THE FIRST DAY
Luke 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
The offering up of the body of Jesus Christ ended forever the Old Covenant sacrifices! To attempt to rebuild that temple, after the Holy Ghost has built a temple-body for God (John 2:21), would be an abomination! For even God had no pleasure in those sacrifices offered in that natural temple! And they did never take way a single sin! (Heb. 10:11).
So the Son says, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. Therefore, we read, He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (Heb. 10:8-9). The Son of God must not have attended Bible College where it is taught that there shall be a Third Dispensation! The Son of God actually thought that when he offered his body it would be “once for all!” Heb. 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Some men had rather climb a tree to believe a lie, rather than just stand on the ground and believe the truth!
So this was “The First Day!” It was the first day that God, the Father, had been “satisfied” (Isa. 53:11), since the fall of the first Adam into sin! For He has now seen, and approved of the travail of His Son’s soul!
And it was the first day that Satan had been cast out of his usurped power! For it was “through death” that the Savior “destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil!” (Heb. 2:14). Rev. 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
And it was the first day of the church’s justification! Rom. 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. For the gavel of the High Court of Heaven had been struck, with a resounding, “Not Guilty!” shouted by the Father-Judge, who had loved these sinners from before the foundation of the world! Now He would send forth His glorious gospel into the world, and effectually into the elect’s hearts, so that all, without exception, would come, and none that came would be cast out! (John 6:37).
For it was “the morrow after the sabbath” when Christ, the firstfruits (1Cor. 15:20), should be waved before heaven, for our acceptance by God! Lev. 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
We had been made accepted before God in Christ on this First Day after He fulfilled God’s sabbath of rest for us all! Eph. 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
And on this First Day, these came with the expectation of being shut out! For Mark (16:2,3) tells us they asked among themselves, “Who shall roll away the stone, for it was very great?” Then, if they did get in, they only expected to find a dead corpse! The law made nothing perfect! It kept sinners away from God! They were shut out of His presence in the garden and a flaming sword was posted there to forbid their reentry! They were threatened to stay off of Sinai, lest they be killed when God came down! They were not allowed to enter into the Holy of Holies, where even their High Priest could only come once a year!
But now, at mercies door, the heavenly messangers tell them how to find him by the words of the Lord. “He is not here!” He will not provide his presence among mind set of the sacrifices of bulls and goats! “He is risen!” They did not give another ‘location’ where he might be found! He had previously warned them concerning this! Luke 17:20 The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. These heavenly messengers gave His condition of life, not another location! “He is risen!”
For it is not in time and place where worship occurs! But as the Lord proclaimed to the woman at the well, it is in spirit and truth, that is, the heart’s condition of life, where the Father is worshipped! These alone are those whom the Father seeks to worship him! (John 4:21-24).
“Remember how he spake unto you!” O! Glorious gospel, effectually applied by grace! – And the result? And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
“Come unto me! I will give you rest!” Let us leave the practice of tradition and flee to Christ! Let us leave the grave yard and come outside the camp, fellowshipping with Him in his cross! May the Holy Spirit come to bring all things to our remembrance that he has instructed us! (John 14:26).
Heb. 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Pastor Gene Breed