WHEN seated in a tram-car the other day, in one of the North of England large towns, I observed two men walking slowly down the street carrying between them, and suspended from a pole resting on their shoulders, an immense yellow advertisement board, upon which was a large crimson-colored ring, encircling in bold black letters the words, “CHRIST ON CALVARY,” and underneath it was printed, “Now on view.” I said to a gentleman, who took his seat opposite to me―
“Where is that picture exhibited, sir?”
“At the Philosophical Hall,” he replied; “and over a million of spectators have seen that picture since it was first brought out.”
“No doubt,” I said, “many who have viewed it will have been much gratified with the sight, at least for a time, as I understand it is a wonderful work of art, though I have not seen it myself.”
“Yes,” he said; “it is by Munkacsy, one of the ablest painters of the day, and certainly it is a most splendid picture.”
“But,” I added, “what a glorious sight GOD’S ORIGINAL is, as compared with man’s best picture, and how very different are the after-view results! May I ask, have you, by faith, seen and received that Blessed Son of God as your Saviour, who was nailed to the cross of Calvary in the behalf of God’s glory and the ruined sinner’s need?”
“Yes,” he readily rejoined; “I have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and am saved.”
“Bless God for that,” I added― “so have I, and soon we shall see His face in glory, ‘for when we see him we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is’ (1 John 3:22Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)). Soon also we shall see what countless myriads have, by faith, viewed and received as their Saviour Him, who, in such love and compassion, allowed Himself to be nailed to that cross of curse and shame― ‘the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.’ Yes, very soon, all who have received the benefit of His finished work will join in that full chorus glory-song of redemption― ‘Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests.’”
“Yes,” said my friend, “it is the delight of my heart to look forward to that glorious time.”
“So it is mine,” said I; “and ere long He will come and take us to be forever in the full enjoyment of it all, for he said, ‘Surely I come quickly’” (Rev. 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)).
Reader, I do not ask if you have seen M. Munkacsy’s picture, nor what amount of gratification seeing it may have afforded you, but I do venture to inquire. Have you by faith accepted CHRIST God’s Original, and got your soul saved? And if not, oh, why not? For still―
“There is life in a look at the Crucified One;
There is life at this moment for thee;
Then, look, sinner, look unto Him and be saved,
Unto Him who was nailed to the tree!”
Tens of thousands flocked to see this man’s picture, willing to pay the reasonable charge for the sight, which at the most only gives gratification for a time; but how few avail themselves of looking to Jesus, and of receiving God’s eternal salvation, and escaping eternal damnation! “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money: come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live” (Isa. 15:1-31The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; 2He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off. 3In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly. (Isaiah 15:1‑3)).
Dear soul, Christ is not on Calvary’s cross now; He is on His Father’s throne in glory; nevertheless He is, so to speak, now on view for all by faith to see, and to be eternally saved, and fully satisfied. There He is as the One who “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God 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 earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:8-118And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:8‑11)).
“Lamb of God, we bow before Thee,
Calvary’s tale creation awed;
Well may Thy redeemed adore Thee,
While we sound this note abroad
Calvary’s Victim
Vindicates the throne of God.
Man of sorrows, God of glory,
Wondrous path Thy foot hath trod;
Cross and crown rehearse the story,
Joyous sound this note abroad―
Calvary’s Victim
Now adorns the throne of God.”
It is at people’s option to look at that clever artist’s picture in the town where it may be exhibited, but all are responsible to look at Christ Himself for blessing; and faith will always find Him seated on the throne of grace in glory, ready to save to the uttermost all that come to Him in this His day of salvation; but, solemn to say, He will before very long, withdraw Himself from His rejecters’ view as a Saviour, and will be found in the character of Judge. Ah, friend, if you have thus to view Him, you will not find Him dispensing blessing, but eternal judgment. While reading these lines you may, in the pride of your heart, turn away, and refuse to accept Him as a loving Saviour, but then you will be compelled to look at Him on that great white throne― “for every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him.” So that it will not then be “Christ on Calvary,” nor “Christ on his Father’s throne,” but “CHRIST ON THE GREAT WHITE THRONE OF JUDGMENT,” now on view.
That viewing will be compulsory, and that judgment will be eternal!
Oh, think of it, reader! He will search you through and through!
That Son of Man, with eyes as a flame of fire, will then view you when you, will have nowhere to turn, with the burden of all your sins upon you. You will then say to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath has come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6:16, 1716And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:16‑17).)
Well, indeed, is it for the unsaved that He waits to be gracious, and will wait during this waning day of His grace and longsuffering mercy. The word still is― “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else” (Isa. 45:2222Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22)).
Could Michael Munkacsy fill the world with such marvelous productions of art, the viewing of them all would not help you a hair’s-breadth towards Christ in glory. Furthermore, had all the people that have ever lived, from Adam downwards, looked at Christ dying on the cross of Calvary’s mount, it would have availed them simply nothing, apart from faith. “For without faith it is impossible to please God.” For example, see that crowd of Jew and Gentile spectators viewing the Lord of life and glory, lifted up on the cross, for the sinner to receive by faith, and how few got the blessing, so far as Scripture records give; then contrast the two thieves near Him on their respective crosses receiving the due reward of their deeds. For all we know, they both saw “Christ on Calvary,” they both heard what He said there, and it is not told us the one thief was less needy than the other. But look at the difference, the one by faith accepted Christ as his Lord, confessed. Him as his Saviour, and consequently went with Him to paradise the same afternoon, while his companion continued to rail upon the Lord, and refused to confess Him, consequently he went down to hell that same day.
If you can be lowly enough to confess that humbled, spit-upon Saviour as your Lord, you will soon be exalted to where He is in glory; but only a little longer refuse to bow to Him, and you will be abased to that place “where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.”
Christ Himself left the highest place in glory, and took the lowest place on earth, and as the man Christ Jesus He has thus got the most exalted place in glory, where He now sits. All who have been identified with Him in the humbled place will ere long have the honor of being identified with Him in the highest place of glory forever.
I beseech you, friend, bow now, and yours is “glory with Christ forever.” Refuse, and hell will be your eternal portion, with the devil and his angels.
Nay, God forbid! J. N.