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April 1943
Three Days of Resurrection By NORMAN B. HARRISON Minneapolis, Minn.
O NE WHO reads his New Testa ment with any care will realize that it has but little to say for the non-Christian thinker, who is still in the realm of speculation, un willing to accept the Bible’s facts and teachings as the only sure; sufficient, and solid ground on which to stand with any hope of reaching finality in spiritual things. Yet many a Christian man w ill unleash a whole battery of oratory in an effort to prove Immor tality, little realizing how dishonoring is such an attempt to Him who has already “brought life and immortal ity to light through the gospel.” Jesus settled the question of Immor tality for all men and for all time when He said, “The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice [the voice of the Son of God] and shall come forth” (John 5:28, 29). To deny or even ques tion this disclosure of assured resur rection is an entirely unchristian atti tude—the more so as we realize that the declaration is transmuted into demonstration by the Speaker’s own personal resurrection from the dead* The speculative side of the question, then, is settled. On the highest author ity, resurrection is assured to all men. The real question that should concern many is this: How can any one escape resurrection? Jesus continues in His teaching to point Out that there are two kinds of resurrection, dependent upon man’s relationship to Him or lack of such relationship. For the former awaits a “resurrection of life” ; for the latter a “ resurrection of damnation” (John 5:29). Would that men in this latter class might cease their unprofitable prating abdut resurrection and become seriously concerned as to whether they care to face it! With Paul, the believer longs to know “the power of his resurrection,” a power progressively unfolded in a past, present, and future of realization. They constitute three “ days” of resur rection: a Day of Past Achievement; a Day of Present Experience; a Day of Future Destiny. I. DAY OF PAST ACHIEVEMENT A Triumphant Victory Coupled with the death that went before, this constitutes the most sig nificant, the most far-reaching fact of history. One day Jesus voluntarily yielded Himself into the hands of
hate. They c r u c i f i e d Him.. They thought they had ended all, and were rid of Him forever. For His followers, it was a day of seeming defeat, leav ing a sense of utter despair. “We had hoped” was all the disciples could say. Then came the glad news: “He is risen” ; “We have seen the Lord,” In complete certification of the fact, to them and to us, “He showed himself alive after his passion by many in fallible proofs, being seen of them forty days” (Acts 1:3). But, some one asks, did He really rise? How do we know? The answer is simple and sure. There are three lines of irrefutable evidence: 1. Eye Witnesses. It is thus that events of history are authenticated to posterity. Moreover, the credibility of testimony rests in character. A crimi nal may, or may not, tell the truth. But these—Peter, James, John, the women, the many others—were of un impeachable character. They were moved by the highest motives. That they should concert together to de ceive is unthinkable. Further, the ele ment of surprise greatly enhances the value of their testimony.. They did not expect the resurrection. They were slow to accept what they saw and heard. A story was circulated in denial of His resurrection, but by whom? By enemies—those who hated Him. By bribers—those who hired Judas Iscar iot to betray Him. Finding the tomb empty and feeling the necessity of ex planation, they went the length of bribing the soldiers to say, “His dis ciples came by night, and stole ]iim away while we slept.” What puerile nonsense! The testimony of bribers
and sleepers, with money behind it, no one believes. It is a boomerang to all deniers of the bodily resurrection. It is refuted by: 2. His Personal Appearances. “He showed himself alive” to different in dividuals, to various groups, under varying circumstances. He conversed with them. He was known to them by characteristic actions, yes, and by the familiar tones of voice. He met their incredulity by saying, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh'and bones, as ye see me have” (Lk. 24:39). It is inescapable evidence; but it lives on in: 3. The Christian Era, in which the Church, the Lord’s Day supplanting the Seventh Day Sabbath, the Gospel, all are based upon the fact of- Christ’s [Continued on Page 128]
about Immortality. That is a question
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