Lesson 176. The Resurrection of Love

Isaiah 55:11 says: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” While He was still living on Earth, Jesus taught that He was to die for the sins of the world and rise again on the third day. The Word had been spoken, and all Heaven awaited its fulfillment.

The death of Christ revealed to all the inhabitants of Heaven Satan’s true character and what would have happened to the Universe if God’s adversary had received the power of which he dreamed and had been allowed to remain in the Heavenly courts. The evolution of sin reached its culmination at Calvary, and when the Son of God died on the cross, the mask beneath which Satan had concealed his true plans was torn away. If any of the faithful angels had sympathized with the great deceiver or had not understood his intentions, everything was now revealed, and the final sentence of death was pronounced upon Satan. But the enemy of souls did not know how much time he had left and continued to fight desperately, which he still does to this day in great fury.

The great Sacrifice had been offered. The Roman centurion acknowledged Christ as the Son of God and boldly declared his faith in Him. The whole Earth trembled and sank into the darkness of unbelief and despair. Something astonishing took place at Calvary. Something important “was finished.” Thousands of hearts were shaken by the events that had occurred, and many began to study the prophecies about the Messiah and how He was to suffer. And these people found answers. Everything pointed to this Sacrifice; everything led to this day. And now, before everyone’s eyes, all the predictions concerning Christ and all the feasts pointing to true deliverance from sin were fulfilled. Type met antitype. God’s Love was revealed to the entire Universe.

It is difficult for me to say whether this Sacrifice affected the inhabitants of Heaven in any way or whether it had any significance in cleansing them from the consequences of Satan’s rebellion, but I know that the blood of Christ cleanses from every sin on Earth.

The lifeless body of Jesus was taken down from the cross, wrapped in linen cloths, and laid in a tomb. The entrance was closed with a stone, and they went home to rest according to the commandment.

Having completed creation in six days, the Son of God rested from all His works. Having accomplished our Salvation, the Son of Man rested from this grievous labor and spent the seventh day in the silence of a new tomb.

Even if the disciples had doubts and disappointment, and even if they had forgotten the Teacher’s words about His resurrection, the priests remembered them well and believed that they would be fulfilled. Therefore, they asked Pilate to place a guard at the tomb, secured the entrance to the tomb with a stone, and set a seal upon it.

But the third day after Christ’s death was approaching, and God’s Word brought the declaration of Jesus to fulfillment: He arose. While awaiting His release from the prison, He carefully folded the linen cloths and the napkin in which He had been wrapped, knowing that John would see them and believe. The One Who created the entire Universe was very attentive to details and even put the tomb in order when He was released from it.

And then an Angel from Heaven, in all his splendor, descended to Earth, rolled away the stone from the entrance, and set Jesus free so that He could come forth and go to the Father. And the One Who said of Himself in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live,” left the tomb in all His glory; and for fear of Him, the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. Where was the strength of the brave soldiers, and where was their courage? Before God everything grows silent and trembles. And in terror the guards abandoned their post. All the soldiers fled.

If we consider all the founders of the world’s religions, we can learn where their graves are and where they are buried. But Christ’s tomb is empty. He arose from the dead! He is alive for evermore.

In the resurrection of Christ, the power of God’s Word was revealed, bringing the prophecies concerning this event to fulfillment. The One Who died in the agony of the second death became the Firstborn from the dead and the last One to cross this boundary. No one else has yet endured this agony, and no one will ever rise again after God’s judgment upon the wicked has been carried out. Jesus truly is the First and the Last.

Because of this event, I have hope and confidence that I too will be raised by the same power of God’s Word if I die before that time. What a glorious hope! Death is only a short sleep, and upon awakening from it, Eternity and everlasting life begin. This life already abides in us, and it will continue, never to end again.

If Jesus had not risen, Christianity would have become one of the religions that worship the dead. Faith in Christ would then have been in vain, and there would have been nothing for which to hope. In that case, our world would have sunk into the darkness of despair and unbelief, inventing its own ways of salvation and having no idea what would happen after death. Indeed, this is what happens wherever Christ is absent.

But our Lord Jesus died, paying the price for our sins, and rose again, giving us hope and faith in our resurrection. And we live in the glorious hope and expectation of this event. How joyful it will be to meet again those whom we loved and who left us, leaving behind all their labors; those whose messages sustained us in difficult times; those who believed in Jesus and were ready to die rather than sin; and those who gave their lives for the faith and were faithful unto death. How much joy and delight we will experience on that beautiful day of Christ’s Second Coming! And it is drawing near. Very soon it will come to pass, though certain events must still take place. And the prophecies are already beginning to be fulfilled.

And that very agape love which we are learning in our school will be sought by everyone. It will find its application, and we will be amazed at how rich we are in this gold refined in the fire of trials and how vast this ocean of love is which never runs dry. We already understand that such Love never fails and will remain the same throughout all the remaining days of unending Eternity. Why should we be given what is perishable or be taught what is temporary? God has a better plan. We are studying the eternal science of Love so that we may never stop growing in this knowledge and development. And practical skills and visual aids surround us everywhere.

The life, death, and resurrection of Christ are the foundation of my faith, upon which I can confidently build all my views and base my assumptions, knowing that it will withstand every trial. Everything that corresponds to the truth has God’s blessing, approval, and support. Such a foundation will bear any load and will not crack. It is a very strong ship for long and safe journeys.

God’s eternal Love has a very firm and solid foundation. It proceeds from Christ in order to exert its influence, glorify Him, and draw to Him new souls who are weary of deception and vanity. Glory to God!

Christ is risen! What power there is in these words, and how often they are spoken by those who do not personally know the One of Whom they speak. For many, they have become an incantation that has entered tradition and lost its meaning, but it was not so before. This was how the first disciples of the early Church greeted and comforted one another. And how do we greet one another today?

1. Did you learn anything new from this lesson?

2. Do you believe in the resurrection of Christ? What does it mean to you?

3. Why was the resurrection from the dead included in the Plan of Salvation?

4. Why is Jesus called the Firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:5), even though He Himself raised the dead during His earthly life?

5. Where does the Bible say on exactly which day Christ arose? Name the verse that speaks of this event and this day.

6. Why did Jesus not rise immediately, but remain in the tomb for several days?

7. What would have happened if Jesus had not risen?

8. Does the fact of Christ’s resurrection give you hope for your own resurrection if you die believing in the Lord?

9. Please read Matthew 16:21; 20:19; 27:52–53; 28:6; John 5:28–29; Romans 6:4–5, 9; 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15:12–26 in the light of our lesson.

Jesus is risen; He is alive; He loves you!