0961. Resurrection
Resurrection
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept" (1Co_15:20)
The resurrection of Christ forecasts the resurrection of all believers, yea, it assures the resurrection of all unbelievers. "As in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive, but every man in his own order; Christ, the firstfruits, afterward, they that are Christ's at His coming."
Concerning the resurrection of believers three things may be said:
1. A great Conqueror. When we see Jesus Christ risen, we see Him holding in His hands the keys of death and of hades. This is the vision which John saw. To him, upon the Isle of Patmos Christ said, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." Christ also said, "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
Christ died, but death could not hold Him; Christ was dead but the grave could not retain Him. He not only brake the bands of death, but He came forth with the keys in His hands. He is, indeed, a conqueror. And His victory over death and the grave He has given to those who trust Him.
2. A gracious promise: "Because I live ye shall live also."
How blessed of our Lord to make His resurrection the assurance of ours! How blessed for Him to put His life in lieu of ours! He is the Princely Leader Who has gone on before us. We shall follow after.
The stone was rolled away from the tomb, not that Christ might get out, but that saints might look in. In that empty tomb, we see the grave robbed of all those who are in Christ. For, "the dead in Christ shall rise." They shall come forth, even as He came forth.
3. A glorious foregleam. "Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ's at His coming" (1Co_15:23).
What a wonderful harvest! The gathered firstfruits give token of the full harvest which is yet to come. There shall not be left one who shall not come forth from the tomb. Job anticipated this when he said, "Though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another."
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR