Devotional
Our Crucified, Buried, and Risen Saviour
Christ died for our sins …; he was buried, and … he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3–4
“Christ died.” That the Prince of Life should come under the power of death by the free exercise of His sovereign will is a miracle of grace that exceeds our understanding, but this much we know: He died to make an atoning sacrifice.
“Christ died for our sins” means He died to put away our sin and propitiate the wrath of our Holy God. What a death He died! In dying, He bore the punishment due to our sins so that He removed them forever both from God’s sight and from our record.
“He was buried.” Christ’s burial proved that He had really died. Ungodly men have long tried to show that Jesus did not really die on the cross. Some say He swooned but didn’t really die. This is a ridiculous theory! His being bound head to foot with graveclothes impregnated with 100 pounds of spices and buried for three days leaves us in no doubt that He really did die.
But He did not remain in the grave. He was buried but He “rose again the third day,” thereby establishing His claim to be the Son of God. Paul says that He “was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). He also says that as Christ died on account of our sin, He rose again on account of our justification (Romans 4:25). He is the complete Saviour.
Christian, behold His cross where He bore your sins. Consider His grave and know that He carried your sin and guilt there and buried them without the possibility of their rising again. See Him risen from the dead and rejoice that He has opened heaven for you to enter. Rejoice with assurance in His promise, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19).
Quote: “The same power that brought Christ back from the dead is operative within those who are Christ’s. The resurrection is an ongoing thing.” – Leon Morris
