only the words "He is not here," the truth of which had been so
forcefully impressed by her own hasty glance at the open and tenantless
tomb. "Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other
disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away
the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid
him."

Peter, and "that other disciple" who, doubtless, was John, set forth in
haste, running together toward the sepulchre. John outran his companion,
and on reaching the tomb stooped to look in, and so caught a glimpse of
the linen cerements lying on the floor; but the bold and impetuous Peter
rushed into the sepulchre, and was followed by the younger apostle. The
two observed the linen grave-clothes, and lying by itself, the napkin
that had been placed about the head of the corpse. John frankly affirms
that having seen these things, he believed, and explains in behalf of
himself and his fellow apostles, "For as yet they knew not the
scripture, that he must rise again from the dead."[1357]

The sorrowful Magdalene had followed the two apostles back to the garden
of the burial. No thought of the Lord's restoration to life appears to
have found place in her griefstricken heart; she knew only that the body
of her beloved Master had disappeared. While Peter and John were within
the sepulchre, she had stood without, weeping. After the men had left
she stooped and looked into the rock-hewn cavern. There she saw two
personages, angels in white; one sat "at the head, and the other at the
feet, where the body of Jesus had lain." In accents of tenderness they
asked of her: "Woman, why weepest thou?" In reply she could but voice
anew her overwhelming sorrow: "Because they have taken away my Lord, and
I know not where they have laid him." The absence of the body, which she
thought to be all that was left on earth of Him whom she loved so
deeply, was a personal bereavement. There is a volume of pathos and
affection in her words, "They have taken away my Lord."

Turning from the vault, which, though at that moment illumined by
angelic presence, was to her void and desolate, she became aware of
another Personage, standing near. She heard His sympathizing inquiry:
"Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?" Scarcely lifting her
tearful countenance to look at the Questioner, but vaguely supposing
that He was the caretaker of the garden, and that He might have
knowledge of what had been done wi