Love to Christ will always be well-rewarded Pastor's Letter from W.J. Seaton

Nov / Dec 2001

Dear Friends,

There are no more sublime scenes on the pages of the Word of God than those recorded for us in the twentieth chapter of John's Gospel, where we read about Mary Magdalene coming to Christ's sepulchre - early in the morning, while it was still dark. Mary discovered that the sepulchre was empty, and so, she ran to tell Peter and John what she had seen. The two disciples go to see for themselves if this is the case, and Mary also returned with them. When Peter and John have examined the empty tomb, they "went away again unto their own home" we're told, "BUT Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping;" and so, the scenes that follow. Mary eventually stoops down and looks into the sepulchre, and is addressed by two angels, who ask her why she is weeping. "Because they have taken away my Lord," she tells them, "and I know not where they have laid him." And in those plaintive words it is so easy to read a heart that was full of love for the Saviour who had saved her from her sins. When Christ Himself then appears to Mary,and asks her the same question, you can then see why our Lord used the case of Mary Magdalene to set forth the great gospel fact, that "he that is forgiven much, the same loveth much."

Mary, of course, at that point, didn't know that it was the Lord that was speaking to her - she thought He was the gardener; but her reply speaks volumes. "Sir," she says, "if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away." Just how Mary Magdalene thought she was going to do that, who can say. She was speaking about a full-grown man, whose body had been dressed with pounds and pounds of myrrh and aloes, and wound in linen clothes, with spices. (ch. 19:39) Just how Mary envisaged taking away the body of the Lord, who can say? But it was love that was speaking, and when Christ then makes Himself known to her, it is love that speaks all over again. "Jesus saith unto her, Mary." Just one word; but, "He calleth his own sheep by name," and Mary responds - "Rabboni; which is to say, Master."

In the words of Bishop Ryle, "of all our Lord's followers on earth, none seem to have loved Him so much as Mary Magdalene. None felt that they owed so much to Christ." And then, quoting some words from another Bishop of another day, Bishop Andrews - "She was last at His cross, and first at His grave. She stayed longest there (His cross) and was soonest here (His grave). She could not rest till she was up to seek Him. She sought Him while is was dark, even before she had light to see Him by." Or, in some other words, where Mary is contrasted with the other two disciples, Peter and John: "UNTO the grave she came before them; FROM the grave she came to tell them; BACK to the grave she came with them; and AT the grave she remained behind them."

Love to Christ will always be well-rewarded in the soul, and Mary's love was well-rewarded an hundred-fold as she was brought to see the Risen Saviour. May we learn from her example.

Sincerely,
W.J. Seaton.