“MARY stood without at the sepulcher weeping;” and believers still find that their pilgrimage lies through a vale of tears. Anguish of heart now and then is the portion of most, and the causes are many and diversified. If nothing else, a sense of barrenness foam lack of realized fellowship with Jesus is enough to make tenderhearted souls sigh and weep. It was so with Mary. She too continued at the sepulcher, but found no relief from that source; and often with us our tears are increased, instead of dried, because we brood over circumstances, instead of abide on our only ground of strong consolation.
John also, in the Revelation, “wept much.” He had not only the humiliating and suffering experience of banishment to desolate Patmos, but his heart-strings were ready to break, and his eyes flowed with tears, because no man was found worthy to open the book, &c.
What was God’s remedy for these weeping saints? A view of, Christ himself. The knowledge of the crucified risen and exalted Son of God. When Many heard His well-known voice, and saw Him, her tears were all exchanged for joy. She knew Jesus risen, and He told her He was going to ascend to His Father, and hen whole soul was filled with gladness. We read, also, that when Jesus showed His disciples His hands and. His side, and said Peace be unto you, THEN were the disciples glad. When they saw the Lord. When John also, in the Apocalypse, was weeping so much, he was directed to Jesus, the Lion, of the tribe of Judah―the Lamb as it had been slain in the midst of the throne, and when he saw Him, and knew that He had prevailed to open the book, and was so highly exalted, we read no more of the Apostle’s weeping. When lying faint and prostrate at the Lord’s feet, also, in the first chapter, it was an acquaintance with Christ crucified, risen, and forever exalted, that filled his soul with joy and strength.
Now what are we to learn from all this? Is it not to look away from the circumstances of sorrow to Jesus―to seek clearer views of the person and work of Christ and more heartfelt acquaintance with Him? This is a grand secret. It is like taking the tree, and casting it into the waters of Marah, and making the bitter waters sweet. It makes us more than conquerors through Him that loved us. If our sorrows lead us to Jesus, and thus make us know more of His sweetness and perfection, then are they profitable indeed. If outward circumstances are errands to the mercy-seat, then “blest is the billow, and kind the storm.” Oh, the blessedness of thus experimentally knowing Christ, not only as out eternal Redeemer, but our daily, hourly Refuge and sympathizing Friend, who invites us to cast all our care upon. Him, and who has promised with every temptation to make a way of escape, that we may be able to bear it. “Be of good cheer,” says He, “why weep?” “a little while,” and “I will come again.”