“Why Weepest Thou?”
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whom seekest thou?” Through her tear-dimmed eyes, Mary saw the
form of a man, and thinking that it was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if
thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I
will take Him away.” If this rich man’s tomb was thought too honorable
a burial place for Jesus, she herself would provide a place for Him.
There was a grave that Christ’s own voice had made vacant, the grave
where Lazarus had lain. Might she not there find a burial place for her
Lord? She felt that to care for His precious crucified body would be a
great consolation to her in her grief.
But now in His own familiar voice Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Now
she knew that it was not a stranger who was addressing her, and turning
she saw before her the living Christ. In her joy she forgot that He had
been crucified. Springing toward Him, as if to embrace His feet, she
said, “Rabboni.” But Christ raised His hand, saying, Detain Me not;
“for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and
say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My
God, and your God.” And Mary went her way to the disciples with the
joyful message.
Jesus refused to receive the homage of His people until He had the
assurance that His sacrifice was accepted by the Father. He ascended
to the heavenly courts, and from God Himself heard the assurance that
His atonement for the sins of men had been ample, that through His
blood all might gain eternal life. The Father ratified the covenant made
with Christ, that He would receive repentant and obedient men, and
would love them even as He loves His Son. Christ was to complete
His work, and fulfill His pledge to “make a man more precious than
fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.”
Isaiah 13:12
.
All power in heaven and on earth was given to the Prince of Life, and
He returned to His followers in a world of sin, that He might impart to
them of His power and glory.
While the Saviour was in God’s presence, receiving gifts for His
church, the disciples thought upon His empty tomb, and mourned
and wept. The day that was a day of rejoicing to all heaven was to
the disciples a day of uncertainty, confusion, and perplexity. Their
unbelief in the testimony of the women gives evidence of how low
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their faith had sunk. The news of Christ’s resurrection was so different
from what they had anticipated that they could not believe it. It was
too good to be true, they thought. They had heard so much of the