The path of life.
The attractiveness and ease, or the reverse, of any path may depend on many conditions. Smooth or rough, steep or level, plain or confused with turns and windings; bright with sunshine or dark with tempest. But the main question is—Whither will it lead? We speak often of human life as a journey—a path along which, like pilgrims, we are travelling. Whither does it lead? Apart from Christ and his gospel, the only answer is—to the grave. Our Saviour's death and resurrection have changed all this; made both life and death something quite other than before. He lived in order to die; died in order to live again; lives again, to make us partakers of his life.
I. JESUS LIVED THAT HE MIGHT DIE. In quite another sense from what is true of all men, or of any other, his life was the path of death. In the prime of life and unrivalled usefulness, he thirsted for death; not the rest of the grave, but the conflict of the cross (Luke 12:50). As the purpose of his coming (Matthew 20:28). The fulfilment of prophecy (Luke 9:31). The commission of the Father (John 10:17, John 10:18). The pain of his joy (Hebrews 12:2).
II. JESUS DIED THAT BE MIGHT LIVE AGAIN. Life saw for him the path of death; death, the path of life. To this the text points, as interpreted by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:24-32). His resurrection has changed our whole view of death, and. therefore of life (Hebrews 2:14, Hebrews 2:15). What seemed the mountain barrier against which the last waves of life break, proves to be but the narrow strait leading into the boundless ocean of life indeed.
III. JESUS LIVES TO MAKE US PARTAKERS OF HIS LIFE. (John 14:3, John 14:19; John 10:28.) CONCLUSION. It is a poor, mean view of Christianity which speaks of it as preparation for death. It is preparation for life. It is more—it is the beginning, the first stage, the infancy and childhood, of eternal life (1 John 5:11, 1 John 5:12; Colossians 3:1-4).