Notes. John xx. 1 — 10.
The two last chapters of St. John's Gospel are taken up with accounts of oar Lord's appearances after His resurrection. Like Matthew, Mark, and Luke, St. John dwells very fully on the history of the crucifixion and resurrection. But, as in other parts of his Gospel, so here also, he supplies many deep- ly interesting details, which the other Evangelists, for some wise reasons, have not recorded. A few preliminary remarks on the whole subject will not perhaps be found uninteresting. The matter is one about which every Christian ought to have very clear and correct views.
(a) Concerning the importance of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead, it would be hard to speak too strongly. It is a cardinal article of the Christian faith, second to none in val- ue.— It is the grand proof that He was the promised Messiah whom the Prophets had foretold. It is the one great sign which He named to the Jews when asked to give convincing evidence of His Divine mission, — the sign of the Prophet Jo- nas, the rebuilding of the temple after destruction. (Matt. xii. 89 ; John ii. 19 — 2i.) If He did not rise again after three days, they were not to believe Him. — It is the completion of the work of redemption which He came into the world to accom- plish. It proved that the ransom was accepted, and the victory over sin and death obtained. Christ " was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification." — " We are be- gotten again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." — (Rom. iv. 25 ; Pet. i. 3.) If He had not risen again, our hope would have been a huge uncertainty. — It is a fact which has the closest connection with the spiritual life, and position before God, of all believers. They are count- ed by God as " risen with Christ," and they should regard them- Belves as partakers of Christ's resurrection life, and sitting in heavenly places. — Not least, it is the pledge and assurance of our own resurrection at the last day. We need not fear death, and look at the grave with despair, when we remember that Jesus Christ rose again in the body. As surely as the Head rose, so shall the members be raised. — Let these points never be forgotten. When we think of them we may understand why the Apostles, in their preaching and Epistles, dwell so much upon the resurrection. Well would it be if modern Christians thought more about it. Myriads seem unable to look at anything in the Gospel except the sacrifice and death of Christ, and altogether pass over His resurrection.
(6) Concerning the evidences of Christ's resurrection, — the proofs that He actually did rise again from the grave with Hia body, — it is most remarkable to observe how full and various they are. He was seen at least eleven times after He rose again, at different times of day, in dififeient ways, and by ditfer-