CHAPTER XVI.

JESUS RISES FROM THE DEAD.

ST. MARK'S Gosper, however, arrived at a portion

T. MARK'S Gospel has been hitherto our text

book. We are now,

of our Lord's history, for a complete and accurate view of which it will be necessary to combine the several statements of the four Evangelists, and, with them, that further information on the subject, which we find in St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians. Each of these narratives is, by itself, clear and intelligible; but the comparison of any two, suggests the need of such a thread to the narrative, as may reconcile apparent disagreement, and enable us to arrange the incidents in their proper order. The following summary may, it is hoped, be found useful for this

purpose.

DAY OF THE RESURRECTION.

The earthquake; the rolling away of the stone from the sepulchre by an angel; and the terror and (it would seem) the flight of the guard. Matt. xxviii. 2—4.

Visit of Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanna, and other women to the sepulchre, for the purpose of embalming the body. Mark xvi. 1—5. Luke xxiv. 1-3. John xx. 1.

Mary Magdalene (apparently quitting her companions)

hastens to Peter and John, and reports the removal of the body. John xx. 2.

Vision of two angels to the women left by Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre, directing them to go and tell the disciples that Jesus was risen. Matt. xxviii, 5—7. Mark xvi. 4-7. Luke xxiv. 4-8.

These women flee from the sepulchre in terror and amazement, Mark xvi. 8, and, it would seem, parted company. Some of them carry their report to the apostles. Matt. xxviii. 8. Mark xvi. 8. Luke xxiv. 10.

Visit of Peter and John to the sepulchre, in consequence of these reports. Luke xxiv. 12. John xx. 3—10.

Appearance of the Lord to Mary Magdalene, who had returned with Peter and John to the sepulchre, and was left there by them. Mark xvi. 9—11. John xx. 11—18. (First.)

Appearance of Jesus to others of the women who had fled and parted company at seeing the vision of angels at the sepulchre; and his message to his disciples, appointing them to meet him in Galilee. Matt. xxviii. 9, 10.

(Second.)

Appearance to Peter. I Corinth. xv. 5. (Third.) Appearance to Cleopas and another disciple, in their journey to Emmaus. Mark xvi. 12, 13. Luke xxiv. 13-35. (Fourth.)

Appearance to the apostles assembled, Thomas being absent. Mark xvi. 14—18. Luke xxiv. 36-49. John XX. 19-25. I Corinth. xv. 5. (Fifth.)

EIGHTH DAY AFTER THE RESURRECTION.

Appearance to the apostles assembled, Thomas being present. John xx. 26-29. (Sixth.)

BETWEEN THE EIGHTH AND THE FORTIETH DAY FROM THE RESURRECTION.

Appearance at the sea of Tiberias. John xxi. 1—24. (Seventh.)*

Appearance on a mountain in Galilee. Matt. xxviii. 16-20. To more than five hundred brethren at once. I Corinth. xv. 6. (Eighth.)

Appearance to James. I Corinth. xv. 7. (Ninth.)

FORTIETH DAY FROM THE RESURRECTION.

The Ascension. Mark xvi. 19. Luke xxiv. 50-52. Acts i. 3-II. I Corinth. xv. 7. (Tenth.)

Following the order of events, as given in the foregoing abstract, we will now return to the narrative. The dead body of Jesus had been taken from the cross, on the afternoon of the day on which he was crucified, and conveyed to a new tomb, belonging to a rich man, Joseph of Arimathæa. It was the fond wish of some who had loved and honoured him, that it should be embalmed, and so preserved from decay; but the near approach of the Sabbath hindered its being done at once. The body was, therefore, deposited in this tomb. The chief priests and Pharisees, mindful of his having foretold that he would rise from

*St. John's statement that this was the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples,' means, probably, that it was the third time of his showing himself to them collectively; the appearances which this Evangelist selected for record being chiefly those which took place while the disciples were in assembly. See chap. xx. 19 and 26.

the dead on the third day, and suspecting that his disciples might secretly remove the corse, and pretend that he had risen, asked Pilate to take measures for preventing them. The tomb was, in consequence, sealed, and a guard of Roman soldiers stationed to watch it. Such was the state of things during the Saturday that intervened between the day of the Crucifixion and that of the Resurrection. On the Sunday morning, there was a great earthquake, an angel of the Lord descended and rolled away the stone which had closed the sepulchre, and the terrified guard appear to have fled in their panic. The sepulchre was, therefore, neither closed nor watched, when, still at a very early hour, Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women, came for the purpose of embalming the body. That body was no longer a corse. Jesus had risen,

Listen we to the narrative.

JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE.

(First Appearance.)

Matt. xxviii. 1-10.

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go

quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy, and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Mark xvi. I-II.

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

Luke xxiv. I-12.

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.