The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is a great fact, one which we must apply to ourselves. In the book of Acts it is dealt with as a fact—a fact from which none can escape its application. Though it have its twofold force and meaning, men are to know how it addresses itself to each, and none can elude it.
Resurrection is thus set before us, even as, at creation, the sun was set in the heavens and all the creation of God had to do with it. Who could pluck the sun out of the heavens?
Consider too the budding rod (Num. 17:88And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. (Numbers 17:8)). It is brought out from the sanctuary to the camp, and the camp must accept its presence. It is there, a fact none can deny. But whether they will use that fact obediently and taste the fruit of the service of God’s anointed One or rebel to their own destruction is another thing. The budding rod speaks both of judgment and mercy.
So, too, Christ in the world that Satan had usurped through subtlety was also a fact. None could deny or rid themselves of its force. Satan shall know it, and men shall be blessed by it or find in it their guilt and judgment enhanced. The kingdom of God had come—they must accept that as fact.
Just in this manner is the present great fact of the resurrection. Jesus is risen and exalted—He is ascended and glorified. Men might as well try to pluck the sun from the heavens as to try to escape the application of this fact to their condition—whether that be repentance or unbelief.
Thus in Acts, Peter opens that ministry taking the resurrection of the Lord as his text (Acts 2:22-3622Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 25For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 29Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:22‑36)). He exhibits that great fact in its judicial and in its saving power. Peter’s fullest interpretation of it is found in the house of Cornelius when he preaches that Jesus is set of God both for judgment and for salvation (Acts 10:42-4342And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:42‑43)).
Paul does the same as Peter, in his ministry, interpreting the resurrection to both heart and conscience. At Antioch he preaches the forgiveness of sins upon it. But he solemnly warns that being careless or indifferent to it will surely bring judgment (Acts 13:16-4116Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. 17The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. 18And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. 19And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. 20And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. 22And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 23Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: 24When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. 26Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. 27For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. 28And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. 29And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30But God raised him from the dead: 31And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. 32And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 34And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. 35Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 36For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: 37But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. 38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. (Acts 13:16‑41)).
To man as man, the resurrection speaks of judgment. It witnesses a solemn collision between God and man, and God is on the side of man’s Victim. God has glorified the One whom man denied and crucified. God is stronger than man, and man must be overthrown in such conflict, judgment falling on him that is opposed to God.
To the broken, confessing sinner, resurrection speaks of salvation. It witnesses God’s satisfaction in that atonement for sin which Jesus offered. If God is satisfied, who can condemn? God witnesses the efficacy of the death of Christ for all who believe—who shall lay anything to the charge of such?
Thus we see the resurrection speaking both of judgment and mercy—as man either looks at the cross of Christ with a believing heart, or despises and slights it. Thus it speaks to us whether we will hear or forbear. To enjoy it as the salvation of God, we must personally and livingly by faith be brought into connection with it. But if it be slighted all our days, at the end it will bring itself into connection with us, whether we will or not.
If we do not now by faith use a risen Jesus and get the virtue that is in Him, He will visit us by and by, and that, too, with the judgment that will then be in Him. No deprecation will then avail—now, seeking will avail.
In the book of Acts we learn that God has taken out of man’s hand the very weapon of his fullest enmity against Himself and used it for man’s eternal blessing! If man despises such goodness, he must answer to God for having taken that weapon into his hand. Solemn thought!
The sword that man was using in hostility to God, God has turned as into a plough-share, whereby to get for man the Bread of everlasting life. Joseph of old was sold by his brethren—but Joseph sold became an instrument and channel of life to them who had sold him. Their very wickedness was turned of God to their blessing.
J. G. Bellett