Resurrection

Cross Series

“Resurrection”

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21

The death of Christ on the cross served sufficiently as the fulfilling of Christ’s complete obedience to God’s plan and also to satisfy the wrath of God against man. Every ounce of the anger of God was poured out on His Son for our sake… and victory was won at Calvary! 

Every victory has a reward; and I want to say that Christ’s resurrection from the dead was more than the natural after-effect of the death of incarnation… it was also Christ’s reward for His willful and obedient shedding of His blood.  For us, our death is our punishment for sin; but for Christ, His death was an achievement- and for that achievement, He was rewarded with the power of resurrection.  In other words, Christ’s death purchased His resurrection. Likewise, faith in his death purchases our resurrection.

The blood of the covenant

The connection between the death of Jesus on the cross and the reward of resurrection is seen best in the above scripture.  The word “through” is the key to understanding this truth (read Hebrews 13:20 again).  Notice that His resurrection came through His blood.  This resurrection is what purchased our covenant with Him.  This would not have been possible without His death (Read Matt. 26:28)

Baptism, the picture of God’s endorsement

Our water baptism is the public declaration of our death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ.  However, without the resurrection of Christ from the dead, water baptism would be nothing more than a waste of good bath water.  Again, remember that Christ’s resurrection was His reward for His obedience of the death of the cross.  Another way to say this might be, “Christ’s resurrection was God’s public endorsement of Christ’s obedience.” (“…in whom I am well pleased.”)

Read 1Corinthians 15:17.  What we see here is that Christ’s resurrection from the dead was vindication. Therefore, when we place our trust in the Gospel (death, burial and resurrection) we are vindicated by the Gospel. Had He not been resurrected, His death would have been in vain and we would still be in our sins.  May we always remember this when we witness a baptism.