Me.' But have not Pilate and the
Jews taken it away? I shall never lean upon His bosom again. But this I
know--He loved me, and I loved Him, and love Him still. The mysteries
are great, but the memories of Him will be exceedingly precious
forever."

[Illustration: JESUS APPEARING TO MARY MAGDALENE (Easter Morning)
_B. Plockhorst_ Page 209]

Poor John. He forgot those other words of His Lord concerning His
life,--"I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again."
The Lord had done the one already: He was soon to do the other, though
His sorrowing disciple understood it not. Meanwhile we leave him,
resting if possible from the weariness of the garden and the palace and
Calvary, during that Friday night, which was to be followed by a day of
continued sadness, and that by another night of sorrowful restlessness.

_CHAPTER XXVIII_

_John at the Tomb_

"Now on the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early,
while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken
away from the tomb. She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon
Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved.

"Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went
toward the tomb.

"Simon Peter ... entered into the tomb.

"Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, ... and he saw
and believed."--_John_ xx. 1, 2, 3, 6, 8.

"Let us take John for our instructor in the swiftness of love, and
Peter for our teacher in courage."--_Stalker_.

"Oh, sacred day, sublimest day!
Oh, mystery unheard!
Death's hosts that claimed Him as their prey
He scattered with a word;
And from the tomb He valiant came;
And ever blessed be His name."
--_Kingo. Trans. Hymns of Denmark_.

"Mine eye hath found that sepulchral rock
That was the casket of Heav'n's richest store."
--_Milton_.--_The Passion_.

Of the women who visited the tomb of Jesus on the morning of the
Resurrection, John was especially interested in Mary Magdalene, from
whom seven demons had gone out, probably in his presence; thus giving
him opportunity to see the marvelous change from a most abject
condition, to grateful devotion to her Healer, perhaps beyond that of
any other one whom He healed. John long remembered her starting on her
errand "while it