The Signs of the Times
November 25, 1897
Farewell Words
(Concluded.)
The Peace of Christ
In the East, in Christ's day, the customary greeting when one visited the house of a friend was, “Peace be to this house;” and in leaving it he used the same words. But how different in character is Christ's farewell! “Peace I leave with you,” he says; “my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” ST November 25, 1897, par. 1
The world in its busy activity will try to give us peace. Its cry is, “Peace and safety;” but no dependence is to be placed on its alluring representations. But the peace that Christ leaves as his legacy, he gives not as the world giveth. His gift is of higher value than can be computed; it is eternal. ST November 25, 1897, par. 2
Of Christ the prophet Isaiah had written, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” ST November 25, 1897, par. 3
Christ bears the title of “Prince of Peace,” yet he says of himself, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I am not come to send peace on earth, but a sword.” In explanation of this apparent contradiction, he declared, “In the world ye shall have tribulation; but in me ye shall have peace.” Christ warned his disciples that the time would come when they should be hated of all men for his sake; that they would be brought before kings and rulers; and that to destroy their lives would be deemed a service done to God. The peace which he bequeathed to his followers was not a peace which would prevent all divisions; it was a peace given and enjoyed in the midst of divisions. ST November 25, 1897, par. 4
Christ brought this peace with him to the world; he carried it with him throughout his earthly life. And now the time had come when he must give his life in order that that peace might ever abide in the heart by faith. As then he left his peace with his disciples, so now he is implanting and maintaining it in the hearts of all who will welcome its presence. From him alone can come that peace which the world can neither give nor take away. His peace was the consciousness of having done the will of his Father; and that peace in his follower is the consciousness that he is doing the will of God, and reflecting his character in good works. ST November 25, 1897, par. 5
“If ye loved me,” said Christ, “ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father; for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you; for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.” ST November 25, 1897, par. 6
The time had come for Satan's last attempt to overcome Christ. But Christ declared, He had nothing in me, no sin that brings me in his power. He can find nothing in me that responds to his Satanic suggestions. No other being could say this but the One who was offering up his life as a sinless sacrifice for a sinful race. ST November 25, 1897, par. 7
“For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” ST November 25, 1897, par. 8
But why this severe conflict with the prince of the world, when Jesus, through his childhood, youth, and manhood, had lived the law of God? By a word Christ could have mastered the powers of Satan, but he came into the world and took humanity that he might endure every test, every provocation that it is possible for man to bear, and yet not be provoked, or retaliate in word, in spirit, or in action. For the honor and glory of God he was to offer himself a living, spotless sacrifice to the Father. He must bear, under fierce temptations, the test that Adam failed to endure. He suffered, being tempted; but there was no yielding to the temptations of Satan. He did as the Father had given him commandment. ST November 25, 1897, par. 9
Christ was a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. The worlds unfallen, the heavenly intelligences, and the fallen race were watching every movement made by the representative of the Father and the representative of perfect humanity. And in his mouth was found no guile; his character was without a flaw. ST November 25, 1897, par. 10
All the humiliation which Christ endured was in behalf of the fallen race, that man might have the mind of Christ. Christ revealed to the world the love of God for fallen man and the perfect love which he bore his Father. And in humanity this same love is to be revealed. In the fallen race the very image of God is to be reflected. The cold heart is to be quickened and glow with divine love. It is to beat in unison with the heart of the Redeemer. The honor of Christ must stand complete in the perfection of the character of his chosen people. He desires that they shall represent his character to the world. In the work of redemption, in the sufferings which Christ was called upon to endure, you are to co-operate with him, that you may be complete in him. In being united to him by faith, believing and receiving him, you become part of himself. Your character is his glory revealed in you. Then, when you shall appear in his presence, you will find the benediction awaiting you, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over the many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” ST November 25, 1897, par. 11
Mrs. E. G. White