510 EXPOsrroBT thoughts.
Wb should observe, in this passage, the singularly gracious words iffith which our Lord introduced Himself to His dis- ciples after His resurrection. We read that He suddenly stood in the midst of them and said, "Peace be unto yaa."
This was a wonderful saying, when we consider the men to whom it was addressed. It was addressed to eleren disciples, who three days before had shamefolly forsaken their Master and fled. They had broken their promises. They had forgotten their professions of readiness to die for their faith. They had been scattered, " every man to his own,'' and left their Master to die alone. One of than had even denied Him three times. All of them had proved backsliders and cowards. And yet behold the re- turn which their Master makes to His disciples ! Not a word of rebuke is spoken. Not a single sharp saying falls from His lips. Calmly and quietly He appears in the midst of them, and begins by speaking of peace. '^ Peace be unto you 1 "
We see, in this touching saying, one more proof that the love of Christ "passeth knowledge." It is His glory to pass over a transgression. He "delighteth in mercy." He is far more willing to forgive than men are to be forgiven, and far more ready to pardon than men are to be par- doned. There is in His almighty heart an infinite willingness to put away man's transgressions. Though our sins have been as scarlet He is ever ready to make them white as snow, to blot them out, to cast them behind His back, to bury them in the depths of the sea, to remember them no more. All these are Scriptural phrases intended to convey the same great truth. The natural man is continually stumbling at them, and refusing to