Preached every where,— Through the whole Roman empire, or the then known world: and in spreading the knowledge of the Christian religion in far distant countries, they met with great success both among Jews and Gentiles, who were not ableto resist the evidence of the miracles whereby theyconfirmed their doctrine. Thus St. Mark informs us; and hence it is reasonable to conclude, that he published his gospel pretty late.
Inferences.—It is too just, however unpleasing a remark, that while we consider the lives of those who profess a faith in the great doctrine of the resurrection, there seems but too much reason to suspect that too many are not heartily convinced of its truth. For, after all the elaborate discourses upon this subject, where is that indifference for the things of the world, that spiritual joy, that purity, that heavenly-mindedness, which the resurrection of our Lord should, through the grace of God, inspire? Where is that self-denial, that watchfulness over our own hearts, and attention to the omnipresence of God, that exact justice in our dealings, that warm benevolence towards all men, and, in a word, that zealous preparation against the day of judgment, to which an effectual assurance of our own resurrection, wrought by the Spirit of God and yielded to by us, would certainly induce us to observe?—I might ask the greater part, how they would live, if they did not believe any resurrection:—What alteration would there be in their manners? Would they be more addicted to pleasure, more intent upon their temporal interests, or less careful for the good of others? Yet they lay claim to the venerable name of Christians, and repeat creeds, professing their faith in our Lord's resurrection. I dare not therefore say of such, that they do not believe it; but it is evident that they have not duly thought about it; they are not sufficiently apprized of the wondrous effects and consequences of this great mystery. For it is not enough that we know it by name, and by hearsay; all saving knowledge is experimental; and it is not sufficient that we know the history; we must also feel the power, of our Lord's resurrection; not only that he is risen, but also that he is the resurrection. As the sun is light to itself, and the great source of day to all the worlds around it; so is our Lord resurrection to himself, and the cause and author of resurrection, whether bodily or spiritual, in others. Hence he says of himself, I am the resurrection and the life.
This resurrection to be wrought in us by Christ, is twofold, relating to the two constituent parts of man, the body and the soul; for to these two belong two distinct resurrections, very different from each other.
The first resurrection,—that of the soul,—is of a moral and spiritual nature. It is the rising of the soul from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness—states more different, and infinitely more important, than those of natural life and death: it is peculiar to the saints of God; it requires our concurrence with the operations of grace, to which alone it is to be imputed; and blessed and holy is he, who has part in this first resurrection.
The second resurrection is that of the body, after our natural death. This is common to all men, and is necessary and inevitable.
Of both these resurrections the Lord Jesus Christ is the immediate cause and author: of the first, as he is the Saviour of the world; and of the second, as he is the Judge of it. For it is a prerogative very properly annexed to his office of universal judge, that he should by his own power summon all mankind to his tribunal.
This resurrection from the natural death, is commonly well enough understood in the general. We can all, by a faith in the omnipotence of God, form satisfactory notions of our being raised again at the last day with our bodies; so that the whole man, which acted in this life, may be qualified for the rewards and punishments of the next. But the spiritual resurrection of our souls in this life is a thing less thought of, and less understood, by the generality of mankind. This is one of those things of God, whereof the natural or animal man is ignorant; and requires a spiritual discernment, and some spiritual experience, for the rightly apprehending it. The holy Scriptures treat of it very frequently, but no where more largely and clearly, than in the sixth chapter of the epistle to the Romans, (Mark 16:3-11.) where a death to sin is joined with the spiritual resurrection, as a circumstance indispensably requisite to, and implied in it: for no person is capable of a resurrection, till he is once dead.
It is necessary, therefore, that we consider this death here mentioned; that we inquire what the old life is, and how it is extinguished, before we can understand any thing of the spiritual resurrection that follows it, and the new life to be conferred. The life to be lost by this death, is said to be that of our old man, which is a scriptural phrase, signifying that nature, temper, or disposition of mind, with which we are born, as we are the sons of Adam, and heirs of original corruption; whereby, as the Scripture assures us, we are the children of wrath: it is this innate depravity which makes us ignorant of God, blind and stupid to all spiritual things; selfish, covetous, proud, unjust, deceitful, intemperate, impure, and hateful in the sight of God.
But, as it would be a hard matter to make a blind man comprehend what darkness is, at least to give him such a notion of it as we have, though he lives in it continually; so it is alike difficult to give unconverted sinners a right notion of what is here meant by the old man, because this, as most other things, is best known by its contrary. But in general we are to know, that whatever tendency there is in our nature to the commission of sin, it is a part or member of the old man: while we are yet in our natural state, unreformed by divine grace, this lives, this reigns in our mortal bodies. Why is this man a drunkard, that malicious, a third unjust in his dealings? The reason is, because the resurrection of Christ has not had its due effect; the mind is not renewed, and the old man of sin is yet unmortified: that corrupt nature, which we received from Adam, is still active and vigorous; lives and reigns in the hearts of unregenerate men; and would for ever reign there, did not Christ interpose, and by virtue of his sufferings and death communicate to believers such powers of grace, as are sufficient to destroy this root of evil in their souls. This corruption of our nature is such as we cannot possibly resist by our own strength. In vain does the law encounter it with her impotent discipline; in vain does she set before us her rigorous commands and prohibitions; in vain does she display her rewards and punishments. These all serve only to shew us our guilt and danger, but cannot work our deliverance; we are still the same men; and all our struggles after holiness, are like the motions of a door upon its hinges, still fixed to the same place.
But behold, a greater than Moses is come in the gospel dispensation, even our Lord Jesus Christ; and what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, that is to say, through our corrupt nature, that, St. Paul saith, God hath done for us, by sending his own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh. He has for and through him, and by his spirit, granted believers new powers, whereby they are enabled to mortify and destroy their corrupt nature.
But this of itself is still insufficient to make us either holy or happy; it is at best but a negative goodness; there is more required of us than a mere abstinence from vice: we must not only cease to do evil, but learn to do well; and as the old man of sin is to be destroyed, so the new man is to be raised up in us.
And this is a natural consequence of the former: for if we be dead with Christ, we believe also that we shall be raised up with him. If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall also grow up in the likeness of his resurrection. But how few are there who rightly value this: the men of the world relish none of these things; they have no eyes to discern the beauty of holiness; they fear lest the thoughts of it should make them melancholy; all their concern is about the animal life, all their care is for the old man, his maintenance and support, and how they may make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof. What wonder then that they feel no joy arise in their hearts at the news of our Lord's resurrection, or at his assuring us, that he is the resurrection, and will raise us up, as he did himself? They have no interest in it; they are not likely to be gainers by it; and therefore they see no glories in the gospel that relates it.
Others, again, who pretend to have a higher opinion of virtue, and who own, by their words at least, that it is the most noble acquisition our nature is capable of, yet think that there is no such great difficulty in attaining it; no need of such heavenly machinery, as they may lightly term the mysteries of our redemption. "Good morality," say they, "will carry us to heaven;" but they cannot see much ground for believing all the abstruse revelations of Christianity, nor how we shall be made wiser or happier by such belief.
But let these men endeavour to live up even to their own notions of morality: let them try how they can acquit themselves in the duties of temperance, meekness, universal benevolence, and a suitable homage to the Supreme Being; and then if they do not wilfully deceive themselves, they will learn by their own experience, that they cannot do these things by their own strength. Then,—provided they be sincere, and consequently not indisposed for the illumination of God's Holy Spirit,—the gospel will appear to them in its proper beauty; and they will find it, according to its true interpretation, glad tidings; shewing them that the Lord Jesus Christ is ready to do that for them, which they cannot do for themselves; that by the merits and power of his death he will destroy their old man, the principle of evil that now tyrannizes in their souls; and by the power of his resurrection work their spiritual resurrection to the new life of righteousness. The sting of death is sin; but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
REFLECTIONS.—1st, No sooner was the sabbath past, during, which Christ had lain in the grave, than we find,
1. Early in the morning on the first day of the week, the pious women, who the preceding evening had provided spices for embalming the body, little expecting our Lord's resurrection from the dead, set out from the city for the sepulchre, which they reached just at sun-rising; and by the way having expressed to each other their concern how to roll back the ponderous stone from the mouth of the cave, to their surprise they beheld it already done for them. Note; (1.) Though difficulties at a distance seem insurmountable, when we go on steadily depending upon God, we shall often meet with unexpected assistances. (2.) It is mentioned to their distinguished honour, how assiduous and faithful the women who followed Jesus proved, when the men forsook him. The weaker vessel is often seen to be the stronger Christian.
2. An angel appears to them. As they entered into the sepulchre, to their great surprise and terror, they beheld one in the likeness of a young man in long white robes, sitting within. But the angel endeavoured to quiet their fears, and bid them not be terrified; he knew that their business there was to seek the crucified Jesus; and, to their inexpressible joy, informs them, that he is no longer with the dead, but risen. There was the place where he had lain: they are therefore enjoined, without delay, to carry the glad tidings to Peter and the rest of the apostles, and to tell them, according to his promise, that their glorified Master will meet them in Galilee, and make them happy with his presence and converse. Note; (1.) We are often apt to fear where no fear is, and to dread our mercies as miseries. (2.) They who seek a crucified Jesus, are sure to find comfort to their souls. (3.) Though we for our unfaithfulness might justly be left to mourn our folly, Christ is a compassionate Saviour, willing to pardon, and in haste to speak peace to the souls of his afflicted disciples, who mourn for his presence. (4.) Peter is particularly mentioned: had he not, perhaps he would have thought that the message was good news to the rest, but not for him, as having rendered himself unworthy the name of a disciple. (5.) They who know the joy of meeting Jesus, and of his spiritual presence in the ordinances of his worship, will not account the way long to go, where his word is dispensed, and his voice is still heard.
3. The women ran earnestly to carry the message, trembling with a mixture of surprise and joy, and spoke to no man by the way; afraid that the news was too good to be true, or that the Jews would be exasperated if they heard it, and say they had stolen the body. See the Annotations.
2nd, Christ appears,
1. To Mary Magdalene, the morning he rose—that remarkable sinner, out of whom he had cast seven devils. O wondrous grace! She immediately carried the joyful news to the eleven, who, inconsolable, with bitter anguish lamented their departed Lord, and their own unfaithfulness to him; and seemed sunk in despair of ever seeing him again. So slow of heart were they to believe, notwithstanding the repeated predictions which Christ had given them of his rising from the dead, that they received her declarations as a mere fancy, and imagined her to have been deceived by some spectre or apparition. Note; The very incredulity of the disciples tends to the confirmation of our faith: it shews, they were not themselves willing to believe, but upon the most indubitable evidence.
2. The same day in the evening he appeared to two other of his disciples, who were going towards Emmaus, a village about seven miles from Jerusalem: but perhaps being in a different dress from what he usually wore, and their eyes being holden that they should not know him, Luke 24:16; Luke 24:31 they conversed with him for a while, and at last their eyes were opened, and they knew him: whereupon they instantly returned to acquaint their brethren, who even then would not be persuaded, though the witnesses were so unexceptionable.
3rdly, Since they are so loath to believe the report of others, Jesus condescended to put the matter beyond dispute, by appearing himself the same evening to all the apostles, except Thomas, as they were sitting at table together.
1. He upbraids them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, that they were so backward to receive the testimony of those who had seen him, notwithstanding the many assurances of his rising again, which he had given them before his death. Note; Unbelief is a most besetting sin, and highly displeasing to the Lord Jesus.
2. He solemnly invests them with authority to go and preach the gospel among all nations, and to confirm their mission by the miracles that he would enable them to work. This transaction passed, it should seem, not at the time of his first appearing to them, but afterwards, just before his ascension.
[1.] He enlarges their commission to go into all the world, and to preach the gospel (which had been hitherto confined to the Jews,) to every human creature as far as their labours would reach; with power also to send out others, as fellow-labourers with them, to spread the savour of the truth in every place.
[2.] The summary of their preaching must be faith in the Son of God, in his life, death, and resurrection; the necessity of the salvation obtained by his obedience to the death of the cross for lost sinners; the fulness and all-sufficiency of it to procure pardon, life, and glory for all who perseveringly trust in him; and the sin and danger of those who reject this method of divine wisdom and love, and refuse obedience to the faith of the gospel, their damnation becoming inevitable. Note; The ungodly perish, not merely because of the greatness of their sins, but principally because they sin against the remedy, and seal themselves up under wrath by their unbelief.
[3.] In confirmation of their doctrine, they are empowered to work the most astonishing miracles. In the name of Jesus, depending on his power, and to advance his gospel, they shall be enabled to cast out devils from those that were possessed; to speak with new tongues, which they had never learnt, with most entire fluency and readiness, as if they had severally been their native language. They shall take up serpents, the most venomous, without the least harm, (see Acts 28:3-6.) If they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; when openly or secretly their persecutors might strive to make away with them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover, every disease giving way to their healing touch. And these miraculous powers they not only possessed themselves, but were enabled to impart to others.
4thly, When our Lord had thus commissioned and qualified them for the great work that he had committed to their charge, we see him,
1. Ascending to his throne, and exalted to the right hand of Majesty on high. Having finished the great work of atonement, all power is put into his hands as Mediator, to reign in and over his faithful subjects; while his enemies, as vanquished, must bow before him, and, whether they be devils or wicked men, will shortly receive from his lips their eternal doom.
2. We see them going forth according to their Master's orders, preaching the gospel in defiance of all opposition from earth and hell, the Lord supporting them against all their persecutors, giving the most amazing success to their labours; by wondrous miracles attesting their mission to be divine; and by the power of the Holy Ghost making their word powerfully effectual to the conversion of the hearts of innumerable multitudes. And this sign will ever follow the gospel to the end of time: wherever it is preached in spirit and in truth, it will be found the power of God unto salvation: and as the evangelist adds his Amen hereunto, so are we also bound so to do, assured that thus it will be for all the faithful, and praying that it thus may be; that the word may daily run and be glorified, till the ends of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned unto the Lord, and all flesh shall see the salvation of our God. Amen. So come, Lord Jesus!