156. A Sad Interior And A Cheery Messenger.

And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. - Mark 16:10.

Mark is graphic: he paints an interior like a Dutch artist.

We see a choice company: "them that had been with him."

We know many of the individuals, and are interested to note what they are doing, and how they bear their bereavement.

We see—

I. A SORROWING ASSEMBLY. "As they mourned and wept."

What a scene! We behold a common mourning, abundantly expressed by tears and lamentations.

They mourned—

1. Because they had believed in Jesus, and loved him; and therefore they were concerned at what had happened.

2. Because they felt their great loss in losing him.

3. Because they had seen his sufferings and death.

4. Because they remembered their ill-conduct towards him.

5. Because their hopes concerning him were disappointed.

6. Because they were utterly bewildered as to what was now to be done, seeing their Leader was gone.

In considering the death of Jesus, there is just cause for mourning.

Let us intelligently mourn for him, since our sins occasioned his woes and death.

II. A CONSOLING MESSENGER. Mary Magdalene came and told them that Jesus had risen, and had appeared unto her.

Concerning this ministry, we note—

1. She was one of themselves. The witnesses to our Lord's resurrection were such as his disciples, and, indeed, all the world, might safely trust. They were not strangers, but individuals well known to those who heard them.

She came with the best of news. She declared that Jesus was indeed risen. The resurrection of our divine Lord—

Removes the cause of our sorrow.

Assures us of the help of a living Redeemer (John 14:19).

Secures our own personal resurrection (1 Cor. 15:23).

Brings us personal justification (Rom. 4:25).

3. She was not believed.

Unbelief is apt to become chronic: they had not believed the Lord when he foretold his own resurrection, and so they do not believe an eyewitness who reported it.

Unbelief is cruelly unjust: they made Mary Magdalene a liar, and yet all of them esteemed her.

III. A REASSURING REFLECTION.

1. We are not the only persons who have mourned an absent Lord.

2. We are not the only messengers who have been rejected.

3. We are sure beyond all doubt of the resurrection of Christ.

The evidence is more abundant than that which testifies to any other great historical event.

The apostles so believed it as to die as witnesses of it.

They were very slow to be convinced, and therefore that which forced them to believe should have the like effect upon the most careful of us.

4. We have thus the most ample reason for joy concerning our Lord. Let us not think too mournfully of our Lord's passion.

Let us not be too mournful about anything, now that we know that we have a living Savior for our Friend.