King's Business - 1951-03

H I D I l i o

H fìfl o v \ n v ì r u i ectn in a

l/^eòurrection By Louis T. Talbot, D. D.

ing with her. While it cannot be definitely proven that she was “ the sinful woman” of Luke’s Gospel, there is no question but that she had been a great sinner. Evermore she bore the designation, “ Mary Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils.” The “ seven” would indicate the lowest depths of human depravity. Apparently she had drunk the vile cup of iniquity to the dregs. The very name of her hometown, Magdala, was syn­ onymous with every heinous sin, and his­ tory records that its wickedness finally de­ stroyed it. Whether or not Mary became acquainted with Jesus at Simon’s feet, it is certain that somewhere along her life’s way she encountered Him and heard His call to sin­ ners : “ Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Ever afterwards she gave evidence that she “ loved much.” And why should she not love Christ? He was the only One whose love had not done her harm and the first really

Mary of Magdala How like the grace of God it was that Christ should have made His first post-resurrection appearance to Mary Magdalene! Tender and touching is the tale of His deal- But what of the individuals to whom Jesus made per­ sonal appearances after His resurrection? We are inter­ ested in knowing what the fact that Jesus was alive meant to W E have a risen Saviour! Because He lives, we live also. Because He lives, we are “ stedfast, unmove­ able, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as [we] know that [our] labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Because He lives, we “ can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth [us].” Because He lives, “we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Now the church militant, we suffer, we toil, we sacri­ fice, “ as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” Soon we shall be the church triumphant, in the 'presence of our living Lord, “ a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” And we owe it all to the fact that Jesus not only died for us, but that He also rose again “ for our justification” !

worthy Object that ever claimed her worship and affec­ tion. He saved her soul, forgave her sins, gave her a new life, and she yielded her heart to Him, in complete devo­ tion. As she had gone all the way in sin, so she went all the way with her Lord when she was redeemed. Imagine, then, Mary’s agony over the suffering and death of Jesus. One of the last to leave the scene of horror, she had lingered until Joseph took charge of the body of the Lord, and Nicodemus appeared with his hun­ dred-weight of myrrh and aloes. With a heart breaking under the weight of her woe, Mary hastened home to pre­ pare additional spices that she and the other women might perform the last sad ministrations for Christ. Her faith had suffered a staggering blow. She had believed Jesus to be God, for who but God could have forgiven her sin and changed her life? But could God lie silent and dead, wrapped in the garments of the grave? Restlessly, she hurried back to the tomb while it was still dark. Perhaps a faint hope stirred within her heart that Jesus might do something about His own death as He had done about that of Lazarus, who had been dead far longer than He. Mary “ seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then 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.” When John and Peter heard these tidings, they started off immediately for

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