John 20:1-10 The first day of the week comes Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, to the sepulcher… I. ITS DOCTRINAL IMPORTANCE. 1. It affords the most decisive testimony to the Divine character of His person and mission. Our Saviour had wrought many miracles. Did these convince the Jews? Some few of them. But they had no effect on the majority. They ascribed it all to magic. The only means of convincing them was by raising the dead. The Jews thought that beyond the power of sorcery. Accordingly when Christ raised Lazarus, "many of the Jews believed on Him." If then the raising of Lazarus sufficed to convince them, how much more convincing the resurrection of Christ. 2. It is a pledge and assurance that our sins are forgiven. Death was the penalty of our sin; the debt we owed to God; Christ engaged to discharge that debt for us; till He discharged it in full, He was to remain in the prison of the grave. His liberation from that prison was to be the token to us that the anger of God was appeased, that our whole debt was paid to the uttermost farthing. What then? "If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins." 3. Without it you could neither be justified nor sanctified. Unless then the Saviour had risen, we should have been without the Sanctifier. So likewise without the Resurrection you could not be justified. It was not sufficient for the priest to slay the victim; he must enter the Holy of Holies with its blood. We are too apt to confine our view to a dying Christ. 4. It is the pattern and earnest of our own. II. TO WHAT PRACTICAL USES WE MAY APPLY IT? 1. As an incentive to heavenly-mindedness (Colossians 3:1, 2). 2. For encouragement. 3. For consolation to the bereaved. (H. L. Nicholson, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. |
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