Observe the Circumstances
thee: to comfort them that are in distress, my poor brethren and disciples. And therefore 'go to my brethren, and say unto them.' So that Christ prefers a work of charity to his poor disciples before a work of compliment to his own person. She clingeth about him; but 'this is not it I would have.' Those poor souls are mourning and disconsolate for me, as if I were clean taken away; go to them, and prevent their farther sorrow.
God hath a wonderful respect to others. It is strange that Christ should say, 'Go and be reconciled to thy brethren, and then offer thy sacrifice,' Mat. 5:24. As if he would have his own sacrifice neglected, rather than we should not be reconciled to others. And so a work of charity and love is preferred before an officium and compliment to himself. Let us shew our love to the first table in the second, our love to God by our love to man. Everything hath its measure and time.
Away therefore with this over-much embracing and touching. Go thy way, thou hast another work to do: 'Go to my brethren.' And so you see, as I take it, the full meaning of the words.
Observe the Circumstances Observe the circumstances. Who must go? Here is a commission and command. And to whom? To the disciples of Christ. And when doth
Christ bid her go? When he was risen, and in the first estate of glory.
What is the message? 'Tell my brethren I am ascending to my Father, and your Father; to my God, and your God.' It is worth your considering a little.
1. Who is sent? A woman. A woman to be the apostle of apostles, to be the teacher of the great teachers in the world. Mary Magdalene was sent to instruct the apostles in the great articles of Christ's resurrection and ascension to heaven. By a woman death came into the world, and by a woman life was preached to the apostles; because indeed she was more affectionate, and affection taketh all. And that makes that sex more addicted to religion, by the advantage of their