The third reason we should come and see the tomb is that we might be reminded that we also will lie there. Unless the Lord Jesus Christ comes for His own before we die, we too must die. There is a time when we will be separated from all that we know now. We will leave friends and loved ones. We’ll leave all our material possessions; we’ll leave all that we know behind. So we look to the tomb and we say, “What does this have to teach us of our mortality?” It teaches us that we are mortals and that there is a life beyond for which we must prepare.
The third reason we should come and see the tomb is that we might be reminded that we also will lie there. Unless the Lord Jesus Christ comes for His own before we die, we too must die. There is a time when we will be separated from all that we know now. We will leave friends and loved ones. We’ll leave all our material possessions; we’ll leave all that we know behind. So we look to the tomb and we say, “What does this have to teach us of our mortality?” It teaches us that we are mortals and that there is a life beyond for which we must prepare.
Or again, there was the edict of Rome. The tomb had been sealed by Pilate’s order. The soldiers were stationed at the tomb in order to guard it. Now, something had happened: the stone had been removed, and that meant that the seal had been broken, and Rome had been disobeyed. The women might have said, “Oh, but Rome forbids us, we can’t come closer. We can’t look in.” They might have failed to come for that reason.
Can you imagine how these exact words must have been impressed on the minds of these women? They could never forget them. Remember, they had come to the tomb on that early Easter morning, certainly not expecting what they found. They were preoccupied with one thing, and that was to anoint Jesus’ body with the spices they had bought.
Finally, we are to remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ because if we do remember it, we will always have a satisfying Gospel. The truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ satisfies. There is so much in life that is not satisfying. In some cases we may be satisfied for a time. But the pleasures soon pale and the satisfaction fades.
Third, we are to remember the resurrection because so long as we remember it, we will always have a scriptural Gospel. This means that our faith will not be a novelty. Instead, we will have a faith linked—as all true faith must be linked—to God’s great and eternal purposes in human history.
Second, we should remember the resurrection because so long as we remember it, we will always have a supernatural Gospel.
In yesterday’s study we said that people need a simple Gospel, not a simplistic Gospel—which we defined as one that is superficial and does not grapple with the deepest problems people have. But when I am talking about a “simple” Gospel, that is something else. It is a gospel that is simple because it brings simplicity to areas that would be hopelessly confusing without it.
Canadian Committee of The Bible Study Hour
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