November 15

1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre

2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying: yet went he not in.

6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes in.

7 And the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

9 For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre

weeping; and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre.

12 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

13 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

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus

15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seesest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou had laid him, and I will take him away.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master.

17 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.

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things into her.

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were

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shot where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

20 And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

23 Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained.

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 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 thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

26 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.

27 Then saith be 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.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because God hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

"Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master" (verse 16).

"I think this is the very epitome of love. Love understands love; it needs no talk. Sunlight needs no paraphernalia of pipes, and wicks, and burners; it just shines out, direct and immediate. And the dewdrop flashes it back in the same way. The sparkle may be tiny, but it is true and immediate; it needs no vehicle. 'I have called thee by thy name.' That was quite enough. The powerful sunshine of His love was focussed into that white beam of sevenfold light, and the whole soul was concentrated into the responsive love-flash, 'Master!'"—F. R. Havergal.

Thomas was not present in that first prayer-meeting when Jesus appeared to His disciples. He was a great loser thereby. The other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." It is a good hint to us to testify, to tell others when we have had blessed views while waiting upon the Lord. When in the Western country a man thinks he has discovered an oil well or a gold mine he keeps silent. But in this case there is no necessity to hold one's peace. The Lord vouchsafes His divine presence to all who will receive Him.

The doubt of Thomas (verses 25-28). "Christ never failed to distinguish between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is can't believe; unbelief is won't believe. Doubt is honesty; unbelief is obstinacy. Doubt is looking for light; unbelief is content with darkness. Loving darkness rather than light, that is what Christ attacked."

Closet Promise.—Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.—Isa. xxv. 9.

"O, when the matchless glory broke around the unoccupied tomb, and the

Master presented the risen One to the weeping sisters, how their former hope blossomed into glad realization! So it may be with us. Wait obediently upon Him. Take away every stone that may be the occasion of weak faith. Look up steadfastly. That cloud, behind which God's glory has accumulated for our benefit, will soon be broken. When that fulness bursts upon us—the fulness of love—we will indeed be constrained to say, 'Master, it is good for us to be here.'"