“Why Weepest Thou?”
679
But even now they did not rejoice. They could not cast off their doubt
and perplexity. Even when the women declared that they had seen the
Lord, the disciples would not believe. They thought them under an
illusion.
Trouble seemed crowding upon trouble. On the sixth day of the
week they had seen their Master die; on the first day of the next week
they found themselves deprived of His body, and they were accused
of having stolen it away for the sake of deceiving the people. They
despaired of ever correcting the false impressions that were gaining
ground against them. They feared the enmity of the priests and the
wrath of the people. They longed for the presence of Jesus, who had
helped them in every perplexity.
Often they repeated the words, “We trusted that it had been He
which should have redeemed Israel.” Lonely and sick at heart they
remembered His words, “If they do these things in a green tree, what
shall be done in the dry?”
Luke 24:21
;
23:31
. They met together in
the upper chamber, and closed and fastened the doors, knowing that
the fate of their beloved Teacher might at any time be theirs.
And all the time they might have been rejoicing in the knowledge
of a risen Saviour. In the garden, Mary had stood weeping, when Jesus
was close beside her. Her eyes were so blinded by tears that she did
not discern Him. And the hearts of the disciples were so full of grief
that they did not believe the angels’ message or the words of Christ
Himself.
How many are still doing what these disciples did! How many
echo Mary’s despairing cry, “They have taken away the Lord, ... and
we know not where they have laid Him”! To how many might the
Saviour’s words be spoken, “Why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?”
He is close beside them, but their tear-blinded eyes do not discern Him.
He speaks to them, but they do not understand.
Oh that the bowed head might be lifted, that the eyes might be
opened to behold Him, that the ears might listen to His voice! “Go
quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen.” Bid them look not to
Joseph’s new tomb, that was closed with a great stone, and sealed with
the Roman seal. Christ is not there. Look not to the empty sepulcher.
Mourn not as those who are hopeless and helpless. Jesus lives, and
because He lives, we shall live also. From grateful hearts, from lips
touched with holy fire, let the glad song ring out, Christ is risen! He