PART 4
We shall now pass on to some other things (the Lord willing) touching his burial, resurrection, ascension, intercession, second coming, resurrection of the body, and eternal judgment.
HIS BURIAL PROVED.—I shall prove by several scriptures that he was buried, and so pass on. Therefore, see that place, Matthew 27, verse 57, and so forward. After that, Jesus, the Son of God, had been crucified a while, he gave up the ghost; that is, he died; and after he had been awhile dead, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave consent thereto. And Joseph took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in clean linen, and laid it (viz. the body of Jesus) in his own tomb, and rolled a stone upon the mouth of the sepulchre, and departed. Also in Luke 23:51-53. The apostle Paul also teacheth so much (1 Cor 15:3,4) where he saith, 'For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scripture; And that he was buried.' Again, in Acts 13:29, the apostle speaking there of Jesus Christ, saith, 'And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.' And so much touching the burial of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
RESURRECTION. In the next place, I am to prove that that very man, whom the Jews did crucify between two thieves, called Jesus Christ, did rise again. That very man, with that same body wherewith he was crucified upon the cross, did rise again out of the grave in which he was laid. And this I shall prove 1. by scripture, 2. by the testimony of angels, 3. by Christ's own words after he was risen, and 4. by the testimony of the apostles in the scripture.
First, therefore, consider Psalm 16, verse 10, where the prophet speaks in this way of Christ's resurrection: 'For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.' Which words the Apostle Peter cites in Acts 2, from verse 22 to 32, also Isaiah 26:19 in the person of Christ saith, 'Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they rise.' See also John 20:15, 16, where mention is made of his appearing unto Mary Magdalene, and he called her Mary, and she called him master; which signifies that he was risen, and that she knew him after his resurrection; for he had come out of the grave, see verses 6, 7, 8. Again, another scripture is that in Luke 24:1-3. The disciples of Jesus coming to the sepulchre, thinking to anoint the body of Jesus, found the stone that was on the mouth of the sepulchre rolled away; and when they went in, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus; and at this they were troubled and perplexed (v 4). But as two of them went up to Emmaus, and were talking of what had befallen Jesus, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them (v 15).
Another scripture is Mark 16:9, which saith, 'Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalen, out of whom he had cast seven devils.' Take notice how the Holy Ghost lays it down in these words, out of whom he had cast seven devils. To intimate to us the certainty that it was the same Jesus who was born of the virgin Mary, who did many miracles, and cured many diseases, who also cast seven devils out of Mary Magdalen, that did rise again. Yea, saith the Holy Ghost, it was the same Jesus that did work such an incredible miracle on Mary; he appeared to her first, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And let these scriptures suffice to prove the resurrection of the Son of God.
Second, you shall have the testimony of the holy angels also by the scriptures. And first look into Mark 16:3-7, the words are these, 'And they [viz. The disciples said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone?' They had a sound mind to see their Lord, but they could not, as they thought, get away the stone which covered the mouth of the sepulchre. 'And when they looked [that is, towards the sepulchre] they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man [that is, an angel] sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they [the disciples] were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted [you have no cause for it] Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen, he is not here; behold the place where they laid him.' What scripture can be plainer spoken than this? Here is an angel of the Lord ready to satisfy the disciples of Jesus that he had risen from the dead. And lest they should think it was not the right Jesus he spoke of, Yes, saith he, it is the same Jesus that you mean; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, do you not? Why has he risen? He is not here.
But do you speak seriously, and in good earnest? Yeah, surely, if you will not believe me, behold the place where they laid him. This scripture, or testimony, is evident to our purpose. But again, the next place is in Matthew 28:3-7. In the third verse, an angel (as before) bears witness to Jesus' resurrection. 'His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto them, [viz. To the women who came to seek Jesus] Fear not ye': but let them that seek to keep the Lord in his grave fear if they will; for you have no ground of fear, who seek Jesus who was crucified; He is not here, for he is risen; he cannot be in body here and risen too: If you will not believe me, come, see where the Lord lay, and go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall you see him. But shall we be sure of it? Yea, saith the angel, Lo, it is I that have told you. See how plainly this scripture also doth testify of Christ's resurrection. Here, saith the angel, you seek a Saviour, and none will content you but he, even the same that was crucified: Well, you shall have him, but he is not here. Why, where is he then? He has risen from the dead. But are you sure it is the same thing we're looking for? Yeah, it is the same that was crucified (v 5). But where should we find him? Why, he goeth before you into Galilee, where he used to be in his lifetime, before he was crucified: And that you might be sure of it, there to find him, know that he is an angel of God that hath told you (v 7). And thus have you in brief the testimony of the angels of God, to witness that Jesus, the Son of the Virgin, the Son of God, is risen from the dead.
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