And
therefore it is that St. Paul speaks so often of Christ's
resurrection, and that in the text he takes so much pains to prove
that Christ had really risen, by telling them how many persons, well
known to him who wrote to them, had seen the Lord Jesus Christ after
He rose, and talked with Him, and were sure that He was the very same
person still, with the same countenance, and body, and soul, and
spirit, as He had when He was nailed to the cross, and laid in the
sepulchre.
What a thought for a poor creature in the last agony of fear and
shame, expecting presently to be torn in pieces, or burnt alive:
"Death, this horrible death, cannot conquer me, weak and fearful as I
am; for my Lord and Master, for whom I am going to suffer, has
conquered death, and He will not let it conquer me. He is stronger
than death and hell, and He will not suffer me at my last hour for
any pains of death to fall from Him. He is King of heaven and earth,
and He will take care of His own!" What a comfortable thought to be
able to say: "Ay, I am torn from wife and child, and all which I
love on earth. But not for ever, not for ever. For Christ rose from
the dead. And I who belong to Christ, shall rise as He did. This
poor flesh of mine may be burnt in flames, devoured by ravenous
beasts.
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