Pardon And Peace In The Name Of Jesus

As I was writing the title of this meditation, I began to sing these words, “pardon and peace to bestow.” Of course many of you know this long-standing hymn by A. C. Downer, Jesus Saves me Now. Here is the stanza from the hymn.

Jesus hath died and hath risen again,

Pardon and Peace to bestow,

Fully I trust Him, from sin’s guilty stain,

Jesus saves me now.

O yes! I love this hymn and sing it lustily, with the whole congregaton, each time it is sung at Church. It is one of those hymns which is guaranteed to receive a hearty, amen, after it is sung, so loved is it. However, as much as I love and know the words of this hymn and the quoted verse in particular, it never really dawned on me that pardon and peace are bestowed upon us by Jesus. If to bestow, means to give something as a gift, as an honour, is this hymn writer telling us that we are being honoured, when we receive our Lord’s pardon and peace?

O great and mighty Lord, ever loving and ever giving, who are we that You should bestow upon us Your perfect pardon and peace? We worship You! We bow to You! We give ourselves to You. Amen!

As we meditate for a bit on Pardon, we cannot but keep in our minds that the Lord bestows pardon upon us.

PARDON

There is pardon and forgiveness of sins in the Name of Jesus. Peter published this fact for all listeners to hear, on that Pentecostal hour, when he preached a sermon of sermons and people were pricked to their hearts. They all wanted to know what they had to do to receive the abundant life Peter spoke about. Repent, and be baptised, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2: 38. Here is guaranteed advice for all who seek forgiveness of sins and a new life with Jesus. In the Name of Jesus there is repentance. In the Name of Jesus there is baptism. In the Name of Jesus you will receive God’s gift of the Holy Ghost.

Here now are Peter and John before the austere and powerful Sanhedrin having to answer questions on what power or by what name they did the miracle on the crippled beggar. Not in the least bit intimidated or cowering in any way,

Peter, full of the Spirit, speaks with clarity, surety and most unhesitatingly. Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which became the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4: 10 – 12.

The Name of Jesus is the only pardoning Name for all people. Jesus’ Name is the One Name, for there is no other name, found, under heaven, whereby all sinners can be saved. Grace, pardoning, atoning, redeeming, saving grace, are in the Name of Jesus, His Name alone.

PEACE

There is peace in the Name of Jesus, for Jesus is Peace. Listen to what Isaiah 9: 6b, states about the Name of Jesus. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Jesus is His Name and His Name is He, so that if His Name is Peace, then peace is who He is. Jesus can therefore bring comfort, encouragement, solace and peace to the hearts of His fearing disciples, when He tells them this most calming word.

Remember, Jesus is about to leave them in the flesh, and when He informs them of His moves, what He is about to do, they are beside themselves with grief. Here are these most life-bearing words of peace. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14: 27. Is this not for us also, all of us who believe and will take Jesus at His Word? Should we not therefore, all of us who love Jesus and claim Him as being with us, be living with His peace and in His peace? Jesus Is Peace.

Pardon and peace are what Jesus bestows.