not, therefore, break his legs. If you look at Exodus xii. 46, you will see that not a bone of the paschal lamb was to be broken. One of the soldiers, however, took a spear, and ran it into the Saviour's side. A stream of blood and water flowed out. Why was this? It was to show the wonderful blessings we have through the death of Jesus;-the blood to atone for sin, the water to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. A prophet had said, "They shall look on Him whom they have pierced." This, too, was fulfilled.

In the evening a rich man named Joseph, of Arimathea, who was a disciple, came to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. Pilate asked the Roman officer who had been in charge whether Jesus was really dead. This centurion had seen all that had happened, and had been compelled to cry out, "Surely this was the Son of God!" When Pilate heard from him that Jesus was dead, he gave the body to Joseph. Then the body was taken down from the cross. Joseph had brought fine linen, in which he wrapped it.

Nicodemus, too, was there. He had brought a large quantity of spices, weighing a hundred pounds, this was used for the precious body. Joseph had a new tomb close by, in which no one had yet been laid. Here they laid the Saviour's body, and then rolling a very large stone against the door of the sepulchre, they left it. Several women, too, had been watching all that was done, and they saw where Jesus was laid. When all was over they returned to their own homes. The rest of the day they spent in preparing spices and ointment, and then rested the seventh day, according to the commandment. Do you not think that must have been a very sad day for them? The disciples, too, who had forsaken Jesus, and Peter, who had denied his Lord-what must they have felt?

The next day the Chief Priests and Pharisees remembered some of the things which they had heard Jesus say while He was yet alive. He had said more than once that he should rise again from the dead. These wicked men thought

that perhaps the disciples would come and steal away the body during the night, and then say that the Lord had risen. They begged Pilate would have the sepulchre made very safe, and set a guard of soldiers round it. Pilate gave them leave to do anything they conld to make it safe. So they put a seal on the great stone which was at the door, and then set a guard round it. And now they felt they were quite secure, and that they should never hear any more of "this deceiver," as they called Jesus.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

JESUS RISING FROM THE GRAVE.

Ar last that long, sad day passed away. The Sabbath was over, and those women who loved Jesus so well were watching to catch the first signs of day-light. Jesus, you know, was crucified on a Friday. The day we now keep as a Sabbath was the third day after his death. As soon as the day began to dawn two of these women set off to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared. As they went along they were wondering how they should get the stone rolled away, for it was very great. When they reached the place their joy was great to find that it was rolled away. We are told how this was done. An angel had come down and rolled back the stone. But where were the soldiers? As soon as they saw the angel they were so terrified that they were like dead men. The women were

frightened at first, but the angel soon drove away their fears. "Fear not," said he, "for I know that ye seek Jesus. He is not here; He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." Then the angel told them to make known to his disciples, and Peter, that Jesus was risen from the dead. You may be sure they ran very quickly with this joyful message. Mary Magdalene came first to Peter and John.

They set off in haste, running to the sepulchre. John was first there, and stooping down, he saw the linen clothes lying. He did not go in, but Peter soon followed, and went into the sepulchre. There he saw, indeed, the linen clothes lying folded together; but the body was not there.

By this time Mary Magdalene was come back. She could not yet believe that her dear Lord was alive. She thought some one must have taken Him away. So she sat outside the sepulchre, weeping. Then stooping down, and looking in, she saw two angels, one sitting at the head, the other at the feet where the body of Jesus