John 20:1-10

1. We are taught that those who love Christ most are those who have received most benefit from Him.
2. We are taught that there are widely different temperaments in different believers.
3. We are taught that there may be much ignorance even in true believers.

"How is it that many, whose faith and grace it would be uncharitable to deny, work so little, give so little, say so little, make so little effort to promote Christ’s cause and bring glory to Christ in the world? These questions have only one answer. It is a low sense of debt and obligation to Christ which is the account of the whole matter."

"Let us love all who love Christ in sincerity and thank God that they love Him at all. The great thing is to love Jesus."

"After all we must remember that true grace, and not head knowledge, is the one thing needed. We are in the hands of a merciful and compassionate Saviour who passes by and pardons much ignorance when He sees a heart right in the sight of God."

Questions:

1. We see that the first person to Jesus' tomb was Mary. Ryle draws from this evidence that Mary had a deep love for Jesus because she felt her need and indebtedness to Him. He asks why many who have faith and grace work so little, give so little say so little, and make so little effort to promote Christianity in the world? The answer is that we, unlike Mary, do not feel our indebtedness to Christ. If this is us, would we make it our daily prayer that we may see the sinfulness of our sin and the amazing grace of Christ more clearly and distinctly?
2. We see two men, John and Peter, who loved Jesus and yet respond differently when arriving at the tomb of Jesus. Ryle draws out from this that although all Christians are planted by one Spirit and love the same Lord yet have different temperaments and characteristics. Are we guilty of judging others because they are different than us, or don't respond the same way we do or feel the way we feel, or vice versa? Would we be charitable toward those who are different from us and cherish the fact that we love Jesus Christ?
3. John humbly testifies that Peter and himself did not yet understand that Jesus had to rise again from the dead. Ryle draws from this that a believer may be ignorant of many things, but it is grace in the heart that matters most. Far from discouraging knowledge, Ryle exhorts us to seek knowledge and be ashamed of ignorance, but most importantly to make sure we have grace and right hearts. As Paul tells us, knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. May this be true of us for God's glory and our joy.