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I. TO SUFFER.

1. It did not primarily behove Christ to suffer merely because the prophets had foretold that He should suffer and die; the necessity of His sufferings was rather the reason why prophets were directed to foretel a suffering Messiah. It behoved Him to suffer, that He might make a full and sufficient atonement for the sins of guilty man. It was the will of the Divine Father, and that will was sovereign and absolute, that Jehovah Jesus, the everlasting Son of the Father, should assume our nature, live in our world, and suffer in our stead. It was the voluntary engagement of the Son of God to accomplish His Father's will — "Lo! I come; in the volume of the Book it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O My God."

2. I grant you there are collateral reasons why it thus "behoved Christ to suffer." "Thus it behoved Him to suffer," that He might exhibit a perfect pattern of all excellence, and of patience in the midst of suffering. In all His condescension, in all His meekness, in all His forgiveness, in all His charity, He has taught us how to live and how to suffer; and "if we say we abide in Him, we ought to walk as He also walked."

3. "It behoved Him to suffer in our nature, and in our world, that He might, in some sense, ennoble and dignify the path of poverty and of suffering.

4. "It behoved Him to suffer," that from personal experience in our nature and in our world, He might know how to sympathise with His suffering people.

5. "It behoved Him to suffer," preparatory to that glory to which, as Mediator, He was to be exalted. "Ought not Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into His glory?" Not unfrequently does it happen, that the path of suffering is the high road to honour and glory; and never does true greatness appear in a light so impressive and interesting, as when seen grappling with difficulties, struggling with opposition, and ultimately rising superior to all. Through what a scene of suffering and agony and blood did our Divine Saviour pass, preparatory to entering into His glory! And when He arrived at the heavenly world, what an outburst of triumph and joy do we hear! "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain." And let His suffering followers know, that if so be they suffer with Him, in His cause and in His state and temper, they shall also be glorified together.

II. TO RISE AGAIN.

1. It behoved Him to rise, that in rising He might show that the redemption-price paid by the shedding of His blood was sufficient, and that it was accepted.

2. It behoved Him to rise from the dead, that in rising He might show that He had triumphed over death.

3. It behoved Him to rise., that in rising He might be "the firstfruits of them that slept."

4. It behoved Him to rise from the dead, that in rising He might assert and exercise His regal character and office as King of saints, as Lord of the earth.

(R. Newton, D. D.)

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KJV: And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

WEB: As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace be to you."