It was left to Mary to discover the Risen Lord. Having
6. A Woman's DISCOVERY
It was left to Mary to discover the Risen Lord. Having mistaken Him for the gardener, she would have continued in her mistake. But out of love Christ made Himself known to her. 'Jesus saith unto her, Mary."' It was said with an emphasis, and that air of kindness and freedom with which He was wont to speak to her. Now he changed his voice, and spoke like Himself, not like the gardener. Christ's way of making Himself known to His people is by His word; His word applied to their souls, speaking to them in particular.
How readily she received this discovery, when Christ said, "Mary, dost thou not know Me? Are you and I grown such strangers?''? She was presently aware who it was, as the spouse (Cant. ii. 8), "It is the voice of my beloved." "She turned herself, and said, Rabboni—my master." It might properly be read with an interrogation, '"'Rabboni? It is my master? Nay, but is it indeed?'' Observe:
With what liveliness of affection she gives this title to Christ. She turned herself from the angels whom she had in her eye to look unto Jesus. We must take off our regards from all creatures, even the brightest and best, to fix them upon Christ, from whom nothing must divert us, and with whom nothing must interfere. When she thought it had been the gardener, she looked another way when she spoke to Him; but now she knew the voice of Christ she turned herself. The soul that hears Christ's voice, and is turned to Him, calls Him with joy and triumph, "My Master." See with what pleasure those who love Christ speak of His authority over them, '"'My Master; my Great Master."
7. THE DOocTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION
The doctrine of Christ's death and resurrection is at the foundation of Christianity (1 Cor. xv. 1ff.). Remove this foundation and the whole fabric falls; all our hopes for eternity sink at once; and it is by holding this truth firm that Christians are made to stand in a day of trial, and kept faithful to God. It was that alone by which they could hope for salvation (verse 2), for there is no salvation in any other name, '"'no name given under heaven by which we may be saved, but the name of Christ"; and there is no salvation in His name but upon