Sermons of Christmas Evans Part 17

Behold the "Hind of the morning" on that dreadful mountain! It is the place of skulls, where death holds his carnival in companions.h.i.+p with worms, and h.e.l.l laughs in the face of heaven. Dark storms are gathering there-convolving clouds, charged with no common wrath. Terrors set themselves in battle-array before the Son of G.o.d; and tempests burst upon him, which might sweep all mankind in a moment to eternal ruin. Hark!

hear ye not the subterranean thunder? Feel ye not the tremor of the mountain? It is the shock of Satan's artillery, playing upon the Captain of our salvation. It is the explosion of the magazine of vengeance. Lo, the earth is quaking, the rocks are rending, the graves are opening, the dead are rising, and all nature stands aghast at the conflict of divine mercy with the powers of darkness. One dread convulsion more, one cry of desperate agony, and Jesus dies-an arrow has entered into his heart. Now leap the lions, roaring, upon their prey; and the bulls of Bashan are bellowing; and the dogs of perdition are barking; and the unicorns toss their horns on high; and the devil, dancing with exultant joy, clanks his iron chains, and thrusts up his fettered hands in defiance toward the face of Jehovah!

Go a little farther upon the mountain, and you come to "a new tomb hewn out of the rock." There lies a dead body. It is the body of Jesus. His disciples have laid it down in sorrow, and returned weeping to the city.

Mary's heart is broken, Peter's zeal is quenched in tears, and John would fain lie down and die in his Master's grave. The sepulchre is closed up and sealed, and a Roman sentry placed at its entrance. On the morning of the third day, while it is yet dark, two or three women come to anoint the body. They are debating about the great stone at the mouth of the cave. "Who shall roll it away?" says one of them. "Pity we did not bring Peter or John with us." But arriving, they find the stone already rolled away, and one sitting upon it, whose countenance is like lightning, and whose garments are white as the light. The steel-clad, iron-hearted soldiers lie around him, like men slain in battle, having swooned with terror. He speaks:-"Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is not here; he is risen; he is gone forth from this cave victoriously."

It is even so; for there are the shroud, and the napkin, and the heavenly watchers; and when he awoke, and cast off his grave-clothes, the earthquake was felt in the city, and jarred the gates of h.e.l.l. "The Hind of the morning" is up earlier than any of his pursuers, "leaping upon the mountains, and skipping upon the hills." He is seen first with Mary at the tomb; then with the disciples in Jerusalem; then with two of them on the way to Emmaus; then going before his brethren into Galilee; and finally, leaping from the top of Olivet to the hills of Paradise; fleeing away to "the mountains of spices," where he shall never more be hunted by the black prince and his hounds.

Christ is perfect master of gravitation, and all the laws of nature are obedient to his will. Once he walked upon the water, as if it were marble beneath his feet; and now, as he stands blessing his people, the glorious form so recently nailed to the cross, and still more recently cold in the grave, begins to ascend like "the living creature" in Ezekiel's vision, "lifted up from the earth," till nearly out of sight; when "the chariots of G.o.d, even thousands of angels," receive him, and haste to the celestial city, waking the thrones of eternity with this jubilant chorus-"Lift up your heads, O ye gates! and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors! and the King of glory shall come in!"

Christ might have rode in a chariot of fire all the way from Bethlehem to Calvary; but he preferred riding in a chariot of mercy, whose lining was crimson, and whose ornament the malefactor's cross. How rapidly rolled his wheels over the hills and the plains of Palestine, gathering up everywhere the children of affliction, and scattering blessings like the beams of the morning! Now we find him in Cana of Galilee, turning water into wine; then treading the waves of the sea, and hus.h.i.+ng the roar of the tempest; then delivering the demoniac of Gadara from the fury of a legion of fiends; then healing the n.o.bleman's son at Capernaum; raising the daughter of Jairus, and the young man of Nain; writing upon the grave at Bethany-"I am the resurrection and the life;" curing the invalid at the pool of Bethesda; feeding the five thousand in the wilderness; preaching to the woman by Jacob's well; acquitting the adulteress, and shaming her accusers; and exercising everywhere, in all his travels, the three offices of Physician, Prophet, and Saviour, as he drove on toward the place of skulls.

Now we see the chariot surrounded with enemies-Herod, and Pilate, and Caiaphas, and the Roman soldiers, and the populace of Jerusalem, and thousands of Jews who have come up to keep the Pa.s.sover, led on by Judas and the devil. See how they rage and curse, as if they would tear him from his chariot of mercy. But Jesus maintains his seat, and holds fast the reins, and drives right on through the angry crowd, without shooting an arrow, or lifting a spear upon his foes. For in that chariot the King must ride to Calvary-Calvary must be consecrated to mercy for ever. He sees the cross planted upon the brow of the hill, and hastens forward to embrace it. No sacrifice shall be offered to Justice on this day, but the one sacrifice which reconciles heaven and earth. None of those children of Belial shall suffer to-day. The bribed witnesses, and clamorous murderers, shall be spared-the smiters, the scourgers, the spitters, the thorn-platters, the nail-drivers, the head-shakers for Jesus pleads on their behalf-"Father, forgive them! they know not what they do. They are ignorant of thy truth and grace. They are not aware whom they are crucifying. O, spare them! Let Death know that he shall have enough to do with me to-day! Let him open all his batteries upon me! My bosom is bare to the stroke! I will gather all the lances of h.e.l.l in my heart!"

Still the chariot rushes on, and "fiery darts" are falling thick and fast, like a shower of meteors, on Messiah's head, till he is covered with wounds, and the blood flows down his garments, and leaves a crimson track behind him. As he pa.s.ses, he casts at the dying malefactor a glance of benignity, and throws him a pa.s.sport into Paradise, written with his own blood; stretches forth his scepter, and touches the prison-door of death, and many of the prisoners come forth, and the tyrant shall never regain his dominion over them; rides triumphant over thrones and princ.i.p.alities, and crushes beneath his wheels the last enemy himself, and leaves the memorial of his march engraven on the rocks of Golgotha!

Christ is everywhere in the Scriptures spoken of as a blessing; and whether we contemplate his advent, his ministry, his miracles, his agony, his crucifixion, his interment, his resurrection, or his ascension, we may truly say, "all his paths drop fatness." All his travels were on the road of mercy; and trees are growing up in his footsteps, whose fruit is delicious food, and whose "leaves are for the healing of the nations."

He walketh upon the south winds, causing propitious gales to blow upon the wilderness, till songs of joy awake in the solitary place, and the desert blossoms as the rose.

If we will consider what the prophets wrote of Messiah, in connection with the evangelical history, we shall be satisfied that none like him, either before or since, ever entered our world, and departed from it.

Both G.o.d and man-at once the Father of eternity and the son of time-he filled the universe, while he was imbodied upon earth; and ruled the celestial princ.i.p.alities and powers, while he wandered-a persecuted stranger-in Judea. "No man," saith he, "hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven-even the Son of man, who is in heaven."

Heaven was no strange place to Jesus. He talks of the mansions in his Father's house as familiarly as one of the royal family would talk of Windsor Castle, where he was born; and saith to his disciples-"I go to prepare a place for you; that where I am, there ye may be also." The glory into which he entered was his own glory-the glory which he had with the Father before the world was. He had an original and supreme right to the celestial mansions; and he acquired a new and additional claim by his office as mediator. Having suffered for our sins, he "ought to enter into his glory." He ought, because he is "G.o.d, blessed for ever"-he ought, because he is the representative of his redeemed people. He has taken possession of the kingdom in our behalf, and left on record for our encouragement this cheering promise-"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne; even as I also have overcome, and am set down with my Father in his throne."

The departure of G.o.d from Eden, and the departure of Christ from the earth, were two of the sublimest events that ever occurred, and fraught with immense consequences to our race. When Jehovah went out from Eden, he left a curse upon the place for man's sake, and drove out man before him into an accursed earth. But when Jesus ascended from Olivet, he lifted the curse with him, and left a blessing behind him-sowed the world with the seed of eternal blessings; "and instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree; and instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle-tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, and an everlasting sign, that shall not be cut off." He ascended to intercede for sinners, and reopen paradise to his people; and when he shall come the second time, according to the promise, with all his holy angels, then shall we be "caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

"The Lord is gone up with a shout," and has taken our redeemed nature with him. He is the head of the church, and her representative at the right hand of the Father. "He hath ascended on high; he hath led captivity captive; he hath received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that G.o.d may dwell among them." "Him hath G.o.d exalted, with his own right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins." This is the Father's recognition of his "Beloved Son," and significant acceptance of his sacrifice.

"Wherefore G.o.d also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in the earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of G.o.d the Father."

The evidence of our Lord's ascension is ample. He ascended in the presence of many witnesses, who stood gazing after him till a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven, two angels appeared to them, and talked with them of what they had seen. Soon afterward, on the day of Pentecost, he fulfilled, in a remarkable manner, the promise which he had made to his people:-"If I go away, I will send you another Comforter, who shall abide with you for ever." Stephen, the first of his disciples that glorified the Master by martyrdom, testified to his murderers-"Lo, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of G.o.d!" And John, "the beloved disciple," while an exile "in Patmos, for the word of G.o.d, and the testimony of Jesus Christ," beheld him "in the midst of the throne, as a Lamb that had been slain!" These are the evidences that our Lord is in heaven; these are our consolations in the house of our pilgrimage.

The apostle speaks of the _necessity_ of this event:-"Whom the heaven _must_ receive."

Divine necessity is a golden chain, reaching from eternity to eternity, and encircling all the events of time. It consists of many links, all hanging upon each other; and not one of them can be broken, without destroying the support of the whole. The first link is in G.o.d, "before the world was;" and the last is in heaven, when the world shall be no more. Christ is its Alpha and Omega, and Christ const.i.tutes all its intervenient links. Christ in the bosom of the Father, receiving the promise of eternal life, before the foundation of the world, is the beginning; Christ in his sacrificial blood, atoning for our sins, and pardoning and sanctifying all them that believe, is the middle; and Christ in heaven, pleading the merit of his vicarious sufferings, making intercession for the transgressors, drawing all men unto himself, presenting the prayers of his people, and preparing their mansions, is the end.

There is a necessity in all that Christ has done as our Mediator, in all that he is doing on our behalf, and all that he has engaged to do-the necessity of Divine love manifested, of Divine mercy exercised, of Divine purposes accomplished, of Divine covenants fulfilled, of Divine faithfulness maintained, of Divine justice satisfied, of Divine holiness vindicated, and of Divine power displayed, Christ felt this necessity while he tabernacled among us, often declared it to his disciples, and acknowledged it to the Father in the agony of the garden.

Behold him wrestling in prayer, with strong crying and tears:-"Father, save me from this hour! If it be possible, let this cup pa.s.s from me!"

Now the Father reads to him his covenant engagement, which he signed and sealed with his own hand before the foundation of the world. The glorious Sufferer replies:-"Thy will be done! For this cause came I unto this hour. I will drink the cup which thou hast mingled, and not a dreg of any of its ingredients shall be left for my people. I will pa.s.s through the approaching dreadful night, under the hidings of thy countenance, bearing away the curse from my beloved. Henceforth, repentance is hidden from mine eyes!" Now, on his knees, he reads the covenant engagements of the Father, and adds:-"I have glorified thee on the earth. I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. Now glorify thou me, according to thy promise, with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. Father, I will also that they whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory. Thine they were, and thou hast given them to me, on condition of my pouring out my soul unto death. Thou hast promised them, through my righteousness and meritorious sacrifice, the kingdom of heaven, which I now claim on their behalf. Father, glorify my people, with him whom thou lovedst before the foundation of the world!"

The intercession of Christ for his saints, begun on earth, is continued in heaven. This is our confidence and joy in our journeyings through the wilderness. We know that our Joshua has gone over into the land of our inheritance, where he is preparing a place of habitation for Israel, for it is his will that all whom he has redeemed should be with him for ever!

The text speaks of the period when the great purposes of our Lord's ascension shall be fully accomplished:-"until the times of rest.i.tution of all things."

The period here mentioned is "the dispensation of the fulness of time,"

when "the fulness of the gentiles shall come in," and "the dispersed of Judah" shall be restored, and Christ shall "gather together in himself all things in heaven and in earth," overthrow his enemies, establish his everlasting kingdom, deliver the groaning creation from its bondage, glorify his people with himself, imprison the devil and his angels in the bottomless pit, and punish with destruction from his presence them that obey not the gospel.

To this glorious consummation, the great travail of redemption, and all the events of time, are only preparatory. It was promised in Eden, and the promise was renewed and enlarged to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

It was described in gorgeous oriental imagery by Isaiah, and "the sweet psalmist of Israel;" and "spoken of by all the prophets, since the world began." Christ came into the world to prepare the way for his future triumph-to lay on Calvary the "chief corner-stone" of a temple, which shall be completed at the end of time, and endure through all eternity.

He began the great rest.i.tution. He redeemed his people with a price, and gave them a pledge of redemption by power. He made an end of sin, abolished the Levitical priesthood, and swallowed up all the types and shadows in himself. He sent home the beasts, overthrew the altars, and quenched the holy fire; and, upon the sanctifying altar of his own divinity, offered his own sinless humanity, which was consumed by fire from heaven. He removed the seat of government from Mount Zion in Jerusalem, to Mount Zion above, where he sits-"a priest upon his throne"-drawing heaven and earth together, and establis.h.i.+ng "the covenant of peace between them both." Blessed be G.o.d! we can now go to Jesus, the mediator; pa.s.sing by millions of angels, and all the spirits of just men made perfect; till we "come to the blood of sprinkling, which speaketh better things than that of Abel." And we look for that blessed day, when "this gospel of the kingdom" shall be universally prevalent; "and all shall know the Lord, from the least even to the greatest"-when there shall be "a new heaven, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness"-when both the political and the moral aspects of our world shall be changed; and a happier state of things shall exist than has ever been known before-when the pestilence, the famine, and the sword shall cease to destroy; and "the saints of the Most High shall possess the kingdom," in "quietness and a.s.surance for ever." "Then cometh the end,"

when Emmanuel "shall destroy in this mountain the vail of the covering cast over all people, and swallow up death in victory!"

But what will it avail you to hear of this glorious rest.i.tution, if you are not partakers of its incipient benefits, and happily interested in its consummation? Has it begun in your own hearts? Are you restored to G.o.d in Christ? Have you a place in his house, and a name among his people? Are your feet running the way of his commandments, and your hands diligent in doing his work? If not, "it is high time to awake out of sleep." "Repent and believe the gospel!" "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, who will have mercy upon him; and to our G.o.d, for he will abundantly pardon!"

SERMON XV.

TRIBULATION CONQUERED.

"_These things have I spoken unto you_, _that in me ye might have peace_. _In the world ye shall have tribulation_; _but be of good cheer_; _I have overcome the world_."-John xvi. 33.

THE last sayings of those we love are not soon forgotten. These words form the conclusion of our Lord's valedictory to his disciples. They did not yet understand that the redemption of man was to be obtained by the death of their Master. When Christ was put to death, he descended to the lower parts of the earth, in order to raise up sinners; but their faith could not follow him into the deep. Nicholas Pisces sunk into the sea to raise a golden cup, but neither he nor the cup ever came up again. A man clothed in gla.s.s went down to prepare for raising the Royal George; the man came up, but the s.h.i.+p remains in the bottom. But our blessed Redeemer, clothed in humanity, descended to the deeps of death, and raised the church from the pit of perdition, and founded her upon a rock, against which the gates of h.e.l.l cannot prevail.

We would notice, _first_, the peace that is in Christ, in opposition to the tribulation that is in the world; and _secondly_, the victory of Christ over the world, as the source of comfort and joy to believers.

I. "These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.

I know what you will have in the world-mountains of tribulation-nothing but tribulation. I will put my peace in the other end of the scale."

Peace in Christ is "the peace of G.o.d which pa.s.seth all understanding"-an ocean sufficiently deep and large to swallow up millions of fiery mountains. See the awakened sinner, overwhelmed with the terrors of G.o.d.

His inflexible justice and spotless holiness seem to him like a mountain of flame, which he cannot approach without being consumed. But the Holy Spirit shows him the reconciling blood of the cross. He sees the crucified G.o.d-man rising from the grave, and ascending on high, "to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins."

Instantly the terrible mountain sinks and is lost in the sea of his Redeemer's merit. His faith has conquered his fears. His burden of guilt is gone. He is a new creature in Christ Jesus, and in Christ Jesus there is no condemnation. The deluge of tribulation may swell and roar around him, but he is securely enclosed in the ark.

A man in a trance saw himself locked up in a house of steel, through the walls of which, as through walls of gla.s.s, he could see his enemies a.s.sailing him with swords, spears, and bayonets; but his life was safe, for his fortress was locked within. So is the Christian secure amid the a.s.saults of the world. His "life is hid with Christ in G.o.d."

The psalmist prayed-"When my heart is overwhelmed within me, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I." Imagine a man seated on a lofty rock in the midst of the sea, where he has every thing necessary for his support, shelter, safety, and comfort. The billows heave and break beneath him, and the hungry monsters of the deep wait to devour him; but he is on high, above the rage of the former, and the reach of the latter. Such is the security of faith.

But why need I mention the rock and the steel house? for the peace that is in Christ is a tower ten thousand times stronger, and a refuge ten thousand times safer. Behold the disciples of Jesus exposed to famine, nakedness, peril, and sword-incarcerated in dungeons; thrown to wild beasts; consumed in the fire; sawn asunder; cruelly mocked and scourged; driven from friends and home, to wander among the mountains, and lodge in dens and caves of the earth; being dest.i.tute, afflicted, tormented; sorrowful, but always rejoicing; cast down, but not destroyed; an ocean of peace within, which swallows up all their sufferings.

"Neither death," with all its terrors; "nor life," with all its allurements; "nor things present," with all their pleasure; "nor things to come," with all their promise; "nor height" of prosperity; "nor depth"

of adversity; "nor angels" of evil; "nor princ.i.p.alities" of darkness; "shall be able to separate us from the love of G.o.d, which is in Christ Jesus." "G.o.d is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea-though the waters thereof roar and be troubled-though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." This is the language of strong faith in the peace of Christ.

How is it with you amid such turmoil and commotion? Is all peaceful within? Do you feel secure in the name of the Lord, as in a strong fortress-as in a city well supplied and defended?

"There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of G.o.d, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most high. G.o.d is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved. G.o.d shall help her, and that right early." "Unto the upright, there ariseth light in the darkness." The bright and morning star, s.h.i.+ning upon their pathway, cheers them in their journey home to their Father's house. And when they come to pa.s.s over Jordan, the Sun of Righteousness shall have risen upon them, with healing in his wings. Already they see the tops of the mountains of immortality, gilded with his beams, beyond the valley of the shadow of death. Behold, yonder, old Simeon hoisting his sails, and saying-"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Such is the peace of Jesus, sealed to all them that believe, by the blood of his cross.

When we walk through the field of battle, slippery with blood, and strewn with the bodies of the slain-when we hear the shrieks and the groans of the wounded and the dying-when we see the country wasted, cities burned, houses pillaged, widows and orphans wailing in the track of the victorious army, we cannot help exclaiming-O, what a blessing is peace!

When we are obliged to witness family turmoils and strifes-when we see parents and children, brothers and sisters, masters and servants, husbands and wives, contending with each other like tigers-we retire as from a smoky house, and exclaim as we go-O, what a blessing is peace!

When duty calls us into that church, where envy and malice prevail, and the spirit of harmony is supplanted by discord and contention-when we see brethren, who ought to be bound together in love, full of pride, hatred, confusion, and every evil work-we quit the unhallowed scene with painful feelings of repulsion, repeating the exclamation-O, what a blessing is peace!

But how much more precious in the case of the awakened sinner! See him standing, terror-stricken, before mount Sinai. Thunders roll above him-lightnings flash around him-the earth trembles beneath him, as if ready to open her mouth and swallow him up. The sound of the trumpet rings through his soul-"Guilty! guilty! guilty!" Pale and trembling, he looks eagerly around him, and sees nothing but revelations of wrath.

Overwhelmed with fear and dismay, he cries out-"O wretched man that I am!

Who shall deliver me! What shall I do?" A voice reaches his ear-penetrates his heart-"Behold the Lamb of G.o.d, that taketh away the sin of the world!" He turns his eyes to Calvary. Wonderous vision!

Emmanuel expiring upon the cross! the sinner's Subst.i.tute satisfying the demand of the law against the sinner! Now all his fears are hushed, and rivers of peace flow into his soul. This is the peace of Christ.

How precious is this peace, amid all the dark vicissitudes of life! How invaluable this jewel, through all the dangers of the wilderness! How cheering to know that Jesus, who hath loved us even unto death, is the pilot of our perilous voyage; that he rules the winds and the waves, and can hush them to silence at his will, and bring the frailest bark of faith to the desired haven! Trusting where he cannot trace his Master's footsteps, the disciple is joyful amid the darkest dispensations of Divine Providence; turning all his sorrows into songs, and all his tribulations into triumphs. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee."

II. The victory of Christ over the world, the source of comfort and joy to believers. "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."