THE VICTORY OF GOODNESS
‘The Holy and Righteous One.’
Acts 3:14 (R.V.)
It is when we look back that we understand. Never can that have been more true than it was with Jesus’ disciples after His Resurrection. To put it shortly, Christ’s Resurrection was a great victory, as His Death had seemed to be a great defeat. The one reversed the other.
What was it we have to ask which won when Christ rose? What was it which His victory stamped, as with God’s own seal with true gold?
I think the first answer which the disciples would have made would have been—‘ goodness.’ The battle had been fought between good and evil, and the good had won; and now, looking back to Christ’s life and to His death, they saw in these the glory of goodness, or how worth while it is to be good.
The goodness of Jesus Christ, can we speak more particularly about it?
I. It was a perfect and shining goodness.—We know the difference between what is first-rate in any business and what, though it is good, has no first-rateness. First-rate work is its own evidence. A first-rate speaker can command any audience, when a moderately good one will not get a hearing. And so it is with character.
II. More than this, it is plainly the chief thing in Jesus.—People are known by their strong points: one for his cleverness, another for his wit, a third for his bravery, and so on. But beyond all doubt the note of Jesus was goodness.
III. But there is an idea that goodness is dull; that it is a tame or pale thing; that it wants relish and flavour. Now, to think such things of Jesus would not be so much irreverent, as utterly dull and foolish. Goodness in Him had a keenness like the edge of the finest blade; it had a glow like fire; it held men like a spell; the lowly bearing and the quiet speech could not hide the force and intensity below. No life ever meant so much, was so full of meaning.
IV. And if still we try to get the secret of this goodness, we find this, that in Him goodness was not thinking of itself.—In Him goodness did not compare itself with others in order to make their faults show up; it simply sought to be like God, and do His will, and sought an opportunity to bring every one to do the same, waking up the goodness in them; even in those who had been very bad.
Has goodness in us any likeness to what it had in Him?
Bishop E. S. Talbot.
Illustration
‘Goodness with many of us is a thing of certain times and places. We are good, perhaps, at home, but not consistent when we get among other men and their ways; or well conducted in public, and on show, but not in private, when our tempers and the truth of us are seen. But true goodness is of one piece; one spirit runs through it all; it goes with a man everywhere. Such was the goodness of Christ.’