard by mortals are the strains That sweetly soothe the Saviour's woe.

WILLIAM B. TAPPAN.

The Resurrection Of Christ

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Visit To The Sepulcher. "He is not here: for He is risen, as He said."

Matt. 28:6.

1. In what psalm was the resurrection of Christ foretold?

"For Thou wilt not leave My soul in h.e.l.l [Heb., _Sheol_, the grave]: neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption." Ps. 16:10.

2. In what way was Jonah a type of Christ?

"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Matt. 12:40.

3. In what plain words did Christ foretell His resurrection?

"From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, _and be raised again the third day_."

Matt. 16:21. "And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: and they shall kill Him, _and the third day He shall be raised again_." Matt. 17: 22, 23. "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, _and be raised the third day_."

Luke 9:22. See also Matt. 20:17-19; Mark 8:31; 9:31, 32; 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-34.

4. When asked by the Jews for a sign of His Messiahs.h.i.+p, what did Jesus say?

"Jesus answered and said unto them, _Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up_." John 2:19.

5. To what temple did He refer?

"Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt Thou rear it up in three days? But _He spake of the temple of His body_." Verses 20, 21.

6. After His resurrection, what effect had this prediction upon His disciples?

"When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and _they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said_." Verse 22.

7. How did the chief priests and Pharisees seek to prevent the fulfilment of Christ's words concerning His resurrection?

"Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. _Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day_, lest His disciples come by night, and steal Him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first." Matt. 27:62-64.

8. How did Pilate comply with their request?

"Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, _make it as sure as ye can_. So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." Verses 65, 66.

9. How futile was all this?

"In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek 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_." Matt.

28:1-7. See also Mark 16:1-16; Luke 24:1-8, 44-46; John 20:1-9.

10. Was it possible for Christ to be holden of death?

"Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of G.o.d, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom G.o.d hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: _because it was not possible that He should be holden of it_." Acts 2:23,24.

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Resurrection. "Go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead." Matt. 28:7.

11. How does Paul speak of the resurrection of Christ?

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that _He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures_." 1 Cor. 15:3, 4.

12. Who does the apostle say saw Christ after He was risen?

"He was seen of _Cephas_, then of _the twelve_: after that, He was seen of _above five hundred brethren at once_; ... after that, He was seen of _James_; then of _all the apostles_. And last of all He was seen of _me_ also, as of one born out of due time." Verses 5-8.

13. What importance is attached to Christ's resurrection?

"If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.... Ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." Verses 14-18.

14. What positive a.s.surance of the resurrection is given?