^ What power Christ put into one word ! The human voice is wonderfully musical. God has filled creation with music. The birds carol, the brooks murmur, the trees sing in the breeze. The ocean is always in tune. When the storm whips the billow into foam, or when the waves ripple idly on the sand, the voice of the ocean is always full of music. But nothing in creation can really rival the human voice. There are instruments of music which are pleasant to the ear ; but for pathos, for power, for compass, for sweetness, the organ of human speech is above all.
(2) All hail ! — This was the second word of the risen Lord. It was spoken to a company of sorrowing women. They had been to the sepulchre, carrying spices to embalm His body. There they had seen a vision of angels, and had been instructed by one of them to bear the intelligence of Christ's resurrection to the disciples. While they were hastening to fulfil this commission, Jesus Himself met them, saying, " All hail ! " Jesus always meets His people in the path of obedience. Now the Greek word for " All hail " means simply " Eejoice." The second great resurrection word is a word of joy.
^ Rejoice because I live. — They thought Him dead. They had no expectation of His resurrection. They came to anoint a dead body and met a living Saviour. The cross had been the grave of their expectations. He whom they expected to reign had died a felon's death. But now Jesus meets them. A living Lord bids them rejoice — rejoice that He is alive.
He lives, the friend of sinners lives, What joy this blest assurance gives.
ST. MARK 501
^ Rejoice because I show you what death is. — He was " first- born from the dead." He was the " first-fruits " of the resurrec- tion. His was the first real resurrection. We do not forget those raised by Elijah and Elisha, and the three whom Jesus Himself raised from the dead. But they were not instances of resurrection but of resuscitation. Each of them had to die again. Christ, raised from the dead, " dieth no more." " He is alive for ever- more." By His resurrection " he brought life and immortality to light."
^ Rejoice because I have trium'phed. — " He was manifested to destroy the works of the devil." One work of the devil was death. St. Paul tells us " Christ hath abolished death." How did He accomplish this, but by His resurrection from the dead ? He was not imprisoned for long. Like a mighty Samson He bore the gates away, and now the gates of death shall not prevail against us.
(3) Peace ! — This is one of the most prominent of the resurrection words. It was spoken to the disciples in the upper room at Jerusalem. It was the very word they needed, for they were full of distress and fear. The peace He gave was a peace well based. He was Himself not only their source of peace, He was their peace.
^ Peace is always based on a feeling of safety. The boy who feels safe because he trusts the wisdom of his father, does not grow uneasy though the way be unknown and the night dark. He feels safe with his father and has peace. The old man who rides in his carriage has peace, because he trusts his coachman who has driven him for years. His sense of security gives him peace. The captain has no fear for his vessel though the fog is dense. The pilot who stands on the bridge has brought his boat to port so often that he can trust him and so has peace. It was so with the disciples. The knowledge that they were not alone, that He upon whose guidance they had depended was still with them, and was to be ever with them, this was the ground of their peace.
(4) Go ! — " Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me." The meeting in Galilee was always thrown into prominence. Galilee is the appointed meeting-place for the great revelation Jesus gave of Himself. What shall the great word be for this occasion ? He has spoken a personal word, a word of joy, a word of peace ; now He gives the word of command, " Go ! " " Then they went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. . , . And Jesus
502 THE GREAT TEXTS OF THE BIBLE
came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations." \ A living Christ means a going Church. And so we leave these four great resurrection words. Christ is risen ! The risen Christ speaks ! He speaks to call us, to cheer us, to comfort us, to command us. " After he had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God." And now from the throne He speaks similar words to us. Let ub listen to the living Christ.^
3. These treasured words, which may be called the " resur- rection words," remind us of the great truth which we are taught in this verse, — which means so much to us, that Jesus spoke to His disciples, before He left them. And on the day of His Ascension they would remember above all the promise which He gave them before His death : "If I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself ; that where I am ye may be also " (John xiv. 3).