by his experience of dying. The
love of his heart lived on through death, and reappeared during the
forty days in undiminished gentleness and kindness. He did not meet
his old friends as strangers, but as one who had been away for a few
days, and had come again.

The first of his friends to whom he showed himself after he arose was
Mary Magdalene. Her story is pathetic in its interest. The traditions
of the centuries have blotted her name, but there is not the slightest
evidence in the New Testament that she was ever a woman of blemished
character. There is no reason whatever for identifying her with the
woman that was a sinner, who came to Jesus in Simon's house. All that
is said of Mary's former condition is that she was possessed of seven
demons, and that Jesus freed her from this terrible bondage. In
gratitude for this unspeakable deliverance Mary followed Jesus, leaving
her home, and going with him until the day of his death. She was one
of several women friends who accompanied him and ministered to him of
their substance.

Mary's devotion to Jesus was wonderful. When the tomb was closed she
was one of the watchers who lingered, loath to leave it. Then, at the
dawn of the first day morning she was again one of those who hurried
through the darkness to the tomb, with spices for the anointing of the
body--last at his cross, and earliest at his tomb. Mary's devotion was
rewarded; for to her first of all his friends did Jesus appear, as she
stood weeping by the empty grave. She did not recognize him at once.
She was not expecting to see him risen. Then, her eyes were blinded
with her tears. But the moment he spoke her name, "Mary," she knew
him, and answered, "Rabboni." He was not changed to her. He had not
forgotten her. The love in his heart had lost none of its tenderness.
He was as accessible as ever. Dying had made him no less a friend, and
no less sympathetic, than he was before he died.

Soon after Mary had met Jesus, and rejoiced to find him her friend just
as of old, he appeared to the other women of the company who had
followed him with their grateful ministries. They also knew him, and
he knew them; and their hearts suffered no wrench at the meeting, for
they found the same sweet friendship they thought they had lost, just
as warm and tender as ever.

That same day Jesus appeared to Peter. A veil is drawn by the
evangelists over the circumstances of this meeting. The friendship of
J