THE GLAD ANNOUNCEMENT. GARDINER SPRING, D.D. I am the resurrection and the life.-JOHN xi: 25. WHAT an annunciation to a world of sinners! What tidings to dying men! I. Christ is the resurrection and the life to men as sinners. This thought relates to their moral or spiritual resurrection. Men are naturally "dead" in trespasses, etc. In this sense the world is a vast sepulcher over which the Son of man proclaims: "I am the resurrection," etc. His voice alone can reach these gloomy mansions. By the omnipotent energy of his own spirit he asserts his prerogative, and what could not be effected by sermon or by prayers, by mercies or by judgments, is as readily accomplished as when he said, "Lazarus, come forth." II. Christ is the resurrection and the life to dying men. This thought relates to the resurrection of the body. Natural death is the consequence of spiritual. Death has extended his empire everywhere on this earth. Will his scepter ever be broken or these graves open? Yes. Christ's words are true. The wisdom and philosophy of the world have not always credited this truth. But the analogies of nature, the suggestions of unaided reason, the traditions of men are not silent on this theme, yet it is one of the distinguished peculiarities of the revealed religion. The resurrection of Christ insures it, and the testimonies of inspired writers corroborate it. The resurrection will be universal, "all that are in their graves,' etc. The resurrection will be successive, "every man in his own order," etc. Will take place at a given signal. "Shall hear his voice," etc. Will take place at the last great day. "In the resurrection at the last day." The وو resurrected body will be essentially the same body that was deposited. In many respects, greatly changed-to incorruption, glory, power, spirit. The bodies of the righteous and the wicked rise to very different allotments. -"resurrection of life," "resurrection of damnation." Let us think of the morning when over the tomb of this world Jesus shall announce, "I am the resurrection and the life." THE MORTAL AND THE IMMORTAL COM PANION. REV. H. F. BURDER. Behold 1 die, but God shall be with you.-GEN. xlviii : 21. WH I. Consider his words in reference to himself. 1. He was satisfied with the amount of enjoyment which the God of his life had granted him. He had been brought to regard human life as a pilgrimage and journey, which were checquered with joy and sorrow, prosperity and adversity. At its close he blessed the Lord who had fed him, &c. 2. He was satisfied with the duration of life which had been allowed him. His life was short compared with his ancestors, but he had attained the two great objects of life-a good hope for immortality and the serving of God in his generation according to His will. 3. He was satisfied with the prospect of a better life which was opening before him. In the midst of his dying benediction he paused and exclaimed, "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord." Who can tell what visions of glory were at that moment granted to his spirit? At his outset in life he beheld the ladder and now he may have seen what Stephen saw. II. His words are suggestive of his repose in refer ence to his surviving relatives. 1. The manifestations of the Divine mercy to himself encouraged his hopes as to his surviving relatives. Read the context. "And Israel said unto Joseph, &c." What more could he wish for his sons or for his son's sons than the guidance, protection and blessing of that great Redeeming angel? 2. He was persuaded that the paternal benediction he was authorized to pronounce had an aspect peculiarly favorable to his descendants. "Let my name be named upon them." "Behold I die, but God shall be with you and bring you, &c." The covenant made to Abraham. 3. He felt assured that the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and himself secured the presence and blessing of God to his survivors to the remotest age. "God shall be with you." See the promise-a clearer development made to Jacob. "The sceptre shall not, &c."-to Moses, "my presence shall go, &c." God never abandons his charge. What a comfort to Christian parents living and dying! THE PIVOTAL FACT. THOMAS ARMITAGE, D. D, The Lord is risen indeed.-LUKE, 24: 34. MILLIONS of Orientals utter these words every Easter day. They are pivotal words-as Paul avows. "If Christ be not risen, &c." Christ's resurrection is the key-stone of the Christian religion. He allows of no second question. If thus be not a fact, cut out from the cherished tombstone of your tenderly loved ones; the flaunting fraud, "I am the resurrection and the life." Then they who have fallen asleep have perished. I. The resurrection was a miracle. This the Scriptures set forth. There is no such power lodged in nature. It was accomplished by God's immediate power. Hear Peter: "This man, when God raised up, &c." Hear Paul: "Which He wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, &c." II. What the resurrection body was. The same that was crucified, &c. "The Lord has risen," not some one else. I argue this: 1. From the fact that he prophesied his own personal resurrection, in his own personal idenity. Again and again he told this to his disciples. It was the same Jonah that went into the whale's belly that came out; so of Jesus. 2. From the fact that his disciples, his most intimate friends, recognized that identity though reluctantly. Joseph did not steal him, nor did any thieves. The angels were careful to describe who had risen. The risen Christ treated his disciples exactly as before his death. The same old hearts beat together again. Every word, and act and look whispers from heart to heart. "It is the Lord. It is the Lord." 3. From the fact that He recognized his own identity. He explained the things concerning Himself. Rebuked them as before for their unbelief, ate with them as before, told them they should work signs as before, and to tarry for the fulfillment of the promise made to them before. These argue, "It is I myself." The But the difficulty is with some how could He appear to his disciples, when the doors were closed? words do not necessarily imply that they were bolted. He appears suddenly to his disciples before on the sea-with the disciples. Some might imagine some wonderful change had taken place in his body since they had left him. on the shore, but no such change had taken place, but what he did was superhuman, as his entrance into the room may have been superhuman. His body was like ours, but not necessarily controlled at all times in all respects like ours. He was man and more-God. He governs the laws, not the laws Him. And his body was always glorious enough, neither to be sin-stained, nor to see corruption, and that is the kind of body his people shall hereafter possess. THE DEATH OF A GREAT MAN. REV. THOMAS J. COLE. “A great man is fallen this day in Israel.”—2 SAM. iii: 38. GOD'S OD'S procedure is often inscrutable, useful men removed, worthless ones spared. I. The constituents of true greatness. The world idolizes greatness of a certain kind. Station, wealth, talent, knowledge, military prowess, etc. True greatness needs not these auxiliaries. It consists in: 1. Humility-feeling his own weakness, imperfections, lying low before God and looking to Him for all strength and grace-Moses at the bush. 2. Submission. Bowing with child-like acquiescence in all God's dealings, resting securely in our Father's bosom, as Jesus in Gethsemane. Aaron. 3. Faith. This enables man to see God as reconciled in Jesus, fulfilling in Providence the promises of his word and ever present as a source of strength. Three Hebrew youths, Daniel, Peter and John. 4. Holiness. He is the greatest conqueror who has conquered himself. No man can do this except in God's strength. Joseph in Potiphar's house. |