The doctrine of a risen Saviour is exceedingly precious. The
resurrection is the corner-stone of the entire building of Christianity. It
is the key-stone of the arch of our salvation. It would take a volume to set
forth all the streams of living water which flow from this one sacred
source, the resurrection of our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; but to
know that He has risen, and to have fellowship with Him as such--communing
with the risen Saviour by possessing a risen life--seeing Him leave the tomb
by leaving the tomb of worldliness ourselves, this is even still more
precious. The doctrine is the basis of the experience, but as the flower is
more lovely than the root, so is the experience of fellowship with the risen
Saviour more lovely than the doctrine itself. I would have you believe that
Christ rose from the dead so as to sing of it, and derive all the
consolation which it is possible for you to extract from this
well-ascertained and well-witnessed fact; but I beseech you, rest not
contented even there. Though you cannot, like the disciples, see Him
visibly, yet I bid you aspire to see Christ Jesus by the eye of faith; and
though, like Mary Magdalene, you may not "touch" Him, yet may you be
privileged to converse with Him, and to know that He is risen, you
yourselves being risen in Him to newness of life. To know a crucified
Saviour as having crucified all my sins, is a high degree of knowledge; but
to know a risen Saviour as having justified me, and to realize that He has
bestowed upon me new life, having given me to be a new creature through His
own newness of life, this is a noble style of experience: short of it, none
ought to rest satisfied. May you both "know Him, and the power of His
resurrection." Why should souls who are quickened with Jesus, wear the
grave-clothes of worldliness and unbelief? Rise, for the Lord is risen.
