HERE was no one thing which the apostles were more
RESURRECTION
1. THE NEED FOR PROOF OF THE RESURRECTION
HERE was no one thing which the apostles were more concerned to produce substantial proof of than the resurrection of their Master. (a) Because this was what He Himself had appealed to as the last and most cogent proof of His being the Messiah. 'They that would not believe other signs were referred to this sign of the prophet Jonas. Therefore the enemies were most solicitous to stifle the notices of this. If he be risen, they are not only murderers, but murderers of the Messiah.
(b) Because this was that upon which the performance of His undertaking for our redemption and salvation did depend. If He give His life a ransom, and donot resumeit, it does not appear that His giving of it was accepted asasatisfaction. If He beimprisoned for our debt, and lie by it, we are undone (1 Cor. xv. 17).
(c) Because He never showed Himself alive after His resurrection to all the people (Acts x. 40, 41).
We would have said, Let His ignominious death be private, and His glorious resurrection public. But God's thoughts are not as ours: and He ordered it that His death should be public, before the sun, by the same token that He blushed and hid His face upon it. But the demonstrations of His resurrection should be reserved as a favour for His particular friends, and by them be published to the world, that they might be blessed who have not seen and yet have believed. The method of proof is such as gives abundant satisfaction to those who are piously disposed to receive the doctrine and law of Christ, and yet leaves room for those to object who are willingly ignorant and obstinate in their unbelief. And this is a fair trial, suited to the case of those who are probationers.
2. Proors PROVIDED
In these verses (Fohn xx. iff.) we have the first step towards the proof of Christ's resurrection. The sepulchre was found