_MARY COMETH TO THE SEPULCHRE: SO DO PETER AND JOHN, IGNORANT OF THE
RESURRECTION: JESUS APPEARETH TO MARY MAGDALENE, AND TO HIS DISCIPLES.
THE INCREDULITY AND CONFESSION OF THOMAS. THE SCRIPTURE IS, UNDER
DIVINE GRACE, SUFFICIENT TO SALVATION._
_Anno Domini 33._... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHE RUNNETH—TO SIMON PETER,— See the note on Luke 24:5. The
reader of the following annotations on this and the next chapter, will
be pleased to refer to the notes on the parallel places.... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER THEREFORE WENT FORTH,— Peter and John only are mentioned in
this relation; but the circumstances taken notice of by the other
evangelists shew, that the apostles lodged all together in one house,
as they used to do while their Master was alive: if so, it is
reasonable to believe, that they all... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON PETER—WENT INTO THE SEPULCHRE, AND SEETH, &C.— These
circumstances were very awakening, and very proper to prepare the
minds of the disciples for something extraordinary, since nothing but
the resurrection of Jesus could in right reason be concluded from
them. The body they saw was gone; but b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BELIEVED.— The plain interpretation of this passage seems to be,
that John entering into the sepulchre, saw every thing as above
related, and consequently _believed,_ not that Christ was risen, but
that the body was taken away, as Mary Magdalene had informed them: for
the apology which he immedi... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE DISCIPLES WENT AWAY— _The disciples;_ that is, Peter and
John: _to their own home,_ is in the original, προς
εαυτους, which seems evidently to signify "to their
companions." Accordingly, soon after this, the women found the eleven
and the rest together. Luke 24:9. It probably appeared prude... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT MARY STOOD WITHOUT AT THE SEPULCHRE WEEPING:— The vision
mentioned in Matthew and Mark was of one angel; that seen by Mary was
of two; as was likewise that by Joanna and those with her. And whereas
the first angel was found by the women upon their entering the
sepulchre, sitting on the right sid... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE, SUPPOSING HIM TO BE THE GARDENER, &C.— It is very probable that
Jesus might speak low, or in a different way from what he usually did;
and Mary's taking him for the gardener, seems to intimate, that there
was nothing very splendid in his dress. Accordingly, when he appeared
to the two disciples... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, &C.— Christ had stood by her some time, had
spoken to her, and she answered him before she knew him to be Christ;
on the contrary, she took him for the gardener; by all which it is
manifest, that it was not a spectre of her creating. Her mind, as we
have observed in a preceding... [ Continue Reading ]
TOUCH ME NOT; FOR I AM NOT YET ASCENDED, &C.— The objectors to the
resurrection of Jesus, have inferred fromthis circumstance, that
Christ's body was not a real tangible body: but this could never be
inferred from the words _Touch me not;_ for thousands make use of that
expression every day, without... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE SAME DAY—WHEN THE DOORS WERE SHUT, &C.— "After this, in
the evening of the very same day on which he arose and appeared to
Mary Magdalene, that is to say the first day of the week; when the
disciples were gathered together in a private room, and were comparing
their informations concerning... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHEWED UNTO THEM HIS HANDS AND HIS SIDE.— Probably the marks made
by the nails and the spear were retained, on purpose to give the
greater satisfaction to the disciples of the truth of his
resurrection, and perhaps for many other reasons; though indeed,
without that additional circumstance, the e... [ Continue Reading ]
AS MY FATHER HATH SENT ME, &C.— "As my heavenly Father sent me into
the world, to discharge the office of the Messiah; even so I, by my
plenary authority, and in proof of my mediatorial commission, send you
to discharge the office of apostles and ministers in preaching the
gospel to every creature,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD SAID THIS, HE BREATHED ON THEM,— St. Luke, Luke 24:35
informs us, that the disciples from Emmaus told their brethren on this
occasion, what things were done in the way. Among the rest_,_ no
doubt, they repeated the interpretations which Jesus gave of the
prophesies concerning his own suf... [ Continue Reading ]
THOMAS, ONE OF THE TWELVE,— It is said, Luke 24:33 that the
disciples from Emmaus gave the eleven, and those who were with them,
an account of their meeting with Christ, and of the other
circumstances accompanying that event. _The eleven_ was the name by
which the apostles went after the death of Ju... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCEPT I SHALL SEE IN HIS HANDS THE PRINT, &C.— The repetition of
the word _print_ seems to be a very great beauty, as it admirably
represents the language of a _positive man,_ declaring again and again
what he insisted upon. The word εις, rendered _into,_ in the next
clause, signifies _upon,_ in Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
REACH HITHER THY FINGER, &C.— It is observable, that our Lord here
repeats the very words which Thomas had made use of; and thus
demonstrated, not only that he was risen, but also that he was
possessed of divine knowledge, from his being conscious of the words
and actions of men, though spoken or do... [ Continue Reading ]
THOMAS ANSWERED AND SAID, &C.— Though the nominative often occurs
for the vocative, it is the former case which is used here, the words
συ ει, _thou art,_ being understood. To this the context agrees;
for we are told that these words were addressed to Jesus; wherefore
they cannot be taken merely as... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THOU HAST SEEN ME, &C.— The word _seen,_ according to the
Hebrew idiom, is often applied to the other senses; and therefore may
here signify that Thomas had the unitedtestimony of all his senses,
that Christ had a real, that is to say, a material body. See 1 John
1:1 and Acts 10:41. The word... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MANY OTHER SIGNS, &C.— He appeared on several other occasions to
his disciples after his resurrection; and by many infallible proofs,
which are not written in this book, convinced them that he was alive
after his pardon. The appearances mentioned by the _evangelists_ are
_nine_ in number; St. Pa... [ Continue Reading ]