R. B. Kuiper Faith and Love in Obedience to the Is Own Preaching Exemplified What Gospel of God's Reconciling Grace in H in His Classes He Called an "Ideal Christ
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, l- I G aim of calling forth a response of R. B. Kuiper faith and love in obedience to the is own preaching exemplified what gospel of God's reconciling grace in H in his classes he called an "ideal Christ. He was a preacher to "warm JESUS' DEATH AND BURIAL homily" - the orderly treatment of a the cockles of the heart"-to quote single theme derived from a passage one of his favorite phrases. Edward Wybenga of Scripture. His life followed a sim Professor's Kuiper's second career ilar pattern. It magnified one central was as an administrator and teacher in theme: the glory of the sovereign God. three institutions of higher learning. The infallible Word was his meat and He taught Systematics one year as a PROMOTING FOREIGN MISSIONS drink. His focus was ever upon Jesus member of Westminster Seminary's Christ as the only Savior of God's original faculty in 1929-30 before Theodore ,"ard elect. The fourscore years of divine serving a three-year term as President allotment embraced a breadth of serv of Calvin College. Returning to West ice in the sphere of the kingdom that minster in 1933, he remained for left a notable heritage to the praise nearly twenty years as Professor of THE COVENANT OF GRACE of his Lord. Practical Theology, until his first "re Born in the Netherlands, R. B. tirement" in 1952. He continued to Collinsworth Lare Kuiper came to the United States at be held in high esteem as Professor the age of five. After graduating from Emeritus of that institution. Then for the University of Chicago and receiv several years he headed Calvin Semi ing his M.A. from the University of nary until he "retired" once more in THIRTY MILLION FOR CHRIST Indiana, he attended both Calvin and 1956 as President Emeritus. Harvie Conn Princeton Seminaries. These years pre (concluded on page 57) pared him for a calling that, like most of his sermons, had three main head mgs. The first was a preacher. His seven REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE teen years in five Michigan pastorates from 1912 to 1929 by no means ter ON FOREIGN MISSIONS minated the opportunities that came throughout his life to preach the Word. He had the gift of making the profound simple as he proclaimed the whole counsel of God. He preached BEAUTY AND BURDEN IN SPAIN with all his might, his whole being Lillian Young vibrating with the emphasis with which he punctuated his points. His messages came from a heart with a passion for making plain God's re vealed truth. For him there was no THE CHANGING SCENE conflict between love and truth: his Henry Coray preaching demonstrated the thoroughly biblical notion that the love of God Professor Kuiper on the occasion of his visit to Westminster in 1963, when is shown in telling men the truth of he delivered the Commencement God. He heralded that truth with the address. VOL 35, NO. 4 APRIL·MAY, 1966 il I Meditations on the Gospel of Luke fixion. The manner and the moment of his death showed that Christ chose 11 to die at that time, in fulfillment of his own words: "No man taketh my life ~ Jesus? Death and Burial from me, but I lay it down of my self. I have power to lay it down, and EDWARD WYBENGA I have power to take it again" (John It 10:18). The Good Shepherd freely Luke 23:44-56 great Paschal Lamb was being offered laid down his life for his sheep. nd it was about the sixth hour, up for our sins. The supernatural darkness, the rend A and there was a darkness over all "And when Jesus had cried with a ing of the rocks, the words of the suf the earth until the ninth hour." The loud voice, he said, Father into thy fering Savior, his loud cry and calm hands I commend my spirit: and hav death - all of this produced a pro I(, poet wrote: found effect upon the centurion and Well might the sun in darkness hide ing said thus, he gave up the ghost." r. To shut his glories in, The Lord of life bowed his head in his soldiers. "They feared greatly" When Christ, the mighty Maker, died death! "All things were made by perhaps that the wrath of God might For man the creature's sin. him"- he was the Author of life. He yet fall upon them for their part in But the darkness was not only in the had raised the dead back to life, yet this crucifixion. Agitated by these por realm of nature; there was also a he himself died. The awesome fact of tentous events, they voiced their con spiritual darkness that fell upon the the death of Jesus Christ calls for our victions: "Certainly this was a righ soul of Jesus. It was then that he most solemn thought and deepest teous man; truly this was the Son of uttered the heart-rending cry, "My reverence. God" (Luke 23:47; Matt. 27:54). God, my God, why hast thou for The fierce struggle was over. The Burial saken me?" This was the climax of debt incurred by our sin against God Jesus' death was witnessed not only the Savior's sufferings upon the cross, had been paid; the work of redemp by his enemies but also by some of for to be forsaken of God is the deep tion was finished. Then the Savior en his friends. Among them were the est sorrow and dread that can come trusted his spirit into his Father's faithful women who followed him upon man. hands - the place of blessed safety from Galilee, ministering unto him. As the sin of the world bore down in God's most holy and mighty keep They were the last at the cross and at upon the Lamb· of God, the Father ing. There was no more agitation or the grave that evening; they were the turned his face away from the Son, anxiety, only serenity and peace and first at the tomb on Sunday morning. for God can not look with favor upon full confidence in the Father's love. Courageous, faithful, tender and sin. This drew from Jesus his agoniz The feeling of separation, of utter thoughful were these women. ing cry - the obedient Servant "in the loneliness, had passed. His spirit re When the enemies of Christ had likeness of sinful flesh" for a short turned to the Father. And the thick finished their cruel work the loving time lost the consciousness of God's darkness that had enveloped the land hands of friends took over. Joseph of comforting presence and felt only his was dispelled. Arimathea, a rich man, and Nico wrath against sin. The curse of sin demus (John 19:39), both men of was upon Christ - that the blessing A Willing Death distinction and members of the Jewish of salvation might come upon us who Jesus' death exemplifies the kind of ruling body, came forward to ask per believe. "There is therefore now no death ours should be. In holy trust mission to take the body of Jesus from condemnation to them which are in and quiet assurance we may commit the cross for burial. Once secret dis Christ Jesus" (Romans 8: 1). our souls to God's care in that hour. ciples, because they feared the dis "And the sun was darkened, and But while there is a similarity there pleasure of their peers, they now de the veil of the temple was rent in the are also a marked differences between monstrated courage and boldness. Tak midst." This costly veil, made of rich his decease and ours. Christ's death ing the body, they wrapped it in costly materials and some sixty feet high, was a voluntary one. He died because linen with the spices and carefully laid separated the Holy Place from the he willed to die for the salvation of it in Joseph's new tomb nearby. In Holy of Holies in which the ark of his people. We die because we must this honorable burial the words of the God used to rest - the ark which die - our last enemy is stronger than prophet were again fulfilled, that he symbolized the presence of the thrice we are. Nor does our death have any made his grave with the rich in his holy God among his people. Only saving power for others, for we our death (Is. 53). once a year, on the Day of Atone selves are sinners. His death alone was There in the tomb, sealed with a ment, was the high priest allowed to substitutionary. We may die by acci stone, the body of Jesus lay until his enter within the veil to offer the dent or in great weakness. Jesus died glorious resurrection on the morning blood of atonement for the sins of while yet strong of voice and in ful of the third day. "Except a grain of the people. It is remarkable that at the fillment of God's eternal purpose. wheat fall into the ground and die, it time when the evening sacrifices began, His death, moreover, came sooner abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth when the Paschal lambs were being than was expected by the Roman sol forth much fruit" (John 12:24). slain and their blood shed in the diers at the cross, for they were accus Whoever believes on this crucified and temple-courts - at that very time the tomed to lingering deaths by cruci- risen Savior has everlasting life! The Presbyterian Guardian is published monthly by the Presbyterian Guardian Publishing Corporation, 7401 Old York Road, Philadelphia 26, Po., at the following rates, payable in advance in any part of the world, postage prepaid: $3.00 per year ($2.50 in Clubs of ten or more); $1.00 for four months; 25c per single copy.