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Chapter 30—The Resurrection of Christ
The disciples rested on the Sabbath, sorrowing for the death of
their Lord, while Jesus, the King of glory, lay in the tomb. As night
drew on, soldiers were stationed to guard the Saviour’s resting place,
while angels, unseen, hovered above the sacred spot. The night wore
slowly away, and while it was yet dark the watching angels knew that
the time for the release of God’s dear Son, their loved Commander,
had nearly come. As they were waiting with the deepest emotion
the hour of His triumph, a mighty angel came flying swiftly from
heaven. His face was like the lightning, and his garments white as
snow. His light dispersed the darkness from his track and caused the
evil angels, who had triumphantly claimed the body of Jesus, to flee
in terror from his brightness and glory. One of the angelic host who
had witnessed the scene of Christ’s humiliation, and was watching
His resting place, joined the angel from heaven, and together they
came down to the sepulcher. The earth trembled and shook as they
approached, and there was a great earthquake.
Terror seized the Roman guard. Where was now their power
to keep the body of Jesus? They did not think of their duty or of
the disciples’ stealing Him away. As the light of the angels shone
around, brighter than the sun, that Roman guard fell as dead men to
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the ground. One of the angels laid hold of the great stone and rolled
it away from the door of the sepulcher and seated himself upon it.
The other entered the tomb and unbound the napkin from the head
of Jesus.
“Thy Father Calls Thee”
Then the angel from heaven, with a voice that caused the earth
to quake, cried out, “Thou Son of God, Thy Father calls Thee!
Come forth.” Death could hold dominion over Him no longer. Jesus
arose from the dead, a triumphant conqueror. In solemn awe the
angelic host gazed upon the scene. And as Jesus came forth from the
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