(11) "But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping; so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; (12) and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. (13) 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. (14) When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. (15) 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. (16) Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith unto Him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to say, Teacher. (17) 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. (18) Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, I have seen the Lord; and that He had said these things unto her.
(19) "When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (20) And when He had said this, He showed unto them His hands and His side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. (21) Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you; as the Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. (22) And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit; (23) whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."
Golden Text.—"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept." 1 Cor. 15:20.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) As Mary realized that the body of Jesus was not in the tomb, how did she manifest her grief? How did she further manifest her interest in the matter? Verse 11. Note 1. (2) Whom did she see in the tomb? In what position were they? Verse 12. (3) What question did the angels ask of Mary? What answer did she give? Verse 13. Note 2. (4) Then what did Mary do? Whom did she then see? Did she recognize Him? Verse 14. (5) What did Jesus say to Mary? Who did she think He was? Then what was her reply? Verse 15. Note 3. (6) How did Jesus then address her? What indicates Mary's immediate recognition of that voice? Verse 16. Note 4. (7) What warning did Jesus immediately give to the now glad disciple? On what mission did He send her? Verse 17. Note 5. (8) How did Mary fulfil her mission? Verse 18. (9) What time is next mentioned in this connection? What precaution had the disciples taken? Who then presented Himself among them? And how did He salute them? Verse 19. Note 6. (10) After this salutation, what did Jesus do? How were the disciples affected by this manifestation? Verse 20. Note 7. (11) What words did Jesus then repeat? And how did He indicate the future service of the disciples? Verse 21. (12) After saying this, what did Jesus do? Verse 22. Note 8. (13) What important trust did Jesus then repose in them? Verse 23. Note 9.
NOTES.
1. From the first verse of the lesson chapter, and verse 18 of the lesson, we learn that it was Mary Magdalene who is referred to in verse 11. Seven times Jesus had relieved her of demoniacal possession (Luke 8:2), and therefore "she loved much" (chapter 7:41-47). She had returned to the sepulcher, after having notified Peter and John that Jesus was not in the tomb.
2. That was a pertinent question which was asked of Mary. Why, indeed, was she weeping, when her Lord was risen from the dead? Unbelief or lack of comprehension of the Scriptures causes much unnecessary weeping in this world. As yet neither Mary, nor even any of the twelve, knew that Jesus must rise from the dead. Altho the scripture (Ps. 16:10) had said so, and Jesus Himself had tried to impress it upon their minds, they had not understood it.
3. The gardener would be Joseph's servant. Being a rich man (owning the tomb), he would have the grounds kept in an attractive condition. It would be natural for Mary to suppose that placing the body of Jesus in Joseph's new tomb (Matt. 27:59, 60), was only a temporary accommodation, the garden being near the place of crucifixion (John 19:41, 42). Therefore she supposed that the gardener would know where the body had been placed. She proposed to find a permanent resting-place for her Friend.
4. The simple pronunciation of Mary's name in the familiar tones of the Master was enough to establish her recognition of Him. She did not need to see "the print of the nails in His hands," nor the spear-mark in His side. The voice was sufficient for her who had so often sat at His feet to listen to His instruction. Whoever is accustomed to hearing and heeding that voice, will never be at a loss to recognize it.
5. "I am not yet ascended to My Father." What an emphatic refutation of the popular notion that Jesus and the crucified penitent went to heaven the day that they were crucified. Jesus had offered Himself as the antitypical Lamb of God—the one offering that made good all the ceremonial offerings that had been presented in faith prior to that time; but the atonement must first be accepted in the heavenly sanctuary. Mary was told to go and announce to the disciples that He had ascended to the Father. At no future meeting with any of His followers did Jesus forbid any personal contact. That very night He invited it. See Verse 20 and Luke 24:39.
6. In all the four accounts of Christ's death and resurrection it is made very clear that the first day of the week was at that time the day after the Sabbath. This coincidence was not merely incidental. The Lord records nothing without a purpose (Rom. 15:4), and this purpose is made emphatic in the instance before us. So in all the epistles, references to the "Sabbath" are manifestly to the same day that is recognized as such in other scriptures, while the first day of the week is simply called the first day of the week. The distinction is clear all the way through, showing that the first-day sabbath idea arose after the Scriptures were all written; hence, the change is without authority of the Word of God. The assembly on this first-day evening after the resurrection was "for fear of the Jews," and not in commemoration of anything whatever.
7. Jesus showed His hands and His side, this visible evidence being necessary to convince a company of disciples who had not yet learned that the testimony of the Word of God was better proof than the sight of the natural eyes. See 2 Peter 1:16-19.
8. "Receive ye the Holy Spirit." The imparting of the Holy Spirit by the breath of Christ is proof that the Spirit is not a corporeal person, as many people are wont to assert. The following expression in "The Desire of Ages," page 805, is to the point: "The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in the soul. The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ. It imbues the receiver with the attributes of Christ."
9. We understand that the power to remit or to retain sins was not a personal power bestowed upon the disciples as individuals, but a prerogative of the church as a body. See article, "Remitting and Retaining Sins," page 8 of this paper.
