SOME FUNDAMENTALS - THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

It is an immensely important fact that there is a living Man actually out of death. The disciples of Jesus were very slow to follow His references to His resurrection, but the chief priests and Pharisees quoted Him as having said, "After three days I arise'', and in consequence of their approach to Pilate the sepulchre was sealed with the Roman seal and the guard stood by (see Matt 27: 62-66). It could not be, however, that the Son of God, who could say "I am the resurrection and the life", should be kept in death. In view of the glory of His person He must rise from among the dead. But also from the Father's side divine power and love must intervene, so He was raised up from among the dead by the glory of the Father (see Rom 6: 4). When those devoted women visited the tomb so early on the first day of the week, there had been a tremendous earthquake and the great stone at the entrance to the sepulchre had been rolled away, not to let the Lord out but that they might look in. The presence of the angel was terrifying to the guards, but to the women he said "Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus the crucified one. He is not here, for he is risen, as he said". So the empty sepulchre bore witness to that stupendous fact that the Saviour who had laid down His life and had been buried was now alive out of death.

Then followed the personal appearings of the Lord, first to Mary Magdalene, then to the other women, and later on that first day of the week to Simon Peter and to the two disciples journeying to Emmaus. Then He was manifested to the eleven and reproached them because they had not believed those who had seen Him risen (see Mark 16: 1-15). Subsequently He was seen by many during a period of forty days; by over five hundred brethren, then by James, then by all the apostles, and last of all by Paul.

The resurrection of Christ is an undeniable fact and an essential part of the gospel. On the cross He bore our sins, and His resurrection is the witness on one hand that the judgment of God against our sins has been exhausted, and on the other that God is completely satisfied, indeed delighted, with Jesus and His finished work. He "has been delivered for our offences and has been raised for our justification". The believer in Jesus is now accounted righteous, justified in Christ risen, as clear of every charge as Christ Himself and brought into the unclouded favour of God (see Rom 4: 23-5: 2).

What a glorious Victor Jesus is! He has glorified God in respect of sin, has broken the power of death and annulled him who had the might of death, that is the devil. On the other side of death, in resurrection life, He has secured brethren of His own order, the assembly as His counterpart, and sons for the praise of the Father. What pleasure God found in displaying the might of His strength in raising Him from the dead and setting Him down at His own right hand in the heavenlies, giving Him as Man the supreme place in the universe, and causing Him to be Head over all things to the assembly which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all. How great Jesus is!

W.E.Ellis