THE FAMILY ALTAR

April 27.

"Peace be unto you." John 20, 19.

The first word our risen Lord addresses to His little flock

of frightened disciples as it cowers behind closed doors for fear

of the Jews, is the sweet, reassuring word peace. In that blessed

word He pardons their faithlessness, tells them that He comes

back to them as their loving Lord, in whose companionship they

have nothing to fear; for He has conquered death and hell for

them, and is able to protect them against all their foes. From

henceforth we see these formerly weak, frightened, vacillating

disciples turned into bold, fearless witnesses of their Lord, dread-

ing neither persecution nor death for His dear sake. "Peace be

unto you." This Easter greeting of our risen Lord sums up for

us His blessed saving mission while here on earth. Now we can

exult with Paul : "He is our peace !" He hath made peace between

us and our God through His cross. He was delivered for our

offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Being justi-

fied by faith, we have peace with God. His Gospel is God's

proclamation of peace to the whole sin-lost world. He that came

to the disciples that Easter Eve, even He comes to us in His holy

Word, and gives us peace, peace against the accusation of our sins,

if we truly believe in Him. For "there is now no condemnation

to them which are in Christ Jesus." (Tom. 8, 1.) He is our peace

in all the storms and vicissitudes of this life; for nothing can

pluck us out of His saving hand. He proves Himself our peace

in the extremity of death. Even then we can by the aid of His

Holy Spirit say with Simeon of old: "Lord, now lettest Thou

Thy servant depart in peace." Oh, blessed shall we be if we

cling to the Gospel of our crucified and risen Savior; for in it

we find peace, abiding peace of heart, which the world cannot give

and even death cannot destroy.

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?

The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?

On Jesus' bosom naught but calm is found.

Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?

In Jesus' keeping we are safe, and they.

Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?

Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.

It is enough: earth's struggles soon shall cease,

And Jesus call us to heaven's perfect peace.