The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-03-25

The natural
phenomena lead ones mind up to
that more profound event the
day on which we will sing our al
lelulias. for our Christ Is risen from
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
which according to his abundant
mercy hath begotten US again unto a
lively hope by the resurrection Of
Jesus Christ from the dead" And as
sit and think of the glorious heritage
to which the church has attained by
the resurrection Of the Christ, four
great facts impress themselves upon
me. Let US mediate on them.
I. He is risen. Vain the stone, the
watch, the seal" What q jubilant
shout was that as the once terrified
disciples now greeted each other. He
is risen" Put TO flight Is every fear,
rekindled is their hope for the gospel,
and henceforth they go forth in the
animation of this fact preaching the
power OF his resurrection. That Christ
is risen is monumental fact, 1t is
the foundation of all Christianity. No,
let me rather say that it Is the key
stone of Christianity; for without it
the beautiful arch would go to pieces
| and the entire fabric would be in ir-
retrievable ruin. What an awful con-
dition we are In. if Christ be not ris-
en-; Il Cor. 15:14-19). Life is fruit
less, faith Is rootless, hope Is wretch
edness, sin is without atonement,
night without promise of day, death
| without assurance Of resurrection,
earth without promise of heaven, hui.
manity without redemption, no Sa-
vior, no Lord, no King, no life eternal;
nothing but waste and woe and wretch
edness. What dismal picture! But
blessed be God, Christ is risen from
the dead, and that fact changes every
thing, drives away the darkness and
| gives promise and guarantee of eter-
nal day and eternal joy.
II. He lives. Lives again our glor-
ious King" The angels said to those
early seekers at the tomb: why
seek ye the living among the dead;
he is not here" No dead Christ for
us; no speculative basis for our creed
and no dead principle for our life, but
a risen and living Christ, a Christ
alive forevermore. a living God who
has promised to be with US even unto
the end. Oh, what joy to have the
Easter life pulsing in us. What in
spiration to know his promise is true,
Because / live We shall live also"
God hath quickened US together with
Christ"
| III. He reigns. Once he was hold
en- of death (and the powers of dark
ness were jubilant over destruction
of Jesus), but it was only that his
triumph might be more glorious and
complete, and that he might make US
heirs of his glory. And now he is vic
tor and conqueror and king. He has
led captivity captive. Jesus reigns.
He is now king-oh, may he soon be
king of kings. He Is In our hearts
the only Potentate. Is this Easter
Christ your lord and king? Give him
the throne of your heart, the service
of your life, that you may have the
victory over yourself and may know
the fullness of joy of the life ruled
by Jesus. Bring forth the royal di-
| adem, and crown him Lord of all"
! w He intercedes. What a climax
| in all the precious truths of this Eas-
ter time! Our risen, living. reigning
Lord ever liveth to make interces-
sion for u.s.. We were without
strength, we were ungodly. aliens
/ from God and enemies of his
kingdom; and until Jesus went to the
right hand of the father as our advo.
cate we had closed to ourselves the,
way of approach to forgiveness and
blessing and peace. But Jesus Christ
| is liable to save for evermore them
that come unto God by him, seeing
/ he ever liveth to make intercession
for them" Therefore, we can rejoic-
ingly shout that nothing shall be able
1 to separate us from the love Of God
as 1t is in Christ Jesus our Lord
| Note the rest of that microscopy
prayer, Father l will that they also
whom thou hast given me- may be
with me where / am" Could infinite
love do more than this? and can do
less than accept this wonderful gift
of Gods grace to be with him.
Ear from a world of grief and sin,
With God eternally shut In"
| And this makes Easter in the soul and
! crowns the life with Easter flowers
and fills the world with Easter per
fumes. Tremendous thought-Jesus
ever nveth to make intercesBion for
US. Hence. for me the seal is brok-
en-, am risen from the dreadful and
rayiess sepulcher Of my old self.
i've the life Of Jesus Christ