(Gen. 1:and Jno. 20:)

A comparison of these two chapters will reveal much of contrast and much of similarity.

The former affords a perfect picture of the old creation;* the latter gives a no less perfect picture of the new. *The term " old creation," although not quite accurate, is restricted here to the six days' work.*

In Gen. 1:2 we see that what had left the Creator's hand in a perfect condition (comp. 5:i and Is. 45:18) is now desolate-waste ; while in Jno. 20:, first part, we see that man whom He had made upright, made to hold sweet communion with, was so utterly a ruin (tohu-"ruin" is the word used both in Gen. 1:2 and Is. 45:18), that he did not recognize his Creator; even the people He had singled out for Himself, and especially favored, would not have Him.

In Gen. 1:we get physical ruin and creation, as we say; in Jno. 20:we get moral ruin and new creation.

In Gen. 1:2 we read, "And the earth was without form and void, and darkness upon the face of the deep." If we allow " the earth " to typify Israel, and " the deep " to typify the world as such, what could be more desolate or formless than that loved and cared-for people, who, when their Messiah came to them, could say, " Not this Man, but Barabbas" ? and what more dark than the human heart, as manifested at the cross (Jno. 19:) ? But in Gen. 1:2 the Spirit of God hovers over the waters, so in Jno. 20:Jesus does not go instantly to heaven, He Singers, although not a soul to welcome Him as He emerges from His borrowed grave (see Prov. 8:31).

In Gen. 1:God is about to display His wisdom And power in fashioning from those unpromising materials an abode for man, indeed, an abode for Himself, may we not say? In Jno. 20:the blessed Head of the new creation is about to form, out of such materials, "a habitation of God through the Spirit." (Eph. 2:22.)

In Gen. 1:there is a sevenfold process, six days of work and the desolate scene is made to blossom and bear fruit, so that on the seventh, He can view it all with perfect satisfaction and rest. In Jno. 20:there is also a sevenfold process, seven utterances of the Risen One, leading on to millennial rest. Marvelous utterances, these first words of the First-born from the dead ! Each utterance, we shall find, corresponding with its numerical place :-

I. " Woman, why weepest thou, whom seekest thou ? "(5:15)

Light has come in. Why did the blessed Lord ask Mary why she wept, and whom she sought? Did He not know? Surely, He did. Why do we ask our children, as they begin to lisp their first word, "Whose dear little baby are you?" but to hear them say, as we well know they will say, " Papa's " or " Mamma's " ?We love to hear those words, and the blessed Lord longed to hear the confession from Mary's lips, "If thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away."How precious to the Lord must have been that threefold confession of "Him" whoso filled her heart!

II."Mary!" (5:16.)

Only one word, but how much is expressed by it !

"He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." (Chap. 10:3.)

"For I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine." (Is. 43:1:)

On the second day of creation, waters were separated from waters. Thus the number 2 is easily read here, speaking of redemption or salvation (see Exodus, second book of Moses), separation to, or relationship, not the ground of it, but imposition, the fact.

She therefore owns Him Master.

III. "Jesus saith unto her, 'Touch Me not ; for I am not yet ascended to My Father:but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.'" (5:17.)

On the third day of creation, dry land appeared, the waters being gathered together, and there was grass, herbs, fruit. The third book of Moses speaks of the sanctuary, of access to God.

3 is the number which speaks of solidity (length, breadth, and thickness); the sanctuary is a cube, as also the holy city-"the length, breadth, and height of it are equal." Jesus arose on the third day; thus it speaks of resurrection and the manifestation of God's power. It is also the number of persons in the Godhead. God thus fully revealed in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

If we take Mary to be typical of the Church, in the chapter we are looking at, the number 3 is very fruitful as showing the Church's place.

(a) She stands on resurrection-ground. Not now linked with an earthly Messiah. She is not to touch Him, for He is not yet ascended to His Father. This implies (b) that her proper contact with Him will be when He has ascended. Meantime she (c) is sent forth to tell where He is gone.

This series of three,-1:e., the first three utterances, gives the Church's place very fully.

Called, chosen, and sent, to speak of Him who has brought her into His own relationship with His Father ' and His God. '

IV. " Peace be unto you." (5:19.)

On the fourth day of creation, the sun, moon, and stars appeared. They were to "rule the day and to rule the night, and to divide the light from the darkness" (see Jno. 8:12; Eph. 5:8).

In the fourth book of Moses, we have the ordering of Jehovah's camp. In this fourth utterance of Jesus, we have a perfect picture of the assembly, viewed from the subjective, or practical side. The assembly is gathered, the world, the religious world, outside, Jesus in the midst, peace is proclaimed, and they are reminded of His death. Peace here, is peace with God, that peace which is made by the blood of His cross.

"Jesus in the midst." "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt, 18:20.)

On the fourth day of the old creation, the sun was put into his place as center of our planetary system, the solar system,-1:e., his system. And what an important place ! No light, no heat, no day, no summer, no season, no life indeed without the sun; and even night itself would be blacker still without his reflected light. Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all revolve around the sun as their center, who can imagine the ruin which would ensue upon his displacement! There is a lesson for us here of deepest practical importance.

If the number 4 is the first number which allows of simple division, and speaks thus of weakness, yet here we may learn how in our very weakness His strength is made perfect (2 Cor. 12:9 cf. Rom. 6:19), just as on the other hand, in the fourth book of Moses, we see failure on every side where, thinking themselves strong, His people displace 'Him.

V. "Then said Jesus to them again, 'Peace be unto you ; as the Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.' " (V. 21.)

On the fifth day of creation, the waters are made to bring forth abundantly. "And God blessed them, saying, 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas; and let fowl multiply in the earth' " (Gen. 1:22).

In the fifth book, responsibility is pressed :" Go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers." (Deut. 1:8.)

So here in this fifth utterance of the risen Head of the new creation, we have responsibility, stewardship (comp. chap. 17:18) and the peace of God.

VI. "And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost:whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained.' " (10:22, 23.)

On the sixth day God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.

So here, in this sixth utterance of the risen Lord, we get a picture of the Church's privilege and responsibility, leading on to the seventh day, the rest at the end, and how near that end we may be!

" Peace be unto you." (5:26.)

In the old creation, the seventh was the day of rest; here, it speaks of millennial rest, the remnant (Thomas, type of the saved remnant of the Jews at the end of this dispensation), not present till then, comes in at the end. They are unbelieving now, but ere long will see Him, as He comes to the earth, will see His wounds, and will say, " My Lord and my God " (comp. Zech. 13:6; 12:10-14; Rev. 1:7).

VIII." Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." (5:29 )

This is the eighth utterance, but like the octave in music, it carries us back to the beginning.

To sum up :-

The first three utterances appear to give the objective side, the Church in His mind. This is perfect in itself. The remaining four give the subjective, man's side(4- earthen vessel).

We have the new day-first day,..vers. i, 19, 26.
new name, …..ver. 16.
new relationship,…ver. 17.
Peace with God, ……..ver. 19.
Peace of God,………ver. 21.
Peace at the end-millennial,…ver. 26. .
I cannot do better in closing this superficial study than use the words of another :-

" Good and precious Savior, we do indeed rejoice that Thou hast now fulfilled all things, and art at rest with Thy Father, whatever may be Thy active love for us. Oh, that we may know and love Thee better ! But still we can say in fullness of heart, Come quickly, Lord ! Leave once more the throne of Thy rest and of Thy personal glory, to come and take us to Thyself, that all may be fulfilled for us also, and that we may be with Thee and in the light of Thy Father's countenance and in His house. Thy grace is infinite, but Thy presence and the joy of the Father shall be the rest of our hearts, and our eternal joy."-(Synopsis, vol. 3:,p. 454.) J.B.J.