By Rev. D. R. MACDONALD, N. Harris.
“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” (John xx. 1).
WE shall endeavour to consider, as the Lord may enable us, this portion of God’s Word in the following manner:—
I. The precious day, the Lord’s Day.
II. The privileged believer, Mary Magdalene.
III. A very important circumstance.
IV. Some important sights—the stone removed, the conquered grave, the risen Lord.
I. The precious day. It was after the darkest night the Church of God ever experienced. That itself makes it a memorable part of time. It was a day foretold by the inspired writers (Psalm cxviii. 24). If Abraham saw it in some measure, as he returned from the Mount with Isaac, then for him it was the best hitherto. A certain other person speaking of personal experience could say: “Many a bitter day I have had but I have got my reward.” It replaces another memorable day—the Creation Sabbath. There was work done, rest, and rejoicing. Here was work finished, and His exaltation began on that ever memorable morning. The work of creation was very good. Much more so, the work of the Redeemer in all that He did and suffered as the Surety of His people. His eternal power and Godhead are clearly seen from the creation of the world. His mercy and truth are seen from His salvation. The one leaves without excuse, but the other gives a well-founded hope. To be without excuse is a most serious matter indeed. In such a predicament, to see one who is at once surety and sacrifice is the foretaste of a good eternity. We have in our day, “Remembrance Day,” “V. Day,” “Independence Day,” all recalling important events in history. The Lord’s Day is more important than all these. On that day the Sun of Righteousness rose with healing in His wings.
II. The privileged believer. Mary Magdalene is noted in the Word of God with these two notes: “Out of whom He had cast seven devils.” “One of them that ministered to Him with their substance.” That she must have been sorely tried is very evident. It is claimed by some that young men called up as soon as they are a certain age and serve the required time in the army, are sure that that suffices of army life. Be that as it may, Mary Magdalene knew enough of the dominion of evil spirits to value for ever the freedom that Christ gives. The evil spirits were cast out and the Holy Spirit took possession of her with that happy result, she followed the Lord. Her name always appears as connected one way or another with the Lord, His cause, His people. O blessed experience! One is known by one’s company. “I am a companion of all them that fear Thee” (Ps. cxix. 63). We read of works of faith and labours of love. From Galilee she followed the Lord through the world to heaven and identified herself with Him in His ministry and sufferings. Neither friend nor follower was she of “Byends from Fair Speech.” In life and death the Lord was very dear to her. We see her early at the sepulchre to anoint the body with the spices bought and brought for that purpose. In life and in death He was dear to her. Hypocrites leave a cause when all hope of worldly gain seems gone. Mary saw that the stone was removed. One obstacle was taken out of the way, the rest will follow soon. The ministering angel has been assigned one work; the disciple from Magdala shall have her work assigned her in the very near future. She returns from the sepulchre and, like Ahimaaz, she is a good person and brings good tidings. “Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God.” The brethren believed it not. That was their fault. Besides, the messenger was in good company in this respect, other messengers had to say, “Who hath believed our report?” The Sender, the message, the messenger, were all worthy of credit. At a certain congregational meeting in bygone days, the minister, addressing an old believer, said, “Are you hearing me, Mr. M.?” “I wish I could believe you,” was the reply. Well, it concerned them as much as it did her, “If Christ be not raised . . . ye are yet in your sins.” A very material circumstance falls to be noticed here. The Lord is risen indeed while it was yet dark.
III. While it was yet dark. Someone may say that the darkness was of a physical nature. This is quite true, as in the world we have recurring darkness every twenty-four hours, and polar darkness lasting for several months. The Saviour rose early from the grave. It was fitting that the Sun of Righteousness should appear on the earth before the other sun—the Master before the servant. There is spiritual darkness of ignorance and unbelief. In the Lord there is no darkness at all. That cannot be said of His people, yet it was dark with Mary. This accounts for her buying and bringing the spices to anoint the Lord’s body. She mistook the Lord for the gardener. Discovery is easier believed than Revelation. But the revelation at the grave, the Saviour causing the light to shine into her, is a stage in the progress of the light that is to be consummated in heaven. It was yet dark to her as regards the Saviour, as regards herself. The night is far spent is a word of encouragement given to certain believers. “Now we see through a glass darkly.” “Present dealings may be yet dark as regards reasons and ends.” “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” “But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath Day.” Working, waiting, watching, and believing, too, while it is yet dark. It will not always be so. And why? Because light is on the way coming. “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings.” “Unto the upright there ariseth a light in the darkness.” In the perfect light of another Mr. McCheyne, in common with other believers, shall see how much he owes. “The sinners in Sion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites.” “It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him.” It is yet dark, as it concerns saints and sinners. It is on that account the time to be up and doing. It is never too early to seek the Lord, and we read of being too late, as was the case with the foolish virgins.
IV. Some important sights. The seal and the silence were broken. The grave in Scripture is the place of silence. The angel breaks the seal and removes the stone. The silence within is broken by His own power. Often one goes out to meet trouble only to find that before one reaches the place, the trouble, so much dreaded, has vanished. On the other hand, the trouble that ought to have been provided for in the light and power of the Lord is allowed to take its course: the fear of the Romans coming and taking away their nation is of the former; the latter the peril of dying in their sins. The removed stone proved, He doeth all things well. There is the grave and the angelic invitation, “Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” Angels, like their glorious Master, always invited to what was worth while. He was there and left comforters and order for the benefit of His poor. The first fruits of the resurrection are seen here. We may well believe that the real sepulchre is unknown. It was well known when and where it mattered.
The risen Lord was seen. We heard a school teacher say that she was privileged to see some noted actor playing. He appeared first to Mary Magdalene. That was the privilege—a foretaste of heaven—that distinguishes sanctifying privileges. The great Shepherd of the sheep, the Captain of Salvation, who fought and won the greatest battle in history, not by shedding the blood of His enemies, but His own blood. “Thou fairer art than sons of men.”
Blind unbelief is sure to err and scan all this in vain. But they all have the hallmark of heaven upon them. In thinking of them may we be enabled to say, “We have thought of thy loving-kindness.”