“The Lord’s Death, Till He Come.”
IN these few words there are two wonderful truths brought before us―the Lord’s death, and the Lord’s coming. We stand between these two great events; the one is past, the other future. At the Lord’s Supper, which is the immediate subject the apostle has in hand, the Christian looks back to remember the Lord’s death; and he does it in view of the Lord’s coming, on to which he is going and which may take place at any moment.
But what wonderful words the Spirit of God has here linked together “the Lord,” and “death!” Yet true it is that the Lord of life and glory, the Prince of life, has died; what infinite and divine grace and love to man! No less a sacrifice could have met the claims of divine justice and righteousness in such a way as to vindicate God’s glory, outraged by the entrance of sin, and glorify God in doing it. The Lord’s Supper is not, as many teach, a means of grace, or a meritorious service rendered to God; quite the contrary. The Christian partakes of it because he is the subject of grace, and rejoices in the results of the atoning death of Christ. It was on the same night on which He was betrayed that the Lord Jesus took the bread and cup, and gave thanks and said, “This do in remembrance of Me.” Death was before Him in all its reality; Satan’s power in all its terribleness; the bitter hatred of men; and, far above and beyond all, the righteous indignation and wrath of a Holy God against sin, the extent of which Jesus alone could know. But, with all this, it was then, at such a moment, that He spoke those works, “This do in remembrance of Me.” Rising above all that pressed on His spirit in that dark hour of anticipation of His sufferings and looking forward through the whole period which should elapse between His death and His coming, He provides this touching remembrance of Himself—Himself in His death. No human mind would have thought of bringing together such words, “the Lord,” and “death:” but these are great truths, laid deep in the structure of both Old and New Testament Scriptures; the glory of His person on the one hand, and the depth of His humiliation on the other.
He was “the Man,” “Jehovah’s Fellow,” smitten with Jehovah’s sword (Zech. 13:77Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. (Zechariah 13:7)): owned by Jehovah, at the lowest point of His humiliation as “My Fellow.” Consequently, linked with the dignity of His person, is the efficacy and value of His work. Indeed, there is no limit to the blessed results of redemption, as Psalms 22. so strikingly proves. It begins with those words which, though not the first part of the Psalm historically, yet come first in moral order, as expressing the burden and weight of the Psalm― “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” It was what pressed on His spirit beyond all else; and then at the close of those hours of darkness on the cross, He cries with a loud voice and gives up the ghost. He was heard from the “horns of the unicorns” ―it was the extreme point of suffering—and He is answered in resurrection, as we know from Psalms 16, &c.
But the remainder of Psalms 22. is nothing but widening circles of blessing. It is like a pebble dropped into a lake, you see circle after circle widening out from the center. First, He declares Jehovah’s name to His brethren; and we know how this was fulfilled for us, when He sent Mary with that wonderful message, “Go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.” This was a new name― Father! ―a wholly different relationship, which characterizes Christianity; just as it was unknown in Judaism. In fact, He places us in the same place and relationship which He enjoyed as man in this world.
Next, in the Psalm, there is the call for praise from those that “fear the Lord,” the “seed of Jacob;” then the Psalmist says, “My praise shall be of Thee in the great congregation”―that is the assembly of redeemed Israel; then “the meek”―those godly ones that trusted in Him—are called on to praise; then, “all the ends of the earth... All the families of the nations” for the blessing will flow out to the Gentiles in that day; and finally, “a seed shall serve Him... they shall come and declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born.” Thus the tide of blessing consequent on His atoning work expands out to the close of the millennial day; yea, far beyond that, into eternity itself.
There is something very precious to the soul ill connecting together the Lord’s death and the Lord’s coming. Who is it that is coming? It is the same One who bore those sufferings due to our sins upon the cross―who loved us and gave Himself for us; whom we remember as oft as we eat this bread and drink this cup. It is Christ Himself; for He is not going to send an angel or even the archangel to fetch us―He is coming in person, into the air, to shout that quickening word, and then we shall see Him face to face.
This is the day of the “patience of Jesus Christ.” He is waiting; for He has not sat upon His own throne yet, but upon His Father’s throne, and He is waiting the Father’s time; waiting too till the last saved one shall be gathered in. That moment is rapidly drawing nearer; and He would have the heart’s affections of His people to be going out in earnest expectation, ready when He says, “Surely I come quickly,” to respond, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
These two great events are one just as real as the other―the Lord’s death has had its blessed result in fitting all who trust in Him for His coming. Thank God no failure of the Church, as a responsible witness for God on earth, can change either the one or the other. He loved His own when He died for them; He loves them now that He is exercising unceasingly His priesthood and advocacy on high for them; but there remains still one act in the exercise of His divine love and power—that they should be with Him where He is. This is the One who is coming for His people! Are they amongst those who “sleep in Jesus,” when He comes? His voice shall raise their precious dust, and give to it a fashion like to His own body of glory. Are they alive when He comes? Then that same voice shall change them in a moment, transforming them to be with Him and like Him forever.
May the blessed Spirit of God revive these truths in the hearts of the Lords people; not as so much mere knowledge in the mind, but in all their living freshness and power, so that they may overflow with praise to Him now as they rejoice in the results of His death, and that they may go out in longing desire for His coming!
F. G. B.