Morning “The city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it.” / Revelation 21:23

 Yonder in the better world, the inhabitants are independent of all creature

comforts. They have no need of raiment; their white robes never wear out,

neither shall they ever be defiled. They need no medicine to heal diseases,

“for the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick.” They need no sleep to recruit

their frames–they rest not day nor night, but unweariedly praise him in his

temple. They need no social relationship to minister comfort, and whatever

happiness they may derive from association with their fellows is not essential

to their bliss, for their Lord’s society is enough for their largest desires.

They need no teachers there; they doubtless commune with one another

concerning the things of God, but they do not require this by way of

instruction; they shall all be taught of the Lord. Ours are the alms at the

king’s gate, but they feast at the table itself. Here we lean upon the

friendly arm, but there they lean upon their Beloved and upon him alone. Here

we must have the help of our companions, but there they find all they want in

Christ Jesus. Here we look to the meat which perisheth, and to the raiment

which decays before the moth, but there they find everything in God. We use

the bucket to fetch us water from the well, but there they drink from the

fountain head, and put their lips down to the living water. Here the angels

bring us blessings, but we shall want no messengers from heaven then. They

shall need no Gabriels there to bring their love-notes from God, for there

they shall see him face to face. Oh! what a blessed time shall that be when we

shall have mounted above every second cause and shall rest upon the bare arm

of God! What a glorious hour when God, and not his creatures; the Lord, and

not his works, shall be our daily joy! Our souls shall then have attained the

perfection of bliss.

 

Evening “He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.” /

Mark 16:9

 Mary of Magdala was the victim of a fearful evil. She was possessed by not one

devil only, but seven. These dreadful inmates caused much pain and pollution

to the poor frame in which they had found a lodging. Hers was a hopeless,

horrible case. She could not help herself, neither could any human succour

avail. But Jesus passed that way, and unsought, and probably even resisted by

the poor demoniac, he uttered the word of power, and Mary of Magdala became a

trophy of the healing power of Jesus. All the seven demons left her, left her

never to return, forcibly ejected by the Lord of all. What a blessed

deliverance! What a happy change! From delirium to delight, from despair to

peace, from hell to heaven! Straightway she became a constant follower of

Jesus, catching his every word, following his devious steps, sharing his

toilsome life; and withal she became his generous helper, first among that

band of healed and grateful women who ministered unto him of their substance.

When Jesus was lifted up in crucifixion, Mary remained the sharer of his

shame: we find her first beholding from afar, and then drawing near to the

foot of the cross. She could not die on the cross with Jesus, but she stood as

near it as she could, and when his blessed body was taken down, she watched to

see how and where it was laid. She was the faithful and watchful believer,

last at the sepulchre where Jesus slept, first at the grave whence he arose.

Her holy fidelity made her a favoured beholder of her beloved Rabboni, who

deigned to call her by her name, and to make her his messenger of good news to

the trembling disciples and Peter. Thus grace found her a maniac and made her

a minister, cast out devils and gave her to behold angels, delivered her from

Satan, and united her forever to the Lord Jesus. May I also be such a miracle

of grace!