Charles Spurgeon Commentary Mark 16

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

We know that "him" whose name is not given here. There is scarcely need to mention that it was Jesus whom the women came to anoint.

Oh, how gladly would we also anoint "him" whose name is The Anointed One! But not as a dead Christ, for He is risen.

Our sweet spices must from now on be for that living One whom we anoint with our living joy and consecration; or, rather, we must receive our anointing from him, for he is the Christ, and we Christians derive our very name and life from him.

As he was supposed to be dead and still lying in the tomb, these holy women came to anoint him.

And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came to the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.

We often lose a great blessing by not rising early for devotion.

While the flowers are still wet with dew, it would be well if our souls had the dew of heaven resting upon them.

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

True love had made a mistake; but it was true love for all that, and the Lord accepted it, although he had no need of the sweet spices that the women brought.

And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came to the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.

Their love made them prompt. Their affection was about to attempt a needless, and, indeed, impossible thing; yet I do not doubt that it was acceptable before God.

Oh, that we had such love that even the dead body of the Christ would be so dear to us that we should be ready at great expense to anoint it! I fear that, nowadays, even his living Word is not valued as it should be. How few, therefore, should we be likely to find who would have cared for his dead body! These holy women had had cause enough to love their Lord, and they showed that their hearts were full of affection for him even after he had been taken from them.

And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.

There had already been another rising of the sun that morning, for the Sun of righteousness had risen; and, with his rising, our hopes had risen, and eternal life had come to light. These holy women proved their affection to their Lord by being there so early.

Love will not wait; it delights to render its service as speedily as it can: They came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.