1 Now on the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb. She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid 3 Him. Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and 4 they went toward the tomb. And they ran both together: and 5 the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb, 6 and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; 7 yet entered he not in. Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth 8 the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, that was upon His 9 head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place 10 by itself. Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, which came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11 "But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping. So, 12 as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she 13 beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and 14 one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto 15 them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know 16 not where they have laid Him. When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew 17 not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why 18 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 19 Him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith unto Him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to 20 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 21 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.—“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”Acts 2:36.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) On what day of the week did the friends of Jesus first visit His tomb after the resurrection? On coming to the tomb what did they see? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) To whom did Mary run? What did she say to them? Verse 2. (3) What then did these disciples do? Verse 3. (4) Which one arrived first? Verse 4. (5) On looking in the sepulcher, what did he see? (6) When Peter came, what did he do? What did he see? Verses 5, 7. Note 2. (7) On following Peter into the tomb, what was the other disciple's experience? Verse 8. (8) Of what were the disciples still ignorant? Verse 9. Note 3. (9) Then where did Peter and his companion go? Verse 10. (10) Who still lingered at the sepulcher? (11) On looking in, what did she see? Verse 12. (12) What did the angels say to Mary? What was her answer? Verse 13. (13) As she turned away, whom did she see? Did she recognize Him? Verse 14. (14) What did Jesus say to Mary? Who did she think He was? How did she reply to His question? Verse 15. (15) How then did Jesus address her? How did Mary respond? Verse 16. (16) What cautionary command did Jesus give? Why? With what mission did He entrust her? Verse 17. (17) How did she perform this pleasant duty? Verse 18.
NOTES.
1. It was the first day of the week. It was not the Sabbath day, for "the Sabbath was past" (Mark 16:1), and the disciples had "rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment." Luke 23:56. Nowhere, before or after this memorable occasion, does the inspired record intimate that the first day of the week was or would be recognized as the Sabbath of the Lord, or the Lord's day. The only day he ever blessed and sanctified as a "perpetual covenant" (Ex. 31:16), or specially designated as "My holy day," the "holy of the Lord, honorable" (Isa. 58:13), is the seventh day. Mary Magdalene, out of whom Jesus had cast seven devils, was the first to whom He appeared after His resurrection. Mark 16:9. Having been forgiven most, she loved most (Luke 7:40-48), and was honored as the first human messenger of the risen Saviour.
2. Evidence of His resurrection was found in the orderly manner in which the "napkin" and "linen cloths" had been carefully folded and laid aside. Had the body been stolen as the guards had been hired to say (Matt. 28:11-15), these things would hardly have been left at all, excepting possibly something might have been dropped by accident. But all of the sepulchral habiliments would not have been left in such perfect order. The Lord never leaves Himself without witness.
3. The resurrection had been foretold in the Scripture (Ps. 16:10) and Jesus had plainly informed the disciples that He would be put to death and rise again (Matt. 16:21). But they were so imbued with the traditions of the apostate church that so far they had been unable to receive the light of life. And to-day tradition is likewise so blinding the professed followers of Christ that they can not see the light of truth pertaining to the present day and generation. They can not "discern the signs of the times," nor the inseparable connection between "the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12. The mass of professed Christians to-day are as blind concerning the second coming of Christ and the judgment as were the Jews concerning the nature of His first advent. Yet there is nothing more plainly or explicitly revealed in the Scriptures.
