Each distinct truth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and His work has its peculiar blessing for the Church of God. It is by rightly dividing the truth that the servant of God shows himself approved to God-" a workman that needeth not to be ashamed." In the path of humiliation of Him who was rich, yet for our sakes became poor: " who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, humbled Himself, and ''became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross; " we can step by step follow Him with adoring hearts. His glory with the Father before the world was-His power and Godhead displayed in creation-His essential glory, as Son of God-all these are ever present to the believer. These truths are as much seen by faith, in Jesus, when on the cross as when on the holy mount. Again, "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." How does the Spirit by the apostle make this special truth the groundwork of blessing to us (see Heb. 2:14)! So His life (Heb. 2:17; 4:15). We may say that there are stages in the path of Jesus, from glory back to glory, where the Spirit of God bids us tarry and refresh our souls, and magnify His name. Do we not well know how the varied incidents in His life-His many acts of grace and love-carry to the soul the very sense of blessing which was enjoyed so abundantly at the time. His name is as ointment poured forth; He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth His fruit in His season. How thoroughly estranged from Him must the heart be, that could use any part of His humiliation to His dishonor (yet this is Satan's way,
and man's too), when every step downwards to the last, that of the grave, is the wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name.
The resurrection of Christ is a fact full of special instruction and blessing. The effect on the hearts of the disciples is thus expressed by Peter -" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." The poor disciples had, by the cross and burial, been cast into gloom and despondency. The Lord had graciously forewarned them of all that would happen to Him: but their faith gave way; circumstances had shrouded their souls, and they forgot the words which would have been to them a lamp for their feet; but the resurrection to them was the renewal of all: their peace, their joy, their hopes revived when Jesus rose from the dead. " Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord." It became the burden of their testimony. To us it is the truth that puts us into a place beyond condemnation—one of new life, associated with Him, raised up together with Him who was delivered for our offenses, raised again for our justification. In His resurrection we have the pattern of our own: Christ the first-fruits, afterward they that are His at His coming. In speaking to the Jews the Apostle could say (Acts 13:32, 33)-" And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He hath raised up Jesus again; as it is written, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten Thee." But it is more especially in the testimony that is borne to the person of the Lord Jesus that I would refer. Faith does pierce the veil that thickens in every step of humiliation which He voluntarily took; and it has been the object of the Spirit of God to strengthen our souls against every assault of the enemy. Was He born of a woman? "That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Was He tempted of the devil? "He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin." Did He eat with publicans and sinners? "He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners."
He knew no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth." For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son who is consecrated for evermore. When He died, was it as one subject to death? " Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." Did He lie in the silent tomb? " He whom God raised from the dead saw no corruption." It was not possible that the Holy One should see corruption. How needful it is that in contemplating the wondrous grace of Him who voluntarily underwent all this—who thus made Himself of no reputation-that we should have our hearts filled with God's estimate of it all. A proper knowledge of the love that led our blessed Lord into the ignominious death of the cross-into the sepulcher- would have led His disciples to adore and worship their Lord and Master still the more, instead of into that despair, when they said, "We trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel." It is instructive to see how both the apostles Peter and Paul use the resurrection in maintaining the glory of the Lord Jesus, and both instance the death and burial of David in contrast (Acts 2:29).
"Men and Brethren, let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he, seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ; that His soul was not left in hell, neither did his flesh see corruption." And Acts 13:36,37, " For David, after he had served his generation, by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption; but He whom God raised from the dead saw no corruption." And the verse following skews the value of this to us. " Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins," etc. Great is the mystery of godliness.-God was manifested in the flesh.
The primary object of the Word is to glorify Chris and the abounding wisdom of God for our souls is thus displayed in the light which shines around every part of the Redeemer's work. We are lost nowhere.
If, like the disciples, led by the darkness of circumstances we get off the word, we mourn where we ought to rejoice, we dishonor Him when we ought to exalt Him. Nothing can be more precious than the way in which the Spirit of God contrasts the person of the Son with David, in circumstances so truly the same.
David, a saved sinner, the victim of death-bound in the grave—still remains its captive-every way subject to its power till the trumpet sounds.
But Jesus, the Savior, goes into the grave, not its subject (it was not possible-that He should be holden of it), but to spoil it. It contained, in Him, one who defied all its powers, either to hold or to corrupt; hence, what to us is of all value, through this man is preached to us the forgiveness of sins.
We can repose in One, who all through his humiliation was never triumphed over, never the vanquished, but always more than conqueror.
Thus is Jesus ever set before us in the Word, and faith thus proves Him the Rock against which the gates of hell cannot prevail.
The Word having glorified Jesus, feeds the Church. It is strength to the soul, because it honors Him. Did the scriptures falter in speaking of Him, our souls would tremble too. In whom we have redemption through his blood. When David undertook to go up against Goliath, Israel might look on with trembling hearts, when they saw the ruddy youth standing before him who had been a man of war from his youth. But when they saw the monster fall, and David standing upon him, confidence and strength would return to every man's heart, and give energy to the song—" Saul hath slain his thousands, David his tens of thousands!" Such is the confidence of our souls in Him in whom we have believed
'Tis this that nerves us to contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints. 'Tis not difficult to see what will be needed for the coming struggle. "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" When Joseph spake words of peace to his brethren, he took them to God's goodness, in sending him before them to Egypt. So there are times when the Lord carries our hearts away from our sins to His overruling mercy; and notwithstanding our folly and guilt, in contending about and dishonoring our Lord, we have learned more of Him, we have been driven to our hiding-place, and our souls have realized its security and strength more than ever. We have learned more of Him, and we can tell more of Him than heretofore. "Thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ"!
We may well understand how the resurrection was to the disciples a being begotten again to a lively hope. It restored Him whom they loved, in whom they trusted, and whom they served. Their souls breathed afresh, winter passed away, and every energy, affection, and hope reappeared. While, then, it had such blessed fruit in them, let us remember that it was because they found Him unharmed either by death or the grave; nay, that He had proved Himself the spoiler and vanquisher of both. "O Death, where is thy sting, O Grave, where is thy victory!"
M.