John 21:1

CHRIST’S RESURRECTION LIFE

‘And on this wise shewed he himself.’

John 21:1

The appearings of Christ after His resurrection teach us many lessons.

I. They were designed to convey to the mind some idea as to the manner in which Christ should, at all times, according to His promise, visit and manifest Himself to His people.

(a) After He was risen Christ did not once shew Himself to any unconverted person. His visits were exclusively to His Church.

(b) Observe how He showed Himself to His people. Sometimes He came to one or another, separately, when He was alone—sometimes to two or three when they were in social converse—but more frequently when they were all assembled together.

(c) Those who from any cause especially needed Him, as, for example, Peter and Mary and Thomas, those were especially visited.

(d) On one occasion the manifestation finds the disciples in their ordinary vocation as fishermen—on another engaged in holy conversation—on others, and more frequently, in exercises of united devotion.

(e) Each manifestation is distinct and complete in itself. He is not always, visibly and palpably, with them, but the revelations are express and defined, at certain intervals, as He pleases, and as the occasion requires; and every revelation appears to have had its own particular intention.

(f) He always speaks first and is known by His speaking.

(g) There is an awe about His visits, but a great delight. They all grow in sweetness and pleasurableness as they go on.

(h) Some reproof, almost on every occasion, mingles with great tenderness and love—and there is a remarkable individuality in all His interviews.

(i) There is generally some exercise of faith at the beginning, but the visit seldom closes without some new thought and power communicated at the end.

(j) All the manifestations are eminently strengthening to those who receive them; and, in the majority of cases, they are wound up to some practical duty.

(k) It is evident in all, that Christ Himself is His children’s all-sufficient happiness; and that to know Him, to converse with Him, to love Him, to work for Him—is life, life indeed, communion indeed.

II. There is a further lesson which we must not omit.—Our Saviour in this interval between the grave and glory—an interval of which the deep intention can never be fathomed—seems to have proposed to Himself the design to shew how faithfully He would fulfil His engagements for His Church. So that we may trace a constant correspondence and parallel between the words He spoke and the promises He made before His death, and the acts He did after His resurrection. And this parallel, of which the beginning is shown us there, is to run on for ever and ever.

Rev. James Vaughan.