This evangelist, though he began not his gospel as the rest did, yet concludes it as they did, with the history of Christ’ resurrection; not of the thing itself, for none of them describe how he rose, but of the proofs and evidences of it, which demonstrated that he was risen.

There was no one thing of which the apostles were more concerned to produce substantial proof than the resurrection of their Master, 1. Because it was that which he himself appealed to as the last and most cogent proof of his being the Messiah.

St. Mark tells us that Christ appeared first to Mary Magdalene ; that appearance is here largely related; and we may observe, I. The constancy and fervency of Mary Magdalene’s affection to the Lord Jesus, John 20:11. 1.

The infallible proof of Christ’s resurrection was his showing himself alive, Acts 1:3. In these verses, we have an account of his first appearance to the college of the disciples, on the day on which he rose.

We have here an account of another appearance of Christ to his disciples, after his resurrection, when Thomas was now with them. And concerning this we may observe, I.