The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 479

movement of the now life in Jesus was a movement upwards; from the grave he b1Jgan to ascend, nnd the first intelligence obtained of him was that he was already ascen<ling. 2. The mission includes his destination. "I ascend unto my Father." It was ascending somewboro, but unto a special spot and special Personage-unto hiR Father; he wae going home whence he came. The intelligence of his final destination was important. The time woul<l soon arrive when he would be due at the right hand of power on high. There WM the 11ttt'action now. It was more natural for the risen Lord to ascend to the Father than to remain here. 3. This mission was to the disciples. "But go unto my brethren, and say," etc. They are the first to hear; they are the • most concerned in the matter; they are the nearest to Jesus' heart. The world is to hear the news, but through them. The risen Saviour is the same as of old. 4. This mission is to them in a new relationship. "My brethren." The terms of the mission explain the new relationship. "I ascend unto my Father, and your Father," etc. And having one Father and one God, they were brethren and fellow-subjects of the same kingdom; brethren in spirit, in faith, in love, in circumstances, and in common rela- tionship. The risen Lord was more nearly related to the disciples than ever. Death and resurrection made the union nearer: he was their firstborn Brother from the dead. And the Ascension would make it nearer still: then they would be one in a common Father. V.. THE OBEDIENCE OF LOVE. 1. The obedience is most prompt. There is no delay. In spite of a strong temptation to cling to him, she goes at once. There is no mention of her leaving Jesus; only of her coming to the disciples. No sooner had she left the former than she was with the latter. The obedience of love is swift and prompt. 2. Her obedience is full. She told the whole story and delivered the whole message. "I have seen the Lord," etc. .And she did not stop there, but related all he had told her. 3. Her obedience was joyous. Her weeping was turned into laughter, her sorrow into ecstatic joy; and the dew· of her grief was kissed away by the rays of the risen Sun. The news was good and joyous; it thrilled her own heart, it thrilled the heart of the disciples, and it has thrilled the heart of the world ever since. LESSONS. 1. The risen Lord first appearerl to a woman. Her heart and eyes of love were·the first to behold the welcome vision, because she had the greatest love. 2. A woman was the first missionary of Jesus. f!he was the first to publish the tidings of his resurrection, because she was the first to get those tidings. She was the first at the grave, and her love would not permit her to leave till she could find Jesus. She waited at the king's gate till he appeared, and she was employed in his service. The feminine heart can do much in the mission of life and love. 3. Love is rewarded with visions, revelations, and employment. In the degree we love, we shall see, know, and under- stand the spiritual, and be employed in its glorious missions. 4. We must not cling to Ja?J,S when we are wanted to do something for him. We must not even revel at his feet when others require the news of his love. 5. LO'Ve is surprised with more than it expects. Mary only expected to find the dead body, but she found her living Lord. The highest expectations of love will be more than realized and rewarded.-B. T. Ver. 15.-Weeping for tlte wrong thing. I. THE CAUSE OF lli.BY's WEEPING. Try for a moment to think of the body of Jesus as being only that of a common mortal. Let the instance be that of one dear to yourself. The body has been safely laid away, and the earth heaped over it. Suppose, then, that in a morning or two you find the grave broken open and the body removed. Your feelings upon such an outrage would enable you to understand the feelings of Mary here. No feeling is more proper than that which regards the body of a dead frieud as something sacred. Consider, too, what an extraordinary Benefactor to Mary Jesus had been. Out of her he had cast seven demons. II. THE QUESTION COMES FROM THOSE WHO HAVE A RIGHT TO ASK IT. It is the question of angels, and it is also the ques~ion of? es~s. It i~ the question of those who know the real state of things, to one who m angmsh 1s followrng a falsehood--,me of the likeliest of falsehoods indeed, but a falsehood after all. .As to Jesus, he would ask the question with a eort ~f secret joy, well knowing how quickly those tears would be dried up, and how eoon Mary would stan~ awed a~d gla~dene~ before this stupendous revelation of immortality. The quest10n was neither 1ntrus1rn nor superfluou~. How many are the tenrs and lamentations of ignorance ! It seemed as if, in thi:t matter of  494 TilE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JORN. [OH, xx. 1-31.