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38

And after this, Joseph of Arimathea (who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body 39 of Jesus. And Nicodemus came also (who at the first came to Jesus by night) and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hund40 red pound weight.* Then they took the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified, there

was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre wherein no man was ever yet laid. 42 There they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' preparation-day, for the sepulchre was nigh at

hand.

1

CHAP. XX.

THE first day of the week, Mary Magdalene cometh to the sepulchre, early whilst it was yet dark, and seeth the stone taken away 2 from the sepulchre.† Then she runneth, and

Here also was a remarkable fulfillment of prophecy, that his grave should be with the rich.

+ St. John, who had probably seen the other gospels when he wrote, is very particular in his relation of circumstances attending the resurrection of Christ. The events probably took place in the order of time as follows, viz. "Early in the morning on which Christ rose, Mary Magdalene, with some other women, went to the sepulchre, to embalm the body of their Lord. The guards, alarmed by the earthquake, and the appearance of an angel who re

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 3 laid him. Then Peter and that other disciple 4 went out, and came to the sepulchre. And they ran both together: but the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

moved the stone from the mouth of the sepulchre, had left their station. The women found the sepulchre open, and the body gone. Mary went immediately and alone to inform Peter and John. The other women remained near the sepulchre in anxious expectation, to whom angels appeared and declared that Jesus was risen. The women then left the sepulchre, and went to tell the disciples. In the mean time, Peter and John, who had heard the account of Mary, go with haste to the sepulchre, followed by Mary. The apostles went into the sepulchre, and found the sepulchral clothes lying in order, but the body they found not, and they departed. Mary still remained, weeping. She also saw the angels, who spake to her, and assured her that Chris was risen, as he had predicted before his death. Very soon after, on turning herself round, she saw Jesus, but did not at first know that it was her Lord. As soon, however, as he addressed her by name, she recognized him. He directed her to go and inform his disciples that he was alive again. By this time the other women had returned to the sepulchre and as they were going again to the city, Jesus spoke to them also, and sent by them a message to his diseiples, similar to the one given to Mary. In the course of the morning, some (not all) of the guard went to the leading Jews, and received from them directions as to the report which they made afterward to the Roman governor and the people. After this, on the same day, Christ appeared to Peter; then to Cleopas and a fellow disciple, as they were on their way to Emmaus; and afterwards, in Jerusalem. to the eleven apostles; then to the twelve repeatedly, and to several hundreds at once, before his ascension into heaven."

5 And stooping down, he saw the linen clothes 6 lying; yet he went not in. Then Simon Peter who followed him, came up and went into the sepulchre, and saw the linen clothes lie; 7 and the napkin which was about his head not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped to8 gether in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came first to the sepulchre, went 9 in also, and he saw and believed. (For as yet they knew not the scripture that he must rise 10 again from the dead.*) Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

11

But Mary stood without the sepulchre weeping:† and as she wept, she stooped down, 12 and looked into the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white, sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of 13 Jesus had laid and they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I 14 know not where they have laid him. And

:

when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, but knew not 15 that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? Supposing him to be the gardener, she saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I

*The disciples of Jesus had no predisposition to believe in the resurrection of their Master. They had no expectation of any such event.

Mary then must have returned to the sepulchre, with the two apostles, or soon after, while they were there.

16 will take him away.*

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, 17 Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 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 18 and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

19

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, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be unto you as the Father hath sent me, even so I 22 send you. And when he had said this, he

breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive 23 ye the Holy Spirit. Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

It will be remembered that Mary and others had provi ded spices to embalm the dead body of Jesus.

Or, detain me not. No doubt, in her joy and surprise, she was ready to fall down at his feet and embrace him. That is I do not immediately ascend therefore do not now detain me but inform the apostles that though I shail soon ascend to heaven, I will first see them.

This power was given only to the apostles. They had supernatural powers, and therefore knew who was sincerely penitent.

24.

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 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.

26.

After eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the 27 midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then he said to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side and be not faith28 less, but believe. And Thomas answered,

and said unto him, My Lord, and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed.‡

3.0

And indeed many other signs Jesus did in

* Where he was pierced with a spear.

↑ Jesus rose from the grave on the first day of the week, and appeared to his disciples. Eight days after, that is, on the next Sunday, or first day of the week, they were again assembled, when Jesus.came to them. And it appears that after this, the disciples observed the first day of the week to commemorate the resurrection of Christ, and for religious worship.

All cannot see Jesus, nor have personal knowledge of his miracles: There is, however, sufficient evidence of the miracles and resurrection of Christ to convince the candid and well disposed: and they who believe and obey him, will be blessed by partaking of the hopes and promises of his. gospel.

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