0120. 117. Christ Risen

117. Christ Risen

“He Is Risen” Mat_28:6

The fact Christ had been in the tomb proclaimed three things: sin’s climax, love’s giving, and Christ’s accomplishment.

1. Sin’s Climax. “He was buried” is the Spirit’s affirmation, and is a part of the Gospel’s message (1Co_15:1-4). One of the answers to the question, “Why did Christ die?” is, He died to give a satisfaction for man’s sin. If we eliminate the fact of sin’s presence and penalty, His death has no meaning. Professor Orr declared: “The whole of Christianity is but a Divine counsel and provision for repairing the ruin of man’s sin.” At the Cross sin abounded to its wicked climax, for there it superabounded beyond anything it had done before, and yet there, grace did much more abound. One has well said: “The Cross is God’s final treatment of sin, the one compendium work of grace, and the hinge of human destiny. Apart from sin, the Cross has no meaning. It was the exhibition of the worst in the heart of man, and the best in the heart of God.”

2. Love’s Giving. God delivered Christ up for our offences, and raised Him on account of our justification—Rom_4:25.

Our beloved Lord deliberately gave up His life for us. Love alone gave Him to die for our sin. Love alone enabled Him to give Himself out in death, and love could not be satisfied with anything else.

“Love saw the need, and all the need has met;

Love gave its best when life so rich He gave;

Love spent its all when for our sins He died;

Love comes in grace, and with His blood doth save.”

3. Work Accomplished. Christ not only died, but accomplished what no other could do in dying. Death did not come to Him in the fulfilment of His mission; it was the fulfilment of His mission. His death was no accident (Luk_23:46, R.V.). His star of destiny was His death on Calvary. Dr. Denny says of Christ’s death: “It is in this the atonement lies. Christ finished it. He finished it alone. No one can do it after Him. No one needs to do it.” Happy are we if we know our individual interest in Christ’s death, and can say with the old Scottish woman, who was asked about her soul’s salvation, “The Father and the Lord Jesus settled the matter of my salvation between them, and I got the benefit.”

By: DR. F. E. MARSH