EVERY distinct “proof” of the resurrection in itself furnishes an equally striking proof of Christ's unchanged and unweakened affection for His own.
The “sword” had indeed smitten Jehovah's Fellow; the sheep had also been scattered; the way was now quite open for as wonderful an exhibition of marvelous grace in the turning of the Lord's hand upon the little ones. Very instructive it is to observe evidences of this latter, as token follows token in due order, each one (had it been at once discerned) being calculated to comfort their sorrowing spirits, and to sustain their wavering faith, as throughout all He was leading them by a way that they knew not.
“The same day at evening, being the first day of the week,” He brought His blood-bought sheep together, so that they were found “assembled,” with the foe shut out and themselves shut in, within those closed doors. The all engrossing and absorbing topic of their conversation at the moment consisted of those proofs of the resurrection already given, when lo,
JESUS HIMSELF STOOD IN THE MIDST OF THEM.
In the sight of all assembled He stands, the great Shepherd of the sheep brought again from the dead through the blood of the everlasting covenant. Listen! He speaks. By His first word spoken He announces the “peace” which He has made and is. He has endured wrath; peace is now theirs, made known to them; perfect, unalterable, unvoidable, unassailable, because its enduring and sure foundation is His own finished work. They behold Him; they have heard His voice. Alas of some we read, “they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit, and He said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts!”
They need a token to re-assure them, and to set them quite at ease in His immediate presence. The one instantly given is remarkably powerful and complete. Luke's version of it, perfectly consistent with His presentation of Jesus in his Gospel as the Son of man, relates to His showing His disciples “His hands and His feet.” What wonders those “hands” had wrought in their sight! How unweariedly those “feet” had trodden the pathway before themselves! Now each displays in the print of the nails man's cruel and murderous hatred of Him, and even more forcibly the Savior's love to sinners. On the other hand John, here as ever presenting Him as Son of God, appears to take correspondingly higher ground than his brother evangelist. He tells us, “He showed unto them His hands and His side.” How abundant the blessings bestowed by those uplifted “hands” now pierced From His “side,” bearing the mark of that sword-thrust, had flowed the blood and the water, witnessing indeed of His own self-sacrificing love, and surely now telling also of their blissful association with Himself the risen Son of God; for by His “side” His fellows shall sit with Himself in glory.
While their eyes earnestly gaze upon His hands, His feet, His side, His own voice re-assures them, and certifies that Jesus Himself now stands in their midst. And when we remember the despiteful and cruel treatment of His own blessed Person which He had so recently endured at the hands of heartless and unfeeling Men, what love, gentleness and meekness shine out in His spoken words— “Handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have”! To these abundant tokens He adds yet one other, for He did even “eat before them,” and all rejoice as each discerns the risen Lord.
“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.” Henceforth, while themselves enjoying the peace of God which passeth all understanding, they shall be His chosen messengers of peace in the world where He was crucified. Himself “the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God,” He next breathes on them, saying, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” But before they actually set upon their glorious mission, He took occasion by the absence and resultant unbelief of Thomas to display once more His tender concern for a loved disciple overtaken in a fault.
JESUS APPEARS A SECOND TIME IN THE MIDST
for the especial benefit of unbelieving Thomas. That all who were present eight days before are now rejoicing in the full assurance of the fact of His glorious resurrection lessens not His loving solicitude for the one then absent, who has since lamentably fallen into the grievous sin of unbelief, and thus allowed the adversary to gain over himself a temporary advantage. We grieve at this evidence of sin abounding; yet far more do we rejoice over that grace which did much more abound, as Thomas, gently yet firmly taken up on the very ground on which he had himself elected to stand, is lovingly invited to convince himself in the manner suggested by his own mind.
In this, our Lord's direct appeal to Thomas before all, becoming dignity of manner and of speech is seen allied with perfect condescension: how wise an administration of a well-timed rebuke! While the tender love expressed in the same made the brief yet earnest remonstrance which follows the rebuke all the more powerful.
His former unbelief all dispelled, the heart of Thomas is now so exclusively occupied with the Lord Who so completely restored his soul, that, as if unconscious that present with him at that moment are many other true worshippers, with ecstatic joy he exclaims, “My Lord and my God” “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed.”
(To be continued D.V.)