This year I’ve been going through J.C. Ryle’s comments on the Gospels. Today I share His comments on John 20:1-10. He writes:
Concerning the importance of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead, it would be hard to speak too strongly. It is a cardinal article of the Christian faith, second to none in value. It is the grand proof that he was the promised Messiah whom the prophets has foretold. It is the one great sign which he named to the Jews when asked to give convincing evidence of his divine mission – the sign of the prophet Jonah, the rebuilding of the temple after destruction [Matthew 12:39, John 2:19-21]. If he did not rise again after three days they were not to believe him.
It is the completion of the work of redemption which he came into the world to accomplish. It proved that the ransom was accepted and the victory over sin and death obtained. Christ ‘was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification‘ [Romans 4:25]. ‘We are begotten again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead‘ [1 Peter 1:3]. If he had not risen again, our hope would have been a huge uncertainty.
It is a fact which has the closest connection with the spiritual life and position before God of all believers. They are counted by God as ‘risen with Christ’ and they should regard themselves as partakers of Christ’s resurrection life and sitting in heavenly places. Not least, it is the pledge and assurance of our own resurrection at the last day.
We need not fear death and look at the grave with despair, when we remember that Jesus Christ rose again in the body. As surely as the Head rose, so shall the members be raised. Let these points never be forgotten. When we think of them we may understand why the apostles, in their preaching and epistles, dwell so much upon the resurrection. Well would it be if modern Christians though more about it. Myriads seem unable to look at anything in the gospel except the sacrifice and death of Christ and altogether pass over his resurrection.
My Comments: We just finished celebrating Thanksgiving. Isn’t this more of an Easter meditation? If your mind went there, reread the last two sentences! Easter can be six months away – way too long to let the victory of what Jesus has accomplished for us to slip to the back of our minds.
If we claim to be a Christian, but think of Jesus too little – we may be presuming too much. (Luke 6:46)
If we focus on Jesus hanging on a cross we start putting ourselves in the place of God by entertaining thoughts of how awful that moment was. Additionally, we may start to consider how that would never atone for the sinful creatures we continue to be. We may shift to the mindset that ‘we must do something‘ to make ourselves worthy of such a sacrifice.
Thinking of Jesus too little… thinking of His crucifixion too much… both of these are a mistake. Before we get lost in the holiday season, refocus our minds on the whole story of Jesus – God – entering the history of mankind to redeem His children – the ones who call Him Lord.
When we remember the empty cross and the empty tomb we start to train our minds to consider the victory for what it truly was. [Romans 12:2] This is huge. But be ready to stand strong for when God opens the eyes of the spiritually blind to this incredible victory – the devil will try to attack [John 10:10]; he will try to steal your new understanding… kill your new life… destroy your faith. Commit to God (James 4:7); He is the source of our spiritual strength and the devil will flee.
🙏 Heavenly Father – When You opened up the eyes of our souls to consider that You accepted the sacrifice of the perfect, spotless Lamb of God as punishment for our sins, You blazed a new path in our brains that shook our worlds. Your work changed everything for us. You meant for us to work with You to maintain that path – keep it clear of obstacles, beautify it to catch the attention of others, and walk on that path with You to enjoy the new life that Jesus paid for. Help us break free of the shackles that still bind us to the old ways of thinking. Help us to let go of our personal ideas of what life should look like. Let us always remember that You are the author of our life – and You are good. We ask this in the glorious name of our savior, Jesus. Amen.