UNDER some conditions rejoicing at “a burial would betray a sad lack of true sympathy. But there was no such lack, no trace of anything like indifference, at the burial we refer to; the writer himself being witness. Many tears were shed, but not all tears of sorrow: tears of joy abounded. A sister in Christ had longed to depart and to be with Him; and that desire being now satisfied, all that loved her rejoiced because of it. She had no fear of death when here, and was now beyond the possibility forever. To close her eyes to things here, and open them in the presence of Jesus there, was all that death meant for her.
When Jacob heard that Joseph was still alive, and in a position of great influence in a land of plenty, together with the undeniable evidence, before his eyes, of Joseph’s longing to see him, he was not long in making known his desire to depart to where he was. “Joseph my son is yet alive. I will go and see him before I die” (Gen. 45:2828And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. (Genesis 45:28)). How often he must have said to himself. And am I really to have the joy of seeing my Joseph again! And the one whose burial we are referring to had her own personal longings, though of a different order, and gave good proof of her desire that her brethren and sisters in the Lord should participate in her joy. She made special request that a certain hymn should be sung by them at her grave:—
“And shall we see Thy face,
And hear Thy heavenly voice!
Well known to us in present grace,
Well may our hearts rejoice.”
The whole hymn was sung, and the Lord’s presence deeply realized in doing so. All hearts seemed stirred and tears of joy filled many eyes! Not a trace of religious formality was in evidence. The one who committed the precious remains to the Lord’s keeping until raised by Himself, thus addressed Him: Lord Jesus, there is now no need of the question once asked at Bethany. “Where have ye laid him?” Thine eye is now upon the very spot where we have laid our beloved sister, waiting for Thy coming again: she is one of Thine! (In 1 Corinthians 15:2323But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:23), referring to the resurrection, we read, “Christ the first-fruits: afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.”)
Because of a heavy shower, we had previously had a short meeting in the Cemetery chapel. After two or three had poured out their hearts to the Lord in prayer and fervent thanksgiving, the writer was impressed to refer to two Scriptures where rejoicing companies are mentioned (Luke 24:50-5350And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. (Luke 24:50‑53), and Jude 2424Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (Jude 24)). “And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and lifted up His hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.”
A few remarks followed. Attention was drawn to the fact that when Jesus ascended to heaven two objects of special interest were left on earth. One was the empty grave of Jesus, the other a company of believers marked by “great joy”; were “praising and blessing God” continually.
Other Scriptures, however, show that the time will come when He will once more come out of heaven and again ascend to heaven; but under very different conditions. Instead of one empty grave being left on earth, countless thousands will be left, and those that occupied them will be taken by Jesus to heaven with incorruptible bodies like His Own. But not one rejoicing heart will be found on earth that day! If the reader were left (God in mercy forbid it) and he began to wonder how many had been taken to heaven, it he could possibly count all the empty graves it would not reveal the number, for in that ascending company will be found a multitude that never had a grave! This, remember, is no mere conjecture. The Scriptures which cannot be broken have plainly stated it.
“This we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent (go before) them that are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of. God and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-1615For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑16)).
Just here comes a very interesting question, What is He going to do with them all? Jude 2424Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (Jude 24). supplies the answer: He will “present them faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”
What a mingling of joys will there be found! The Father has been seeking “true worshippers” (John 4:2323But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (John 4:23)). What a vast multitude of them will be at that presentation, all owing their fitness to be there to the Father’s Sent One, Whose precious blood had cleansed them, and Whose beauteous perfection will then adorn them, to the Father’s delight! Then there will be the blessed Saviour’s own joy. In Hebrews 12:22Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2) we are told that it was for “the joy that was set before Him, that He endured the cross, despising the shame.” That “exceeding joy” will be seen shining in His blessed countenance. And it was added, our departed sister will have her own place in that joyful celebration, and so shall we all! He will regard the joy of having us for Himself and for his Father, as abundant compensation for all that He passed through to secure us! “He shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied” (Isa. 53:1111He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)). He will never feel that He gave too much for us! How it makes our hearts glow now to think of it! Yet the poor, poor unbelievers all round are treating His kindness with cold indifference; ashamed to confess Him, too proud to bow to Him. If you are one of them, what about your burial? What shall the end be of all that obey not the Gospel? (1 Peter 4:1717For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)).
GEO. C.