and of receiving a message from Him for His brethren. But still the incredulous disciples refused to believe. Mary Magdalene owned that she had not touched Jesus, had indeed been forbidden to touch Him; but these two women declared that they had not only met Him, but that when they heard His greeting, they had fallen down to worship Him, being afraid, and had held Him by His feet. Be not afraid,' He had said; 'go, tell My brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.'

There was this excuse for the unbelief of the disciples that as yet the only manifestations, either of angels or of the Lord Himself, had been to women, who are always more excited, and more open to superstitious fancies, in hours of sorrow, than men are. The simple facts, as known to the disciples, were, that the sepulchre was open at daybreak, and the body of their Master missing. Who had broken open the grave they could not tell; but their suspicion must have been that some enemy had done it.

The news spread rapidly throughout Jerusalem, and no doubt crowds of curious spectators flocked to the garden to see the open tomb. Amongst them the partisans of the Sanhedrim diligently spread the report that the body was stolen away by the disciples, while the guard slept. It would be no longer prudent for the wellknown followers of Jesus to be seen near Calvary and Gethsemane ; but those who were less marked among His friends probably mingled with the throng, and from time to time brought tidings to the assembly of disciples of

what was going on. The hours wore away, and still they were in perplexity and unbelief. Three women only had seen Him one of these had not touched Him, and the other two had been so bewildered and amazed, as to have kept their interview with Him to themselves, until after Mary Magdalene had given her account.

CHAPTER X.

EMMAUS.

WHEN the disciples were first called together by Peter and John, there were among them two friends, one of whom was named Cleophas, not the husband of Mary, but probably a native of Emmaus, a village about nine miles from the city. They were present when the party of Galilean women, with Joanna, came to tell of seeing two angels in the sepulchre. Possibly they went with Peter, when he ran a second time to the grave; but they did not return with him, as they did not hear the statement of Mary Magdalene, or of Salome and Mary Cleophas. Very likely they lingered about the garden amongst the crowd, listening to the various guesses and rumours concerning the strange event, until it was time to start on their long walk homewards. Calvary lay_north or north-east of the city walls, and Emmaus to the east; there was no need therefore for them to return through the busy streets, where they might have heard that their risen Lord had appeared to, not one, but three of the

women, who had loved Him so faithfully, and ministered to Him so long. Sad, though it was a feast time when joyousness was a duty, these men might well be.

It is a toilsome road, and the afternoon sun beat hot upon them. But they heeded neither the heat of the sun nor the roughness of the road. They were reasoning and pondering over the events that

had followed quickly

upon one another, since they had entered Jerusalem to eat the feast of the passover. There had been the

betrayal, the arrest, the mock trial before the Sanhedrim, the real trial before Pilate, the scourging, the crucifixion, the darkness at noon-day, and earthquake, all hurried one upon another. They might well be sad and downcast as they communed about these things.

Presently a stranger, journeying the same toilsome road, drew near and asked them how it was they could be thus sorrowful during the feast. Cleophas answered him, 'Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things that are come to pass there in these days?' All Jerusalem was busy about them, and this stranger, who seemed to be coming from the city, might surely guess what they were talking about. Yet he said, 'What things?' And now Cleophas, concluding that he was indeed a stranger, told him of Jesus of Nazareth, the mighty prophet, who had been condemned to death by the Great Sanhedrim, their rulers. 'But we trusted,' he been He that should

went on, sorrowfully, that it had

have redeemed Israel.' Then he narrated how certain

women had astonished them that morning, who did not find His body in the sepulchre, but came saying they had seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. 'But Him they saw not,' added Cleophas to the stranger walking at his side.

'O foolish men!' he answered gently, 'and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken ! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?' They, like all other Jews, were well versed in the writings of Moses and the prophets; but as this stranger explained to them passages perfectly familiar to them, they stood out in a new light, with deeper meaning than any they had had before. Their hearts, slow to believe, burned within them. Was it, then, true that Jesus was that Holy One whose soul should not be left in hell, nor His flesh see corruption? The long road seemed short; the rocky path no longer rugged to their feet; the heat of the sun was unfelt. How fast the time fled! How quickly Emmaus was seen on its hill before them! Who could this stranger be, so wise and gracious, whom they loved already, and could listen to unweariedly, almost as if He were the Lord Himself?

They were close to the village now, and He made as though He would have gone farther; but they could not part with Him yet, stranger though He was. It was getting on for evening, and the day was far spent. 'Abide with us,' said both of them; and He went in to tarry with them, as they hoped, until the morning. He had charmed