May 4

PART IV.—Luke 24:5—6

THE resurrection of Jesus is a doctrine of primary importance. It behoved Christ to rise from the dead, and if he be not risen, then both preaching and hearing the Gospel are alike in vain. Blessed be God, the evidence of Christ's resurrection is abundantly satisfactory. Christ is risen indeed. We may therefore contemplate, with delight, the great ends which that resurrection accomplished. By rising from the dead, Jesus has fully proved the divinity of his person and mission. God would never have raised up an impostor from the dead—He never would have set his broad supernatural seal on the pretensions of a deceiver. God has therefore confirmed all the claims of Jesus, as the Messiah and the divine Son of God. By Christ's resurrection, solid ground of hope is laid for the believing sinner. Jesus, as the surety, engaged to pay all demands against the sinner. Now God releases him from the prison of the tomb, and thus the satisfaction of the work of Christ is attested. Now the sinner has good ground of hope, not only from Christ's death, but also from his resurrection from the dead. Besides, a dead Saviour could not possibly quicken and save a dead sinner. It is therefore indispensable that he must be raised from the dead, who is to be the resurrection and life of others. By Christ's resurrection our minds are naturally directed to the resurrection of all his people. Christ always acted in a public capacity. He was not incarnate for himself but for sinners — he lived and died for sinners. His resurrection was for the benefit of sinners. But it was also a sign and pledge of the resurrection of all his saints. He is the first-fruits, and afterwards there shall be the ingathering of the mighty harvest at his coming. He was raised as the Head; all the members of his body shall be raised to live with him, that where he is, there they may be also. Yes, Jesus will assuredly raise all who believe in him in the great day. And he will raise them in his own form and likeness, that there may be a glorious conformity, between himself and his saints for ever.