John 20:2

Followeth the evidencing of Christs Resurrection, by the same proof of the empty grave, unto Peter and to John, who is here again described (as frequently before) by his Masters love to him. The Narration of this manifestation may be taken up in foure particulars; The first whereof (in this verse) is the occasion of their going to seek this proof: Namely, that Mary cometh unto them with a report of what she had found, representing the matter in such sad and disadvantageous termes, as her unbelief and discouragement could invent. For creating of this purpose, Consider, 1. Albeit all the disciples were present when Mary with the rest of the women made their report, Luke 24.9, 10. yet it is said here only, that she ran to Peter and John, because they only made any use of her report. For the rest accounted them but idle tales, and beleeved not, Luke 24.11. and albeit neither Peter nor John beleeved as yet (as appeareth from v. 8, 9. with Luke 24.12,) yet they will go and be further informed. Consider, 2. The greater difficulty here is, How Mary is said to report only that Christ was taken out of the grave, and yet it appeareth from, Matth. 28.5, 6, 7. and Luke 24.4, 5, 6, 7, 8. that Angels had told them he was risen, and it is said expresly, Luke 24.9, 10. that Mary Magdalene was amongst these who told the Angels tidings: This difficulty may be cleared two wayes. 1 That Mary coming with the first to see the sepulchre, Matth. 28.1. and finding it empty, she ran away with the sad newes, before the Angels told these tydings to the rest, and where it is said, she with the rest, told these things, Luke 24.10. it may be thus expounded, that every one of them told their own part, Mary told of the empty sepulchre, and the rest of the women, (who came after her, and before Peter and John ran to the sepulchre) told that they had seen Angels, and what they had heard from them. 2 It may, with as little violence to the text, be cleared thus, That indeed they told the Angels message, Luke 24.22, 23. but so as they did not beleeve it, and they told also what is here recorded as their own sense of the matter, whatever Angels said to the contrary. Doct. 1. It is a commendable duty of Saints, when they are in any distresse, especially concerning Christ, to repair unto the society of his disciples, and communicate their case with them, whatever be the successe; for, whatever was Maries weaknesse, yet it is commendable that she goeth and acquainteth the disciples with her sad case. 2. Affection unto Christ, will make such as misse him, very active in communicating their losses, though oft-times such haste, joyned with unbelief, doth cause them promove but little; for, therefore is it marked, that she runneth and cometh to the disciples, out of her affection, though her unbelief made it be to little purpose. 3. Albeit, all who get any tidings concerning Christ, are bound to make use thereof; and it will be marked as their fault when they do not so, yet in some respect, these only may be said to be present and spoken to, who make use of any such tidings; and for others, what is spoken, may be said to be in vain to them, Jer. 8.8. For this cause it is said here only, that she cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, because they made some use of her newes, as hath been cleared. It is said, Luke 24.24 that certain of them which were with the disciples, went to the sepulchre, not that they were sent, by common consent, but they went of their own accord. 4. Such as do slide in an houre of tentation, ought not to lie still, but recover themselves by repentance, Jer. 8.4, 5. and being recovered, they ought to return to the society of the Lords people, to keep communion with them, and to run one hazard with them; therefore we finde Simon Peter, who had repented before, returned unto the disciples again. 5. As back-sliders should be encouraged to return, considering that they have the Churches affection ready to receive them again, and confirme their love toward them, 2 Cor. 2.8. (as here Simon Peter is admitted amongst them) so, the more any have tasted themselves of the love of Christ, they will be the more ready, with tendernesse, to welcome back-sliders, and such as do come in: Therefore it is specially marked, that Simon Peter, and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, were together, and afterward they keep together. A man so qualified as John, was a fit man to receive and welcome a penitent Peter. And thus also Barnabas, the Son of consolation, did entertain Paul, Act. 9.26, 27, 28. and 11.25, 26. And thus will these, who are indeed spiritual, deal with such as have fallen, Gal. 6.1. 6. Unbelief, though joyned with affection, may mistake Gods dealing so far, as not only to look upon real mercies as trials, but to point out supposed trials in the blackest colours, (enough to discourage a whole meeting of disciples) and as sadder then their real afflictions; yea, the more affection there be, unbelief may abuse it, to render their apprehensions yet sadder; for, affectionate Mary represents this great mercy of Christs Resurrection, as sadder then the death and burial of Christ; for then, though he was dead and buried, yet she knew where to finde him, to tender her respects to his dead body; but now, saith she, They (either some friends out of their respects, or his foes, or some others. See v. 15.) have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we (I, nor any of the women who were with me) know not where they have laid him. 7. It is sad to affectionate soules, when Christ is away from them, but much sadder, when they know not where to seek or finde him; and this doth usually follow on the other; for, both these concurred in Maries trial, in this particular way of finding Christ here: They have taken away the Lord, &c. and we know not where they have laid him. And this also is the lot of deserted soules, Job 23.3, 8, 9. Cant. 3.1, 2, 3. and 5.6, 8. which may teach them who enjoy Christ to entertain him well, lest they not only want him, but involve themselves in a perplexed labyrinth. And may point out their tolerable condition unto them, who though they want, yet they know what to do, and how to come speed. 8. Such is the power of unbelief and tentation, that even real encouragements will beget and feed discouragement and fear; for, the empty grave, which should have comforted her, occasions all this mistake and sorrow; They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre. 9 Unbelief also is so powerful, and Gods wonderful actings do oft-times so overcome our weak faith, that even an Angel from heaven will not prevail to perswade us of them, till the Lord come; for, albeit (as hath been cleared) Angels had told her, and the rest, of Christs Resurrection, yet she insists on this as her real thought of the businesse, They have taken away the Lord, &c. A lie is far more easily beleeved then truth, in an houre of tentation; and she credits her own heart and sense better then an Angels testistimony. 10. Whoever look upon Gods dealing, and the passages they meet with, without the Word, they will readily mistake, and feed their own tentations; for, whereas the Angels had remitted them to Christs doctrine, to clear this passage, Luke 24.6, 7. the looks only to the empty grave, and judgeth according to her sense: They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre. 11. In all this regrate, she calls him the Lord, a title proper to him in a peculiar sense, and which she uttered in another sense here; then when she gave that title to him, when she supposed him to be the Gardiner, v. 15. It doth not only point out her great respect to him, when dead and gone, as she supposed; and that indeed he was the Lord still, even when dead, as she supposeth him now to be. But further, this title, as it is proper to him in a peculiar sense, (and she intends it so) doth contain a refutation of all her mistakes; for, his being the Lord, and that even when dead in her account, doth evince that he was not to be detained a prisoner by death, but was now risen, the time prefixed by him, for his continuance in the grave, being expired; And so it may teach, 1. Even in the greatest fits of Saints unbelief, a right discerner may yet reade some faith; as may be gathered to be in Mary from this compellation. So in the Churches complaint, Isa. 49.14. my Lord, is not only the language of affection, regrating that such a one had forgotten her, but the language of faith also, cleaving to an interest in him, though she discern it not, being over-powred with sense, which saith he had forgotten her. 2. What Saints do sometime beleeve in the midst of their tentations, if it were enlarged as it ought, would refute all their unbelief; for, as her acknowledging him the Lord, doth refute her present diffidence and mistake; so when Saints beleeve an interest in God, and that he is theirs, when yet they are plunged in perplexities about many particulars; His being their God is sufficient to give them comfortable ground of hope in all these.