The first _day_ of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Ver. 1. _The first day of the week_] Now the Christian sabbath, in honour of Christ's resurrection, and therefore called "the Lord's day,"Revelation... [ Continue Reading ]
Then she runneth, 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 sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Ver. 2. _Then she runneth_] _Amor addidit alas, _ love is impatient of delays. Christ cometh l... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. Ver. 3. _Peter therefore went forth_] He despaired not though he had grievously fallen. The saints cannot fall so far, but that God's supporting hand is ever under them. They may be doused over head and ears in the wate... [ Continue Reading ]
So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. Ver. 4. _So they ran both together_] But the swifter of foot they were, the slower in faith; for "he that believeth maketh not haste," Isaiah 28:16. They believed not fully the resurrection; when th... [ Continue Reading ]
And he stooping down, _and looking in_, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Ver. 5. _Yet went he not in_] He dared not; so some fearful are afraid of every step, saying, as Caesar at Rubicon, Yet we may go back; and as the king of Navarre told Beza, that he would launch no further into... [ Continue Reading ]
Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, Ver. 6. _Following him and went in_] John came first; Peter entered first: "soft and fair goes far:" soft fire makes sweet malt: leap Christians are not much to be liked; such as quickly step out of... [ Continue Reading ]
And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Ver. 7. _And the napkin that was about his head_] These grave clothes were evidences of our Saviour's resurrection, and are therefore mentioned by the evangelist. But what shift mad... [ Continue Reading ]
Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. Ver. 8. _And he saw and believed_] _i.e._ He believed his own eyes, that the Lord's body was not in the sepulchre; but, as Mary Magdalene had told them, so they misbelieved, that it was taken away to... [ Continue Reading ]
For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Ver. 9. _For as yet they knew not the Scripture_] Which yet was clear enough in this point, Psalms 16:10; Psalms 110:1; Isaiah 53:10,11. The resurrection of our Saviour was not obscurely shadowed out in Adam waking out o... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. Ver. 10. _Went again to their own home_] Waiting till God should further enlighten both organ and object, as Mary also did,Luke 2:19; Luke 2:51 .... [ Continue Reading ]
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, _and looked_ into the sepulchre, Ver. 11. _Mary stood at the sepulchre, weeping_] Some think it was because she conceived that the Jews had gotten away our Saviour's dead body to dishonour it; as the Popish persecut... [ Continue Reading ]
And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Ver. 12. _And seeth two angels_] Sent for her sake, and the rest, to certify them of the resurrection. It is their office (and they are glad of it) to comfort and counsel the sai... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 13. _Woman, why weepest thou?_] Angels pity human frailty still, and secretly suggest comfort. But Mary had no such cause to cry, if she had known... [ Continue Reading ]
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Ver. 14. _She turned herself back_] As not able to abide the brightness of those glorious angels any longer. To the gardener therefore she addresseth herself for further direction. See what... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Ver. 15. _Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?_] Where the angels left, the... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Ver. 16. _Jesus saith unto her, Mary_] Christ is nearest to such as, with Mary, cannot see him for their tears, if with her in humility they seek after him. He calls her but by her name, and she ac... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and _to_ my God, and your God. Ver. 17. _Touch me not, &c._] She had caught him by the feet (as the Shunammite did Elisha, as the Shulamite... [ Continue Reading ]
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and _that_ he had spoken these things unto her. Ver. 18. _Mary Magdalene came and told_] She had told them and troubled them before with a conceit that they had (but to what end, or whither, she knew not) removed the Lord's body... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the same day at evening, being the first _day_ of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace _be_ unto you. Ver. 19. _When the doors, &c., for fear of the Jews_] The sheep had been sc... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had so said, he shewed unto them _his_ hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Ver. 20. _He showed unto them his hands, &c._] For their further confirmation; so he doth unto us every time we come to his table. But, oh, how should our hearts long to look... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace _be_ unto you: as _my_ Father hath sent me, even so send I you. Ver. 21. _Then said Jesus to them again, Peace_] The common salutation among the Jews (the Turks at this day salute in like sort, _Salaum aleek; _ the reply is, _Aleek salaum, _ that is, Peace be un... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had said this, he breathed on _them_, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Ver. 22. _He breathed on them, and saith, &c._] Otherwise, who had been sufficient for these things? The ministry is a burden to be trembled at by the angels themselves, saith Chrysostom. _a_ Father La... [ Continue Reading ]
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; _and_ whose soever _sins_ ye retain, they are retained. Ver. 23. _Whose soever sins ye remit, &c._] Remission of sin is the chief benefit of the gospel: and for the creed (which is the sum of the gospel) all the former articles are perfected... [ Continue Reading ]
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. Ver. 24. _But Thomas, one of the twelve_] A man cannot be wilfully absent from the public assemblies but once, without great danger and damage. Thomas was absent perhaps about some weighty cause. It may be he lurked a... [ Continue Reading ]
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. Ver. 25. _I will not believe_] Ah, wilful Thomas (q... [ Continue Reading ]
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: _then_ came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace _be_ unto you. Ver. 26. _The doors being shut_] Although it be said, that when Christ came to his disciples the doors were shut, yet have I as... [ Continue Reading ]
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust _it_ into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. Ver. 27. _Then saith he to Thomas_] Who was not excommunicated by the rest, but gently borne with, till Christ should cure him. Neithe... [ Continue Reading ]
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Ver. 28. _My Lord and my God_] This is true faith indeed, that individuates God, and appropriates him to itself. _a_ Were it not for this possessive "mine," the devil might say the creed to as good purpose as we. He believes there is a God... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed _are_ they that have not seen, and _yet_ have believed. Ver. 29. _Blessed are they that have not seen_] We see Christ in the flesh by the eyes of the apostles; like as the Israelites saw Canaan by the eyes of the s... [ Continue Reading ]
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: Ver. 30. _And many other signs, &c._] If Cicero could say of Socrates (whose words Plato had recorded), and could request the like of his readers, concerning Lucius Crassus, that they would im... [ Continue Reading ]
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. Ver. 31. _These things are written_] He speaks this of the writ of the other three evangelists also. Matthew wrote his Gospel eight years after Christ, Mark... [ Continue Reading ]