The Fair Haven

S >> Samuel Butler >> The Fair Haven

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19

IV--APPEARANCE OF CHRIST TO MARY MAGDALENE AND OTHERS

(John xx. 14-18)

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus
standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her,
Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to
be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence,
tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus
saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him,
Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me
not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren,
and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to
my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples
that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto
her.

(Mark xvi. 9-11)

Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared
first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And
she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and
wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been
seen of her, believed not.

(Matthew xxvii. 9-10)

And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them,
saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and
worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell
my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

V--THE BRIBING OF THE GUARD (Peculiar to Matthew)

(Matthew xxviii. 11-15)

Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the
city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were
done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken
counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, His
disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if
this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure
you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this
saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

VI--APPEARANCE TO CLEOPAS (AND JAMES?)

(Luke xxiv. 13-35)

And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called
Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they
talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came
to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus
himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden
that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of
communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and
are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said
unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known
the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said
unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of
Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and
all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered
him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted
that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside
all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done. Yea,
and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were
early at the sepulchre; and when they found not his body, they came,
saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that
he was alive, and certain of them which were with us went to the
sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they
saw not. Then he said unto them, O fools, 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? And beginning at
Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the
scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto
the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have
gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for
it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to
tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them,
he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And
their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of
their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn
within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to
us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to
Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were
with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to
Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he
was known of them in breaking of bread.

(Mark xvi. 12-13)

After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they
walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto
the residue: neither believed they them.

VII--APPEARANCE TO THE APOSTLES (Twice in John)

(John xx. 19-29)

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when
the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of
the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them,
Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed them his hands
and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath
sent me, even, so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed
on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose
soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever
sins ye retain, they are retained. But Thomas, one of the twelve,
called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other
disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he
said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the
nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my
hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again
his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus,
the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto
you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my
hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be
not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him,
My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast
seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen,
and yet have believed.

[I have not quoted the twenty-first chapter of St. John's Gospel on
account of its exceedingly doubtful genuineness.--W. B. O.]

(Luke xxiv. 36-49)

And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and
saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and
affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said
unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your
hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it 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 shewed them his hands and his feet.
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.
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
psalms concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they
might understand the scriptures. And said unto them, Thus it is
written, and thus it behoved 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. And, behold, I send the
promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of
Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

(Mark xvi. 14-18)

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and
upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because
they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he
saith unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall
follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they
shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if
they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay
hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

(Matthew xviii. 16-20)

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain
where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they
worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto
them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, go
ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

VIII--THE ASCENSION

(Luke xxiv. 50-53)

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands,
and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was
parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped
him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And were continually
in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

(Mark xvi. 19-20)

So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into
heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and
preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the
word with signs following. Amen.

(Acts i. 1-12)

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus
began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up,
after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the
apostles whom he had chosen. To whom also he shewed himself alive
after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty
days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they
should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the
Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly
baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not
many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked
of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the
kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know
the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken
up; and a cloud received him out of their sight, And while they
looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood
by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why
stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up
from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen
him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount
called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

IX--ST. PAUL'S ACCOUNT OF OUR LORD'S REAPPEARANCES

(I. Corinthians xv. 3-8)

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how
that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that
he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the
scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve;
after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of
whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen
asleep. After that, he was seen of James: then of all the apostles.
And last of all he was seen of me also as of one born out of due
time.

Footnotes:

{1} It should be borne in mind that this passage was written five or
six years ago, before the commencement of the Franco-Prussian war,
What would my brother have said had he been able to comprehend the
events of 1870 and 1871?--W. B. O.

{2} This pamphlet was by Butler himself.

{3} See Biog. Britann.

{4} Middleton's Reflections answered by Benson. Hist. Christ, vol.
iii., p. 50.

{5} Lardner, part I., vol. ii., p. 135 et seq.

{6} Ibid., part I., vol. ii., p. 742.

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19