LESSON 2.—APRIL 14.—JESUS APPEARS TO MARY.
11 “But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping; so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him. When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth 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 hast borne Him hence, tell me where Thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith unto Him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith to her, Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go unto My brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and My God and your God. Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, I have seen the Lord; and how that He had said these things unto her.” Golden Text: “Behold, I am alive forevermore.” Rev. 1:18. (1) What was the attitude of Mary at the sepulcher? Verse 11. Note 1. (2) As she looked into the sepulcher, whom did she see? What was their position? Verse 12. Note 2. (3) What question did the angels ask? What was Mary's reply? Verse 13. Note 3. (4) What then did Mary do? and whom did she see? Verse 14. (5) What question did Jesus ask? who did Mary suppose Him to be? and what was her reply to His question? Verse 15. Note 4. (6) What did Jesus then say to her? and what was Mary's response? Verse 16. Note 5. (7) What did Jesus forbid her to do? Why? What message did He entrust her with? Verse 17. Note 6. (8) How faithfully did she obey His command? Verse 18. Note 7. 1. The Mary referred to in verse 11 was Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus had seven times healed of demoniacal affliction. She had gone to the tomb very early, and finding it empty had run to tell Peter and John. She had evidently returned to the sepulcher immediately after telling them. They both ran to the place, but after seeing the empty tomb for themselves, had returned to their home; but Mary remained. 2. Why at the Tomb?—There could be but one object of the angels' watch over the empty sepulcher, and that was to tell the joyful news to the disciples. It would certainly be a comforting message for the sorrowing friends of Jesus. “Are they [the angels] not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Heb. 1:14. 3. A Token of Sympathy.—The question, “Why weepest thou?” shows the sympathetic nature of the angels of God, in common with that of their Master. Jesus always manifested an intense sympathy with the sorrowing ones, and the heavenly angels have always shown the deepest interest in His work for sinners. This is just as true to-day as it ever was. 4. A Test of Faith.—Jesus repeated the question of the angel, “Why weepest thou?” and added, “Whom seekest thou?” He sought for a spark of faith. He did not say, “I am the One you seek.” He wants to be known by faith, and not by sight. See 2 Cor. 5:7. Had Mary been in faith expecting to see Him alive, she would have recognized Him at a glance. All thru His course of teaching His disciples He had sought to inspire them with faith in His word. “How is it that ye have no faith?” Mark 4:40. 5. “Mary.”—It was not until some natural sense was touched, till a familiar sound broke upon her ear, that the Master was recognized. Then the sight was satisfied, and the living Saviour was acknowledged. Many are yet doomed to be deceived by false christs and false teachers because of their dependence upon the satisfaction of the natural senses instead of the Word of God. Mary's recognition proved all right because she had met the Lord Himself. But had she met a shrewd deceiver, such as are to be expected in the last days, she would have had no protection. The “elect” who will stand against the deceptive wiles of the enemy, will be those who stand the test of faith in the Word, regardless of sights and sounds. Matt. 24:23-27; 2 Thess. 2:7-12. 6. “I am not yet ascended.”—This assertion of Jesus' is a sufficient answer to those who claim that He went to heaven on the day of His death. And the message sent to the other disciples by Mary is a further proof that He had not yet ascended. But the meeting with other women a short time afterward, when they were allowed to touch Him (Matt. 28:9), would indicate that in a very short time He did ascend to His Father and return. It was necessary for Him to ascend to present the offering of His blood at the heavenly altar, and to be accepted as the atonement for sinners. 7. Mary Magdalene was the first at the tomb on the morning of the resurrection, and the first human messenger employed by the risen Saviour to announce the good news to His mourning disciples.