19
January 1931
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
the place, but we are to believe His prophecies and their testi mony. 7— GO YOUR WAY, TELL—The declaration of the risen Lord is at once the obligation and the privilege of every true Christian (cf. Tsa. 43:10). Especially should we tell it to HIS DISCIPLES—in order that we may cheer them in their hours, of depression and remind them of the source of power for service and conquest. AND PETER—The women would in all probability have left him out as an apostate; the angel had there fore been instructed to specially include him, that his broken heart might be comforted. [It is noteworthy that Christ granted Peter a private interview before He appeared to the twelve (cf. 1 Cor. 15:5). Any rebuke or reproach that was necessary must be administered in private. He never puts His own people to public shame (cf. Joel 2:26, 27)]. GOETH BEFORE YOU— This meeting in Galilee had been foretold by Christ before His crucifixion (cf. 14:28), but had evidently not been believed. “Goeth before”—i.e., as the shepherd goes before the sheep (cf. John 4). INTO GALILEE—Because He foresaw that the apostles, not realizing their mission, would return thither to the Lake of Galilee and resume their old occupation (cf. John 21: 1-3). 8— FLED . . . TREMBLED AND WERE IN ECSTACY —They were beside themselves with astonishment and joy (cf. Matt.28:8). The news and the vision were so overpowering that they did not know what to do, or hardly what they did. NEITHER SAID THEY ANYTHING—i.e., to those they met on their way to the city. One would have expected them to have spread the wonderful news, but THEY WERE AFRAID— Afraid, that is, that the tidings were not true. They did not really believe them until they had seen Him (cf. Matt. 28:9). 9— THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK—This resurrection on the first day is the justification for the transference of the Sabbath frotn the seventh day. But there is also in that trans fer a spiritual parable: the law bade men work that they might rest; Christ bids us rest in Him that we may work. HE AP PEARED FIRST TO MARY MAGDALENE—Christ’s first appearance was to a woman, His second to a band of women; surely this was" to emphasize the new position which woman hood was to occupy under the Gospel dispensation. [It is note worthy that we read of no appearance to His mother. If she was to occupy the exalted position which the Romanists and others would assign her, this omission is very strange and incom- priehensible. He had already tacitly terminated the relation of sonship (cf. 19:26, 27)]. SEVEN DEVILS— [Seven devils may stand in this place for multitudinous possession, as in the case of the man whose name was legion. There is no justification here for supposing her to have been a woman of the street (see note on chapter 15:47)]. 10— WENT AND TOLD—The first impulse of the heart after a vision of Christ is to go and tell (cf. Lk. 24:32, 33). THEY MOURNED AND WEPT—Their mourning and their tears were utterly unnecessary; they were filled with grief and despair because of unbelief. 11— THEY BELIEVED NOT—Note the tenacity of un belief : they had already had the testimony of the other women and now hers; yet they would not believe. 12— TWO OF THEM—This was the couple who were go ing to Emmaus (cf. Lk. 24:13-31). Christ had meanwhile seen Peter. These repeated appearances to different people in differ ent places preclude the possibility of ecstatic hallucination; they could not all have been so deceived. MANIFESTED IN AN OTHER FORM—He was not in another form, but was so mani fested to them. Their eyes were held that they should not see the true form and so recognize Him at once. The thing that hindered their recognition was no doubt their unbelief. AS
“He Led Them Forth by the RightJWay” (Psa. 107:7) B y N eedham P h il l ip s Another year has slipped away, With all its failure and success, Its faith and fears, its joys and cares, Its restlessness! Not always have we felt assured That all was well, and all was best; And disappointment, doubt, distrust Would oft molest. Yet as with retrospective eye We contemplate its winding ways, We see that God has led us right, Through all the days. His promises have never failed; Strength for the need has been supplied; And though we grieved Him with our fears, He still was Guide.
Then with new confidence and trust We dare to greet the new-born year; Believing that the living God Is ever near. However winding be the road, However difficult our task, That He will lead us as of yore, Is all we ask. So, strong in faith, with courage firm, We step into the great unknown, Not fearing, anxious, questioning, And—not alone!
THEY WALKED INTO THE COUNTRY—On ju st'an or dinary journey. Christ comes to men, not only at the tomb, or at His table, or in the upper room, or in the sanctuary, but in the common ways of every day life, if they have eyes to see Him. 13— THEY WENT AND TOLD IT—The purpose of the journey was abandoned. Again we see the keen missionary im pulse of the heart that manifests itself in those who have really seen Christ. NEITHER BELIEVED THEY THEM—There is an apparent difficulty here (see Lk. 24:34 where, before the two had told their story, the “residue” announced the certainty of the resurrection). St. Mark’s statement is, however, inspired and therefore true. The passage must mean either (a) they did not believe in the appearance to the two, thinking them to have been simply mistaken in the personality of the Stranger whom they had entertained; or (2) not being able to comprehend how Christ could have been with Simon and with the two at almost the same time, the story of the latter unsettled them and made them doubt the reality of either appearance. The latter is the more likely explanation. 14— AFTERWARDS—i.e., immediately, as soon as they had done speaking (cf. Lk. 24:36). WHILE THE ELEVEN WERE SITTING AT MEAT—And others with them (cf. John 20:19). This is very important (see notes on verse 15). HE APPEARED
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter