THE SALUTATION OF THE RISEN CHRIST

We were priviledged to commemorate the ressurection of the Saviour at Easter Sunday. But now the great question, did we have the profits and fruits of this commemoration for our own souls in an experimental way like those to whom the Lord Jesus revealed Himself after His death. Perhaps you ask, what are those blessings, flowing forth from a risen Christ. You can read this in your Bible. By and through Christ’s resurrection He makes His people partakers of that righteousness which He has purchased for them through His death. He applies what He has merited, for them. Have you received that righteousness by faith? Without His righteousness we are the most miserable creatures. If we die as we are born, in our own unrighteousness, we shall lose our soul and body for ever and ever. Are you concerned about it? Is the question, how shall I be righteous before a Holy and just and longsuffering God, the most important question in your life? Has it ever been Easter for you? Listen then to the salutation of the risen Christ to His disciples. His disciples had been in a sad situation, the oppressions, afflictions and fears in their hearts of the last days, and the departure of Christ’s presence, had left them with little of the hope and comfort of former days. Although they were together and not alone all was dark within and without. Do you too know of such times? In former days you were gladened by His presence through His work and Spirit, but now at this moment it seems to you as if the past were only your imagination and you fear you have deceived yourself. Until, Christ Himself comes through barred doors in His sovereignty.

They had shut the doors on account of their fear for the Jews. What a faithful mediator for He knows the frames of all His people. He came unexpected. It is the personal Jesus who is present to teach and to bless them.

From where did He come and how was it possible that He came? They were terrified and affrighted and supposed that they had seen a spirit. Christ’s all-knowing, mediatoral heart knows all the thoughts and fears of His disciples. He rebukes them but sets their hearts at ease. He is not a spirit but He is their personal Saviour. It is He who lives and is alive forevermore. Christ, in the midst of His children at the night of His resurrection, will never leave nor forsake His own in all their afflictions and tribulations. He knew how sorrowful they were when they fled away while He was captured.

In all their mourning, He presents Himself in the midst of them to comfort them, taking away their many doubts and darkened fears whereby He strengthens their fading faith. How different they were when He unites His disciples with an unbreakable bond of His love. A bond of one Spirit; true faith; firm hope and ardent love. He is always with them whatever sad and sorrowful circumstances there may be.

He speaks to them: Peace be unto you. It is a voice of tender love and mercy to those with a broken and contrite heart. This is that salutation of peace of the Risen One, of Jesus to poor sinners. Peace, what a wonderful word for those who are convicted by the Holy Spirit. It is in the way of that true conviction that God’s people learn to confess that they have forsaken their creator and that peace never can be found without God and without Christ. On their side all hope falls away. An offended judge must condemn them. The Holy law accuses them; even Satan and their own conscience point to their many transgressions and iniquities. Have you ever become such an undone and hellworthy creature? In such a way of great need and threatening of eternal death, it becomes impossible to be saved on the side of such a convicted sinner. Only Jesus who conquered death and triumphed over all power of sin, Satan, and hell in His resurrection, can give deliverance.

He can give peace merited by His blood shed on the cross in the hearts of condemnable sinners to cleanse them from all their sins. Peace from Him who has given entire satisfaction to all the demands of a righteous God; who cannot and will not renounce His justice and who cannot let sinners go unpunished. Peace, because Jesus has borne the punishment and is wounded for their transgressions and bruised for their iniquities; and the chastisement of the peace was upon Him as the substitute for all His elect. Peace, because He, in the way of suffering and dying, satisfied the offended justice of God. God the Father justified Him and in Him all His people in His resurrection.

This peace is merited by Jesus Christ. This peace with God flowing forth from Him is applied by the Holy Ghost to those who are poor and of a contrite spirit and tremble at His Word. What a blessing and unspeakable benefit it is to look upon Him with an eye of faith, when it pleases Christ to reveal Himself. These moments were unforgettable for the disciples because then the clouds whose banks lie so low on their heart’s horizon fled away. Now when He stood in their midst and spake, “Peace be unto you,” they whispered: “He is our Peace.”

Have you ever put the weapons of emnity at His feet? Have you ever learned that you are an enemy of God, a rebellious person, with no peace in your heart because of your own guilt? Have you ever acknowledged the sentence of death? Did you ever cry as the publican for mercy? Have you ever been humbled before a Holy and righteous God? Were you truly sorrowful for your sins? At God’s appointed time you shall hear with the disciples that salutation of the risen Saviour, who merited Peace and who in His resurrection will apply it; because in His resurrection He justified all His people.

Is there any need for this salutation in your life? No need for Peace? Ask the Lord to open your blind eyes and the enlightening of your understanding before it is too late. Will it be well for time and eternity? Then we stand in need for that Peace, merited by Christ’s humiliation, and applied to our hearts by the power of His resurrection in His exaltation.

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