The Everlasting Word is Christ.
THE Lamb, “fore-ordained before the foundation of the world,” the Word that was “made flesh and dwelt among us.” He Who always dwelt in eternity, the Word, “Who was with God, and Who was God.” He was here on earth, “God made manifest in the flesh.” He was the expression of God’s love upon this earth, the Son of God, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Hark! I hear angelic praises. Listen! “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, goodwill towards men.” They are praising God over Christ, the Son of God, a dependent babe in Mary’s arms. He lived on earth a life of love to sinners; He died upon the Cross, the “Just for the unjust to bring us to God.” He is a Saviour — God. He is from everlasting to everlasting. And the word of Him Who is the everlasting Word is, “Peace unto you.”
Christ has had a tomb prepared for Him.
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus go to the Cross and take down the body of Jesus. I stand beside them and watch their reverent hands. They gently draw the nails from His hands, and feet, and lay the Saviour down. They gaze with tearful eyes upon the dead face of Christ, and I can hear them saying, “Look at the scars made by the crown of thorns upon His brow! See how the nails have pierced His hands and feet! Do you see this spear-wound in His side?” I look upon the body of Christ and I say, “That brow was scarred for me, those hands and feet were pierced for me, His side was riven for my sins. His death gave me life.”
And can the believer ever forget what Christ has done for him? No, as he watches Joseph and Nicodemus carrying the body of the Lord along, every scar, and wound seems to have a voice to say, “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Yes, He has saved the soul from hell, He has, in His infinite love, redeemed us with His own precious blood. Have you accepted His sacrifice on your behalf? If not, why not now?
Joseph and Nicodemus left the body of the Saviour in the tomb, and went away. The last fond offices of love had been performed by them; and they went to their homes to meditate upon all the stupendous realities of that eventful day.
Three days afterward, a woman comes in the darkness, and stands before the tomb of Christ. It is Mary Magdalene. The stone is removed, “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid Him!” Peter and John run to the sepulcher, and John outruns Peter, and, stooping, looks into the tomb. Peter comes, and goes into the tomb, and then John follows. Everything is strange. The napkin is there that had been wrapped about His head, and the linen cloth that was around His body; but He is not there. They gather from the evidence of facts that He has risen. They do not know it from scripture; and with hearts filled with commingling feelings they go unto their own homes. And Mary stands alone, and weeps.
The angels in the sepulcher see her weeping, and they question her: “Woman, why weepest thou?” She says “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.” Thus speaking, she turns around and sees One standing by her Whom she knows not, although He should have been no stranger to her. He speaks to her. His questions are: “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” Her heart is overwhelmed with grief, and she repeats her artless words: “Sir, if Thou hast borne Him hence, tell me where Thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
“Jesus saith unto her, ‘Mary.’ She turned herself, and saith unto Him, ‘Rabboni,’ which is to say, ‘Master.’” How beautiful! Mary — Master. I hear those words now. I see her glad eyes fixed upon the Lord, the light of recognition spreading over her face — like the sun over a clouded sky. Mary — it set all the joy-bells in her heart ringing. Master — she has found her Lord. And I hear that Voice today, and it says, “Sinner!” Jesus speaks. Do you hear? Are you a sinner? Are you conscious of sin? Answer, “Saviour!” The Saviour speaks to the sinner now. He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. You are called now. Will you come to Christ? His peace will be yours, if, by faith in Him, you know Him risen from among the dead. Yes, faith can feel the Saviour nigh — can hear Him saying now, “Peace unto you. Peace unto you.”
The Everlasting Word is Peace.
The Lord’s first word in resurrection is Peace; and why is this? Because He has passed through all the storm, and made peace. “We have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
He passed through the storm of rejection. “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” He passed through the storm of Gethsemane, when His head was bent beneath the fury of the tempest and His voice was heard amid the storm, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” He passed through the storm of the betrayal, when He felt, like the hot breath of the simoon, the foul breath of the traitor as his base lips touched His cheek, and heard the words, “Hail, Master.” The shock of the denial He bore, when, like the thunders crash, the curses of Peter rolled around the Saviour where He stood. It was His to endure, when “all forsook Him and fled,” the storm of the mocking, the deriding, the scourging, the buffeting the spitting, and the crowning. The tempest fury, and darkness of the Cross, when they nailed Him there between two robbers to die. He hung ‘twixt earth and heaven; and above His head what dark clouds gathered! He was there alone in that pitiless storm. Hark! the cry of the lonely One, forsaken by man, forsaken by God. “My God, My God, why halt Thou forsaken Me?” How furious the tempest now! The vials of wrath poured out in the darkness upon His defenseless head. The thunderbolts are crashing down upon Him now. The lightning plays around the Cross — the waves of a sea of wrath come surging higher and higher. He says, “All Thy waves and billows have passed over Me. My feet sink in deep waters where there is no standing.” But, hark! “It is finished.” The storm is over. He is risen now, and the word is peace, “Peace unto you.” “He made peace by the blood of His Cross.” No more storms, but an eternal calm for those who trust in Him for Him, in the desert solitudes of sin, the awful tempest; for us who believe, the “green pastures, and the still waters” of His love. Have you peace? Oh! loving Saviour, risen from among the dead, breathe Thy peace upon every one who believes.
“May the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” [Extract from “The Everlasting Word,” by H. W.]