A Paraphrase on the New Testament, John · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
THe firſt day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early when it was yet datk, unto the Sepulchre, and ſeeth the ſtone taken away from the Sepulchre.
1. Mary and other Women firſt ſee it.
2. Then ſhe runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other Diſciple whom Jeſus loved, and ſaith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the Sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3. Peter therefore went forth, and that other Diſciple, and came to the Sepulcre. 4. So they ran both together: and the other Diſciple did outrun Peter, and came firſt to the Sepulchre. 5. And he ſtouping down and looking in, ſaw the linen cloths lying; yet went he not in. 6. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the Sepulchre, and ſeeth the linen clothes lye; 7. And the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the Linnen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by it ſelf. 8. Then went in alſo that other Diſciple which came firſt to the Sepulchre, and he ſaw, and believed.
2, 3,&c. Peter and John moved by Marys words, went and ſaw, &c.
9. For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he muſt riſe again from the dead.
9. Though the Scripture (and Chriſt himſelf often) foretold them his Reſurrection, they yet believed it not.
10. Then the Diſciples went away again unto their own home. 11. But Mary ſtood without at the Sepulchre, weeping: and as ſhee wept, ſhe ſtouped down and looked into the Sepulchre. 12. And ſeeth two Angels in white, ſitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jeſus had layen: 13. And they ſay unto her, Woman, why weepeſt thou? She ſaith unto them, Becauſe they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
10, 11, &c. Though ſome Evangeliſts mentioned but one Angel, that denieth not that there were two, which is here affirmed.
14. And when ſhe had thus ſaid, ſhe turned her ſelf back, and ſaw Jeſus ſtanding, and knew not that it was Jeſus. 15. Jeſus ſaith unto her, Woman, why weepeſt thou? whom ſeekeſt thou? ſhe ſuppoſing him to be the Gardener, ſaith unto him, Sir, if thou have born him hence, tell me where thou haſt laid him, and I will take him away. 16. Jeſus ſaith, unto her, Mary. She turned her ſelf, and ſaith unto him, Rabboni, which is to ſay, Maſter.
14. Not, Whether her not knowing him was not by reaſon of diſtance, darkneſs, or Chriſts not appearing in full notoriety, is uncertain. Secondly, Chriſts firſt words are of Compaſſion to a weeping Sinner that loved him. Thirdly, Its eaſy to think with what paſſionate Joy this ſight and word ſurprized her.
17. Jeſus ſaith unto her, Touch me not: for I am not yet aſcended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and ſay unto them, I aſcend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.
17. I am not riſen for ſuch familiar Conduct and Converſe as I had with you before my Reſurrection, but muſt Aſcend to my Father where my Body ſhall be a Glorified ſpiritual body. And though I will allow you as much familiarity as ſhall convince you of my Reſurrection, yet no more, nor ſuch as formerly. But go to my Diſciples, and tell them, I take them as my Brethren, and am ſhortly to Aſcend where I ſhall be better to them than on Earth, even to him, that is my Father (by Nature and Merit) and their Father, (by adopting, Grace and Union with me through my Merit) to my God (as I am Mediator and Man) and their God (through my Mediation.)
Note, All true believers ſhould labour to get this moſt Comfortable text deeply imprinted on their Minds, and never think of God or come to him but as here deſcribed; My Father and your Father, My God and your God. And thus only to think of Heaven, and our change at Death, we are Aſcending to our aſcended Saviour called our Brother, and to his Father and our Father, to his God and our God.
Note, That there ſeemeth a great difference between the Evangeliſts in deſcribing theſe paſſages and appearances to the Women and Apoſtles: But it is but becauſe one leaveth out what another mentioneth but not that they contradict each other. And if you you take them altogether as one Hiſtory, the order ſeemeth to be this, Firſt, Mary Magdalen, Johanna Mary of James, and Sallome, having bought Spices, and going to Embalm the Body, ſaid who will roll away the Stone for us. Secondly, When they come they found that the Stone was rolled away; for an Angel had done it, and with his appearing and Earthquake affrighted away the Soldiers. Thirdly, That Angel with another ſaith to the Women fear not, I know you ſeek Jeſus that was was Crucified: why ſeek ye the living among the dead; he is not here, he is Riſen, Come, ſee the place, &c. 4. Then the Women run and tell the Diſciples, They have taken away the Lord we know not where they have laid him. 5. Then Peter and John run to ſee: 6. Mary being come back ſtood weeping at the Enterance and looked back and ſaw two Angels, as John reciteth it. 7. Then Mary looked back and ſaw Chriſt, and at firſt knew him not, and he ſpake to her as here. 8. Then ſhe runs and tells the Diſciples, that ſhe had ſeen the Lord: 9. Either then or when ſhe was gone Jeſus met the reſt of the Women, and ſaid to them All hail, and they laid hold on his Feet and worſhipped him; and he ſaid fear not, Go tell my brethen &c.
Or perhaps we may make it ſhorter. As, 1. The Stone rolled away and the keeper affrighted away. 2. Mary and the other women comes and find it ſo. 3. They go in and miſs the body. 4. Many runs and tells Peter and John. 5. They run to ſee. 6. The women Staying ſee firſt one Angel on the Stone on the right ſide and then two, one at the head and one at the feet of the place. 7. Theſe Angels ſay all that is mentioned, to Mary and the reſt. 8. Mary ſeeth Jeſus and ſo do the reſt, who holding him by the feet he reſtraineth further corporal contract, and ſpeaketh to Mary and the reſt all that is mentioned. 9. Then ſhe and they tell the Diſciples that they had ſeen him, and what he ſaid. This ſeemeth the order of all togegether.
18. Mary Magdalene came and told the Diſciples, that ſhe had ſeen the Lord, and that he had ſpoken theſe things unto her. 19. Then the ſame day at evening, being the firſt day of the week, when the doors were ſhut, where the Diſciples were aſſembled for fear of the Jews, came Jeſus and ſtood in the midſt, and ſaith unto them, Peace be unto you.
18, 19. Note, Chriſt roſe and firſt appeared on the firſt day of the week, If any ſhould queſtion it by cavilling at the Text as doubtful; the practice of the Univerſal Church, ever ſince obſerving that day without any Contradicting Party, proveth it paſt doubt to all that uſe ſober reaſon in the caſe. 2. Chriſt owned their private meeting, not reproving the Cautelous fears of Perſecutors. 3. The firſt word that he ſpake to them together (or after his words to Mary) was [peace be unto you] (Little underſtood by many Churchmen.)
20. And when he had ſo ſaid, he ſheweth unto them his hands and his ſide. Then were the Diſciples glad when they ſaw the Lord.
20. Several appearances are paſt by becauſe mentioned by others.
21. Then ſaid Jeſus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath ſent me, even ſo ſend I you. 22. And when he had ſaid this, he breathed on them, and ſaith unto them, Receive ye the holy Ghoſt. 23. Whoſe ſoever ſins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whoſoever ſins ye retain, they are retained.
21, 22, &c. Peace is the ſum of my Gift and Benediction to you, and the ſum of your duty to others; as my Father ſent me into the World to Gather, Guide and ſave his Church as their Head and Mediator, ſo I ſend you to Gather, Guide and Save the Church as my Apoſtles: And breathing on them he ſaid, As my Father ſent me not with a bare Title unfurniſhed for his work, but filled with the Spirit of Life and Power, of Light and Wiſdom, of Love and Goodneſs, ſo I will give you the ſame Holy Spirit, and ſend you furniſhed with Power, Knowledge and Love, (and not with meer names and Titles as Images): I give you Power to Preach the Goſpel ſo effectually as ſhall open mens Eyes, and turn them from Darkneſs to Light, and from the Power of Satan unto God, that they may receive really from God, and by Sacramental inveſtiture in Baptiſm, from your Remiſſion of Sins, and right to the inheritance among the Sanctified by Faith in me: To be the Guids of my Church entruſted with Witneſſing and Recording my Doctrine, Laws and Promiſes for their Government to the end of the World; And with the Keys of Church order, as authorized Judges in your ſeveral charges, who is capable of Church Communion, to be received by Baptiſm, reſtored by Repentance, or as uncapable Apoſtates caſt out: Together with an extraordinary Power, to inflict or to remit bodily Puniſhment by my rule; not at your pleaſure, but as it ſhall pleaſe the Holy Ghoſt, which he ſhall give you. And I do breath on you to communicate now ſome beginnings of that Spirit which I will ſend down on you after my Aſcenſion; And ſo ſignifie to you that it is a real Qualification and Spirituall that I will give, (as God when he made Man breathed into him a living Soul) that you deceive not your ſelves and the Church by dead Imaginary and Powerleſs names: The witneſs of Jeſus is the Spirit of Propheſie, And of Sanctification. And if any man have not the Spirit of Chriſt, he is none of his, by what name or Title ſoever he be dignified.
24. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jeſus came. 25. The other Diſciples therefore ſaid unto him, We have ſeen the Lord. But he ſaid unto them, Except I ſhall ſee in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thruſt my hand into his ſide, I will not believe.
24. Note, All Chriſts Diſciples were not equally inclined to believe. 2. This obſtinate Reſolution deſerved a deſertion yet Chriſt in mercy overcame it and forſook him not.
26. And after eight days, again his Diſciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jeſus, the doors being ſhut, and ſtood in the midſt, and ſaid, Peace be unto you.
26. The next firſt day of that week, they being aſſembled, &c. Note. Coming in when the doors were faſt ſhut whether he opened them (as ſome groundleſly think) or not, was a Miracle, he whoſe Body was quickly to be a Glorious Spiritual body when it came to that Glorious ſpiritual Region no doubt had after his Reſurection a change preparatory thereto, by which he could appear and diſappear and vaniſh from their ſight, and come in when the door was ſhut, and at laſt aſcend to heaven: And the Carnal objections againſt this are all vain.
27. Then ſaith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thruſt it into my ſide: and be not faithleſs, but believing.
27. Note, Wonderful is the Condeſcenſion of Chriſt to thoſe that he will ſave.
28. And Thomas anſwered and ſaid unto him, My Lord and my God.
28. Note, The convincing condeſcenſion of Chriſt turns unbelief into a Rapture of adoration: Now Thomas cryeth My Lord and my God.
29. Jeſus ſaith unto him, Thomas, becauſe thou haſt ſeen me, thou haſt believed: bleſſed are they that have not ſeen, and yet have believed.
29. I have condeſcended to thy ſight and feeling: But this ſhall be the common way to bleſſedneſs, but they that have not ſeen ſhall believe and ſo be happy.
30. And many other ſigns truly did Jeſus in the preſence of his Diſciples, which are not written in this book. 31. But theſe are written, that ye might believe that Jeſus is the Chriſt the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name.
30, 31. Theſe and many more not recited he did: And it being by believing that Chriſt is the Son of God, and Saviour that you muſt come to life, and by the evidence of theſe Miracles that you muſt believe that he is the Chriſt, therefore theſe Miracles are Recorded to convince you that you may believe.