Sermons Vander Kam on HC Lord's Day 17 Q&A 45 Sermons Vander Kam on HC Lord's Day 17 Q&A 4545 Q. What does the resurrection of Christ profit us?
A. First, by His resurrection He has overcome death, that He might make us partakers of the righteousness which He has obtained for us by His death; second, we also are raised up by His power to a new life; and third, the resurrection of Christ is to us a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection.
Beloved in the Lord, we called your attention to it several times in the last few weeks dealing with the death of Christ, that this is pivotal. And that the cross of Jesus Christ also stands at the very center of the world's history and that everything revolves around it. That we are not able to think for example, of anything that has happened except in the light of the cross of Jesus Christ. That we are therefore to glory in the cross of Christ, as Paul also has made it very clear in his epistles, that he does not glory in anything except in the cross of Christ. That he glories in this because of the fact that is the one thing whereby our sins have been done away. Whereby our sins have been nailed to the cross, whereby there is now redemption, whereby there is now this given to us that we have forgiveness; forgiveness through His blood. That all comes to us from the cross of Christ.
But at the same time beloved, we must also realize that Good Friday is not the most important day in the world's history, but that it is Easter. And it is also possible to make it very clear, I think, by saying it this way, that everybody can die. But there is only one that could rise. That He died is no miracle; everybody does that, and you and I will too; but that He rose, that is the great miracle, that is the great difference. He rose again from the dead and nobody else did that before, or since. Because those who were resurrected, they were resurrected by another. He rose, Himself. He had the power in Himself to rise again. And Elijah lives on, and Enoch lives on, but it is only the Christ of God who is able to rise Himself, who was resurrected, who rose again from the dead.
Now, in that resurrection of Jesus Christ therefore there is given to us the things that are really necessary to life, and that we may also realize that in that Apostolic Confession that He rose again the third day from the dead. This is the thing of course, that has changed the whole history of the world. Not that He has died; that could happen to many others, many others were also crucified. He suffered untold agonies, so did many others. Maybe there have even been those who have suffered more in body; no doubt there were. But that He rose again; this is the thing that has changed everything, that has changed your and my life. That's why we're here this morning. This is the day that has been brought into being through the resurrection of Christ, that on the first day He rose again from the dead. That is this day, and this is the day that we observe in worship. Because He rose, therefore we also will rise. And therefore there is an entirely different outlook on life; all things have been changed through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And therefore we must also not read over those few words, that the third day He rose again from the dead. That is stupendous; that is the kind of a thing that men are not able to understand. That is the thing of which they stumble, that is the thing against which they fall; they are not able to understand that anybody could rise again. Death is final; has a finality about it, we feel. It is this, that it is that from which no one returns. And says the Ecclesiast, there is no way that we are not going to be called into that kind of war. There is no amnesty; everyone is subject to death, and the seeds of death are within us. And now to think that He rose again, and that I am going to rise with Him, and that my loved ones whom I have laid to rest are going to rise again.
Changes the whole world, changes the whole outlook, changes everything, now nothing is the same. Now there is purpose in life, otherwise what do we live for. Do we live in order to die, and then the judgment, or do we live in order that we are going to live again. There is a difference of day and night.
And those are the things that you and I must recognize as we speak to you this morning on, The Meaning of Christ's Resurrection. And three very simple, very simple ways of remembering the three parts of it and that is; for the past, for the present, and for the future. That is the meaning of His resurrection.
When we look upon that meaning of the resurrection for the past beloved, then we realize that it is this, that thereby there has been given to the past an entirely different outlook. An entirely different cast concerning all the things that have taken place, because you know, the life of Jesus Christ is a conundrum. And anyone that looks at it will also immediately come to the conclusion that it is very, very difficult to understand. Why He had to be born in the way in which He was; why is it so necessary that He is virgin born; why is it so necessary that He is born in grinding poverty; why is it necessary that all these things are said about Him, that He is chased from His own land, that He has to go to Egypt, has to flee already before He is fully conscious. And all these things; why is that? And all of these things of course, are a conundrum in the life of Christ.
These are the kinds of things beloved, that we are not able to sort out very well. And there have been all kinds of attempts to do so, to find some meaning in the life of Christ, in the way in which He lived, that all these things fit together. They don't, except in the light of the resurrection. The resurrection has to come before all these things fit together, and then it is that puzzle that is put together beautifully and then it comes as a beautiful picture of that which God is revealing to us.
We find this, that it is not only His life that is a conundrum, but also His teaching. Because you know, you find already in the Old Testament that there is indeed a whole section in the book of Isaiah that is devoted to the suffering servant of Jehovah. See, and the Jews didn't know what to do with that, and they even speak of that Messiah Ben-Joseph. Now that is not the true Messiah. The true Messiah is the Messiah Ben-Judah. So this must be that suffering servant of Jehovah; yah, everything that is said about Him is Messianic. That is somewhat of a Messiah Ben-Joseph. But yah, I don't need him, I can't do anything with him either. I need only the one Messiah and that is the Messiah Ben-Judah. But that is the son of David; that is the one who is going to sit on David's throne; that is the one who is going to restore his people; that is the one who is going to restore the temple, who is going to restore all things in their pristine beauty; as they were in the beginning. And that is not the suffering servant.
So that that whole matter concerning the sufferings of the Christ is something with which the Old Testament would have, to put it very bluntly, run stuck. They cannot understand it, and that especially when it comes to that final chapter, that glorious chapter 53 of Isaiah, which could have been written at the foot of the cross. When that chapter comes then the Jew shakes his head. Now he doesn't know anymore what it is all about. And you are not able to understand that suffering servant of Jehovah, you are not able to understand Isaiah 53, except in the light of the resurrection. And it is only when Christ rises that all these things fall into place. Then we see that indeed He had to suffer, as He Himself says to the two that are walking to Emmaus that night, was it not necessary, behooved it not the Christ to suffer, to suffer these things, to die, and rise again.
Yah, now that He rose again, now I can see it. Now it was indeed necessary that He would die, but the disciples didn't understand that either. The Jews leave Mount Calvary, and they are beating their breasts. And the disciples leave Mount Calvary, and they are in a quandary. They don't know what has happened. They cannot understand the ways of God, that He could allow His Son of whom they were convinced that it was indeed He has allowed Him to die. Now, this has taken the foundation right from under them, cut them right off. But He rose again. Now, this of course, they had never expected. And therefore the past beloved, is seen only in the light of His resurrection. And it is only then that it indeed becomes something that is vital, that is alive. Then you see that Isaiah becomes alive in his suffering servant of Jehovah chapters.
Then you see that it becomes alive for example, concerning all of the sacrifices. The temple worship of Judah; all the things that they brought. Now it comes alive, seeing that Jesus rose again. But otherwise, no, what is all of this for? Anybody can die, and He did too. In that cross of Christ I glory, yah, yah, watch out, because it is something to glory in, but to glory in something that is defeated? But that is precisely it, He rose again. Then it all is pivoted upon that, that the third day He rose again from the dead.
Now what benefit is that to us? Well, it is of this benefit beloved, that thereby we have life, that thereby we are able to see the past, that thereby that whole past is made alive for us, and that we are able to see that that whole revelation of God comes to us for that purpose. That that revelation of God is now given to us in such a way so that it is now made effective. That we are not dealing with a dead Christ, but that we are dealing with a living one. Remember! That we are not dealing with a leader who is dead, but that we are dealing with a leader who is alive. This is the greatest blessing and the greatest favor to the church of God, but it is also the greatest warning to the world about us. Remember people, our Lord, our Savior is not a dead one, but He is alive, and He is going to climb on the throne, and He is going to execute judgment. That comes out of that past; He rose again. And therefore all the conundrums wherewith they were faced, that they were not able to understand the life of Christ nor any of the miracles that He did, nor any of the greatest things that He spoke; they are not able to understand it, except in the light of this; the third day He rose again.
Yet now the light of that resurrection shines over all that has gone before, and that illumines it, that makes it so bright, so that now we are able to see all the details. All of it comes to light, all these things are exactly in place. That's where they had to be.
From that glorious coming out of the tomb that He is now victorious over everything, and that is the way in which He has been shown in the past. Now these are the things of course, that have a profound effect, profound effect upon this world, upon the church, upon every believer. Christ Jesus rose again. See, if you are dealing with one who taught some nice things; yah, then, never mind, you can believe it or you can disbelieve it, that's up to you. But when you are dealing with a living Christ, a living son of David, the lion of the tribe of Judah; yah, then you realize, now we are dealing with something that is alive. And that is to be feared, and that is to be adored, and that is to be loved, because He rose again.
Secondly, notice also, what it has to say to us, what the meaning is for the present. Now as far as the present is concerned beloved, it gives all joy that we may know that He rose again from the dead. That is the joy that comes to us in this life because of the fact that without that, your life and mine would be utterly empty. We wouldn't have a thing left. That's what the man of this world has, he thinks that he has everything, and he has nothing; it is all crumbling. There's nothing that he is able to hold onto, and so would it also be for you and for me were it not for this fact that I am also able to confess; the third day He rose again from the dead.
That even though He died, and even though He died an accursed death, even though He was crucified, that He was considered among the criminals; that nevertheless, He rose again, and as a result of that, the joy of God's people knows no bounds. "Therefore rejoice," says the apostle to the Philippians, "and again I say rejoice." That's all you can do, really. That is the only way that we are able to live in this life, that we are to rejoice. We have a joy, glorious and unspeakable, and that fadeth not away; a joy because Jesus rose.
See, what is involved in that is so much that it is impossible in this short time that I have this morning in order to show it clearly, in order to show it fully. Because there is ever so much that is attended upon it but nevertheless, that we will realize that apart from that resurrection of Jesus Christ, everything would be dark and gloomy, and there would be nothing to live for. Everything is then God, because then everything finally ends in death, and if you think that the victory of the cemetery is something to give you glory for the future, you are badly mistaken. That cemetery is a cold, dark place. And that is not the place where we go for comfort. That is not the place where we go in order that we may have joy. But it is in this, that He rose again from the dead, that He broke the seals of the grave, that He broke them asunder, and that He came forth that death and the grave were not able to hold Him. That is now our word, joy.
See, we are told time and again in the Old Testament already, but especially in the New, that we are to rejoice in our God. Yah, we know that, that doesn't have to be made known to you anymore. We are to rejoice in Him, and we are to rejoice in Him constantly. So that the apostle is even able to say to the church to which he is writing at that time at Ephesus, "Give thanks at all times, for all things." Aw, c'mon, is this realistic? We think so. And he also has the spirit. "Give thanks always, for all things," and if we are able to do that, than we have arrived pretty well where we should be. Because we are to rejoice in our Maker. We are to rejoice in Him because of the fact that He has slain death and the grave.
Anyone, you still remember, many of you, it was about 1956, that Jonas Salk came with his Salk vaccine, and that dread scourge of polio was gone. You would see a child suddenly become very sick, near death, and nothing could be done. Well remember yet; I mentioned it yet to someone this week; in our first congregation, I received ever so many calls one Sunday afternoon because I was president of the high school board and would the high school open because there was such a terrible scourge of polio. One family in Vogel Center had three children with them in church on Sunday. One of 23, one of 21, and one of 19. And they were all in church with their father and mother, and the following Sunday, two of them were buried, and the other was in an iron lung. Now, are you then going to open school? Is that the end of life, is that what we have lived for, is that our goal. Something like this. And then if someone would come along with a cure. That Jonas Salk was mobbed. That he had found a cure for polio, a vaccine. If someone finds something like that for cancer, he will have the Nobel prize.
Christ found it for death, that includes every disease, all of them; He has the vaccine. And you'll never get it again. Now this is something to rejoice in. To rejoice in so greatly because of the fact that something like this had never been expected by anybody. So that an Isaiah is able to speak concerning that suffering servant of Jehovah; but you read so little in the Old Testament concerning the resurrection. There are certain instances, no doubt, but so little compared to this, that He is going to give His live as a ransom for many.
Again, for the present, it makes the church of Jesus Christ come alive. That is His body, the body of Jesus Christ here on earth. And that body has come alive through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And that resurrection is the foundation for that church. That church is so important, that church is so strong, because it stands upon the resurrection, Christ of God. It stands upon that foundation, and that foundation is immovable. That's where the church of Christ stands, it has to stand there. If it doesn't stand there, it stands nowhere. And therefore it must ever rest upon that, that one foundation that has been laid for our faith; Christ Jesus crucified, and risen again. And therefore the church stands firm. And if it does not stand upon that of course, then it is going in all directions at once, and it has no future, it has no direction. No, the church of Jesus Christ comes with that Gospel, that Christ rose from the dead, and that as a result of course, all the good of this life and of the future, comes through Him. So that, when we look upon the past or whether we look upon the present, everything is dependent upon this, when they take Him to the grave, that cave of Joseph of Arimathea, when they lay Him in that grave; is that going to be the end. He was with the rich in His death; no one had ever lain in that grave before, and there everything is in order, the grave clothes, says John, they were all laying there, and a napkin about His head; that was going to stay there forever; and He took it off, He took it off, laid it aside. And the grave clothes together here, and that napkin, says John; it seems to be such a minute little thing; but that napkin he laid all by itself.
Shows that He has the power to get up, to arise; and He rose again the third day from the dead. That is the glory of the church of Jesus Christ, that is her message. He rose, and now you will have to face Him. And I'm going to face Him, I look forward to that. But there are many others who don't, but they're going to face Him too. But He is alive, He rose from the dead, as victor, as the One who has slain death and the grave, who is far more than a Jonas Salk, who is far more than any scientist, who is far greater than all the wealth of the world's intellects. This is the One who has now the antidote to death. He rose again.
And finally, notice also, for the future. Concerning the future of course, we realize that it is also based already on that which has been given to us. And that as a result of that we would already have enough. And that even though the future were cut off to a certain extent; it would not be sufficient, I know; but nevertheless, we would already have so much, so much more than anybody else has ever had.
But no, also as far as the future is concerned, there it is also given to us that the meaning of the resurrection of Christ is tremendous. And that it has so much meaning for us because of the fact that when I look forward, how many years are there left. Aw, you could pretty well count them; aw, nobody knows how long he's going to live. But well, says Moses, the days of a man are seventy, or even by reason of strength, eighty years. Sounds like a long time doesn't it, young people. It isn't, it isn't, it's very short. Compare it to the history of this world and it already shows itself so short. Seventy or eighty years, oh, then what, then what? Well, Christ rose again. And everything is dependent upon that. Because when I look forward, and I look forward to this, that this life is going to come to an end, finally. That it is finally going to come to the end so that I am no longer able to function. That the mind is gone, that the body is gone, that everything is gone as we have known it here. That all of the relationships are gone, that all the things that you have worked for is gone, that all the things that you had hoped for, all the things that you had worked on, everything is gone. Well, what are you living for? And there are a good many who ask that. And as a result, there are ever so many of course, advisors today, to advise concerning, especially those who are retiring. Advise them concerning the future because, well, are you going to have sufficient. And what kind of a future is it going to be; what kind of a retirement. Is it going to be this, so that you are going to be comfortable in that retirement. Is it going to be this, that you have something to look forward to, or that it is going to be abject poverty from beginning to end. Those are all the things that have to be considered.
And then comes the Gospel of Jesus Christ and says, you know, He rose again. Oh!!! Well if He rose again, then all of the other problems have been solved. Then they have been solved because now it is not going to come to an end. "That he that believeth in me," says Jesus to Martha, "shall never die." "I am the resurrection and the life, and he that believes in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" That's the question. Believest thou this? Because that is for the future, as far as the meaning of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is concerned. What is my future? And you don't, you never know anything about that. People are groping about time and again to find a handle onto the future. They can't remember the past usually, but oh, they would like to have a handle on the future, they would like to know what's going to happen tomorrow, and nobody knows, nobody knows. They are not able to understand that, aw, what is it going to be a year from now, two years; nobody knows. But I do know what eternity is going to be like. See, and that's the beauty, because the third day He rose again from the dead. And as a result, I may not know what tomorrow will bring, but I will know what the thousands, and ten thousands of years, to speak in Biblical language, will bring in the future. And that is this, that it is going to be in relationship to Him. And that it is going to be in communion with Him. And that all things find their meaning in Him. And that apart from Him, nothing has any meaning. And all the things that you have worked for, and the Psalmist has already spoken of that, you know; "Dust to dust the mortal dies, both the foolish and the wise; men think that forever they shall remain, and they give their names to their houses and to their lands, that they are going to stay here forever." Now how foolish can you get! They haven't set in stone the names, and they wither and finally they weather, and they die.
But He rose again the third day, and therefore the future is such that it is clear, and the future is such that it is light, and the future is such that it is more pleasant than anything else that has ever happened. That is the glory. The glory of this day, the glory of the resurrection of Christ, that He rose again for our justification. So that I may be justified before the throne of God. I don't have to fear that judgment; I know already what it is going to be. He's going to say -- NOT GUILTY!!
And see, then I can't wait for the judgment to come. If you don't know what it is, or are afraid, yah, then it is a different matter. But there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We are justified by faith. And being justified, we have peace with God; peace. Because He rose again. And these are the things beloved, that speak to our hearts, speak to our hearts in the present. So that it is not only in old age pension, you know, this resurrection, no, no. It is also for the present, so that we rejoice in, and realize that history has meaning only if He rose again, the third day from the dead. And otherwise it's meaningless, then it goes in circles, and they aren't even concentric circles; goes in all directions. But if He rose again; yah, then there is given to us in the history of the world a plan, and a plan that He is carrying out, and that He is carrying out until the day that He is coming again, when all things shall be subjected to Him. And He will subject all things to God the Father, because all things are finally brought under His feet. That's what He made things for in the beginning. And it takes a long time, sin has wrecked things. But He gets it there, He gets there.
And finally, all things are brought under His feet, where they belong. Subject to Him, where it belongs. That is the resurrection, that is this glorious meeting. And then we rejoice in that day, in that day when we hear that, He rose again. He is not here, He is risen, even as He said; come see the place where the Lord lay. That's past, and now He lives, and goes before you into Galilee. Amen....
We thank Thee, heavenly Father, for the grace and mercy Thou hast revealed. For the blessings Thou dost give, for the blessing of Thy Word. That Word of grace, that Word of instruction, that Word of comfort, that Word of cheer. And we pray O God, that Thou wilt graciously bless it to our hearts. Wilt Thou be further near to us. Bless the Catechism and Sunday School classes as they meet. Wilt Thou bring us together into Thou house again this evening that we may again feast and feed upon Thy Word. Hear us in mercy, for Jesus sake. Amen....
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