THE WOMEN AT THE SEPULCHRE

REV. GEORGE W. BETHUne, d.d.

Ir is a strong testimony to our Lord's character, that, although his crucifixion greatly confounded and dismayed his followers, their affection for him was in no degree shaken. They had not faith enough to solve the mystery of his shameful death, but would not doubt his sincerity. Even when the meek Master sat submissively among the furious mob in the high priest's hall, a look of his gentle countenance recalled the panic-stricken Peter to himself, and changed his blasphemous denials into bitter tears of contrition; and the two disciples that were walking to Emmaus on the third day after He was crucified, notwithstanding their sad perplexity, speak of Him as "a prophet mighty in deed and in word before God and all the people." All his seeming ignominy and abandonment by God could not convince them that He was an impostor; and, therefore, they loved Him still as their Friend and their Lord. Theirs was love triumphing over doubt, rather than faith working by love,—the courage of the heart, enduring while the strength of the mind failed; another proof that, though

faith is greater than reason, and hope an advance beyond faith, charity is highest in the Christian scale. Hence the superiority of the women in constancy to Christ, through trials under which the zeal of apostles fainted. They loved more. This is seen in their pious regard for the lifeless body of the Master, and the rich reward of their fidelity on the morning of his resurrection.

It is usual to speak of the women at the sepulchre of Christ as "The Marys;" but there were among them Salome, the mother of James and John, Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and others, (Luke xxiv. 10.) The Marys were, however, the most prominent in the loving service. There were five of that name among the intimate few of our Lord's choice; Mary, the blessed Virgin-mother of his humanity; Mary, the mother of Mark, whose house was afterwards consecrated by that memorable prayer-meeting of the church, held during the imprisonment of Peter, in answer to which he was delivered by God's angels (Acts xii. 12); Mary the wife of Cleophas or Alpheus, mother of James (the less), Joses, Simon and Judas, (not Iscariot,) the near kinsmen of Jesus; Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, who embalmed her name in eternal fragrance when she poured her costly perfume on her Lord, anointing him for his burial; and Mary of Magdala, "out of whom were cast seven devils." The word Mary among the Hebrews signifies bitterness, and was, doubtless, given first to some child of sorrow; but, as the tree which God showed Moses made the waters of Marah sweet, so the tree of Christ's cross has made this name sweet in the Chris tian's ear, for he remembers the Marys who stood so faithfully near it, and were so highly honoured by the love of Him who was crucified and rose again. The Marys of our narra

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tive were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James (the less) and Joses.

After the blessed Master had "poured out his soul unto death," the eleven, fearful of being recognised as his immediate disciples, and being persons of no influence, shrunk from asking leave to honour the mangled remains; but Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man and a Pharisee, who was a disciple of Jesus, though not avowed, besought Pilate secretly "that the body of Jesus might be given him ;" and being joined by Nicodemus, ("which at the first came to Jesus by night,") also a Pharisee and a man of rank, who "brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes about an hundred pounds' weight," the two "took the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury (John xix. 38—40);" "and laid it in Joseph's own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock, and rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, sitting over against the door of the sepulchre." How long the weeping ones watched there we are not toid, but the next day the chief priests and Pharisees, with the permission of Pilate, "went and made (as they thought) the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone and setting a watch.” (Matt. xxvii. 62-66.)

Dissatisfied with the hurried manner of the burial, the two Marys and the other women, consulting together, determined to attempt a more perfect embalment of the precious body. They "returned (to the city) and prepared spices and ointments, and rested the Sabbath-day according to the commandment," (Luke xxiii. 54—6,) having no doubt appointed to meet (their homes being different) early on the day after. Accordingly, very "early in the morning of the first day of the