The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 644

moment, they saw the gracious form of their bellived Master; they looked once more upon that holy face, no longer stained with bluod or fixed in death, but gazing on them wHh hie wonted look of heavenly love in the full majesty of manifest Deity. "All hail I" he so.id; "rejoice I" l/'ear and joy were struggling in their hearts; but joy was the right feeling; there was no need to fear. "All hail I rejoice I" it was an ordinary formula of salutation; often a mere conventional greeting, but coming from those lips it spoke volumes; it was full of meaning, deep, holy, blessed meaning. It was th0 fulfilment of those precious words of his, " Ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." 'l'he presence of the Lord bringeth joy. There is no joy so foll and so holy, so sweet and eo abiding, as that joy in the Lord which is granted to those who in patience and humility have taken up the cross, denying themselves daily for Christ's sake, recog• nizing in their hearts and lives the great truth that, since the Lord died for all, they which live should live no longer unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again. These women loved the Lord ; they had ministered to him ; now they ,vere going to tell the glsd tidings of his resurrection. He met them himself; he bade them "Rejoice l" There, and there only, is true joy to be found, in the love of Christ, in work for Christ, in communion with Christ. They came and held him by the feet and worshipped him. They bowed themselves to the ground before him in lowliest adoration. They felt something of that great awe mixed with exceeding joy which the next Sunday forced from the lips of the once unbelieving Thomas the exclamation of adoring faith, "My Lord and my God I " Their joy was too great for words; they could only offer him the worship of their hearts, prostrating themselves, holding those holy feet which three days before had been nailed to the cruel cross, scarcely able to look into his face for awe and wonder and overpowering joy. So the Christian falls down in adoring worship when the Lord reveals himself to the longing soul. When we see him by faith, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, when he manifesteth himself to his chosen as he doth not unto the world, when he saith, "Rejoice! " theu they feel the truth of that most precious beatitude, "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed;" then, though they see him not as the Marys saw his gracious face, yet, believing, they rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. In such moments his people offer up to him a holy worship-worship in spirit and in truth, such as, iu his condescending love, he seeketh; a worship not selfi.sh, not prayer for our own sakes, for the supply of our own needs, but higher than prayer; a worship which thinks not of self, but only of the Lord, which loses sight of self in the contemplation of hie love, his holiness, his majesty, his glory. Snch is the worship of his saints in heaven; so we must seek to worship in our poor way on earth. 3. The messagli. The Lord calmed their agitation. "lle not afrn.id I " The angel had said the same, but the Lord's words were sweeter music even than the angelic voice. Fear was mingled even now with their great joy; human nature cannot but fear in the awful presence of God. But the Lord in his tender mercy taught them tbat, though risen now from the dead, he was still, not only very God, but also very Man. He sent them with th11 first Easter greetings to the apostles-to his brethren, as for the first time he deigned. to call them. It was a message of love, a message of forgiveness. They had cot acted as brethren should ; they had forsaken the Lord in the hour of danger. But he recog- nized the truth of their-love; he forgave their weakness, their terrors; he was" net ashamed to call them brethren." It was a gracious message indeed, full of sweetness to the sorrowing, conscience-stricken apostles. They were to meet the Lord in Galilee; there he would announce to them his assumption of Divine power and majesty; there they should receive the full apostolic commission and the promise of his continual presence unto the e::id. There were other meetings during the great forty days; but St. Matthew, who was led to dwell mainly upon the majesty and glory of the risen Lord, hastens to that great meeting, so full of momentous consequences, when the Lord in his royal power gave authority to his apostles to baptize all nations into tb.ll most holy Name. LESSONS, 1. The holy women loved the Lord. Let us imitate that affectionate reverent love. 2. They said, " \Vho shall roll us away the stone?" Let us trust i11 God ; the Lord will provide. 3. The angel said, " Fear not ye." The holy augeis minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation. 4, The Lord met the holy women.;  650 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oe:. xxvm.1-20.