Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

SECTION XXII.

Mary Magdalene unites her Testimony to that of the Galilean
Women.

MARK xvi. 10. LUKE Xxiv. 10.

Jerusalem.

It was Mary Magdalene",

Lukexxiv.10.

And she went and told them that had been with Mark xvi. 10. him, as they mourned and wept,

and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and Lukexxiv. 10. other women that were with him, which told these

things unto the apostles.

SECTION XXIII.

The Apostles are still incredulous.

MARK XVI. 11. LUKE Xxiv. 11.

And they, when they had heard that he was Mark xvi. 11. alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

And their words seemed to them as idle tales, Luke xxiv.11. and they believed them not.

men-the two angels who stood by the women, when they had been in the tomb, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

It will be observed, from this statement, that each of the women had something different to relate. The expression of St. Luke," these things," must be referred to the various collected reports they had all brought. The expression therefore in the ninth verse, ἀπήγγειλαν ταῦτα πάντα, must refer to the report of Joanna, whose account he had been immediately relating, and ai λeyov-ravra, to the whole company. See this point discussed at length by Townson, Cranfield, &c.

26 I have not discussed the question whether the 16th of Mark, after ver. 9. is genuine. It is certainly omitted in many manuscripts of great authority, or it is marked with an asterisk, or separated from the preceding part of the Gospel. It relates nothing inconsistent with the accounts of the other Evangelists, and appears to have been drawn up as an epitome of the various appearances of our Lord.

Mr. Cranfield has laboured much to prove that this verse refers to the first visit of St. Peter mentioned by St. John. Dr. Townson, on the contrary, has defended the present order of St. Luke, and concludes that the Evangelist here relates the second visit of St. Peter to the sepulchre, when our Lord manifested himself to him. It is certain that Christ appeared to Peter about this time; for when the two disciples came from Emmaus to the other disciples, this very circumstance was the subject of their conversation. This fact is further confirmed by St. Paul, 1 Cor. xv. 5. He was afterwards seen by the other apostles.

i

SECTION XXIV.

Peter goes again to the Sepulchre.

LUKE Xxiv. former part of ver. 12.

Jerusalem.

Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; i John xx. 6. and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves.

Lukexxiv. 12.

Luke xxiv. 12.

SECTION XXV.

Christ appears to St. Peter.

LUKE Xxiv. latter part of ver. 12.

And [Peter] departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass ".

27

SECTION XXVI.

Christ appears to Cleopas, and another Disciple, going to
Emmaus 28

Lukexxiv. 13.
Mark xvi. 12.

MARK XVI. 12. LUKE XXIV. 13-33.

And, behold,

After that he appeared in another form, unto

27 I have placed this clause by itself, as it was most probably on his return from the sepulchre, after he had received the accounts of the women, that our Lord appeared to St. Peter. His desire to see our Lord, and perhaps to implore his forgiveness, as well as that characteristic eagerness and ardour, by which he was on all occasions distinguished, excited in him the desire to make his second visit to the sepulchre, to examine it, to be again convinced that the body was removed; and in the hopes of meeting our Lord, if Christ would condescend to meet him. Cranfield very beautifully observes, "St. Peter had denied his Master, and had his Master shewed himself to any other of the men, before he shewed himself to him, might he not have thought his repentance ineffectual, his reconciliation impossible, and consequently be plunged into despair? Though his fall was attended with inconceivable aggravation, yet the magnanimity and mercy of his Saviour was still greater, and knew no bounds." 28 These sections are arranged in their present order upon the concurrent testimony of all the harmonizers, as well as the internal evidence. Every thing recorded in them affords a new source of wonder. Christ, in his glorified form, passes through the folded or barred up doors, as if his body were like the light, or the air, and yet he appeals to his disciples to satisfy themselves that he was not a spirit, but possessed of material and solid flesh. We are assured that with this same body he ascended into another state, and that our bodies shall be made like his at the day of the resurrection. Philip iv. ad fin. (a.)

(a) See Kuinoel, where the different opinions concerning the body of Christ,

Jerusalem.

two of them, as they walked, and went into the
country,

two of them went that same day to a village called Lukexxiv. 13.
Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about three-

score furlongs,

And they talked together of all these things Lukexxiv. 14. which had happened.

And it came to pass, that, while they communed Lukexxiv. 15. together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

But their eyes were holden, that they should Lukexxiv. 16. not know him.

And he said unto them, What manner of com- Lukexxiv. 17. munications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk, and are sad?

And one of them, whose name was Cleopas, Luke xxiv. 18. answering, said unto him, Art thou only a stran

ger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things

which are come to pass there in these days?
And he said unto them, What things? And Lukexxiv. 19.
they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth,
which was a prophet mighty in deed and word
before God and all the people:

And how the chief priests and our rulers deli- Lukexxiv, 20. vered him to be condemned to death, and have

crucified him.

But we trusted that it had been he which Lukexxiv. 21.

should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this,

to-day is the third day since these things were
done.

Yea, and certain women also of our company Luke xxiv. 22.
made us astonished, which were early at the
sepulchre ;

And when they found not his body, they came, Lukexxiv. 23. saying, That they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

And certain of them which were with us went Lukexxiv. 24. to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said; but him they saw not.

Then he said unto them, O fools and slow of Luke xxiv.25. heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

Ought not Christ to have suffered all these Lukexxiv. 26. things, and to enter into his glory?

are briefly summed up. See also Bishop Horsley's Sermons on the Resurrection, sermon fourth. I am contented with the facts of Scripture, and dare not indulge in the various conjectures which present themselves on these subjects. The reader who is fond of such speculations on these points, may peruse the works of King, (Morsels of Criticism,) More, Fleming, Flavel (on the Soul,) Thomas Aquinas Prima Pars, Question 50, to the end of Question 65.

Luke xxiv. 27.

Luke xxiv.28.

Luke xxiv.29.

Lukexxiv.30.

Lukexxiv.31.

Luke xxiv.32.

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, Jerusalem, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself "9.

And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went and he made as though he would have gone further.

But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with
them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake,
and gave to them.

And their eyes were opened, and they knew
him; and he
and he * vanished out of their sight.

* Or, ceased to be seen of

And they said one to another, Did not our them.
heart burn within us, while he talked with us by
the way, and while he opened to us the Scrip-

tures?

SECTION XXVII.

Cleopas and his Companion return to Jerusalem, and assure the
Apostles that Christ had certainly risen.

Mark xvi. 13.

MARK XVI. 13. LUKE Xxiv. 33, 34, 35.

And they went and told it unto the residue : neither believed they them.

29 This desponding sentiment, "We trusted that it had been he that should have redeemed Israel," &c. &c. must have been the general opinion of our Lord's disciples. All their hopes were buried with him in the sepulchre. They thought it impossible that he whom they had lately seen bleeding, and expiring on the cross," the very scorn of men, and the outcast of the people," should by his own power break the bands of death, and rise again in greater beauty and perfection, "For as yet they knew not the Scriptures."

The Scriptures represent, in many passages, that "it behoved Christ to suffer." This was typified in the Patriarchal age, by the offering up of Isaacin the Law, by the brazen serpent-by the sacrifice of the animals, particularly by that of the paschal lamb. In the prophets :-1. Isa. liii. 5. 7, 8.—2. Daniel's prophecy, Dan. ix. 25, 26. "the Messiah shall be cut off."-3. Zech. xii. 10. "they shall look on me whom they have pierced."-In the Psalms; Psa. ii. 1—3. xx. 1—18. xvi. 10. "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."

It was intimated that he should rise again the third day-Isaac the third day was released-sacrifices eaten the third day. The resurrection does not seem to be alluded to in the prophets, except in the type of Jonah, and in Isa. liii. and Zech. xii. 10. But on the prophecies and types fulfilled in the sufferings of Christ, see the sermon of Joseph Mede on Luke xxiv. 32. Hales's Analysis, vol. ii. part 2. and West on the Resurrection.

Jerusalem.

And they rose up the same hour, and returned Lukexxiv,33. to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath Lukexxiv.34. appeared to Simon 30.

And they told what things were done in the way, Luke xxiv. 35. and how he was known of them in breaking of

bread.

k Mark xvi. 14.

1 Mark xvi. 14.

SECTION XXVIII.

Christ appears to the assembled Apostles, Thomas only being absent, convinces them of the identity of the Resurrection Body, and blesses them.

[blocks in formation]

ག Then the same day at evening, being the John xx. 19. first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus,

as they thus spake, Jesus stood in the midst of Luke xxiv.36. them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

But they were terrified and affrighted, and sup- Luke xxiv.37. posed that they had seen a spirit.

And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? Luke xxiv.38. and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I my- Luke xxiv.39. self: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them Luke xxiv.40. his hands and his feet.

and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when John xx. 20. they saw the Lord.

And while they yet believed not for joy, and Lukexxiv.41. wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any

meat?

And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, Lukexxiv.42. and of an honeycomb.

30 It has been supposed that this verse ought to be read interrogatively, for, in Mark xvi. 13. we learn that the apostles did not believe the testimony of the two disciples from Emmaus, while it is here asserted that they were saying, at the very time when the disciples from Emmaus came into the room, The Lord has risen, &c. This difficulty is removed, if we suppose that our Lord had appeared to St. Peter, and they were expressing their incredulity at the moment the disciples arrived from Emmaus, in the language of this passage, Has the Lord risen, and has he indeed appeared unto Simon?

« AnteriorContinuar »