Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

438

cxciv.

Mary finding the sepulchre open,

SECT. the tomb was open. And she was greatly LUKE XXIV. 2. astonished and alarmed at the sight, and pre-ooked,] they found And [when they also Luke sently concluded that the body was removed. the stone rolled away XXIV.2 She therefore stepped back, and informed her from

John

the sepulchre.

JOHN XX. 2. Then she runneth, and com

and saith unto them,

companions of this circumstance; upon which [MARK. XVI. 4.—] they [also] looked, and plainly found that it was as she represented, and that the stone was indeed rolled away from the entrance of the sepulchre. And, not reflecting on the assurance Jesus had XX. 2. given them of his rising again from the dead, they knew not how to account for the removal of the stone; but Mary Magdalene and her companions having consulted a little together, as well as the confusion they were in would admit, it was thought best that some of the disciples, should be immediately acquainted with it: she therefore runs back to the city with all possible dispatch, and knowing where they lodged, she comes to Simon Peter, and to John, that other disciple whom Jesus peculiarly loved (by whom

may have observed how difficult it is to
form the evangelists into one coherent
story here, and to reconcile some seeming
contrarieties in their accounts: neverthe-
less I hope, on a careful examination of
this and the following sections, it will be
found not impracticable. I shall not men-
tion the very different schemes other critics
have taken, nor the particular objections
against them; but would only add a word
or two concerning that of Dr. Guyse,
which is both new and ingenious, yet not
to me satisfactory. He supposes (in his
note on John xx. 2.) that there were two
appearances of the angels to the women;
and that Mark and Luke speak only of
the first, and Matthew and John of the se-
cond; that is, in other words, (as I under-
stand it.) That as soon as it was light
these good women came to the sepulchre,
and saw an angel, who told them, "He
knew they sought Jesus, but that he was
risen:" and inviting them" to come and
see the place where he was laid," charged
them to go and tell his disciples that he
would go before them into Galilee." Upon
this they go immediately and tell the disci-
ples (without saying any thing, that we
find, of the vision") that some unknown
person had taken away the Lord, and laid
him they knew not where ;" and then re-
turning again to the sepulchre, in less than
an hour, they see another, or the same
angel as before, who, as if it were perfect-
ly unknown by any former declaration, tells
them just in the same words, "He knew
they sought Jesus, but he was risen; and,

[ocr errors]

this

eth to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know laid bim.

not where they have

inviting them again to come and see the
place where he had lain," cbarges them
again,
to go
and tell his disciples that he
went before them into Galilee This is
such a similarity of words and actions
immediately succeeding each other as I
believe can no where be paralleled.-The
scheme I offer here (which is that which
twice, at the distance of several years, pre-
sented itself to me on a view of the evange-
lists alone) is incumbered with no such
difficulty, nor indeed with any worth
naming, except what arises from the trans-
position of Mark xvi.-2. and Luke xxiv.
12. on which see notel in this section, and
note a in the next.

iShe therefore runs back to the city, &c.] It is not expressly said whether the women with whom she came thither staid any where near the sepulchre, or whether they returned to the city with her; but considering that John, who was an eye-witness, has mentioned only Mary Magdalene as running with the news, her companions in the mean while might stay at some distance till Peter and John came, and had viewed the sepulchre; and might be joined there by the other women who were to bring the spices, upon whose coming they might go into the sepulchre. (Compare Mark xvi. -2. and Luke xxiv. 3. in the beginning of the next section.)—John hints nothing at all of Mary's having looked into the sepulchre before she ran back to him; and his narration being the last, and most circumstantial, must guide us in adjusting what is ambiguous in the rest.

k They

Peter and John run immediately to the sepulchre.

439

cxciv.

John

this part of the story is most exactly and circum- SECT.
stantially recorded); and finding them already
up, and full of solicitude about the event of this
important day, she says to them, O my friends, xx. 2.
the sepulchre is broken open, and some or other
must have been there, who have removed the
stone; nor is there any room to doubt but they
have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre,
and we know not where they have laid him; so
that I, and my companions, whom I have left
behind me, cannot find any method of perform-
ing that last office of respect and affection which
you know we intended."

12

LUKE XXIV. 12. And, upon hearing this, without so much as Luke -Then arose Peter [and went forth, and staying to make any reply, Peter, whose heart XXIV. that other disciple, and was struck with such a circumstance, arose in a came to the sepulchre.] transport of various passions, and that other [JOHN XX. 3.] disciple whom we mentioned before, [and] went directly out, and never stopped till they came to

They have taken away the Lord, &c.] It is difficult to suppose, with Dr. Clarke, Dr. Guyse, and many other critics, that she would have spoken thus if the angels had before this expressly assured her of Christ's resurrection, and sent her away with such a message as they did to the disciples. Compare note p on ver. 13.

the

the women who had seen the angels made to the disciples, it could not any way agree with that of John, without allowing the necessity of a transposition. But, on considering the observations made by Mr. West, I am now satisfied that Luke refers not to the visit which Peter made with John, but to a second visit which he made after1 And Peter arose.] These words in wards upon the women's coming with the Luke come in after the account given by report that they had seen two angels who the women to the eleven, and all the rest of had assured them Jesus was risen. These the disciples (Luke xxiv. 9), or the angels women Mr. West supposes to have been appearing to them, &c. and so make the Joanna and the other women who came chief objection against the scheme here with the spices; upon whose coming to the offered to the reader: but the word then, disciples before the arrival of the two Marys with which this verse is introduced by our and Sulome, and telling them that they translators, does not well answer to in had seen two angels at the sepulchre, who the original; and as we have often showed had informed them Jesus was alive, Peter, before, that Luke is not always so exact in willing to see if the angels were there, his order as not to admit of some transposi- immediately arose and ran again to the tion, so it will run us into greater difficul- sepulchre, and without entering in (as he ties not to allow it in the present case, in had done before), but only stooping down which it is apparently reasonable to follow and looking into it, as he could see no angvis John's order, who was an eye-witness, and there, but only the linen clothes lying (for so who gives the last and largest account. it is that the words radova Heifera prove And indeed, if no transposition may be should be rendered), came back again in allowed, it is absolutely impossible in many great astonishment. (See West's Observ. passages of the gospel-history to make any p. 52, & seq.) This I now think to be the consistent harmony of the evangelists at all; best solution of this difficulty, and there is as every attentive reader must have often thus no need of any transposition; of which observed. This was the view in which I I could not but inform the reader, as it is formerly considered the account that Luke the principal circumstance in which the has given (ver. 12) of Peter's visit to the scheme that Mr. West has given difiers from sepulchre, which I have incorporated here mine, though I have left the harmony to with that of John, who at large relates stand as before, that it may still be seen their going there together, as soon as they what I had offered, as it will either way received the first report from Mary Mag- be found sufficient to acquit the evangelists dalene of the sepulchre being open, and from any charge of absurdity or contrathe body gone: and, as Luke does not diction. mention Peter's visit till after the report

m But

440

Finding only the clothes, return in surprise.

pace

they ran both toge

saw the linen clothes

and

SECT. the sepulchre. And, not contented with the JOHN XX. 4. So cxciv. swiftest with which they could walk, they ther: and the other both ran together; and as that other disciple was disciple aid out-run John XX. 4. the younger man, he out-ran Peter, who had Peter, and came first the start of him at the beginning, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 to the sepulchre: And stooping down [to look 5 And he stooping into it, he saw the linen clothes, or rollers, in down, and looking in, which the corpse had been wrapped up, lying lying; yet went he there by themselves; but he did not at first enter not in. 6 in to the sepulchre. Then came Simon Peter, 6 Then cometh Sivery quickly following him, and having stooped mon Peter following down to look into the sepulchre, as John had down, he] went into him, and [stooping done before, he was not satisfied with this; but the sepulchre, that he might examine this important affair with seeth the linen clothes such exactness as it deserved, he went into the laid by themselves;] [LUKE XXIV.-12.] sepulchre, and found the body was gone, but saw the linen clothes, with which it had been covered, laid by themselves, as John had ob7 served from without. And he discovered 7 And the napkin that was about his another material circumstance, which had not head, not lying with been remarked before, namely, that the napkin the linen clothes, but which was about his head was not laid with the wrapped together in a linen clothes, but was folded up in a place by it- place by itself. self, in such an orderly manner, as plainly shewed that the body was not hastily hurried away, either by friend or enemy; but made the sepulchre appear rather like a bed-chamber, which a person on his awaking in the morning 8 had leisurely quitted. Then that other disciple who came first to the sepulchre, and being less so that other disciple adventurous than Peter, stood hitherto with- which came first to the sepulchre, and he out, went in also to view it; and when he saw saw and believed. the several parts of the funeral dress in this situation, he was immediately convinced, and believed it now to be at least very probable that

8 Then went in al

9 his dear Master was indeed revived ". For 9 For as yet they hitherto they did not know the full meaning of knew not the scripture,

m But folded up in a place by itself.] Perhaps our Lord himself folded up the napkin; and this remarkable circumstance might be intended to signify the perfect calmness and composure with which he arose, transported with no rapture or surprise at his awaking out of this long sleep. It would be very impertinent to inquire whence he had his clothes; the angels, no doubt, furnished him with them; and perhaps the diversity of their colour or form might prevent his be ing known by his friends at first sight.

n He saw and believed.] Many interpreters explain this only of his believing that the body was not there but that he must have

those

that

believed before, on looking into the sepulchre
I rather understand it as a modest intimati-
on that he, first indeed of all others, believed
the truth of Christ's resurrection, inferring
it, as he reasonably might, from the order
in which he found the sepulchre. These
words have a force and a grace, on this in-
terpretation, which I think no other can
give them. Much of the beauty of John's
manner of writing consists in such hints as
these, which shew the temper of that ex-
cellent man; and, were he to be considered
merely as a human historian, add great
weight to his testimony. See note d on
John xxi. 20, sect. cci.

o Went

Jesus appears to Mary, who at first does not know him.

441

cxciv.

John

that he must rise again those various intimations of scripture to which SECT. from the dead. Jesus had so often referred to convince them that he must certainly rise from the dead (compare Mat. xvi. 21, Vol. VI. p. 465, and Luke XX. 9. xviii. 31-34, Vol. VII. p. 132); which if they had considered they would cheerfully have expected the sure accomplishment of them, and would not have been so much surprised at the news which Mary brought them.

10 Then the disci

ples went away again
[Peter wondering in
himself at that which
was come to pass
[Luke XXIV.—12.Ĵ

unto their own home,

11 But Mary stood

chre, weeping: and as

the sepulchre,

the one at the head,

Then both the disciples went away again to 10 their companions in the city, [Peter] not being so thoroughly satisfied as John was, yet greatly wondering in himself at what had happened, and very much concerned as to the event of so surprising a beginning.

And 12

But Mary, who was now returned, stood near 11 without at the sepul- the sepulchre after Peter and John were gone she wept, she stooped from it, not indeed going into it as they had down, and looked into done, but weeping without, in great perplexity at her not knowing what was become of Jesus: and as she wept, she also stooped down, [and look12 And seeth two ed] very wishfully into the sepulchre : angels in white, sitting, there she saw with great surprise two angels in the and the other at the form of men, clothed in white habits, sitting one feet, where the body of at the head, and the other at the feet, of that niche Jesus had lain: in the sepulchre where the body of Jesus had been laid. And they said to her, with a tender 13 regard, Woman, why dost thou weep thus? And she said to them, Alas, I have reason enough to weep; it is because they have taken away the body of Jesus my dear Lord, and I know not where they have laid him, or how the sacred corpse may be neglected or abused P.

13 And they say her, Woman,

unto

why weepest thou?

She saith unto them, Because they have ta ken away my Lord,

and I know not where they have laid him.

14 And when she

And just as she had said this, hearing a sud. 14 had thus said, she den noise behind her, she turned back, before the turned herself back,

and saw Jesus stand angels could give her any answer; and she saw ing, and knew not Jesus himself standing near her: and she knew that it was Jesus. not at first that it was Jesus, his habit being

• Went away again to their companions.] So mpg als seems evidently to signify (compare Elsner, Observ. Vol. I. p. 348.) Accordingly soon after this the women found the eleven and the rest together.) Lukc xxiv. 9.)-ATV пçoç sulov never that I know of signifies to come to one's self, or to the exercise or possession of one's own mind, as some have strangely interpreted these words. Luke's expression in that case is different; Luke xv. 17, where he says of the prodigal, as saulov show, when he came to himself. It was very prudent in Peter and John to retire immediately, lest they

changed

should have been questioned by the rulers,
if found near the sepulchre.

P They have taken away my Lord, and I
know not where they have laid him.] This
expression may very easily be accounted
for in our manner of ranging this story;
but it is very harsh to suppose she should
speak in this manner if one of the an-
gels had a few minutes before told her
that Jesus was risen. She perhaps thought
they came to do a kind of homage to the
place where he had lain, if she appre-
hended them to be angels; which, whether
she did or did not, we do not certainly know.

4 Supposing

442

cxciv.

On discovering himself, he prevents her embracing him. SECT. changed, her eyes also overflowing with tears, and her mind being so far from any expectation of his appearance, and so much distressed, that XX. 14. she did not so much as look up to the face of the person who appeared.

John

15

15 Jesus saith un

weepest thou? whom

she,

to him, Sir, if thou

Then Jesus said to her, with a gentle voice, Woman, why dost thou weep thus? and whom dost to her, Woman, why thou seek? And she, supposing him to be the gar- seckest thou? dener, said to him, Sir, if thou hast for any supposing him to be unknown reason borne him away from hence, the gardener, saith unwhere the master of the sepulchre saw fit so ho- have borne him hence, nourably to lay him but a few hours ago, I tell me where thou earnestly beg thou wouldst immediately tell me where thou hast put him, and I will remove him, and take effectual care that his corpse shall be decently interred elsewhere, without giving any farther trouble here.

16 Jesus, on this, said to her, with a loud and dis

17

hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16 Jesus saith unto

herself, and saith unto

tinct voice, in his usual affectionate way, Mary, her, Mary. She turned
dost thou not know me? [And] Mary thereupon him, Rabboni, which
turning directly towards him, and eagerly fix- is to say, Master.
ing her eyes upon him, immediately discovered
who it was; and, transported with a mixture of
unutterable passions, she said to him, Rabboni;
that is to say, [My great} Master and Teacher!
and so much was her heart affected, that she
could say no more, but immediately prostrated
herself at his feet to embrace them.

But Jesus said to her, Do not stay here to em-
brace me [now, either to pay thine homage to
me, or to confirm thy faith; both which thou
wilt have other opportunities of doing: for I am

Supposing him to be the gardener.] It is very probable that Jesus might speak low, or in a difcrent way from what he usually did; and her taking him for the gardener seems to intimate there was nothing very splendid in his dress: according ly when he appeared to the two disciples in their way to Emmaus, they seem to have taken him for a person of a rank not much superior to their own. Her eyes might also be with-held at first from knowing Jesus by some supernatural restraint, as theirs were. Luke xxiv. 16.

r Sir, if thou hast borne him hence.] It is observable that she accosts this stranger in respectful language, even when she took him for a servant (for xms cannot, I think, signify the owner of the garden); prudently reflecting that an error on that hand would be more excusable than on the other, supposing he should have proved one of superior rank in a plain dress: and also that she does not name Jesus, but speaks

not

me

17 Jesus saith onto her, Touch not; for I am not yet ascended

in indefinite terms, if thou hast borne him
hence; intimating that he was the one person
of whom her own thoughts and heart were
so full, that she took it for granted every
one must know who she meant. Such
language in such a circumstance was per-
fectly natural.-If there was any hedge
or arbour near the sepulchre, so that while
she spake to Jesus she was not visible to
her companions, or if this avenue was such
that, while they came up to it, the sepal-
chre was between her and them; or if
they were now waiting at some distance,
or coming up with a slower pace, being
charged with the weight of the materials
for embalming (any one of which might
very possibly be the case); a difficulty with
respect to the time of their coming to the
sepulchre, which may ofer itself to the
sagacious reader, in the disposition of the
following section, when compared with this,
will disappear at once.
8 Do

« FöregåendeFortsätt »