The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 454

to represent M1ny of Magr1Bl11'e present her, away from the nngels, anrl from their vision ae idontioal with th11t which h,vl appe.rent but fruitless offer of sympnl,hy, ocourrerl nt an e11rller hour; but it is clear still weeping po.Rsir,nately in the utter rleso- thnt, if ehe shnred in the e11.rlier vision 11.t nil, lRtion of a bmken he[}rt, But why did she she hnd not been oonvinoed by it, for still turn? Was she not conscious of e. presenoo she wept in utter deepo.ir. Tho foot tho.t near her which she harl not seen? The those nngelio nppenrances should tn.ke dif- blind are often aware of the presence of un- ferent forms to different witnesses belono-s seen persons, when no footfall is henrd nnrl to their vory nnture. Such visions tran~- no word spoken. And beholdeth (B,wp•,) lotod into words, would nnturnlly differ. If 1e81la ■tanding (iuT0>Ta., perfect participle), thoro bacl been rigid unif'ormity in the e.s though for aome time he had heen stand- stntemenls of the three evnngelists, and of ing there, we.tching her ( cf. that which he the fourlh with them, grove suspicion would had S[}id to the eleven (eh. xvi. 22), "I will ho.ve been attaclled to the entire recital. see you"). But strange, mysterious, unutter- The experiences of several different women ably wonderful, entirely and abaolntely in- would be repeo.ted a thousand times. They consistent with the hypothesis, to which we would be questioned separntely and together have often referred, that this book is a in every possible wo.y; and it appears from theological romance, John, on Mary's own all four narro.ti ves tliat three forms of the authority, o.dds, She knew not that it wu ultimate traditions alike declare that hope Jesus. This is one of those remarkably vivid and fear arising from the empty grave were and autoptic touches that carry conviction quickened and stimulated by angelic ambas- of tn1th, whatever may be the explanation sadors, who variously prepared their mind or the conclusion to be drawn from it. How to receive the grand objective fact. far was this lack of recognition due to her,and Ver. 13.-And they say =to her, Woman, how for to this the first manifesl.ation made why weepest thou t "'E,cei'vo, here," says of "spiritual body" to human ken? Some W eatcott, "like the name inaerted in ver. have frigidly taken a commonplace explana- 15, marks the pause during which Mary tion. Her eyes were blinded with continuoua regarded those before her without speak- weeping; or_the darkness of the morning: or ing." Here we witness angelic wonder at Jesus may have stood in the shadows of the human incredulity. Angelia ministry to city wall, aa the glare of the first beam of sun- human sorrow; for the mystery of our tears rise broke out of the purple mists on the Moo.b does not arrest the sympathy of these trium- hills; or Christ's appearance was so changed pl1ant spirits. Often, if we are compelled t.o by the agony through which he had passed, put into words tha supposed cause of our and by the recovery and reconstitution of his bitterest a.gouy, we deliver ourselves from our humanity, that the signs of his identity were fears. 5he eaith unto them, as if she were obscured. He could not have clothed him- speaking simply and na.turally to human self with the glittering garments of the beings. However, Mnry of Magdaltt alone 'l'ransfiguration, or with the dazzling robes of the women knows them to be "angels," of angels; for she mistook him for the keeper but is so overpowered witll the loss of her of the garden, either for Joseph of Azimath@a Lord that she does not quail or flee, but himself or his steward.. " She knew not that wails forth anew the languo.ge she had it was J eaus." Human eyes are often holden already uttered to the disciples. I weep so that they do not see the Lord, even when because they have taken away my Lord. by aome objective manifestation he makes it That "my'' ma.kes a oharacteristic difference possible to do this thing. Thus (Judg. xiii. from" the Lord" of whom she had spoken 16), "Mauoah knew not that it was the to Peter and J ohu. She did not at tile angel of the Lord." And several other of inatant know that her Lord was the Lord of the theophanies of the Old Testament, en- angels. The "I know," rather than "we co1I11tering the blindness of human vision, know," shows unquestionably that now she slowly dawn upon even prophetic intelligence. is alone, aud the other women have left Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, her and are electrifying the city with their Samuel, are all instances. And we find that strange tales. I know not where they (who in Matt. x.xviii. 16, 17, "some doubted" the have taken hie sacred body) have laid him, Resurrection, even when the vision led others Ver. 14.-Then follows the simple record to adore (Luke x:tlv. 16). The eyes of of the moat wonderful event in the history of Cleophas and his friend were hohlen, even the world. There o.nd then II flash of light though their hearts were burning. Those broko on one human aoul, and on human life who travelled with Paul to Damascus saw at forge, whioh has been brightening and a light and heard a sound, but they did not broadening in its lustre till t~is -v~ry h?~· see nor did they hear wll::Lt the apostle saw With what 11wful and tender s1mphc1ty 1s 1t and heard. The µopc/>~ of the risen Jesus related I When she had said this, she tnrned was not, according to Mark (xvi. 12), f\lways '° herselfbaok (•is .,.4 o,r(a-01) what was behind the same. For the vision e.nd perception nt'  408 THE GOSrEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [en. x:,r. 1-3L