Mark 16

Mark 16:9-12

its revolutions; nor shall be again, till he is plucked from his sphere.

3. Admitthingly hardened, notwithstanding all that had passed, some that stood by mocked him, as if he now wanted Elias to come; and running and filling a sponge with vinegar, they put it to his lips, the mole to inflate him; whilst others said, Let abou; let us see whether Elias will appear to save him or no. Thus they regarded him as abandoned of God, and concluded, that none in earth or heaven desired to help him.

4. Having finished the atonement, he dissuaded his spirit, and left the Siddish couple upon the tree. He cried with a loud voice, not as one worn out with pains, but as a triumphant conqueror, and exemplified as he fell, by death destroying him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

5. At that instant the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, intimating the abolition of the ritual service, the rending the Jewish State in pieces, and the acerth opened now through the cros of Jesus, and his body there offered, for every sinner into the holleft of all; God being reconciled through the blood of his cros, and willing to receive all that come unto him through this dying Redeemer.

6. This amazing cry, and sudden departure of Jesus, deeply afflicted the Roman centurion, under whale command the Soldiers were; and, convinced by what he saw and heard of his innocence, and the truth of that assertion for which he suffered, he could not but confess, that this was verily the Son of God. He was the first fruits of the Gentile counsellors, and appointed to bear testimony to the Redeemer’s glory in the hour of his deepest humiliation.

7. Those pious women who had followed Jesus from Galilee, and supported him out of their substance, continued with him to the last. The names of some of them are mentioned to their everlasting honour. Mary Magdalen was one: much had been forgiven her, and she thus proved how much she loved the Saviour in return: and Mary the mother of James the life, so called probably from his low stature; and Salome, the mother of Zebedeu’s children: and now all their hopes seemed to be extinguished by the death of their Lord. Thus when we seem sunk into the lowest depths, then doth the glory of God more eminently appear in railing our defounding souls, and filling us with the triumphs of faith and joy.

8. ¶ And now when the even was come (because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath) 43. Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. 44. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. 45. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. 46. And he bought five linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. 47. And Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Joses, beheld where he was laid.

9. 42—47. Nothing now remained but to take down the bodies as the evening approached, longer than which they were forbidden to hang there; and also it being the preparation of the Sabbath, the work needed to be hastened. But who shall perform this last kind office to the corpse of Jesus? The Lord hath prepared an unexpected person for the service, Joseph of Arimathea, a person of distinction, a counsellor, probably one of the great Saddishmen, a secret disciple of Jesus; and who, notwithstanding his sufferings and death, expected that his glorious kingdom would come, and in faith waited for it.

10. He went in boldly to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus, when none of his apostles or followers had the courage to own him. Pilate, who could hardly believe that Christ was yet dead, called the centurion, and, when he was affixed of the fact, readily granted Joseph’s request, and gave an order for delivering the body. Note, (1.) In Christ’s cause we have need of courage. They who dare appear on the side of the people that are every where spoken against, must not be shamefaced. (2.) God hath his chosen among the great, the noble, and honourable counsellors; though not many, yet enough to leave the rest inexcusable in their infidelity.

11. Joseph with great respect having taken down the mangled corpse of his Lord, and wrapped it in fine linen bought for this occasion, interred the body in his own new tomb, which was hewn out of a rock, and closed the door with a large stone; whilst the two Mary’s, who had continued near the cros, now followed their Master to his grave, and marked the place, intending after the Sabbath to embalm the corpse. Note, (1.) They who love the Lord Jesus, serve him with their best, and count nothing too much to believe for his honour. (2.) In the grave of Jesus the poor sinner beholds with joy all his ini-

quities buried, and never more shall they rise up to condemn or destroy him. (3.) Visits to the grave are very useful; they serve to quicken us to prepare for our great change.

C H A P. XVI.

Christ here, 1. Rises from the dead, ver. 1—8. 2. Appears to Mary Magdalene, ver. 9—11. 3. To two of his disciples; then to the sinners, ver. 12—14. 4. Sought them with their commission to preach the gospel, ver. 15—18. 5. He rebreds into heaven, ver. 19, 20.

1. AND when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3. And they laid among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4. (And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away) for it was very great. 5. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen, he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter, that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he laid unto you. 8. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled, and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

2. 1—8. No sinner was the Sabbath past, during which Christ had lain in the grave, than we had.

3. Early in the morning on the first day of the week, the pious women, who the preceding evening had provided spices for embalming the body, little expecting his resurrection from the dead, sat out from the city for the sepulchre, which they reached just at sun-riding; and by the way having expressed to each other their concern how to roll back the ponderous stone from the mouth of the cave, to their surprise they beheld it already done for them. Note, (1.) Though difficulties at a distance seem unturnable, when we go on steadily depending upon God, we shall often meet with unexpected assistance. (2.) It is mentioned to their distinguished honour, how assiduous and faithful the women who followed Jesus proved, when the men forsook him. The weaker vessel is often seen to be the stronger Christian.

4. An angel appears to them. As they entered into the sepulchre, to their great surprise and terror, they beheld one in the likeness of a young man, in long white robes sitting within. But the angel soon quieted their fears; bids them not be terrified; he knew their business there was to seek the crucified Jesus; and, to their inexpressible joy, informs them, he is no longer numbered with the dead, but risen. There was the place where he lay: they are therefore enjoined without delay to carry the glad tidings to Peter and the rest of the apostles, and to tell them, according to his promise, that their glorified Master will meet them in Galilee, and make them happy with his presence and converse. Note, (1.) We are often apt to fear where no fear is, and to dread our mercies as noisier. (2.) They who seek a crucified Jesus, are there to find comfort to their souls. (3.) Though we for our unfaithfulness might justly be left to mourn our folly, Christ is a compassionate haviour, willing to pardon, and in haste to speak peace to the souls of his afflicted disciples. (4.) Peter is particularly mentioned; had he not, perhaps he would have thought the message was good news for the rest, but not for him, as having rendered himself unworthy the name of a disciple: but where for hath abounded, there will the Lord make his grace much more to abound. (5.) They who know the joy of meeting Jesus, and of his spiritual presence in the ordinances of his worship, will not count the way long to go, where his word is dispensed, and his voice is still heard.

5. The women ran eagerly to carry the message, trembling with a mixture of surprise and joy, and spoke to no man by the way, afraid the news was too good to be true, or that the Jews would be exasperated if they heard it, and say they had stolen the body. Note, The great good news of a finished salvation, perfect and entire in Christ Jesus, appears to the trembling sinner almost beyond belief.

6. ¶ Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of a John 10. whom he had cast seven devils. 10. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned (Mat. v 4. and

a Luke xxiv. 1. 1 Luke xxiv. 2, &c.

and wept. 11. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, b believed not. 12.

¶ After that he appeared in another form unto 1 two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

Christ here appears.

1. To Mary Magdalen, the morning he rose, that remarkable sinner, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Sometimes the greatest sinners prove the greatest sinner, and dearest to the Saviour. She immediately carried the joyful news to the eleven, who, inconsolable, with bitter anguish lamented their departed Lord, and their own unfaithfulness to him, and seemed funk in despair of ever seeing him again. Nay, so slow of hear were they to believe, notwithstanding the repeated predictions Christ had given them of his rising from the dead, that they received her declarations as a mere fancy, and imagined her deceived by some spectre or apparition. Nate, (1.) The most reviving comforts usually are sent when we are most dejected and desponding. (2.) The very incredulity of the disciples tends to the confirmation of our faith: it shews, they were not themselves willing to believe, but upon the most indubitable evidence.

2. The same day at evening he appeared to two others of his disciples, who were going towards Emmaus, a village about seven miles from Jerusalem; but perhaps being in a different dress from what he usually wore, and their eyes being hidden that they should not know him, Luke xxiv. 16—31. they conversed with him for a while, and at last their eyes were opened, and they knew him: whereupon they instantly returned to acquaint their brethren; and even then they would not be persuaded, though the witnesses were so unexceptionable.

3. ¶ Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat 9 at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief, and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16. He that believeth and 7 is baptized, shall be saved; but 8 he that believeth not, shall be damned. 17. And these signs shall follow them that believe; 1 In my name shall they cast out devils, 2 they shall speak with new tongues. 18. They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; 3 they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Mark 16:14-18

Since they are so loth to believe the report of others, Jesus condescends to put the matter beyond dispute, by appearing himself the same evening unto all the apostles, except Thomas, as they were sitting at table together.

1. He upbraids them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, that they were so backward to receive the testimony of those who had seen him, notwithstanding the many assurances of his rising again, which he had given them before his death. Nate, (1.) Unbelief is a most betetting sin, and highly displeasing to the Lord Jesus. (2.) Naturally we are indisposed to believe farther than we can see; and yet, if even we did see, it would not truly produce faith in any soul that is not satisfied with the evidence of the gospel.

2. He solemnly invests them with authority to go and preach the gospel among all nations, and to confirm their mission by the miracles he would enable them to work. This transaction passed, it should seem, not at the time of his first appearing to them, but afterwards, just before his ascension.

[1.] He enlarges their commission to go into all the world,

and to preach that gospel, which had been hitherto confined to the Jewish people, to every human creature, as far as their labours would reach; with power also to send out others, as fellow-labourers with them, to spread the favour of the truth in every place.

[2.] The summary of their preaching must be faith in the Son of God, in his life, death, and resurrection; the necessity of the salvation obtained by his obedience and sufferings for lost sinners; the fulness and all-sufficiency of it to procure pardon, life, and glory for all who trust in him; and the sin and danger of those who reject this method of divine wisdom and love, and refuse obedience to the faith of the gospel, their damnation being as inevitable, as the salvation of those who believe in Jesus, and in consequence thereof make open possession of their faith, and are by baptism received into the bosom of the church, insure and certain. Nate, Under the gospel none perish because of the greatness of their sins, but because they sin against the remedy, and seal themselves up under wrath by their unbelief.

[3.] In confirmation of their doctrine they are empowered to work the most astonishing miracles. In the name of Jesus, depending on his power, and to advance his gospel, they shall be enabled to cast out devils from those that were possessed; to speak with new tongues, which they had never learnt, with the most entire sinnery and readiness, as if they had formally been their native language. They shall take up serpents, the most venomous, without the least harm, See Acts xxviii. 3—6. If they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; when thus openly or secretly their persecutors might strive to make away with them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover, every disease giving way to their healing touch. And these miraculous powers they not only possessed themselves, but were enabled to impart to others, and were continued till Christianity got firm footing in the world; since which these miracles, being no longer necessary, are ceased.

19. ¶ So then 7 after the Lord had spoken unto them, 7 he was received up into heaven, and 7 sat on the right hand of God. 20. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and 7 confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

v. 19, 20. When our Lord had thus commissioned and qualified them for the great work he had committed to their charge, we see him,

1. Ascending to his throne of glory, and exalted to the right hand of Majesty on high. Having finished the work of redemption in behalf of his people, all power is put into his hands, to bestow eternal life on as many as the Father hath given him, and to reign in and over them as his faithful subjects; whilst his enemies, as vanquished, must bow before him, and whether they are devils or wicked men, will shortly receive from his lips their eternal doom.

2. We see them going forth according to their Master’s orders, preaching the gospel in defiance of all opposition from earth and hell, the Lord supporting them against all their persecutors, giving the most amazing success to their labours; by wondrous miracles attesting their mission to be divine; and by the power of the Holy Ghost making their word powerfully effectual to the conversion of the hearts of innumerable multitudes. And this sign will ever follow the gospel to the end of time; wherever it is preached in spirit and in truth, it will be found the power of God unto salvation: and as the Evangelist adds his Amen hereunto, so are we also bound to do, assured that thus it will be, and praying that thus it may be; that the word may daily run and be glorified, till the ends of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned to the Lord, and all flesh shall see the salvation of our God. Amen. So come, Lord Jesus!

¶ Luke xxv. 1. Acts vi. 2. ¶ Pet. lxxv. 18. ¶ Pet. lxxv. 9. Acts xxv. Hok. v. 6. THE