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Jesus and the Resurrection
Risen from the Dead
1 “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). “I am the resurrection,” said Jesus, “and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die” (John 11:25,26). Surely, the sweetest story ever told is contained in this blessed message that came from him who spake as never man spake. Glorious resurrection hope! Precious Bible! The one book alone which teaches the resurrection of the dead and that presents the truth that the dead are dead. When once we see that the “wages of sin is death,” and not condemnation to a great torture chamber, and that the sentence upon man is the tomb and not a fiery furnace; that all mankind go to sheol, to hades, the hidden state, the death state, just as our Savior did; then we begin to see that what we all need is to be saved from sheol and hades was the Savior. A resurrection — salvation is thus the hope of the Church and the world. David in the Old Testament used the word sheol; St. Peter in the New Testament used the word hades. There is no dispute amongst those who have given the subject careful investigation as to what is signified. The words sheol and hades are well known to refer not to a place of suffering or torture or annihilation of any kind, but to the unconsciousness of the death state. As Jesus descended into hades, so do all mankind. As the Father raised him from the dead on the third day, so he will raise us, the Church, from the dead. More than this, the unjust also, those who have not been approved of God in the present life, shall all be awakened from the sleep of death. They will come forth informed respecting sin, having lived under the reign of sin and death. They will come forth that they may learn the ways of righteousness, the reward of which is life everlasting. Burst the Bars of Death In the poetic language of the hymn, Christ Jesus “burst the bars of death” in his resurrection. It was not possible for him to be holden of death, writes the Apostle (Acts 2:24). The Divine verdict went forth that he had been faithful and that to him should come the reward of life upon the highest plane — the Divine nature (Ephesians 1:20, 21). Our fancies may legitimately picture that the holy angels marveled at the Redeemer’s experiences from the time that he left the heavenly glory and was made flesh and dwelt amongst us until, by his resurrection change, he returned again from the earthly nature to the heavenly plane, “far above angels.” As they sang at his nativity a rapturous song of glad tidings of great joy to all people, so they were filled with amazement, surely, at how the Father permitted him to be tempted and tried and poured for him his cup of suffering, which he drained to the dregs. They marveled when “He died, the just for the unjust.” They looked and wondered, as hour after hour he remained in the tomb — dead. Their loyalty to the Heavenly Father was tested during that period, but was rewarded when they beheld that Divine power raised him up even to a more excellent glory than that which he had before. With what alacrity the angels must have acknowledged the risen One, in harmony with the Father’s declaration, “Let all the angels of God worship him.” “Worthy is the Lamb to receive glory and honor, dominion, might and power.” The point to be specially noticed is the change of nature which our Redeemer experienced in his resurrection. That change did not take place during the three days of Jesus’ burial, but during the three and a half years of his ministry, which ended with his resurrection. When thirty years of age he gave himself — he surrendered his earthly privileges and rights and hopes into the Father’s hands, to be obedient to everything which Divine providence might permit. At that moment his sacrifice of his flesh was accepted. The evidence of its acceptance was the impartation of the Holy Spirit, which as a dove rested upon him and exercised a quickening and illuminating influence upon his mind, enabling him to understand more than human things and to perform more than human acts. It was Jesus, a New Creature, begotten of the Spirit at Jordan that did the mighty works of the Father. His flesh, his humanity, was gradually laid down sacrificially, in harmony with the Divine providences. He drank “the cup” which the Father poured for him. Divine Power “Brought from the Dead the Great Shepherd” What is generally termed Easter Sunday celebrates the momentous event of our Lord’s resurrection from the dead. His resurrection is either a truth or a falsehood. St. Paul assures us that if it is untrue, our faith, our hopes, our preaching and teachings are of no avail — useless. If the resurrection of the dead is impossible, then the resurrection of Jesus was impossible. If the resurrection of Jesus did not take place, then we have no proof, and no ground for believing that Divine power could resurrect the Church. If Divine Power “brought again from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep,” it is Jehovah also who will bring us from the dead by Jesus, in God’s due time. Let none avoid the question! Let all decide at once! Either we believe in a resurrection from the dead, or we do not believe in it. If the resurrection be a myth, then, says the Apostle, all those who fell asleep with faith in Christ are perished — they are not in heaven, purgatory, nor eternal torment. If we believe in the resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust, then, logically, we must believe that they are dead, except in the Divine promise, purpose, arrangement. The decision of this resurrection question is a most momentous one, as it affects practically every doctrine of the Christian Church (1 Corinthians 15:13-19). Christ a Firstfruit “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (verse 20). Ah, thank God, the Apostle did not mean to insinuate the possibility of our Lord’s not having risen. Merely, he would put the question that we might see how weighty is the subject — how much depends on the answer. He exultantly answers, “Christ is risen!” We rejoice in this for several reasons. First, how sad it would be if he who laid aside his glory and was made flesh and tasted death on our behalf should have lost by his loyal endeavor to serve us and to do the Father’s will! How glad we are that he is risen and that he was not raised again in the flesh, with the loss of his heavenly glory, but raised as the King of all, far above all others, and partaker of the Divine nature! Secondly, we are glad on our own account, and on account of all mankind, for if our Lord Jesus had not been raised from the dead, it would have proved one of two things — either that he had not been faithful — up to the Divine standard — and therefore that his life could not be a satisfaction for the human life lost in Adam, or else it would have proved that God, who had promised to raise him from the dead if he would be obedient unto death, had been unable to do so; and, if unable to raise him from the dead, we, likewise, would be without hope, even if our sins were cancelled by virtue of his sacrifice. The Apostle proceeds to tell us that the dead will not be resurrected together at once — “but every man in his own order” (1 Corinthians 15:23). The first order or rank will be the Church. Blessed and holy [are they] that [have] part in the first resurrection ... they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years (Revelation 20:6). The Apostle points out that before the saints can be associated in the reign with Christ they must all be changed and made like him, heavenly beings. He declares that as we now bear the image of the earthly Adam, we shall by the glorious resurrection change, be given a share in the nature and likeness of the Second Adam, our glorious Lord. We shall be like him and see him as he is. Thus, the First Resurrection relates to this special class, the Elect, who will attain unto the exceeding great and precious promises; these shall sit upon the throne with the Redeemer. Then will come the second resurrection which will be the work of the entire reign of Messiah, as explained by St. Paul. Christ must reign until he shall have put all enemies under his feet — the last enemy will be death.
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