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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Mark XVI].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC41015.HTM">Previous</A>]
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>M A R K.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XVI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter, we have a short account of the resurrection and
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ascension of the Lord Jesus: and the joys and triumphs which it
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furnished all believers with, will be very acceptable to those who
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sympathised and suffered with Christ in the foregoing chapters. Here
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is,
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I. Christ's resurrection notified by an angel to the women that came to
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the sepulchre to anoint him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:1-8">ver. 1-8</A>.
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II. His appearance to Mary Magdalene, and the account she gave of it to
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the disciples,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:9-11">ver. 9-11</A>.
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III. His appearance to the two disciples, going to Emmaus, and the
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report they made of it to their brethren,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:12,13">ver. 12, 13</A>.
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IV. His appearance to the eleven with the commission he gave them to
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set up his kingdom in the world, and full instructions and credentials
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in order thereunto,,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:14-18">ver. 14-18</A>.
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V. His ascension into heaven, the apostles' close application to their
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work, and God's owning of them in it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:19,20">ver. 19, 20</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Mr16_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr16_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr16_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr16_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr16_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr16_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr16_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr16_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Women at the Sepulchre; The Apostles Reproved.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the
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<I>mother</I> of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they
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might come and anoint him.
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2 And very early in the morning the first <I>day</I> of the week,
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they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
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3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the
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stone from the door of the sepulchre?
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4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled
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away: for it was very great.
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5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting
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on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were
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affrighted.
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6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of
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Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here:
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behold the place where they laid him.
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7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth
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before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto
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you.
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8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for
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they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any
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<I>man;</I> for they were afraid.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Never was there such a <I>sabbath</I> since the sabbath was first
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instituted as this was, which the first words of this chapter tell us
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was <I>now past;</I> during all this sabbath our Lord Jesus lay in the
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grave. It was <I>to him</I> a sabbath of <I>rest,</I> but a
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<I>silent</I> sabbath, it was to his disciples a melancholy sabbath,
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spent in tears and fears. Never were the sabbath services in the temple
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such an <I>abomination to God,</I> though they had been often so, as
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they were now, when the chief priests, who presided in them, had their
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hands full of blood, the blood of Christ. Well, this sabbath is over,
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and the first day of the week is the first day of a new world. We have
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here,</P>
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<P>
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I. The affectionate visit which the good women that had attended
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Christ, now made it to his sepulchre--not a <I>superstitious</I> one,
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but a <I>pious</I> one. They set out from their lodgings <I>very early
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in the morning,</I> at break of day, or sooner; but either they had a
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long walk, or they met with some hindrance, so that it was
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<I>sun-rising</I> by the time they got to the sepulchre. The had
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<I>bought sweet spices</I> too, and came not only to <I>bedew</I> the
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dead body with their tears (for nothing could more renew their grief
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than this), but to <I>perfume</I> it with their <I>spices,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Nicodemus had bought a very large quantity of <I>dry spices, myrrh</I>
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and <I>aloes,</I> which served to dry the wounds, and dry up the blood,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+19:39">John xix. 39</A>.
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But these good women did not think that enough; they bought spices,
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perhaps of another kind, some perfumed oils, to <I>anoint him.</I>
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Note, The respect which others have showed to Christ's name, should not
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hinder us from showing our respect to it.</P>
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<P>
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II. The care they were in about the rolling away of the stone, and the
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superseding of that care
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>);
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<I>They said among themselves,</I> as they were coming along, and now
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drew near the sepulchre, <I>Who shall roll us away the stone from the
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door of the sepulchre? For it was very great,</I> more than they with
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their united strength could move. They should have thought of this
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before they came out, and then discretion would have bid them not go,
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unless they had those to go with them, who could do it. And there was
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another difficulty much greater than this, to be got over, which they
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knew nothing of, to wit, a guard of soldiers set to <I>keep</I> the
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sepulchre; who, had they come before they were frightened away, would
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have frightened them away. But their gracious love to Christ carried
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them to the sepulchre; and see how by the time they came thither, both
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these difficulties were removed, both the <I>stone</I> which they
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<I>knew of,</I> and the <I>guard</I> which they <I>knew not of.</I>
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They <I>saw that the stone was rolled away,</I> which was the first
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thing that amazed them. Note, They who are carried by a holy zeal, to
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seek Christ diligently, will find the difficulties that lie in their
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way strangely to vanish, and themselves helped over them beyond their
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expectation.</P>
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<P>
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III. The assurance that was given them by an angel, that the Lord Jesus
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was risen from the dead, and had taken leave of his sepulchre, and had
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left him there to tell those so who came thither to enquire after
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him.</P>
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<P>
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1. They <I>entered into the sepulchre,</I> at least, a little way in,
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and saw that the body of Jesus was not there where they had left it the
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other night. He, who by his death undertook to pay our debt, in his
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resurrection took out our acquittance, for it was a fair and legal
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discharge, by which it appealed that his satisfaction was accepted for
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all the purposes for which it was intended, and the matter in dispute
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was determined by an incontestable evidence that he was the Son of
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God.</P>
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<P>
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2. They saw a <I>young man sitting on the right side</I> of the
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sepulchre. The angel appeared in the likeness of <I>a man,</I> of a
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<I>young man;</I> for angels, though created in the beginning, grow not
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<I>old,</I> but are always the same perfection of beauty and strength;
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and so shall glorified saints be, when they are <I>as the angels.</I>
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This angel was <I>sitting</I> on <I>the right hand</I> as they went
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into the sepulchre, <I>clothed with a long white garment,</I> a garment
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down to the feet, such as great men were arrayed with. The sight of him
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might justly have encouraged them, but they were <I>affrighted.</I>
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Thus many times that which should be matter of comfort to us, through
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our own mistakes and misapprehensions proves a terror to us.</P>
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<P>
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3. He silences their fears by assuring them that here was cause enough
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for triumph, but none for trembling
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>);
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<I>He saith to them, Be not affrighted.</I> Note, As angels rejoice in
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the conversation of sinners, so they do also in the consolation of
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sinners. Be not affrighted, for,
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(1.) "Ye are faithful lovers of Jesus Christ, and therefore, instead of
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being <I>confounded,</I> out to be <I>comforted. Ye seek Jesus of
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Nazareth, which was crucified.</I>" Note, The enquiries of believing
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souls after Christ, have a particular regard to him as <I>crucified</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+2:2">1 Cor. ii. 2</A>),
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that they may know him, and the fellowship of his sufferings. His being
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<I>lifted up from the earth,</I> is that which <I>draws all men unto
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him.</I> Christ's cross is the ensign to which the Gentiles seek.
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Observe, He speaks of Jesus as one that <I>was crucified;</I> "The
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thing is <I>past,</I> that scene is over, ye must not dwell so much
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upon the sad circumstances of his crucifixion as to be unapt to believe
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the joyful news of his resurrection. He was <I>crucified in
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weakness,</I> yet that doth not hinder but that he may be raised in
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power, and therefore ye that seek him, be not <I>afraid of missing</I>
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of him." He <I>was</I> crucified, but he <I>is</I> glorified; and the
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shame of his sufferings is so far from lessening the glory of his
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exaltation, that that glory perfectly wipes away all the reproach of
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his sufferings. And therefore after his entrance upon his glory, he
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never drew any veil over his sufferings, nor was shy of having his
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cross spoken of. The angel here that proclaims his resurrection, calls
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him Jesus that <I>was crucified.</I> He himself owns
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+1:18">Rev. i. 18</A>),
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<I>I am he that liveth, and was dead;</I> and he appears in the midst
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of the praises of the heavenly host as a <I>Lamb that had been
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slain,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+5:6">Rev. v. 6</A>.
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(2.) "It will therefore be good news to you, to hear that, instead of
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anointing him dead, you may rejoice in him living. <I>He is risen, he
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is not here,</I> not dead, but alive again. We cannot as yet show you
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<I>him,</I> but hereafter you will see him, and you may here see <I>the
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place where they laid him.</I> You see he is gone hence, not stolen
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either by his enemies or by his friends, but <I>risen.</I>"</P>
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<P>
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4. He orders them to give speedy notice of this to his disciples. Thus
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they were made the apostles of the apostles, which was a recompence of
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their affection and fidelity to him, in attending him on the cross, to
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the grave, and in the grave. They first came, and were first served; no
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other of the disciples durst come near his sepulchre, or enquire after
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him; so little danger was there of their coming by night to <I>steal
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him away,</I> that none came near him but a few women, who were not
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able so much as to <I>roll away the stone.</I></P>
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<P>
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(1.) They must tell the <I>disciples,</I> that <I>he is risen.</I> It
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is a dismal time with them, their dear Master is dead, and all their
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hopes and joys are buried in his grave; they look upon their cause as
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sunk, and themselves ready to fall an easy prey into the hands of their
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enemies, so that there remains no more spirit in them, they are
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perfectly at their wits' end, and every one is contriving how to shift
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for himself. "O, go quickly to them," said the angel, "tell them that
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<I>their Master is risen;</I> this will put some life and spirit into
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them, and keep them from sinking into despair." Note,
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[1.] Christ is not ashamed to own his poor disciples, no, not now that
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he is in his exalted state; his preferment doth not make him shy of
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them, for he took early care to have it <I>notified</I> to them.
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[2.] Christ is not extreme to mark what <I>they</I> do amiss, whose
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hearts are upright with him. The disciples had very unkindly deserted
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him, and yet he testified this concern for them.
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[3.] Seasonable comforts shall be sent to those that are lamenting
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after the Lord Jesus, and he will find a time to manifest himself to
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them.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) They must be sure to tell Peter. This is particularly taken notice
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of by this evangelist, who is supposed to have written by Peter's
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direction. If it were told the disciples, it would be told Peter, for,
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as a token of his repentance for disowning his Master, he still
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associated with his disciples; yet he is particularly named: <I>Tell
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Peter,</I> for,
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[1.] It will be good news to him, more welcome to him than to any of
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them; for he is in sorrow for sin, and no tidings can be more welcome
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to true penitents than to hear of the resurrection of Christ, because
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he rose again for <I>their justification.</I>
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[2.] He will be afraid, lest the joy of this good news do not belong to
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him. Had the angel said only, <I>Go, tell his disciples,</I> poor
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Peter would have been ready to sigh, and say, "But I doubt I cannot
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look upon myself as one of them, for I disowned him, and deserve to be
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disowned by him;" to obviate that, "Go to Peter by name, and tell him,
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he shall be as welcome as any of the rest to <I>see</I> him in
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Galilee." Note, A sight of Christ will be very welcome to a true
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penitent, and a true penitent shall be very welcome to a sight of
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Christ, for there is joy in heaven concerning him.</P>
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<P>
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(3.) They must appoint them all, and Peter by name, to give him the
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meeting in Galilee, as <I>he said unto you,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+26:32">Matt. xxvi. 32</A>.
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In their journey down into Galilee they would have time to recollect
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themselves, and call to mind what he had often said to them there, that
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he should suffer and die, and <I>the third day be raised again;</I>
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whereas while they were at Jerusalem, among strangers and enemies, they
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could not recover themselves from the fright they had been in, nor
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compose themselves to the due entertainment of better tidings. Note,
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[1.] All the meetings between Christ and his disciples are of his own
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appointing.
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[2.] Christ never forgets his appointment, but will be sure to meet his
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people with the promised blessing in every place where he records his
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name.
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[3.] In all meetings between Christ and his disciples, he is the most
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forward. <I>He goes before you.</I></P>
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<P>
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IV. The account which the women did bring of this to the disciples
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>);
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They <I>went out quickly,</I> and <I>ran from the sepulchre,</I> to
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make all the haste they could to the disciples, <I>trembling</I> and
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<I>amazed.</I> See how much we are enemies to ourselves and our own
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comfort, in not considering and mixing faith with that Christ hath said
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to us. Christ had often told them, that <I>the third day he would rise
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again;</I> had they given that its due notice and credit, they would
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have come to the sepulchre, expecting to have found him risen, and
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would have received the news of it with a joyful assurance, and not
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with all this terror and amazement. But, being ordered to tell the
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disciples, because they were to tell it to all the world, they would
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not tell it to any one else, they showed not any thing of it to any man
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that they <I>met by the way,</I> for <I>they were afraid,</I> afraid it
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was too good news to be true. Note, Our disquieting fears often hinder
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us from doing that service to Christ and to the souls of men, which if
|
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faith and the <I>joy of faith</I> were strong, we might do.</P>
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<A NAME="Mr16_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr16_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr16_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr16_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr16_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Appearances to Mary Magdalene and the Two Disciples.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>9 Now when <I>Jesus</I> was risen early the first <I>day</I> of the week,
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he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast
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seven devils.
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10 <I>And</I> she went and told them that had been with him, as they
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mourned and wept.
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11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had
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been seen of her, believed not.
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12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as
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they walked, and went into the country.
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13 And they went and told <I>it</I> unto the residue: neither
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believed they them.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here a very short account of two of Christ's appearances, and
|
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the little credit which the report of them gained with the
|
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disciples.</P>
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<P>
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I. He appeared to Mary Magdalene, to her first in the garden, which we
|
|
have a particular narrative of,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+20:14">John xx. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was she <I>out of whom he had cast seven devils;</I> much was
|
|
forgiven her, and much was given her, and done for her, and she
|
|
<I>loved much;</I> and this honour Christ did her, that she was the
|
|
first that saw him after his resurrection. The closer we cleave to
|
|
Christ, the sooner we may expect to see him, and the more to see of
|
|
him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Now,
|
|
|
|
1. She brings notice of what she had seen, to the disciples; not only
|
|
to the <I>eleven,</I> but to the rest that followed him, <I>as they
|
|
mourned and wept,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now was the time of which Christ had told them, that they should
|
|
<I>mourn and lament,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+16:20">John xvi. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
And it was an evidence of their great love to Christ, and the deep
|
|
sense they had of their loss of him. But when their <I>weeping</I> had
|
|
<I>endured a night</I> or two, comfort returned, as Christ has
|
|
promised; <I>I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice.</I>
|
|
Better news cannot be brought to disciples in tears, than to tell them
|
|
of Christ's resurrection. And we should study to be comforters to
|
|
disciples that are mourners, by communicating to them our experiences,
|
|
and what we have <I>seen of Christ.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. They could not give credit to the report she brought them. They
|
|
heard that <I>he was alive,</I> and had been seen of her. The story was
|
|
plausible enough, and yet <I>they believed not.</I> They would not say
|
|
that she made the story herself, or designed to deceive them; but they
|
|
fear that she is <I>imposed upon,</I> and that it was but a fancy that
|
|
she <I>saw him.</I> Had they believed the <I>frequent</I> predictions
|
|
of it from his own mouth, they would not have been now so incredulous
|
|
of the report of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He appeared to two of the disciples, <I>as they went into the
|
|
country,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
This refers, no doubt, to that which is largely related
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:13">Luke xxiv. 13</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c.), of which passed between Christ and the two disciples <I>going to
|
|
Emmaus.</I> He is here said to have appeared to them in <I>another
|
|
form,</I> in another dress than what he usually wore, in the form of a
|
|
<I>traveller,</I> as, in the garden, in such a dress, that Mary
|
|
Magdalene took him for the gardener; but that he had really his own
|
|
countenance, appears by this, that <I>their eyes were holden, that they
|
|
should not know him;</I> and when that restrain on <I>their</I> eyes
|
|
was taken off, immediately they <I>knew him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:16-31">Luke xxiv. 16-31</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. These <I>two</I> witnesses gave in their <I>testimony</I> to this
|
|
proof of Christ's resurrection; <I>They went and told it to the
|
|
residue,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Being <I>satisfied</I> themselves, they were desirous to give their
|
|
brethren the <I>satisfaction</I> they had, that they might be comforted
|
|
as they were.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. This did not gain credit with all; <I>Neither believed they
|
|
them.</I> They suspected that their eyes also deceived them. Now there
|
|
was a wise providence in it, the proofs of Christ's resurrection were
|
|
given in thus <I>gradually,</I> and admitted thus <I>cautiously,</I>
|
|
that so the assurance with which the apostles preached this doctrine
|
|
afterward, when they ventured their all upon it, might be the more
|
|
satisfying. We have the more reason to believe those who did themselves
|
|
believe so slowly: had they swallowed it presently, they might have
|
|
been thought <I>credulous,</I> and their testimony the less to be
|
|
<I>regarded;</I> but their <I>disbelieving</I> at first, shows that
|
|
they did not believe it afterward but upon a full conviction.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mr16_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr16_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr16_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr16_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr16_18"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Appearance to the Eleven.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat,
|
|
and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart,
|
|
because they believed not them which had seen him after he was
|
|
risen.
|
|
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach
|
|
the gospel to every creature.
|
|
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he
|
|
that believeth not shall be damned.
|
|
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name
|
|
shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
|
|
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly
|
|
thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick,
|
|
and they shall recover.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
I. The <I>conviction</I> which Christ gave his apostles of the truth of
|
|
his resurrection
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>);
|
|
|
|
He <I>appeared to them</I> himself, when they were all together, <I>as
|
|
they sat at meat,</I> which gave him an opportunity to <I>eat and drink
|
|
with them,</I> for their full satisfaction; see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+10:41">Acts x. 41</A>.
|
|
|
|
And still, when he appeared to them, he <I>upbraided them with their
|
|
unbelief and hardness of heart,</I> for even at the general meeting in
|
|
<I>Galilee, some doubted,</I> as we find
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+28:17">Matt. xxviii. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, The evidences of the truth of the gospel are so full, that those
|
|
who receive it not, may justly be <I>upbraided</I> with their unbelief;
|
|
and it is owing not to any weakness or deficiency in the proofs, but to
|
|
the <I>hardness of their heart,</I> its senselessness and stupidity.
|
|
Though they had not till now seen him themselves, they are justly
|
|
blamed <I>because they believed not them who had seen him after he was
|
|
risen;</I> and perhaps it was owing in part to the <I>pride of their
|
|
hearts,</I> that they did not; for they thought, "If indeed he be
|
|
risen, to <I>whom should he delight to do</I> the <I>honour</I> of
|
|
showing himself but to us?" And if he <I>pass them by,</I> and show
|
|
himself to <I>others</I> first, they cannot believe it is he. Thus many
|
|
disbelieve the doctrine of Christ, because they think it <I>below
|
|
them</I> to give credit to such as he had chosen to be the witnesses
|
|
and publishers of it. Observe, It will not suffice for an excuse of our
|
|
infidelity in the great day, to say, "<I>We did not see him</I> after
|
|
he was risen," for we ought to have believed the testimony of those who
|
|
did see him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The <I>commission</I> which he gave them to set up his kingdom
|
|
among men by the preaching of his <I>gospel,</I> the glad tidings of
|
|
reconciliation to God through a Mediator. Now observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. <I>To whom</I> they were to preach <I>the gospel.</I> Hitherto they
|
|
had been sent only to <I>the lost sheep of the house of Israel,</I> and
|
|
were forbidden to go into the <I>way of the Gentiles,</I> or into any
|
|
city of the Samaritans; but now their commission is enlarged, and they
|
|
are authorized to <I>go into all the world,</I> into all parts of the
|
|
world, the habitable world, and to <I>preach the gospel</I> of Christ
|
|
to <I>every creature,</I> to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews; to
|
|
every human creature that is capable of receiving it. "Inform them
|
|
concerning Christ, the history of <I>his life,</I> and <I>death,</I>
|
|
and <I>resurrection;</I> instruct them in the <I>meaning</I> and
|
|
<I>intention</I> of these, and of the advantages which the children of
|
|
men have, or may have, hereby; and invite them, without exception, to
|
|
come and share in them. This is <I>gospel.</I> Let this be
|
|
<I>preached</I> in all places, to all persons." These eleven men could
|
|
not themselves preach it to all the world, much less to <I>every
|
|
creature</I> in it; but they and the other disciples, seventy in
|
|
number, with those who should afterward to be added to them, must
|
|
<I>disperse</I> themselves several ways, and, wherever they went, carry
|
|
the gospel along with them. They must send <I>others</I> to those
|
|
places whither they could not <I>go themselves,</I> and, in short, make
|
|
it the business of their lives to send those glad tidings <I>up and
|
|
down the world</I> with all possible fidelity and care, not as an
|
|
amusement or entertainment, but as a solemn message from God to men,
|
|
and an appointed means of making men happy. "Tell as many as you can,
|
|
and bid them tell others; it is a message of universal concern, and
|
|
<I>therefore,</I> ought to <I>have</I> a universal welcome, because it
|
|
<I>gives</I> a universal welcome."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. What is the <I>summary of the gospel</I> they are to preach
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>);
|
|
|
|
"Set before the world life and death, good and evil. Tell the children
|
|
of men that they are all in a state of misery and danger,
|
|
<I>condemned</I> by their prince, and <I>conquered</I> and
|
|
<I>enslaved</I> by their enemies." This is supposed in their being
|
|
<I>saved,</I> which they would not need to be if they were not
|
|
<I>lost.</I> "Now go and tell them,"
|
|
|
|
(1.) "That if they <I>believe the gospel,</I> and give up themselves to
|
|
be Christ's disciples; if they <I>renounce</I> the devil, the world,
|
|
and the flesh, and be <I>devoted</I> to Christ as their prophet,
|
|
priest, and king, and to God in Christ a their God in covenant, and
|
|
evidence by their constant adherence to this covenant their sincerity
|
|
herein, they <I>shall be saved</I> from the guilt and power of sin, it
|
|
shall not <I>rule</I> them, it shall not <I>ruin</I> them. He that is a
|
|
true Christian, shall be saved through Christ." <I>Baptism</I> was
|
|
appointed to be the <I>inaugurating</I> rite, by which those that
|
|
embraced Christ owned him; but it is here put rather for the <I>thing
|
|
signified</I> than for the sign, for Simon Magus <I>believed</I> and
|
|
was <I>baptized,</I> yet was not <I>saved,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+8:13">Acts viii. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Believing with the heart, and confessing with the mouth the Lord
|
|
Jesus</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+10:9">Rom. x. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
seems to be much the same with this here. Or thus, We must
|
|
<I>as</I>sent to gospel-truths, and <I>con</I>sent to gospel-terms.
|
|
|
|
(2.) "<I>If they believe not,</I> if they receive not the record God
|
|
gives concerning his Son, they cannot expect any other way of
|
|
salvation, but must inevitably perish; <I>they shall be damned,</I> by
|
|
the sentence of a <I>despised</I> gospel, added to that of a broken
|
|
law." And even this is <I>gospel,</I> it is good news, that nothing
|
|
else but unbelief shall damn men, which is a sin against the remedy.
|
|
Dr. Whitby here observes, that they who hence infer "that the infant
|
|
seed of believers are not capable of baptism, because they cannot
|
|
believe, must hence also infer that they cannot be saved; <I>faith</I>
|
|
being here more expressly required to salvation than to baptism. And
|
|
that in the latter clause baptism is omitted, because it is not simply
|
|
the want of baptism, but the contemptuous neglect of it, which makes
|
|
men guilty of damnation, otherwise infants might be damned for the
|
|
mistakes or profaneness of their parents."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. What power they should be endowed with, for the confirmation of the
|
|
doctrine they were to preach
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>These signs shall follow them that believe.</I> Not that all who
|
|
believe, shall be able to produce these signs, but some, even as many
|
|
as were employed in propagating the faith, and bringing others to it;
|
|
for signs are intended <I>for them that believe not;</I> see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+14:22">1 Cor. xiv. 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
It added much to the glory and evidence of the gospel, that the
|
|
preachers not only wrought miracles themselves, but conferred upon
|
|
others a power to work miracles, which power <I>followed</I> some of
|
|
them that believed, wherever they went to preach. They shall do wonders
|
|
<I>in Christ's name,</I> the same name into which they were baptized,
|
|
in the virtue of power derived from him, and fetched in by prayer. Some
|
|
particular signs are mentioned;
|
|
|
|
(1.) They shall <I>cast out devils;</I> this power was more common
|
|
among Christians than any other, and lasted longer, as appears by the
|
|
testimonies of Justin Martyr, Origen, Irenæus, Tertullian
|
|
Minutius Felix, and others, cited by Grotius on this place.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They shall <I>speak with new tongues,</I> which they had never
|
|
learned, or been acquainted with; and this was both a <I>miracle</I> (a
|
|
miracle <I>upon the mind</I>), for the confirming of the truth of the
|
|
gospel, and a <I>means</I> of spreading the gospel among those nations
|
|
that had not heard it. It saved the preachers a vast labour in learning
|
|
the languages; and, no doubt, they who by <I>miracle</I> were made
|
|
<I>masters of languages,</I> were <I>complete</I> masters of them and
|
|
of all their native elegancies, which were proper both to
|
|
<I>instruct</I> and <I>affect,</I> which would very much recommend them
|
|
and their preaching.
|
|
|
|
(3.) They shall <I>take up serpents.</I> This was fulfilled in Paul,
|
|
who was not hurt by the <I>viper</I> that <I>fastened on his hand,</I>
|
|
which was acknowledged a great miracle by the barbarous people,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:5,6">Acts xxviii. 5, 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
They shall be kept unhurt by that <I>generation of vipers</I> among
|
|
whom they live, and by the malice of the <I>old serpent.</I>
|
|
|
|
(4.) If they be compelled by their persecutors to <I>drink any
|
|
deadly</I> poisonous thing, <I>it shall not hurt them:</I> of which
|
|
very thing some instances are found in ecclesiastical history.
|
|
|
|
(5.) They shall not only be preserved from hurt themselves, but they
|
|
shall be enabled to do good to others; <I>They shall lay hands on the
|
|
sick, and they shall recover,</I> as multitudes had done by their
|
|
master's <I>healing</I> touch. Many of the elders of the church had
|
|
this power, as appears by
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+5:14">Jam. v. 14</A>,
|
|
|
|
where, as an instituted sign of this miraculous healing, they are said
|
|
to <I>anoint</I> the sick <I>with oil in the name of the Lord.</I> With
|
|
what assurance of success might they go about executing their
|
|
commission, when they had such credentials as these to produce!</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mr16_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr16_20"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Ascension.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received
|
|
up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
|
|
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord
|
|
working with <I>them,</I> and confirming the word with signs
|
|
following. Amen.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. Christ <I>welcomed</I> into the <I>upper world</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+16:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>After the Lord had spoken</I> what he had to say to his disciples,
|
|
he <I>went up into heaven,</I> in a cloud; which we have a particular
|
|
account of
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:9">Acts i. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
and he had not only an admission, but an abundant <I>entrance,</I> into
|
|
his kingdom there; he was <I>received up,</I> received in state, with
|
|
loud acclamations of the heavenly hosts; and he <I>sat on the right
|
|
hand of God:</I> sitting in a posture of <I>rest,</I> for now he had
|
|
finished his work, and a posture of <I>rule,</I> for now he took
|
|
possession of his kingdom; he sat <I>at the right hand of God,</I>
|
|
which denotes the sovereign dignity he is advanced to, and the
|
|
universal agency he is entrusted with. Whatever God does concerning us,
|
|
gives to us, or accepts from us, it is <I>by his Son.</I> Now he is
|
|
glorified with the glory he had before the world.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Christ <I>welcomed</I> in this <I>lower world;</I> his being
|
|
<I>believed on in the world,</I> and <I>received up into glory,</I> are
|
|
put together,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+3:16">1 Tim. iii. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
(1.) We have here the apostles working diligently for him; they <I>went
|
|
forth, and preached every where</I> far and near. Though the doctrine
|
|
they preached, was <I>spiritual</I> and <I>heavenly,</I> and directly
|
|
contrary to the <I>spirit</I> and <I>genius</I> of the world, though it
|
|
met with abundance of opposition, and was utterly destitute of all
|
|
secular supports and advantages, yet the preachers of it were neither
|
|
<I>afraid</I> nor <I>ashamed;</I> they were so industrious in spreading
|
|
the gospel, that within a few years the sound of it <I>went forth into
|
|
the ends of the earth,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+10:18">Rom. x. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) We have here God <I>working</I> effectually <I>with them,</I> to
|
|
make their labours successful, by <I>confirming the word with signs
|
|
following,</I> partly by the miracles that were wrought upon the
|
|
<I>bodies</I> of the people, which were divine seals to the Christian
|
|
doctrine, and partly by the influence it had upon the <I>minds</I> of
|
|
the people, through the operation of the Spirit of God, see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:4">Heb. ii. 4</A>.
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These were properly <I>signs following</I> the word--the reformation of
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the world, the destruction of idolatry, the conversion of sinners, the
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comfort of saints; and these signs still follow it, and that they may
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do so more and more, for the honour of Christ and the good of mankind,
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the evangelist prays, and teaches us to say <I>Amen.</I> Father in
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heaven, thus let thy name be hallowed, and let thy kingdom come.</P>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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