AN EASTER MEDITATION

In plain and simple words the Evangelist Mark speaks to us of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He Who was nailed to the cursed cross on Calvary died for the sins of His people, and was raised again for their justification and glory. . . .

What a glory lies in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is the fountain of all true comfort in life and in death. But now it remains the vital question for each and every son and daughter of Adam: is that risen Surety also our only fountain of comfort? Has the power and the glory of His resurrection ever been glorified in our hearts, so that we have passed from death unto life? Oh, let us examine ourselves according to the words of the apostle, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.”

Think of the multitudes of Jews who rejected Christ. They would not believe His resurrection. Christ was to them a stumbling stone and a rock of offence. But they who deny the Son have no part in the Father, but make Him a liar. These can expect nothing but eternal destruction. Were not the Jews repeatedly told, “If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.” Oh, sinner, how” terrible it will be for you! Remember there is a more glorious day approaching, the day Jesus Christ shall return, when He shall come upon the clouds to judge the quick and the dead. Then there will be no denial of the truth, nor any way of escape. Then it will be too late, too late! Then there will be no encouragement for you, on the contrary, it will be awful, dreadful, and appalling. Oh, flee from the wrath to come! Oh, that the terror of the Lord may move you to true repentance and faith.

Woe unto him who is only a hypocritical follower of Christ, while at heart he is a lover of sin and of the world. The resurrected Christ will be to him an awful judge, but also to all those who with their mouth confess to believe in the risen Christ, and build their hope of salvation upon the confession and not upon Christ. We do not look with contempt upon a confession of the mouth, but we may not conceal the fact that such a confession, be it ever so good, gives us no part in Christ, nor in His resurrection, unless it proceeds from true faith in the heart. Oh, let us not deceive our poor souls. Hear what the apostle Paul says, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There must be faith in the heart. That alone has real value and can cause us to live out of Him Who brought life and immortality to light.

How was it with many in the days of Israel? They celebrated the Passover, they ate the Paschal lamb, they sang the Paschal hymns and yet they rejected the true Paschal Lamb. Oh, that we might not be like them! “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law, for they stumbled at the stumbling stone.”

If we persist in seeking our salvation in the broken covenant of works, our souls shall never rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus, but on the contrary, that resurrection shall terrify us.

Therefore, oh sinner, awake and seek earnestly for Christ as the only source of salvation. Pray for the power of His resurrection to come over your soul, so that you might awaken out of the snare of the devil, and be raised to newness of life.

Do not be satisfied with accepting the resurrection of Christ as an historical truth, without having anything more. We may esteem this highly, but it gives us no portion in Him or in the power of His resurrection. With an historical faith we remain bound in our grave of sin, and have no knowledge of Christ, regardless of how much we know of Him out of Scripture. Do not think this is too sharp. Rather we are dealing mercilessly with our priceless souls if we are content with an Easter joy that exists only in word, and not in power. The old foundation of dead works must be broken down, and the foundation stone that was laid in Zion must be laid in us also if we are to be united to it. In union with Him is salvation and life and true peace.

May it be a comfort to you who are truly God-seeking souls who can find no satisfaction in seeking and weeping, but only in Him Who is the resurrection and life. What the risen Surety has done for these women we read of, He shall also do for all those who without Him can do nothing, for those who are truly desirous of knowing whether they are reconciled with Him. Is that not the ardent desire of all that upright people? They cannot live on their tears and frames, but on a revelation of Christ.

With joy the meek shall see my sold restored,
Your hearts shall live, ye saints that seek the Lord;
He helps the needy and regards their cries,
Those in distress the Lord will not despise.

Continue looking to the Lord, and waiting upon the God of mercy. Oh, how unexpectedly the tears were wiped away from those God-seeking women, and how wonderfully their hearts were comforted. What an encouragement for this Easter Day.

Oh, what a privilege it is if we may rejoice in that living Surety and in His blessed fruits, if we may rest in Him as that immovable foundation, laid in Zion by the Father, and revealed in our own soul. Then we shall taste the sweet fruits of His resurrection, and say with the Apostle Paul: “For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” Then our soul rests with satisfaction in the finished work of Christ, and in the completeness of His merits.

True, here everything is but in part. Here it is at best a dwelling among transitory things, a looking through a glass darkly, but yet a little while and He that shall come, will come and not tarry. He has conquered over death, removed its sting, and has sanctified the grave for all His people. He also carries the keys thereof. The bodies of the saints shall rest until that day when the living Surety shall reappear in great power with His holy angels. Then He shall raise all His people out of their graves, and He shall be glorified in His saints, and be admired in all them that believe. Then there shall be no more darkness, no sorrow, no pain. Then all the tears shall be wiped from their eyes. Then they shall be with Him eternally, sharing a glorious salvation.

Extracts from the late

Easter-sermon.

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