THE RESURRECTION . . . A GLORIOUS CERTAINTY by R. 1.
Humbert and the United States has grown out of that statement.” You go on dpwn the street, turn a comer and see a church. “What is that?” “ That is a church.” “What is a church for” “ Over nineteen hundred years ago a man was cruci fied. A short time later, over five hundred people were together, when suddenly this man who had been crucified, appeared before them in new resurrection life, and the church is built upon the fact of His resurrection.” Now here is the point. I have never, never met a man anywhere who doubted the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but more people saw our Lord after His resurrection than witnessed the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Verily, our Lord arose by many in fallible proofs. Testimony of Three Thousand Although the Bible records many who saw our Lord after His resurrection, yet some today tell us that they were deceived and if they had investigated more care fully, the mistake would have been evident. But didn’t they investigate? What do people do at a time like this? Imagine yourself in that country at that time. You move about in a daze; your mind is constantly upon the happenings of those last few days. On the third morning, you are eating your breakfast, when suddenly the table begins to dance and dishes to rattle. You dash out. It is an earthquake. An hour later, your neighbor dashes in with the startling news, “ He is risen! He is risen! The body is gone! The grave is open!” And what would happen as that news spread through the community? Every camel, every donkey, all means of travel would be pressed into service as every last man and woman in that entire community would journey up to that tomb. They would search every square inch; they would discuss every rumor a thousand times; they would even take chips off the sepulchre to take home as souvenirs. Why? Simply because an extraordinary event had taken place. That is what people do at a time like that. Time moved on; the day of Pentecost finally came. Suddenly word was flashed around: the disciples are act ing strange; something has happened. People by the thou sands gather. Peter stood up and said, “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs — Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have cru cified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it” (Acts 2:37). “ Peter, we know it, we know God removed that body! We were there! We examined every square inch of that tomb; we discussed every rumor a thousand times; we were there. Men and brethren, what shall we do?” And three thousand, with all the evidence at hand, accepted the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and went out to give witness of it. Verily, our Lord arose by many infallible proofs which we are commissioned to make known to an un believing world.
I a t o n e t im e attended a funeral. When the minister was through with his message, the undertaker came over and closed the lid of the casket. There was a little “ click.” They took my father out to the cemetery and left him there, and I have not seen him since that time. But I am confidently expecting to see him again—see him in a body throbbing with life and vitality. But Paul tells us that “ If Christ be not raised — they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished” (I Cor. 15:18). Thus I want to know beyond a shadow of doubt whether Jesus of Nazareth arose or not. But we are assured He did arise and “ shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3). • Testimony of James “He was seen of James” (I Cor. 15:7). James saw Him. Can we imagine the conflicting emotions that surged in his breast? James and Jesus were brothers. They played together; they ate together; they slept together. One day — maybe — Mary said: “ James, take the pitcher to the well and get some water.” “Ah, I got the water yesterday, let Jesus do it!” They were just boys together. One time after our Lord had gone into His public ministry, His own brethren said to Him, in effect, “ If you want to be a preacher, why don’t you act like it? No one does what you do.” “ For neither did his brethren believe in him” (John 7:5). Verily, if James had been in close touch with Jesus for nigh onto thirty years and was not convinced of His deity, certainly nothing short of a resurrection would convince him. A year or so after I graduated from high school, I met a brother of one of my classmates. “Well,” I cried, “How’s my old friend coming along?” “Ah, don’t mention his name to me. He’s disgraced the family.” His brother had become involved with the law and was in prison. He had brought dishonor upon the family, and they wanted no reference to him. And what about James? Verily, James’ brother had “ disgraced” the family; He had been in trouble with the high priests; He had been crucified. Yet there was that earthquake when He died; there was deep darkness! How do you suppose James felt when suddenly His brother, our Lord, stood before him? Is it any wonder that James became a staunch pillar in the early 'church? Again I say, nothing short of a resurrection could have convinced James that Jesus was God the Son! But he saw the risen Lord. Testimony of Five Hundred “He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once” (I Cor. 15:6). Sometimes the testimony of two or three people will change the entire course of a trial, but here were five hundred, more than half-a-thousand people, who could say, “ I saw Him!” Verily, our Lord arose by many in fallible proofs. Suppose you are walking down the street with a foreigner, a man knowing absolutely nothing about our country. You come to a post office.
“What is that?” inquires the stranger. “ That is an American flag,” is your reply. “What does than mean?” he asks, simply.
“ So many years ago, some men got together - and signed what is called the ‘Declaration of Independence,’
10
THE KING'S BUSINESS
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker