In the Upper Chamber
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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 showed them his
hands and his feet.”
There they beheld the feet and hands marred by the cruel nails;
and they recognized his melodious voice, like none other they had ever
heard. “And 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 of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before
them.” Faith and joy now took the place of doubt and unbelief, and
they acknowledged their risen Saviour with feelings which no words
could express.
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Jesus now expounded the Scriptures to the entire company, com-
mencing with the first book of Moses, and dwelling particularly on the
prophecy pointing to the time then present, and foretelling the suffer-
ings of Christ and his resurrection. “And he said unto them, These are
the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all
things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in
the prophets, and in the Psalm, concerning me. Then opened he their
understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures. And said
unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and
to rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission
of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning
at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.”
The disciples now began to realize the nature and extent of their
commission. They were to proclaim to the world the wonderful truths
which Christ had intrusted to them. The events of his life, his death,
and resurrection, the harmony of prophecy with those events, the
sacredness of the law of God, the mysteries of the plan of salvation,
the power of Jesus for the remission of sins—to all these things were
they witnesses, and it was their work to make them known to all men,
beginning at Jerusalem. They were to proclaim a gospel of peace and
salvation through repentance and the power of the Saviour. At the first
advent of Jesus to the world, the angel announced: Peace on earth,
and good will to men. After his earthly life was completed, he came
forth from the dead, and, appearing for the first time to his assembled
disciples, addressed them with the blessed words, “Peace be unto you.”
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Jesus is ever ready to speak peace to souls that are troubled with
doubts and fear. This precious Saviour waits for us to open the door of