The Tupelo journal., 1904-04-15

llSnt ana glory VI tHe TeSuTTeCtlOU
reach back to the cross and vitilize the
sacrifice there made, fill all the present
with mighty power and hope, and ex-
tend on and on through eternity.
UyJTHEN the disciples saw the Lord
w they were glad" Glad because
! all doubt was taken away, and glad be-
cause their Lord came with a message
of peace, instead OF accusation and con-
demnation. All, how the doubts had
surged through their hearts during
those lays of loss and sorrow. All, how
bitter was their sense of guilt as they re-
membered their desertion of their Lord.
No wonder fear filled their hearts. No
wonder they were troubled when they
y saw their Lord. Sin and faithlessness
make towards of us all, and we are
filled with confusion and fear at the
thought of meeting the Lord. Are doubts
filing you heart, oh, Christian? Are
you bearing about a load of guilt and
sin? Are you conscious of having dis
honored your Lord, of having fed duty's
call, of having sought your W desires
and pleasures? Then let Jesus come into
your heart and speak His message Of
peace. AS you wait in His presence, let
the Spirit confirm to your heart as n ever
before the blessed reality of your Lords
resurrection. Then peace will come.
Doubts will disappear before the mighty
fact of the resurrection, and you will real
ize that He speaks of peace instead of
condemnation because He has borne
your sins and your condemnation upon
the cross. But doubts and sins were not
the only things that prevented peace raj
ing in the hearts of the disciples. There
were external causes for fear and trouble.
The Jews who had taken the life OF their
Lord might come and drag them to death.
They were filled with terror and sat pe-
hind doubly-barred doors. 1t seemed to
them as though the powers of evil were
triumphant. They felt themselves power
less and undone. There could be no peace
while they covered before the enemies
of Christ. Jesus came and revealed Him
self unto them as the risen Christ that
they might know that all power was
given unto Him in Heaven and in earth.
That the seeming triumph of evil was
only fulfilling the piars and purposes Of
God and working out His victory. Oh,
Christian. Have you ever been over
whelmed with the sense of the power of
evil? Have you ever felt that the forces
that were against you were might'er
than those Cor you? Such experiences do
come. But turn to the risen Christ and
let Him speak to your heart, peace. AS
you realize His risen power and glory,
how the enemies about you will fade into
insignifcance, AS you see your Lord.
you will know that victory is yours and
that no harm can befall you or persecu-
ton come which will not work out the
glory and honor and purposes of God.
A ND peace came to those disciples as
n they became conscious of a new
call to service. Hopes had been shat
tered. Prospects dimmed. Jesus had
called some from their fishing nets,
and others from various %avocations
of a kingdom. They had been filled
with expectation and hope. They be-
lieved in their Lord and His claims,
and they believed still in His claims,
but death had cut short their hopes
and expectations, and they knew not
whittier to turn. Their mission was
ended. Their visions Of glory and
i honor and power were gone. And
with such disappointment and dis
couragement ruling in their hearts
they knew not what peace was.
And has it not been so with you
and me? Some cherished purpose
or plan, some lifelong ambition has
seemingly been ruthlessly shattered and
ended. Disappointed and discouraged.
your heart has known an unrest and dis
tress which is almost unbearable. So it
seemed to the disciples in that upper
room, and so it seems to you and me,
sometimes. But a second time Jesus says
to His disciples: Peace be unto you"
and then He adds the reassuring words:
CAS- the Father hath sent Me, ever so
send l you" What! Everything not
lost! What! A new and important mis-
sion ahead, a new call to service! Sure
ly! AS the Lord Iiveth! That which has
preceded has only been preparation.
That which lies ahead is the great work
to be done, the mighty mission to be full
filled. The failures, the mistakes, the
sins behind shall be but stepping stones
to more complete service in the future.
The disciples began to know that day
what the peace of Christ meant as they
heard His words and as they beheld His
risen form. And so may you and | at this
Easter time hear Jesus say to our hearts:
Peace" And as the heart begins to
realize as never before the reality of the
risen and living Lord, doubts will dis
appear, the glory of the cross will hide
our sin and guilt forever, fear and dread
of evil will vanish before the a%ll-conquer-
ing presence of Christ. and consciousness
of a new commission in the service Of
Christ will be felt. To you ard me Jesus
says: Peace, as the Father hath sent
Me, even so send I you
.INNE word more about the peace which
OChrist gives. 1t is His peace. Think
of it! Not something which l work up
from within, but something which Jesus
sends to my heart from Himself. HIS
PEACE. And it is not given as the world
gives, with danger of loss or with time
limit attached to it, but given unceasing-
ly, unstintedly, %eternally.
PEACE, peace!
Wrought by the Spirit of Might.