He sends her away to comfort his disciples. brethren, and say unto them, I ascend un 413 exeiv. ascended to my Fa- not yet withdrawn from your world, and ascended set. ther: but go to my to the heavenly court of my Father, as you may imagine I should presently dos; but I shall yet John to my Father, and continue for a little while upon earth, and XX. 17. your Father, and to my give you further opportunities of seeing me God and your God. again: let nothing therefore now detain thee s Do not embrace me now, for I am not yet ascended to my Father.] Mr. Chandler, in his Answer to the Considerations on the Trial of the Witnesses, has given such convincing reasons in the present case for rendering the word anla, embrace (which I before apprehended to be the sense of it), that I think myself warranted in changing the version. We find indeed in the next section, that presently after this, when Jesus appeared to the women who were fleeing from the sepulchre, they were permitted to embrace him: (compare Mat. xxviii. 8, 9, and Mark xvi. 8. But this is well accounted for by Mr. West, as graciously designed to calm their minds, and to remove the terror they were under; while Mary, who was under no such terror, had her grief dispersed at once, and was immediately convinced that it was Christ upon his calling her by her name. And, to induce her not to wait for any thing more at present, it was a very proper consideration that our Lord subjoins, For I am not yet ascended to my Father; in which he at once assured her that he was not yet quitting this world, and plainly intimated his intention of seeing her and his disciples again, and paying frequent visits to them before his final departure, when what he had lately said to his disciples, of his going to the Father (John xvi. 28), should be fulfilled by his ascension into heaven. (See West's Observ. p. 167, & seq.)-The sense is obvious and easy in this view, and Dr. Whitby (in his Note on this place), Mr. Fleming (Christol. Vol. III. p. 502), Mr. Cradock, VOL. VII. And and others, interpret these words as I have done in the paraphrase; and it is strange that Mr. Whiston should think this text inexplicable, unless we suppose "that Christ was immediately to ascend to his Father, before he could at all converse with any of them, or receive the expressions of their homage to him." (See the Appendix to his Sermons at Boyle's Lect. p. 298-300.) If there had been any necessity for his ascending immediately, he surely would not first have appeared to Mary, and then to the other women on their way to the city. The interpretation here given suits the words as well, and other scriptures much better. She probably thought that if he was risen he was also returned back to his heavenly Father, to keep up his stated abode with him again, as he quickly after did: to assure her therefore of the contrary was exceeding proper, and the best reason that could be given to persuade her to wave any farther discourse now, with which to be sure she must otherwise have been earnestly desirous to detain her dear Lord.-To suppose, with Messrs. L'Enfant and Beausobre, that she meant this adoration as homage to a temporal prince, and that our Lord's answer was chiefly intended as a declaration that must ascend to his Father before he received his kingdom, appears to me very unnatural. t Go to my brethren, &c.] By calling the disciples his brethren and God their Father and their God, he intimates in the strongest manner the full forgiveness of their fault in leaving him, even without ever mentioning it ; just as the Father of the pro 3 K digal 444 SECT. cxciv. Reflections on the resurrection of Christ. And upon saying this he immediately disappeared for the present; and the other women, advancing to the sepulchre, where the angels continued, received the news of his resurrection from them, and were directed, as Mary Magdalene also was, to report it to the disciples, with a variety of additional circumstances, which will be mentioned in the following section. Mat. IMPROVEMENT. How fit is it that we should sing unto the Lord a new song! Xxviii. and, with what thankful hearts should we join, on his own 1-4 day, and on every day, to congratulate the triumph of his rising from the dead, and to rejoice in this birth-day of our hopes! Now is the justice of God amply satisfied, or the prisoner had never been released. Now is the reproach of the cross ceased, and turned into proportionable glory. That reproach was rolled away at once by the descending angel, who appeared, not to awaken Christ from his sleep, or to bring him a new life, for he had himself a power, whenever he pleased, to resume that which he had voluntarily resigned (John x. 18); but he came to add a solemn pomp to his revival, and to strike the guards with such a terror as would effectually prevent any mad attempt on this glorious Conqueror, when he was bursting the bonds in which he had for a while been held. John O Lord, we acknowledge the truth of thy promise: thou didst not leave his soul in hell, neither didst thou suffer the flesh of thine Holy one to see corruption (Psal. xvi. 10.) Now is Christ indeed risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept (1 Cor. xv. 20): may we, in conformity to his holy example, be dead to sin, and to the world; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also may walk in newness of life! (Rom. vi. 4.) Then will he that raised up Christ from the dead, ere long, quicken our mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in us. (Rom. viii. 11.) Let the faith of what has been done with regard to our glorifixx. 13. ed Head, and shall at length be accomplished with respect to all 17his 17 his members, daily gladden our hearts. When our eyes are weeping, and our souls sinking within us, let us raise our thoughts to Jesus, our risen, and now ascended Redeemer, who says to all his brethren digal (Luke xv. 26, & seq.) intimated These exquisite touches, which every where abound in the evangelical writings, give inexpressible delight to a well-turned heart, and shew how perfectly Christ knew our frame. The other women come to the sepulchre at sun-rising. 445 cxciv. brethren these gracious words (which may justly be received with SECT. transports of astonishment, and fill our hearts at the same time with joy unspeakable, and full of glory)," I ascend to my Father and John your Father, and to my God and your God." : The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is now, through the death and resurrection of his dear Son (whom by raising him from the dead he has so solemnly owned under that relation), become our Father and our God. As such let us honour him, love him, and rejoice in him and when we must leave this world, which Christ has long since left, let it delight our souls to think that we shall likewise ascend after him, and dwell with him in his propitious Divine presence. In the mean time, if we are risen with Christ, let us seek those things which are above, where Christ now sitteth at the right-hand of God (Col. iii. 1.); and let us be willing, in whatever sense God shall appoint, to be made conformable to his death, that we may also be partakers of his resurrection and glory. (Phil. iii. 10, 11.) SECT. CXCV. Christ having appeared to Mary, the other women come to the sepulchre, and are informed of his resurrection by the angels. He appears to the women as they return to the city; but neither their testimony, nor that of Mary, is received by the disciples. Mat. XXVIII. 5—10. Mark XVI.-2, 5-11. Luke XXIV. 3-11. John XX. 18. MARK XVI. 9. NOW when Jesus the first day of the lene, out of whom he MARK XVI. 9. xx. 17. SECT. XVI. 9: was risen early, WE have just now seen in the preceding section, that when [Jesus] was risen from cxcv. week, he appeared the dead, very early on the first day of the weekfirst to Mary Magda- (which day was afterwards observed by his fol- Mark had cast seven devils. lowers in commemoration of this important fact), he made his first appearance to Mary Magdalene, out of whom (as was formerly said) he had some time before ejected no less than seven demons, who by an awful providence were permitted to join together in afflicting her. (Compare Luke viii. 2, Vol. VI. p. 319.) -2 And they [i. e. the other women came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. But it is now time to return to the women, her companions, from whom she had parted when she went to inform Peter and John that the sepulchre was open (John xx. 2, p. 436). These were now joined by [the other women] who had brought the spices, and, while Mary was engaged in this interview with Christ, came up together to the sepulchre and it was now 3 K 2 about 416 Two angels appear, and tell them Jesus is risen: SECT. about the time of the rising of the sun. And LUKE XXIV. 3. having found the passage open without CXCV. 4 4 And it came to as they were And they entered [inobany to the sepulchre], and Luke struction in the way, and observed as they stood found not the body XXIV. 3 at a distance that Peter and John had done the of the Lord Jesus. [MARK XVI. 5.-] like, they entered into the sepulchre themselves; but, as they had before suspected on seeing it open, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, that as they were in great perplexity on this account, and knew not what pass, much perplexed thereto think was become of the body, behold, to their about, behold [they inexpressible astonishment, they saw the two an- saw] two men [who] stood by them in gels whom Mary had seen but a little before shining garments; [one (who had disappeared upon their coming to the of them a young man, sepulchre, but now rendered themselves visible who had been sitting at once), in the form of men, arrayed in splendid clothed in a long white on the right side, habits, [who] came and stood by them, the wo- garment.] men being unable to discover how they came in: XVI.-5.-] and [one of them] appeared like a young man, with a beautiful and cheerful aspect, clothed in a long white robe, glittering with lustre like the purest snow and this was the angel who appeared at first to the guards, and who had been afterwards seen by Mary, sitting on the right side 5 of the entrance into the sepulchre. And they 5-And [they were were greatly terrified at this extraordinary and affrighted], and bowsurprising sight; and, stepping back to the very the earth. [MARK door, they bowed their faces to the ground, and XVI.—5.] fixed their eyes upon it, in token of the profoundest respect. Mat. XXVIII. 5 [MARK ed down their faces to MAT. XXVIII. 5. And the angel answer But the angel, in a most mild and condescending manner, answered and said unto the women, ed and said unto the Do not be terrified at what you see; for we ap- women, [Be not afpear to comfort rather than afflict you, and have frighted:] for I know a About the rising of the sun.] We have seen before, that Mary Magdalene, with the other Mary and Salome, set out while it was yet dark, and came within sight of the sepulchre for the first time, just as it grew light enough to discern that it was opened (compare Mat. xxviii. 1, and John xxi. 1, p. 435); but by that time Mary had called Peter and John, and they had viewed the sepulchre, and Joanna was come with the other women who were to bring the spices, which might all pass in less than an hour, the sun was up. These circumstances well agree with each other, and are presumptions in favour of the order which we have laid down. b Stepping back to the very door.] This it was natural for them to do; and from the angel's afterwards inviting them to come in and view the sepulchre, we may infer that they were now precisely in this attitude. the that c They bowed their faces to the ground, and fixed their eyes upon it, &c.] The words how to wroσwnov Bis Thy you, do not intimate their prostrating themselves before the angels, but a respectful and reverential declining their heads, and looking downward, that they might not appear to gaze; which is well known to have been forbidden to the Jews upon the sight of a celestial vision: (see Exod. xix. 21; and compare Judg. xiii. 20.) And it was also considered as dangerous by the heathen, when their deities, or any celestial messengers from them, were supposed to make themselves visible; as Elsner has finely shewn in his learned and entertaining Note here. Elsn. Observ. Vol. I. p. 284. d But the angel answered, &c.] I entirely agree with Mr. West, that the particle should here be rendered But. See West's Observ. p. 23. e Re And bid them go and acquaint his disciples with it. LUKE XXIV. 6. He is not here, but is risen, [as he said;] [MARK, behold where they laid him:] [come see the : 6 447 CXCV. that ye seek Jesus [of the best tidings to bring you that ever you heard: SECT. Nazareth, which was I know, that in the strength of your affection you crucified: [LUKE, Why seek ye the living a- are come to seek that holy and excellent Person, Mat. mong the dead?] MARK Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified the other xxxvшI XVI.6.--LUKE XXIV. day, and buried here: but why seek ye the living 5 -5.] among the dead? and why are, you come hither with materials for embalming one who is possessed of an immortal life? He is not here, Luke but is risen this morning, as he said that he XXIV. should: behold, the tomb where they laid him; the body is not here: come in, and satisfy yourplace where the Lord selves by the strictest inquiry; and view, with lay:] remember how he spake unto you, all the mixture of holy affections which are suitwhen he was yet in Ga- able to such a circumstance, the place where the lilee, [MAT. XXVIII. Lord of life and glory, the Prince of angels and 6. MARK XVI.—6.] men, lay for a while a breathless corpse but he has now triumphed over the grave; and you have no reason to be surprised to hear it; for it not only was most probable in itself that this would be the case, but he also often foretold it. Remember particularly how he spake unto you, when he was yet in Galilee with you, where I know with what kindness you attended and ministered to him; Recollect that remark-7 able saying of his which was so often repeated, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinners, and be crucified, and the third day he shall rise again (see Mat. xvi. 31, Vol. VI. p. 465; xvii. 22, 23, Vol. VI. p. 483. and xx. 18, 19, p. 132): now this, as you well know, is the third day; and what he said is most exactly 8 And they remem- verified. (And, while the angel spake thus, 8 they called to mind what they had heard from Jesus, and perfectly remembered his words. MAT. XXVIII. 7. But go quickly, added he, and communicate to Mat. [But] go [your way] quickly, and tell his your friends the joy which you now feel; yea, ✈ disciples [and Peter] go and tell his mourning disciples, and particularthat he is risen from ly tell Peter, who is so overwhelmed with his the dead; and behold, peculiar sorrows, that he is risen from the dead: he goeth before you into and acquaint them also, in further confirmation of the truth of it, Behold, he is shortly going before you into Galilee; for I am commissioned to Saying, the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of cified, and the third sinful men, and be cru day rise again. bered his words. e Remember how he spake unto you, when he was yet in Galilee.] This familiar manner in which the angel speaks of what passed between Jesus and them in Galilee, seems to intimate, that he had then been present, though invisible, and heard what Jesus said. The hint suggests many agreeable reflections, which the pious reader assure will dwell upon at leisure.-The mention He is going before you into Galilee.] XXVIII |