NOTHING can be more unquestionable than that the desires of the renewed mind are always tending to one object―the Lord Jesus Christ Himself―and that no other object can give rest or satisfaction to it. It is evident, in reading the gospels―that of John, for instance―that one thing the blessed Lord was doing was separating to Himself a remnant, drawing hearts to Himself. (12:32.) The Father’s grace it was that worked this, as it is said in 6:44; but the object of the heart thus wrought in is Christ Himself. It is no matter what they were, God gives no account of why He drew them. Who dares challenge Him? If He took the worst, what then? or the most amiable? or some of every sort? He does as He pleases. But I was looking at chap. 20. of this gospel in particular; and the first thing that struck me was, that the Lord, while always near to His own, and verily manifesting Himself, as He has promised to do, not only to the two or three gathered in His name, but to the individual, wherever found (see 14:21, 23), does not always manifest Himself in the same manner or form. (See Mark 16:1212After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. (Mark 16:12)) And this is exceedingly interesting and encouraging too. I could go back to the Old Testament for instances. The Lord appeared to Abraham in the plains of Mamre. (Gen. 18) How? Three men stood by him. Again, there wrestled a man with Jacob until the breaking of the day. (Gen. 32) Who is this? Let the patriarch answer. “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” It is the same as was afterward known as Jesus, Immanuel, God with us. Look again at Ex. 3. How does He appear to Moses? From whence does He speak to him? From the midst of a bush that burned with fine, and yet was not consumed. Holy ground indeed it was, and the servant feared to look. The God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, was there, come down to the desert to deliver. Blessed be His name! The fiery bush is there. His people’s sorrows, sufferings, and oppressions, are not disregarded by Him. They are the very things that brought Him down; but not to linger here. No sooner are they delivered, and on their march, than a fiery, cloudy pillar becomes His traveling chariot, and He leads the people through the wilderness. Past the Jordan the Captain of Jehovah’s host appears, His sword drawn in His hand, to be a leader and commander to the people. Joshua is only a servant here. He bows and worships. Again, in after days, when Gideon threshes wheat, or Manoah and his wife are in the field (and these were days of terrible pressure from the adversaries), He whose name is Secret, Wonderful, stands by the exercised and trembling ones, and fills their souls with hope and comfort. “Peace be unto thee: thou shalt not die,” He says to Gideon. (Judg. 6) In the flame of the altar He ascends from Manoah and his wife, and though they see Him no more with the bodily eye, they are not consumed, as the man had feared.
Wondrous manifestations these! but all revealing Him whose delights were with the sons of men, as far as He was pleased then to reveal Himself. He always chose to whom He would make Himself known. It was unexpected by them often, it may be, but always at a time and in a manner suited to their condition and their circumstances. Here (John 20) Magdalene is early. She is seeking One whom she had known as an almighty Friend; One who had delivered her from an awful thralldom. Where is He? Gone from her sight. She had seen Him on the cross―had stood beneath it. He had died; the tomb had received His sacred body. ‘Twas the last she knew of Him, and yet it was Him she sought. She could not do without Jesus. “They have taken away the Lord,” she says to disciples. “They have taken away my Lord,” she says to angels. Her heart was full of Him. Happy they with whom it is so. She does not enter into His thoughts; she weeps because she has Him not; she knows not where He is. He is a dead Christ still for her. “I know not where they have laid Him.” Oh, what a form was His in her memory! “His visage was so marred more than any man’s; His form more than the sons of men.” She thought of Him as He was. My Lord, she says. And the angels show an interest in her. “Why weepest thou?” they say. I do not real that disciples asked her this. Perhaps they did not see her tears. But angels did; and Jesus did―the Lord of angels. “Woman, why weepest thou?” He said; and adds another question too, which they did not: “Whom seekest thou?” “Oh, what a question for hearts now! Whom seekest thou? He knew hers. She knew not who spoke to her; but she lets her heart out; and He, blessed be His name, shows His. “Mary.” Ah! the sheep at once knew His voice. How swift the response, “Rabboni.” Ah! He was Master of everything in her. The Shepherd of the sheep was near. Not to be touched indeed; but the same Jesus; the same yesterday, today, and forever. The risen One, the Lord of all; and what a message He gives her How she speeds away with it! She had seen the Lord, and He had spoken to her. The friend of sinners was alive again―alive for evermore! At evening the disciples are together. Jesus comes. Closed doors cannot shut Mm out. He brings them peace. “Peace be unto you.” A suited word for trembling, fearful hearts. “He showed them His hands and His side.” Oh, what a vision! what a sight for them! Well they might be glad―glad when they saw the Lord! Oh! who could know Him as they had known Him, and not be glad? Again He says, “Peace be unto you.” He breathes upon them, and gives them the Holy Ghost. Most precious gift from a risen Lord! Life they had before; the quickening Spirit had imparted it; they had been born again; but now He gives them life more abundantly. They are sent ones. Power they would have to wait for somewhat longer; but abundant life, and peace, and gladness, now they had with His return to them in resurrection. The risen Lord gave this abundant life, and peace, and gladness. The ascended Lord would give them power! But here is blessedness. I dwell not on the whole scene. Who can write about it as he ought? The Holy Ghost can make it precious to the saints―does make it precious. May He fill the heart with joy and peace in believing; fill it with Jesus the Lord; and may the last words be words of life. “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.” The Lord give His dear people everywhere to teste the sweetness of His name, to know the virtue of His name, more abundantly; and may the power of His name be known in many lands, in many hearts, as salvation, life eternal, as it will be to all who by His grace believe.