November 22, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"The power of His resurrection." — Philippians 3:10 · KJV

The doctrine of a risen Savior is exceedingly precious. The resurrection is the cornerstone of the whole building of Christianity, the keystone in the arch of our salvation. It would take a volume to set forth all the streams of living water that flow from this one sacred source — the resurrection of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; but to know that He has risen, and to have fellowship with Him as such — communing with the risen Savior by possessing a risen life, leaving the tomb of worldliness as He left the tomb — this is more precious still. The doctrine is the basis of the experience; but as the flower is lovelier than the root, so is the experience of fellowship with the risen Savior lovelier than the doctrine itself. I would have you believe that Christ rose from the dead, so as to sing of it and draw all the comfort you possibly can from this well-attested and well-witnessed fact; but I beg you, do not rest content even there. Though you cannot, like the disciples, see Him visibly, yet I urge you to aspire to see Christ Jesus by the eye of faith; and though, like Mary Magdalene, you may not "touch" Him, yet you may be privileged to converse with Him, and to know that He is risen, yourself being risen in Him to newness of life. To know a crucified Savior as having crucified all my sins is a high degree of knowledge; but to know a risen Savior as having justified me, and to realize that He has bestowed on me new life, having made me a new creature through His own newness of life — this is a noble kind of experience; short of it, no one ought to rest satisfied. May you both "know Him, and the power of His resurrection." Why should souls who are quickened with Jesus wear the grave-clothes of worldliness and unbelief? Rise, for the Lord is risen.