John 20:1-171The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. 11But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:1‑17)
The disciples at the sepulcher see the trophies of a recent victory obtained there, and yet a victory gained in all beautiful divine simplicity and power. There was no confusion, no symptom that a struggle had been sustained, but every witness that a victory had been won. The sepulcher was empty, and the clothes that had bound the dead body lay there, not in disorder, but wrapped together in their due place, the clothes that had been about the head distinguished above the rest.
Death had been conquered and the grave spoiled, but by one who had a glorious victory; for He had already destroyed him that had the power of death at Calvary,
“By death destroyed him that had the power of death,” (Heb. 2) and the rifling of the grave was perfect and glorious, but it was accomplished as without a struggle.
The angels are there, but they are there in full intelligence of all that had happened. They sit at the place where the body had lain, in worshiping admiration of what Jesus had accomplished. Mary is there, but she is there ignorant of it all, but in deep personal affection to Christ. She knows not of His victory and resurrection, but she feels that He is – dearer to her than the whole creation of God.
Such ones meet, and meet as the best of friends; angels and Mary, the bright intelligences of heaven, and the loving heart of an accepted sinner of the earth. Jesus is their common object, and that is enough, though in point of attainment they are so distant from each other; the angels so full of light, Mary too much in ignorance.
But, favored woman as she was, she is soon called to change her company, and even to improve it, though it was so good. She leaves the angels for the Lord of angels, and on His glorious lips hears her own name in well-known accents; for there is nothing too high, nothing too intimate for that heart that loves Jesus as hers did. Her former companions had kindly soothed her grief. But her Lord cheers her spirit and conducts her to know Him in higher, purer, and more loving scenes than even her heart had ever conceived. He lets her know that He was on His way to heaven, there to be with the God and Father of Christ and the saints, of Jesus and His brethren.
What victory, what spoil; of victory, and what prints of victory are here! Death and hell are conquered and made a show of, the very bonds which signified their power made a show of in the place of the warfare; and then, those who had loved Him that had gone down to the battle, are made to share more splendid, glorious fruit of His toil than their fondest hearts had ever even desired.
With believing minds may we trace this victory of the Son of God, and with happy hearts gather up and feed on the fruit of it!