Mark 16:1-8 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices… I. A STRIKING EXAMPLE OF CONSTANT LOVE. It is usual to regard man as typifying strength and courage, and woman as typifying love and tenderness. But often those who typify love and tenderness prove stronger and more courageous in the sense of clinging constancy than those who claim to have a monopoly of the robuster qualities. It was certainly so here. II. LOVE ACTS PROMPTLY. Here love had imposed a task upon itself, and, true to its nature, sought the earliest opportunity for discharging it. These women could not have entered earlier upon this business. 1. Promptness to perform an act of kindness. 2. Loving service rendered in relation to one from whom there was no prospect of a return. III. LOVE IS OBLIVIOUS TO OBSTACLES. It forms its plans, marks its course, regards ardently its object, but takes no account of the stones, great or small, that may be in its way. Well for the world that love is thus characteristically blind to hindrances; ninety-nine out of every hundred efforts made for its welfare have been the achievements of men who have been gloriously oblivious of the stones. Carey: Livingstone. IV. LOVE NEVER RETREATS. Ever accompanied by faith and hope, it dares to pursue its course whatever the difficulties may appear. V. GOD HAS ANGELS OVER AGAINST THE STONES THAT MAY BE IN THE PATHWAY OF LOVE. Men are never so angel-like as when engaged in removing hindrances out of the way of those who seek to serve God. (A. J. Parry.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. |
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