THE CLOSING SCENES OF HIS LIFE continued. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. 47 And Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Joses, beheld where he was laid. Luke xxiii. Matt. xxvii. Mark xv. The Priests and Pharisees use Precautions to prevent the Disciples from stealing him away, and reporting his Resurrection. 62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; Go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. HIS RESURRECTION. Matt. xxvii. I. Prompted by Divine Love stronger than Death, and Faith and Fortitude incomparable, the two Marys and others, after the Sabbath, pay another Visit to the Sepulchre of their Lord and Master, at Day-break, in order to anoint and embalm his Body, - not recollecting that he foretold his Resurrection, nor that the great Stone and a Roman Watch would prevent their approach to his Tomb. 1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Matt. Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the xxviii. sepulchre. 1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. Mark xvi. 1 The first day of the week cometh Mary' Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the John sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. XX. 1 Now, upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepul- Luke chre, bringing the spices which they had pre- (xxiv. pared, and certain others with them. "Mary hastens away, by the break of the day, Her dear lord to embalm in the tomb : What sorrow! what care! when she found him not there, II. The Keepers (or Roman Watch) are suddenly alarmed and 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre ? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. Matt. xxviii. Mark xvi. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from Luke the sepulchre. Ì xxiv. III. When they saw the Stone rolled away, and could not find the Body of the Lord Jesus, Mary runs back in great Consternation and informs the Apostles Peter and John. 3 And they entered in, and found not the Luke body of the Lord Jesus. 2 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. • Mary. xxiv. John XX IV. While Mary is absent the other Women continue searching and enquiring, and are greatly surprised by a Vision of Angels while in the Sepulchre, one of whom announces their Lord's Resurrection. 1 5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted. Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words. Mark xvi. Matt. xxviii. Luke xxiv. V. The Angel commands them to tell the Disciples (Peter particularly) that the Lord would meet them in Galilee. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth | Matt. before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him; (xxviii. lo, I have told you. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. Mark xvi. VI. They run from the Sepulchre full of Fear and great Joy to the Disciples. 8 And they departed quickly from the se- Matt. pulchre with fear and great joy, and did run to bring his disciples word. 8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. Xxviii. Mark xvi. VII. In the mean Time Peter and John, upon the Report made by 12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished*, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Luke xxiv. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, John and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then went in also that other disciple which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and be lieved. *Said the disciples going to Emmaus. XX. HIS RESURRECTION continued. 9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. John 10 Then the disciples went away again unto XX. their own home. VIII. After Peter and John had left the Sepulchre, Mary Magdalene, who had arrived the second Time, remained inconsolable; and as she weeps and looks into the Sepulchre with intense Anxiety, she also sees two Angels who sympathise with her. 11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and, as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where John 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. XX. IX. To her great Joy and Surprise Jesus appears to her in the Form of a Gardener, and commissions her to inform his Brethren of his approaching Ascension, but he utters not a Word either of Reproach or Reproof. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw 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 have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17 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. 9 Now, when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. John XX. Mark xvi. |