John 20:1

CHAP. XX.

THis and the following Chapter contain Christs exaltation and begun triumph over all his enemies, by his rising again from the dead; which being done without witnesses, all the Evangelists do confirme the truth of it, by recording the several steps and degrees of the manifestation thereof; And namely, by the empty grave, which did more obscurely put it out, as the dawning of that bright day; by the testimony of Angels, which was yet a clearer light; and by his own apparitions, which were the full shining of that Sun of righteousnesse, in that morning of his Resurrection.

In handling this begun exaltation of Christ, I shall (as formerly) speak only to what is recorded by John, save in so far as may be needful for clearing the greatest contrarieties which seem to be betwixt him and the rest. And in this Chapter, First, Christs Resurrection is evidenced and confirmed by the empty grave. And that first, unto Mary Magdalene, v. 1. Next, unto Peter and John, who being informed by Mary of what she had found, v 2. do run unto the grave, v, 3, 4. and find it empty, and do observe such circumstances as perswade John to beleeve, v. 5, 6, 7, 8. (though they had not considered or beleeved the Scriptures before, which spake of this matter, v. 9.) and so they return back again, v. 10.

Secondly, Christs Resurrection is further evidenced and confirmed, by three apparitions and manifestations of himself. First, to Mary, who staying weeping and looking into the grave, v. 11. gets a vision of two Angels, who conferre with her, v. 12, 13. Then, she meets and conferreth with Christ, as yet unknown to her, v. 14, 15. who afterward maketh himself known unto her, v. 16. and gives her directions and a Commission, v. 17. which she obeyeth, v. 18. Secondly, To all the disciples, (except Thomas) to whom he appeareth that night at their meeting, confirming them in the faith of his Resurrection, by his usual salutation, v. 19. and by ocular demonstration to their comfort, v. 20. And reneweth and confirmeth their calling to the Ministry, v. 21. endowing them with furniture for that office, v. 22. and asserting their authority in the discharge thereof, v. 23. Thirdly, to all the disciples, and Thomas with them, who being absent the former time, and refusing to beleeve upon their report, unlesse he himself got sensible satisfaction of his own prescribing, v. 24, 25. Christ, after a week, appears to them again, after the former manner, v. 26. offering satisfaction to Thomas doubtfulnesse, v. 27. which drawing out a faire confession from him, v. 28. it is entertained with a reproof and caution, v. 29.

Thirdly, John being about to close his Narration, professeth his passing over many other such passages, in regard these which are marked are sufficient to faith and salvation, v. 30, 31.

In this verse is recorded how Mary Magdalene, coming early to the sepulchre, on the first day of the week, purposing to see the sepulchre, and anoint the body of Jesus, (as is observed by the rest) she findes the stone rolled away, and (as appears from her report, v. 2. and is recorded, Luke 24.2, 3.) findes also the grave empty. Albeit the other Evangelists do declare that there were other women beside, who went to the grave, (whether in one or two companies, I will not determine) yet she is only named here, as being most famous in this History; for her affection, zeal and activity, and one who acts an eminent part in the subsequent passages. And as for Christs mother who stayed so stoutly by the Crosse, chap. 19.25. albeit John had taken charge of her, chap. 19.27. we are not to suppose that she was yet retired from Jerusalem, but she was still there as well as John, v. 2. with Acts 1.14. and yet we do not finde her stirring with this, or any other company, about his grave. I shall forbear to determine, whether she came not to anoint him, as beleeving his Resurrection, (as faith will hold out in much needless anxiety and toile, though yet Christ made good use of their weaknesse;) or, whether her great grief did so far surpasse that of the rest, as she could not be so active as they: as the greatnesse of grief or love will readily obstruct the expressions thereof: But it is greatest sobriety to leave the enquiry of these things which God hath concealed. Doct. 1. Affection may shine very eminently in weak instruments, and greatest services are ordinarily done by weak things, or these things wherein we most abase our selves; for, here weak women, and Mary Magdalene among them, are on foot early, and ready to performe such service as they thought most suteable unto Christ, when the disciples have not yet appeared. 2. Great things received in mercy from Christ, will shine forth in great activity for him in mens stations, and according to the measure of light they have received; for, therefore is Mary Magdalene only named here, because of her activity and eminency, being eminently engaged to Christ who had cast seven devils out of her. And albeit she was weak in her undertakings, yet that ought not to obscure her affection. 3. True affection toward Christ will not cool through length of time, nor will it be quenched by impediments cast in the way. But will wait on and burn the brighter, when it gets opportunity; for, her affection being kept up from shewing it selfe, by reason of the Jewish Sabbath, Luke 23.56. it doth not extinguish; but on the third day appeareth, and that early, when it was yet dark. They set out at that time, though it was toward Sun-rising when they came to the sepulchre, Mark 16.2. 4. As it is most agreeable to Scripture-Rules to begin the Sabbath in the morning; so it doth begin early, and we ought to consider upon this, that we may begin early to the work of sanctifying thereof; for, this time of their coming out is called, the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, Mat. 28.1. to intimate, that then the Jewish Sabbath ended, and the first day of the week, or Christian Sabbath, began; and albeit they set out the first day of the week early, when it was yet dark, yet Christ (who rose upon that, being the third day,) was risen before they came, and so the Christian Sabbath was begun. To which, if we adde the long continuance of Sabbath service, (as hath been the practice of affection at some times, Act. 20.7. we may gather useful directions for our sanctifying thereof. 5. Christ is oft-times sought where he is not to be found, even by those who have much affection to him; for, she cometh to finde him in his grave, and anoint him there, and she seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre, (the Angel having rolled it away, Mat. 28.2. not because Christ needed that help, but to testifie Angels attendance upon our exalted Lord) and findeth that he is not in the grave. Her unbelief, though joyned with affection, did speak but poorly of Christ, in that she came to seek him in his grave, who was among the living; And thus not only do they misse him who seek him in dead and unapproven Ceremonies and Ordinances, and in a dead formal way; but even his own, when they seek him in a dead discouraged way under difficulties, as if he were dead and would not do for them. 6. That this is in particular marked, that she seeth the stone taken away, &c. which was the great difficulty they were thinking upon by the way, Mark 16.3, 4, it may serve to teach; partly, that difficulties may appear very great, which yet the Lords Providence may make very easie, as appeareth in the matter of removing this stone to their hand; and partly, that so long as we continue in unbeliefe, and in our mistakes of Christ, the change of our condition, or removal of apprehended difficulties, will not serve our turn, but will rather beget new sorrows and doubts; for, their thought was, that if the stone were taken away, they should finde Christ, and now it is taken away, to discover that they are further from finding him in their way. 7. Whatever disappointments affectionate Saints meet with, by reason of their weaknesse, they will finde in end that all of these tend to their advantage; for, such was the issue of her disappointment here, though it bred present solicitude, yet in the end she found that she was disappointed of a dead Christ, that she might finde him living. 8. In this Narration, this great Article of our faith is here supposed, that Christ is risen from the dead; which beleevers ought to feed upon, approving him to be true God, who rose again by his own power, Rom 1.4. as proving the Justification of all these who flee to him, (seeing as in his death he laid down the price, so in his Resurrection he got a discharge in our name, Rom. 4.25. and so will appear the second time as our discharged Surety, without sin, to our salvation, Heb. 9.28) as affording matter of gloriation to Saints, against all the challenges of sin and the Law, Rom. 8.34. as confirming and assuring the renovation & sanctification of all these who seek to be partakers of his Resurrection, as to be partakers of mortification by the efficacy of his death, Rom. 6.4, 5. Eph. 2 6. Phil 3.10. And, as assuring beleevers of their Resurrection and future glory, seeing our Head will draw all his members after him, 1 Pet. 1.3. 1 Cor. 15.20, 55, 56, 57. This great truth is here preached unto Mary, by the stone taken away from the sepulchre, though as yet she saw not so much in it. 9. As this great truth of the Resurrection it self, so also the way and circumstances thereof are to be studied and pondered for our use; Therefore here and elsewhere are these so narrowly marked: And in particular, we may remark here, 1. That he rose without observation and witnesses; for, albeit several felt that earth-quake, and the watch and the women saw that Angel which descended at his Resurrection, Mat. 28.2, 3, 4, 5. yet it appears not that any of the watch saw him rise, and those women who came first, finde the sepulchre empty; nor afterward did he appear openly to all, whereby he might have prevented that report which was spread abroad, Mat. 28.11, 12, 13, 14, 15. but only to his disciples and brethren, 1 Cor. 15.5, 6, 7. And did leave this truth to be beleeved from the Word, holding out these evidences and apparitions, 1 Cor. 15.4. hereby teaching, That however Christ did undeniably witnesse the truth of his glory and exaltation, yet he will rather have it the object of our faith then of our sense, while we are within time. 2. That he rose on the third day, and that very early, having lien only one whole day and night, (which was their Sabbath) and but a part of the first day, which was their preparation; and now on the third, being the first day of the week early, when it was yet dark he riseth again. Hereby not only did he fulfil the type of Jonah, Mat 12.40. but did also prove both that he was really dead, and yet that he felt no corruption (according to the Scriptures, Ps. 16.10. with Act. 2.31. and 13.35, 36, 37.) having lien so short while in the grave: & more particularly, he hasted through his sufferings to his glory, that he might make way for, and give a pledge of our speedy outgates, as we need them, Hos. 6.2. 3. That he rose on the first day of the week, that he might perfect the work of Redemption, and the new Creation, on the day when the first Creation began, and might sanctifie and set apart that day to be the Christian Sabbath, which therefore is called the Lords day, Rev. 1.10. and was the day of some of his solemn appearings to his disciples, v. 19. and 26. of this Chapter, and the day observed by the Church for solemn meetings and worship, 1 Cor. 16.1, 2. Acts 20.7. 4. That the first evidences of his Resurrection were more obscure, and such as at first did increase their feares and perplexities, or, at most, but beget astonishment; for, all that Mary seeth is but the stone taken away and the empty sepulchre, which augments her sorrow; The disciples do not beleeve the womens report, Luke 24.11. and what Peter himself saw, did produce only wondering at first, Luke 24.12. hereby not only did he prepare their weak spirits for the full comfort of this mercy, in his clear apparitions, by sending more dark evidences of it before hand; But we may also learn from it, how much perplexity Saints may have, about their real mercies and comforts, even while they are amongst their hands so long as they are in the dark, and cannot discern them.