Of all the many well-attested incidents in the life of Jesus, there is none more firmly established than the fact that Jesus rose from death to a newness of life. His resurrection was an actual uprising of the physical body which He had laid down, and a renewal of all the life forces. Jesus had plainly foretold that He would rise from the tomb on the third day after His death; but such a performance was so foreign to the experience of His disciples, that they failed to grasp the full significance of His sayings. You can appreciate yourselves how difficult it would be for you, even with your present knowledge, to get the full meaning of such a saying as this: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." But it is never safe to question a fact merely because we have not experienced it ourselves. We walk by faith, and by faith is accomplished all the world's work. Our faith in the resurrection of Jesus is doubly assured by our faith in the testimonies of those who knew Him and saw Him. [Sidenote: The first five appearances of the risen Christ.] Ten separate and distinct appearances of the risen Redeemer are recorded in the New Testament. First, on the morning of the resurrection, He appeared to Mary Magdalene, who had come early in the morning with Mary, the mother of Jesus, Salome and Joanna to anoint the body of Jesus with spices. When Mary recognized Him, she said to Him in Hebrew, {282} "Rabboni." Jesus answered, "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." Soon thereafter, Jesus appeared to the other three women and called to them, "All hail. And they came and took hold of His feet, and worshipped Him." Then, in the afternoon of the resurrection day, Jesus appeared to Cleopas and another of the disciples as they were journeying to Emmaus, and interpreted to them the scriptures concerning Himself. The fourth appearance of the risen Christ was to Peter; but when or where we do not know. At the fifth appearance, Jesus appeared suddenly to ten of His disciples, and said, "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 a honeycomb. And He took it, and did eat before them." [Sidenote: Five more appearances of the Christ and the ascension.]