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Resurrection of Christ
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report of the disciples should be received by those who could not
themselves see and hear the risen Saviour.
God was not pleased with the unbelief of Thomas. When Jesus
again met with His disciples, Thomas was with them; and when he
beheld Jesus, he believed. But he had declared that he would not be
satisfied without the evidence of feeling added to sight, and Jesus
gave him the evidence which he had desired. Thomas cried out, “My
Lord and my God!” But Jesus reproved him for his unbelief, saying,
“Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed
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are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
John 20:28, 29
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The Discomfiture of Christ’s Slayer
As the news spread from city to city and from town to town,
the Jews in their turn feared for their lives and concealed the hatred
which they cherished toward the disciples. Their only hope was to
spread their lying report. And those who wished this lie to be true
accepted it. Pilate trembled as he heard that Christ had risen. He
could not doubt the testimony given, and from that hour peace left
him forever. For the sake of worldly honor, for fear of losing his
authority and his life, he had delivered Jesus to die. He was now
fully convinced that it was not merely an innocent man of whose
blood he was guilty, but the Son of God. Miserable to its close was
the life of Pilate. Despair and anguish crushed every hopeful, joyful
feeling. He refused to be comforted and died a most miserable death.
Forty Days With the Disciples
Jesus remained with His disciples forty days, causing them joy
and gladness of heart as He opened to them more fully the realities
of the kingdom of God. He commissioned them to bear testimony to
the things which they had seen and heard concerning His sufferings,
death, and resurrection, that He had made a sacrifice for sin, and that
all who would might come unto Him and find life. With faithful ten-
derness He told them that they would be persecuted and distressed,
but they would find relief in recalling their experience and remem-
bering the words which He had spoken to them. He told them that
He had overcome the temptations of Satan and obtained the victory
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