April 8

He was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. - Romans 4:25

THE importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is often expressed in the Scriptures, but the importance of it is not seen by viewing the fact itself, or considering it separately. All we hope to derive from the mediation of Jesus Christ, or from the official relation he sustains, depends upon his resurrection, and is nothing without it. It is there we have the clearest evidence of his Messiahship, because he is thereby declared to be the Son of Cod, with power; it is there we see him victorious over all the powers of darkness.

Enoch and Elias never grappled with death; they slipped into heaven by a flowery way. But it was otherwise with the Messiah. Death seized him, and dragged him into his den, but there he was strangled himself, and the destroyer of death came forth in triumph, and proclaimed, “I am the resurrection and the life.” It is there we see the worth, the all-sufficiency, and the acceptableness of this sacrifice. It is there we have evidence that his death was an offering and a “sacrifice to God of a sweet smelling savour.” “He raised him up from the dead and gave him glory” for that purpose.

In his discharge from the grave we may read our own discharge from the curse of the law; and hence we read that an angel came and rolled away the stone from the mouth of the sepulchre. He could have done this himself, but it would have looked like a prisoner breaking away from his prison, and endeavouring to escape by stealth, whereas now he who had imprisoned him as the surety of his people releases him. He has made the payment, and his resurrection from the dead is a receipt in full for the deliverance of his church, by his suffering for them. Therefore it is said, “He was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Therefore, says the Apostle, “who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” It is there we behold him, the source of Spiritual life, awaking, and sanctifying, and enlightening, and renewing his people by the Holy Spirit, which he died to obtain, and which he rose to possess and to communicate. It is there we behold him, as the model and principle of our resurrection.

When he died, we died in him; when he rose, we rose with him; when he was quickened, we were quickened together with Christ, and raised, and made to sit with him in heavenly places. Our glory, if we belong to him, necessarily follows his; he would not be complete without us. Where the head is, there shall also the members be, and the Apostle assures us that “if, when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”