. The Flowers in the Lord's Garden by J.C. Ryle.

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside." John 20, 3-6.

We are taught in these verses that there are widely different temperaments in different believers. This is a point which is curiously brought out in the conduct of Peter and John, when Mary told them that the Lord's body was gone. We are told that they both ran to the sepulchre. But John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, outran Peter and reached the empty grave first. Then the difference between the two men comes out.

John, of the two more gentle, quiet, tender, reserved, retiring, deep-feeling, stooped down and looked in, but went no further. Peter, more hot and zealous and impulsive and fervent and forward, cannot be content without going down into the sepulchre and actually seeing with his own eyes. Both, we may be sure, were deeply attached to our Lord. The hearts of both, at this critical juncture, were full of hopes, and fears, and anxieties, and expectations all tangled together. Yet each behaves in his own characteristic fashion.

We need not doubt that these things were intentionally written for our learning, Let us learn from the case before us to make allowances for wide varieties in the inward character of believers. To do so will save us much trouble in the journey of life and prevent many an uncharitable thought. Let us not judge brethren harshly and set them down in a low place, because they do not see or feel things exactly as we see and feel, and because things do not affect or strike them just as they affect and strike us.

The flowers in the Lord's garden are not all of one color and one scent, though they are all planted by one Spirit. The subjects of his kingdom are not all exactly of one tone and temperament, though they all love the same Saviour and are written in the same book of life. The church of Christ has some in its ranks who are like Peter, and some who are like John. and a place for all and a work for all to do. 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.