0958. Realization

Realization

"The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon" (Luk_24:34)

We wish to bring before you the great underlying proofs which establish the resurrection of Christ from the dead. We use the word realization because in the resurrection of Christ everything He had taught and claimed was realized.

1. The lie of the soldiers proves the resurrection. The statement seems paradoxical. How can a lie establish the truth? Yet, it is so.

The Jews, upon the consent of Pilate, had rolled a stone against the tomb. It had been securely sealed, and, in addition, Pilate had sent soldiers to guard the tomb. In spite of this fact the stone had been rolled away, without a human hand to touch it. Greatly alarmed, the soldiers had shown unto the chief priests the things that were done. When they, with the elders, were assembled and had taken counsel they gave much money unto the soldiers instructing them to say, "His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we slept."

This lie was commonly reported among the Jews, but it was so unfounded and so impossible of credence, that it never became accepted. The fact is everyone knew that the disciples were a disheartened and scattered lot, and that they never could have robbed the grave, even had they so desired.

2. The unexpectancy of the saints, proves the resurrection. Had the disciples desired to put out some tale about the resurrection of Christ they would not have assumed the attitude which they did assume concerning His resurrection. There was not among any of them (including the women who had so lovingly ministered unto Him In His death, and who had remained so faithful at His tomb), one who anticipated the resurrection of Christ. They were all filled with unbelief. In fact, following the resurrection, Jesus upbraided the disciples for their unbelief and their hardness of heart, because they would not believe the testimony of the women concerning His resurrection.

To the two disciples en route to Emmaus Christ said, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken."

To doubting Thomas Christ said, "Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

3. Simplicity of statement proves the resurrection. We can do no more than make one or two suggestions. How graphic, how plain, how unvarnished does the truth stand out in the description of Peter and John running to the sepulcher! They had been told by Mary that the Lord was not in the tomb. We read that John "did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre," "and he, stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in." "Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed."

Nobody could fabricate and paint up a story so realistic, so expressive and so faithful to facts as this. The unvarnished story, so true to the nature of the two men establishes the fact of the resurrection.

That John could outrun Peter may be news, but that Peter should rush in, passing by the more conservative John, is just like Peter. The fact, also, that it was John who believed, was just like John. Then there were the linen clothes lying, and the napkin wrapped together in a place by itself–everything is too realistic and too literal to be fabricated.

When Mary saw Christ, and, thinking Him the gardener said: "Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away," the words are so much like Mary, so much like any impetuous woman; forgetful of her own weakness, and her impossibility of carrying Him away–so sincere in the intensity of her love, that the whole record is established as unvarnished truth.

4. Two post ascension scenes prove the resurrection.

The first is that of Stephen. When he was being stoned to death, his eyes were opened toward Heaven, and he saw Christ, the One Who had been dead but Who lived, standing at the right hand of God (see Act_7:56).

The second is that of Saul of Tarsus, a hater and persecutor of the Christians. When Saul was suddenly stricken down by a great light shining from Heaven, he heard the voice of the One Who was dead, but Who was alive again, saying, "I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest."

Referring to this scene in after years, Paul wrote to the Galatians and said, "When it pleased God * * to reveal His Son in me" (Gal_1:16).

Thus, the Lord Jesus appeared in person not only to many saints following His resurrection, while He was still upon earth; but after His ascension He appeared to both Stephen and to Paul.

5. The sincerity of the Apostles' preaching proves the resurrection. Following Pentecost, the man who had denied his Lord stood forth, with dauntless courage, proclaimed both the death and the resurrection of Christ.

Thus, too, did all the Apostles preach the resurrection. They preached it with a fire and a certainty of faith that could not be withstood. There is nothing on record, where any one even dared to deny the testimony of the disciples concerning the resurrection of Christ. They believed it, therefore they spoke, and their unchallenged statements prove the fact of Christ's resurrection.

6. The power of saving grace proves the resurrection. There are abundant proofs of the resurrection of Christ around us everywhere today, for Jesus Christ is raised and exalted "a Prince and a Saviour."

Christianity is not a creed, it is a person. Rob Christianity of its Risen Christ and you have robbed it of its foundation. If Christ is not risen indeed there could have been no Church, no story of saving grace.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR