THE story of Mary of Magdala is one of very tender interest. Jesus had wrought for her a very wonderful deliverance, casting out the seven demons that possessed her. From that time her devotion to Him was such that she followed Him wherever He went, ministering to Him. She was one of those who watched by His cross and tomb and came early to do honour to His body. In return for her loving devotion Jesus appeared first to her the morning He arose.

But when she saw Him she did not know Him, though her heart was crying out for Him with intense yearning. As she stood talking with the angel she heard a step behind her, and turned, and there Jesus stood. Yet she did not recognize Him, though she loved Him so much, and though her heart was hungering for Him. She was thinking of Him as dead, and she did not know Him when He stood before her alive. Another reason she did not know Him was, that her eyes were so full of tears she could not see Him. Many a time it is the same with us: we need Christ, and our hearts are crying out for Him; yet when He comes to us we do not know Him, and therefore fail to receive comfort from His presence.

There is a picture which represents a mother in deep distress; yet close by her is an angel bending over her to comfort her, his fingers touching at the same time the strings of the harp in his hands. But she is so absorbed in her own grief that she neither sees the angel nor hears his celestial music. So her heart goes uncomforted and still breaking while the comfort is so close at hand. We should look up when we are in sorrow; if we look down only we shall never see the beauties and glories of the face of Jesus, and our hearts shall be uncomforted though He is close beside us.

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