"And after this, when the evening was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: named Joseph, an honourable counsellor," who "had not consented to the counsel and deed of them"

in putting Jesus to death. "He was a good man, and a just: who also himself waited for the kingdom of G.o.d: being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews." Anxious to save the sacred body of Him in Whom he believed, from further injury or insult, this man "came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus: and besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus."

Arimathaea, supposed to be the same as Rama, where Samuel dwelt in the time of Saul, lay to the N.W. of Jerusalem, on the way to Joppa.

Joseph, as a man of wealth and influence, must have been known to the Roman governor, who would be willing to oblige him, especially in such a matter, since he himself was convinced that Jesus was no malefactor.

His only hesitation arose from his doubt as to whether Jesus was at that time dead; "Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, Pilate gave him leave; and commanded the body to be delivered to Joseph." Joseph having obtained Pilate's leave to remove the body of Jesus, "bought fine linen" to wrap it in, according to custom. "He came therefore," and with the help of others, "took the body of Jesus" down from the cross.

"And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth: there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury." This was all that the time allowed to be done then, in the way of embalming.

"Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new sepulchre, and Joseph laid the body in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock, wherein was man never yet laid." It was a custom in those days, for the rich, with whom Christ was to be in his death (as Isaiah had said), to form their tombs, by having a sort of small room cut out of the solid rock; leaving a narrow door, which was the only possible way by which any one could go in or out. This door or entrance was always closed by a large stone.

Within the room or cave, was a sepulchre or sepulchres, in which the body was laid. In such a sepulchre "they laid Jesus therefore, because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand: and the sabbath drew on." And they rolled a great stone to the door "of the sepulchre, and departed."

Chapter XLIV.--JESUS RISES FROM THE SEPULCHRE.

"And Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Joses, and the women also which came with him from Galilee, followed after" Joseph and Nicodemus, "and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid." And they returned and prepared spices and ointments, in order that the process of embalming, hastily begun by Joseph and Nicodemus, might be properly finished after the Sabbath should be past. Having made their preparations, they "rested the sabbath day, according to the commandment."

By comparing the accounts of all that happened after Jesus was laid in the tomb, we find that though the greater number of the women went away, as has been said, two of them remained watching the spot which now contained the body of Him whom they so loved and reverenced: for we read, "And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (the mother of James and Joses) sitting over against the sepulchre." There they stayed, probably till the Sabbath had begun, when, of course, it was too late for them to prepare their share of spices, without breaking the fourth commandment.

"Now the next day that followed the day of the preparation" (this seems to mean in the beginning of the Sabbath, soon after 6 o'clock on Friday evening, just after the burial of our Lord), "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 sepulchre 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. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch."

Thus did the Lord make these Priests and Pharisees bear witness to Christ's resurrection. It was little likely that the Apostles would make any attempt to carry off the body, and still less likely that they could succeed in any such an attempt; but what was now done rendered it _impossible_; for there was no way of carrying the body out of the sepulchre but through the door, which was closed by a heavy stone, and was now watched by a guard of soldiers, who would not allow any one even to touch the stone, which could not be moved without making much noise. It was essential that there should never be any doubt as to the fact of Christ's having risen from the dead, and therefore His very enemies were made to furnish the strongest proofs of His resurrection. Thinking they had made the sepulchre sure, they went away to rest on the Sabbath. But

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Christ has burst the gates of h.e.l.l; Death in vain forbids His rise, Christ hath opened Paradise.

Jesus laid in the grave all through the Sabbath, from 6 o'clock on Friday evening to 6 o'clock on Sat.u.r.day evening. The Sabbath was now past; the first day in the week, called by us Sunday, was begun. "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Joses, and Salome," who had not had time to make any preparations before the Sabbath, set out from their homes to go to the sepulchre; and they "had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him." But while they were on their way, "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."

The time and circ.u.mstances of Jesus's rising from the dead, are veiled in mystery. He had evidently left the sepulchre before the stone was rolled away. All that we know is, that Christ rose, and was the "first fruits of them that slept"; and He rose on the day when the first fruits of the harvest were presented in thankfulness to the Lord G.o.d Almightly. His resurrection secured ours; and, as a sign that it did so, "many bodies of the saints which slept arose out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the city, and appeared unto many." The graves were opened when Jesus gave up His life on the cross: when He arose, the bodies which lay in them arose also, testifying to His triumph over death and the grave.

Wonderful indeed were all the events which took place at this time! In their several accounts of what happened after our Saviour had risen, some of the Evangelists mention one thing, and some another; but as clever men, who have considered the subject, show us how all the events mentioned must have followed one another, we shall keep to their account.

We have said that before the earthquake took place, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, accompanied by Salome, who had joined them, set out to go to the sepulchre: knowing that it was closed by a great stone, they naturally, as they drew near, "at the rising of the sun, said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?" Of the watch set there, they probably knew nothing. But on coming close, this difficulty was at an end, "for when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great." Very probably Mary Magdalene was the first who observed this fact, for St.

John speaks especially of her, and says, "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."

Here you must understand, that the Hebrew sepulchres had two divisions, or chambers. The inner division, or chamber, in which the body was laid, was separated from the outer division by a door, closed, as we have heard, by a large stone. The outer chamber, or porch, had an open door, or entrance.

As soon as Mary Magdalene and her companions came near, they could see, through the open entrance of the outer chamber, that the door of the inner chamber was also open, and that the great stone, which they had seen placed there after Jesus was laid in the tomb, had been taken away: but they did not see either the stone itself or the angel sitting upon it, on the right-hand side of the door; as this could not be seen without going into the porch, or outer chamber. As soon, then, as Mary Magdalene saw, through the open entrance of the porch, that the stone was rolled away from the door of the inner chamber, or sepulchre, she, concluding that some persons, either friends or enemies, had opened it, and carried away the body of Jesus, "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."

After Mary Magdalene had left them, the other Mary and Salome went into the outer division, and, "entering into the sepulchre" (that is, into the porch), "they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And the angel answered, and said unto the women, Fear not ye; be not affrighted; for I know that ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay; behold the place where they laid him."

Having thus a.s.sured these women that the Lord was indeed risen from the dead, the angel bade them make the good tidings known to others, saying, "But go your way quickly, tell his disciples and Peter that he is risen from the dead, and that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you; lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre, with fear, and fled; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they anything to any man."

These women were so confused and overpowered with surprise, fear, and joy, that they scarcely knew what to say or do: so they told no man what they had seen or heard as they went along, but "with great joy did run to bring his disciples word" of what the angel had said.

It must have been a great comfort to Peter to hear that he had been particularly mentioned by name, as it showed that Jesus had not cast him off, but still looked upon him as a disciple, notwithstanding his sin in denying his Lord and Master.

It seems that when the disciples saw their Lord condemned and crucified, they must have forgotten all that He had told them as to His rising again; and, instead of going early to the sepulchre on the third day, they appear to have remained at home, mourning and lamenting His death. Now, however, Mary Magdalene's tidings must have brought their Lord's words to remembrance. "Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple (John), and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in." The clothes in which the body had been wrapped were there; but the body itself was gone. No angel was now to be seen, nor did the disciples know that one had been seen at all; for Mary Magdalene had left the sepulchre before her two companions went into the porch of the sepulchre.

"Then cometh Simon Peter, following John, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself." This circ.u.mstance was very important. If the body of Jesus had been _stolen away_, either by friends or enemies, they would have carried it away as it was, and not waited to unwind the linen clothes, and more especially not to have folded the napkin up and laid it in a separate place. The astonishment of Peter when he saw the burial clothes thus lying in order caused John also to go into the sepulchre: "and he saw and believed." "For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead."

Chapter XLV.--CHRIST APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE.

The Apostles appear to have come to the sepulchre, without any idea that the Lord had risen from the dead. They had not understood rightly what the prophets had said of the death and rising again of the Messiah; nor had the words of the Lord, though He had told them plainly that He should die and rise again the third day, prepared them for what had happened.

When John examined the tomb, he saw that the body of Jesus must, in some miraculous way, have slipped out of the linen clothes, leaving them lying in such perfect order: "he saw, and believed" that Jesus was indeed risen. "For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." Up to this time they had not rightly understood this Scripture; and John's faith now rested on what he had _seen_, not, as it should have done, upon the Word of G.o.d. Peter and John, having satisfied themselves that the body of Jesus was no longer in the sepulchre, "went away again unto their own home," before Mary Magdalene, who had followed them, reached the sepulchre for the second time: she arriving after they had left, would naturally be disappointed at not hearing their opinion, as to the disappearance of the body of Jesus. She was grieved that any one should have carried Him away; and this, added to the recollection of what she had witnessed in the sufferings and death of Jesus, so disturbed Mary, that she "stood without at the sepulchre weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the (inner) 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, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him." So little did Mary expect the Lord to rise again to life, that even the sight of angels sitting by His open tomb, did not convince her that the body had not been removed to another place. She was soon to know the truth; for "when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing." But it pleased the Lord to appear to her in such a form, that at first she knew not that it was Jesus. This was the first appearance of Jesus Christ after His resurrection; for, as St. Mark tells us, "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils." "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. Jesus saith unto her, Mary." This one word, spoken in the tone she had been accustomed to hear, removed all doubts and fears: now she sees and knows that it is indeed Jesus restored to life, who stands by her. We can imagine with what surprise and joy "she turned herself" quickly towards her Lord, "and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master." From what follows, we may suppose that in her exceeding gladness, Mary would have laid hold upon the Lord to detain Him; for "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 G.o.d, and your G.o.d."

By these words, He seems to have meant that the time was not quite come for Him to ascend into heaven; and that Mary need not therefore hold Him, as if she was afraid of not seeing Him again; but, on the contrary, that she should at once go and remind His disciples of all that He had before told them, about His going to His Father, and not leaving them comfortless; because if He left them, He would send the Holy Ghost to teach and guide them. The message thus sent by Jesus, should remind us all, that the Lord G.o.d Almighty is indeed our G.o.d; a kind and loving Father to _all_ who believe in His beloved Son, so as to love and obey Him.

Mary Magdalene set out immediately to tell "the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her." On her way it seems that she fell in with the other Mary and Salome, who had fled from the sepulchre at the sight of the angel. The three women now went on together. "And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail." "All hail" signified Welcome; it was a common mode of expressing pleasure at meeting. Mary and Salome, who had heard from Mary Magdalene that the Lord was indeed alive again, were neither astonished nor frightened at His appearance; but, filled with joy and love, they fell at His feet; "they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him." "Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid; go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there they shall see me." The action of holding His feet, showed fear that the Lord would at once disappear; but He bids them have no fears, for that, on the contrary, He would meet His disciples in Galilee. But before that, He appeared also to His Apostles.

Whilst the women were on their way to tell the disciples all they had seen and heard, "behold some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto the Chief Priests all the things that were done." We have heard how, when the angel of the Lord descended, those who were guarding the sepulchre were so terrified, that they "became as dead men,"--unable to move, or know what to do. When they came to themselves, they would see that the sepulchre was empty; whilst they well knew that no human power could have removed the body. They went therefore, and told those who had set them to watch, how vain all their precautions had been. The Chief Priests immediately called the Council together: "and when they were a.s.sembled with the elders, and had taken counsel," or consulted amongst themselves what they had best do to prevent their countrymen from believing in the resurrection of Christ, "they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day."

Great indeed was the wilful unbelief of the Jews, if they could for one moment believe such an absurd story, as the Priests and elders had bribed the soldiers to tell. Amongst the Romans, death was the punishment for any soldier who went to sleep whilst upon guard: yet, in spite of this, men were required to believe, that sixty soldiers, and their commander, were all so fast asleep, that the noise which must have been made by moving the stone, did not even awake one of them. Besides, if they had all been asleep, how could they have known that the disciples had been there?

The Chief Priests and elders knew that this story was false; and we may be quite sure that Pilate and those in authority did not believe it, or the soldiers would not have escaped punishment: but the Romans did not care what the Jews believed on the subject: and the soldiers, being heathens, and therefore careless about speaking the truth, took the money offered by the Council, and in return told what they knew to be a lie. Even up to this day, the Jews, of whom there are many thousands scattered in different parts of the world, believe the story invented by the Chief Priests; and instead of acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, still look for Christ's coming. It seems to us quite impossible that any one should disbelieve in Jesus Christ being the promised Messiah; but unhappily it is so. Let us pray to G.o.d that He will take from the Jews all blindness and hardness of heart, and bring them into the Christian Church.

Now let us return in thought to the sepulchre, where, after the departure of Mary Magdalene, and of the other Mary and Salome, another party of women arrived. These were the women which came with Him from Galilee, and who, after seeing where the body of Jesus was laid, went away immediately to prepare spices and ointments, and then rested on the sabbath day. "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others," that is, some other women came, "with them." These women had had a longer way to come than Mary Magdalene and her companions, and therefore, although they set out as soon as the Sabbath was past, they did not reach the sepulchre until some time after them: although it was still early. "And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre." This circ.u.mstance would naturally cause them no surprise, as they would conclude that the disciples or others had reached the sepulchre before them, and were already engaged in the work of embalming the body, in which they were come to a.s.sist.

But their surprise was to come; for "they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pa.s.s as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: and as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, 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."

The sudden appearance "of two men in shining garments," alarmed the women; who at once knew them to be angels. Then the angels reproved these women for the want of faith, which had made them expect to find amongst the dead, One whom they ought to have known must be alive, if they had remembered and believed what He Himself had formerly told them. When the women heard the words of the angels, they remembered the words of Jesus, "and returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest." But the eleven had already heard these wonderful tidings from Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the Apostles, as they mourned and wept for the death of their Lord.

Chapter XLVI.--JESUS APPEARS TO THE DISCIPLES.

The testimony of so many different witnesses had not yet convinced the Apostles: when they had heard that "Jesus was alive, and had been seen of Mary Magdalene, they believed not. And when the other women came with their testimony," their words seemed to the Apostles as "idle tales, and they believed them not."

Still all that they heard was not without some effect; for Peter was anxious to visit the sepulchre again: "Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves." But he saw nothing more; "and he departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pa.s.s." We learn from the Scriptures that Peter was the first of the Apostles who did see the Lord after His resurrection; but how and when this meeting took place, we are not told; and it is most likely that it took place now, whilst Peter was returning from his second visit to the sepulchre, "wondering in himself at that which was come to pa.s.s." What joy it must have been to Peter, to see that his Lord and Master was indeed alive, and to be able to receive forgiveness for the sin he had committed, in denying all knowledge of Him. What pa.s.sed between our Lord and Peter on this occasion, is not written down in either of the Gospels; but we may be sure that Jesus spake kindly and lovingly to Peter. It is no wonder to find that ever afterwards, Peter devoted himself heartily to the service of G.o.d. After this interview with Peter, Jesus appeared to two of the disciples, who were not also Apostles: "he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country." To Peter, Jesus probably appeared in His own person, so as to be recognized at once: on the occasion of which we are now to speak, He concealed Himself under the form of a "stranger." St. Luke tells us, that two of the disciples went that same day, (the first day of the week,) to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about three-score furlongs; that is, about seven miles and a half, for eight furlongs make a mile. And, very naturally, "they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pa.s.s, 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 with another, and are sad?" Jesus asked not such questions for His own information, but to enable Him to show the truth to the disciples, who were surprised that any person, even a stranger, should be ignorant of the wonderful events which had happened. "And 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 pa.s.s 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 G.o.d 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 beside all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women 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. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not." In this account of the matter, given by these two to a stranger, as they supposed, we see the state of doubt and perplexity in which all the disciples were: a little more faith would have set their minds at rest: but it is evident that though, whilst He lived they had believed Jesus to be the true Messiah, who should redeem Israel, His death and burial had so far shaken their belief, that they could not at once feel sure that He had risen from the dead, though they could not altogether reject that idea.

When these two disciples had ended their account, they must have been somewhat surprised at being reproached for their unwillingness to believe all that their Prophets had spoken concerning the Messiah; for Jesus, still in His character of a stranger, "said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken"! And then He reminded them, that the Scriptures had expressly said, that Christ must suffer death on earth, before He could enter into glory in heaven: saying, "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?" that is, ought not these very things which trouble you to have happened just as they have done, to fulfil the Scriptures, and to show that this was indeed the promised Messiah.

When Jesus had shown the two disciples that want of faith alone caused their perplexity, He graciously went on, "and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded (or explained) unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." No wonder these disciples, whose faith must have been strengthened by the explanations of their unknown companion, were unwilling so soon to part with one so learned in the Scriptures; and, as it was near evening, they urged Him to go in and abide with them for the night. At their earnest entreaty, "he went in to tarry with them." Emmaus, where our Lord now was, was a village about seven or eight miles to the west of Jerusalem; the dwelling-place, probably, of the two disciples whose guest He was.

"And it came to pa.s.s, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them." Jesus probably did what He had done at the last Pa.s.sover Supper, when He appointed Bread and Wine to be taken and received, in "continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ, and of the benefits which we receive thereby."

At any rate, by this act, Jesus made Himself known to Cleopas and his companion: "their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?" They had felt great interest in the conversation and teaching of the stranger, and now they seem to feel that all he had said should have shown them that One Who thus taught could be no other than the Lord Himself. Their next thought was to tell these great and glad tidings to the rest of the disciples; and though it was drawing towards night, and they had already had a long walk, "they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem,"--setting us a good example not to let any personal inconvenience prevent us from doing anything that we feel it is our duty to do. When they reached Jerusalem, they "found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." Peter had by this time related how the Lord had spoken to him, and his testimony had convinced his fellow disciples that their Lord had indeed risen from the dead. Cleopas and his companion now bore witness to the same fact, and "told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread." But some of the disciples do not seem to have been convinced even yet, for St. Mark says of these two, "they went and told it unto the residue, neither believed they them."

"Then the same day at evening," (nearly 6 o'clock,) still being the first day of the week, "when the doors were shut where the disciples were a.s.sembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus: as they thus spake, Jesus stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you." Notwithstanding all that had already past, it seems that the greater part, at least, of the disciples could not believe that this was really and truly the Lord, in the same body as He had borne before His death: "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 his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord."

Doubts, however, still lingered in the minds of some, and these our Lord graciously condescended to remove; for "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 an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained."