2. In the last journey to Jerusalem, to which so many had been looking with eager expectation, they again ac- companied liim (Matt, xxvii, 55; Mark xv, 41; Luke xxiii, 55 ; xxiv, ] 0), A.D. 29. It will explain much that follows if we remember that this life of ministration must have brought Jlary Magdalene into companion- ship of the closest nature with Salome, the mother of James and John (Mark iv,40), and even also with Marj', the mother of the Lord (John xix, 25). The women W'ho thus devoted themselves are not prominent in the history: we have no record of their mode of life or abode, or hopes or fears, during the few momentous days that preceded the crucifixion. From that hour they came forth for a brief two days' space ir.to marvellous distinctness. They " stood afar off, beholding these things" (Luke xxiii, 49), during the closing hours of the agony on the cross. l\Iary INIagdalene, Marj', the moth- er of tlie Lord, and the beloved disciple, were at one time not afar off, but close to the cross, within hearing. The same close association which drew them together there is seen afterwards. She remains by the cross tin all is over, waits tiU the body is taken down, and wrapped in the linen-cloth and placed in the garden- sepulchre of Joseph of Arimathxa. She remains there in the dusk of the evening, watching what she must liave looked upon as the final resting-place of the I'rophet and Teacher whom she had honored (!Matt. xx^•ii, CI ; Mark xv, 47; Luke xxiii, 55). Not to her had there been given the hope of the resurrection. The disciples to whom the words that spoke of it had been addressed had failed to understand them, and were not likely to have reported them to her. The Sabbath that followed brought an enforced rest, but no sooner is the sunset over than she, with Salome and Mary, the mother of James, " bought sweet spices that they might come and anoint" the body, the interment of which on the night of the crucifixion they regarded as hasty and provis- ional (Mark xvi, 1).
The next morning, accordingly, in the earliest dawT> (Matt, xxviii, 1 ; Mark xvi, 2), they came with Marj-, the mother of James, to the sepulchre, and successively saw the " vision of angels" (INIatt. xxviii, 5 ; Mark xvi, 5). A careful comparison of the relative time of the several appearances of Christ on his resurrection makes it evident that the term "first," applied by Mark (xvi, 9) to the appearance to INIary, must not be taken so strictly as to exclude the prior appearance to the other females who had accompanied her to the sepulchre (see Metk. Quart. Rev. 1850, p. 337 sq.). See Appearances OF Chkist. To her, however, after the first moment of joy, it had seemed to be but a vision. She went with her cry of sorrow to Peter and John (let us remember that Salome had been with her), ''They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him" (John xx, 1,2). But she returns there. She follows Peter and John, and remains when they go back. The one thought that fiUs her mind is still that the body is not there. She has been robbed of that task of reverential love on which she had set her heart. The words of the angels can call out no other answer than that^ — " Tiiey have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him" (John XX, 13). This intense brooding over one fixed thought was, we may venture to say, to one who had suffered as she had suffered, full of special danger, and called for a special discipline. The spirit must be r.aised out of its blank despair, or else the "seven devils" might come in once again, and the last state be worse than the first. The utter stupor of grief is shown in her want of power to recognise at first either the voice or the form of the Lord to whom she had ministered (John xx, 14, 15). At last her own name uttered by that voice, as she had heard it uttered, it may be. in the hour of her deepest misery, recalls her to consciousness; and then follows the cry of recognition, with the strongest word of rev- erence which a woman of Israel could use, " Kabboni," and the rush forwards to cling to his feet. That, how-
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ever, is not the discipline she needs. Her love had been too dependent on the visible presence of her Master. She had the same lesson to learn as the other disciples. Thouf^li they had " known Christ after the flesh," they were '• henceforth to know him so no more." She was to hear that truth in its highest and sharpest form. " Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Fa- ther." For a time, till the earthly affection had been raised to a heavenly one, she was to hold back. When he had finished his work and had ascended to the Fa- ther, there should be no barrier then to tlie fullest com- munion that the most devoted love could crave. Those who souglit, might draw near and touch him then. He would be one with them, and they one with him. This is the last authentic record of the Magdalene. On her character, see the Journ. ofSacX-it. Oct. 186G.