Embracing Hope: The Majesty of the Risen Christ

You see Christians who are unique at any time are never more unique than at a time like this, at the side of the open grave in the memorial service. We are different. We have been made different. We are unique, and now we must express this uniqueness. Let me put it this way: at times like this, the world has only two directions in which to look at the grave or in the memorial service. [00:00:47]

People in general do you see have no idea of the risen glorified cosmic dimension of the life of Jesus Christ, who was God with us. They know little about his humiliation and nothing at all about his exaltation. Now here was John, he's an old man now, but he was once the bright-eyed youth of the Gospels. Shall we call him the favorite of Jesus? [00:04:29]

The critic and the preacher, the feature article and the obituary, we've got the whole world on two pages, two kinds of men, as another critic not long ago put it, two successions of men. How should we illustrate them? They illustrated perfectly in two of the most famous characters of English history, two of the most famous characters rather of English literature, classical English literature, two successions of men meeting death. [00:07:31]

Now while they were thus drawing towards the gate, behold, a company of the heavenly hosts came out to meet them, to whom it was said by the other two shining ones, these are the men that have loved our Lord when they were in the world and that have left all for His Holy Name, and he have sent us to fetch them and we have brought them thus far on their desired journey. [00:11:19]

He entered this life to live the perfect life for us and to die the atoning death for us and to absorb in his own holy soul at Calvary's cross all the darkness that was due to us for our sins. That is no dream, and that he rose on the third day taking this glorified humanity back to the glory that he had with the father before the world was. [00:14:21]

Jesus Christ did not speculate, he did not philosophize, he did not preach what he believed, he preached from experience. And one of the most remarkable characteristics of his ministry is this: his constant reference to his own experience of eternity, of the Godhead, his great I am, his great declaration that he had exhaustive knowledge of God. [00:15:53]

I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. Verse 38: for I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And in verse 41 the Jews then murmured at him. Why? Because he said I am the bread which came down from heaven. [00:16:49]

I died, I achieved death, I became dead, I bore the wrath of God that was due to sin. I died a thousand thousand deaths. I died the eternal death that you should have died. I died, and behold I am Alive. I am Alive forever, forevermore, and I have the keys. I have the keys of death and Hades. [00:18:58]

Christ has the keys for you, however unusual your situation. He has a key that will fit the wards of your situation, however complex. You see, he has all the keys now. He's won them all, and his father has given them all. He has the keys to broken hearts and to broken minds and to broken bodies and to broken homes. [00:20:32]

I say to you, the music of the keys is for you tonight. I don't know why God should put you on my heart. Do you know Lady Elizabeth Catherwood, when she rang me to ask me to preach tonight, she said to me, and I hope I might say it, Peter, she said, we have been looking backwards, we want you to lead us forwards into the glory. [00:22:48]

He has never left you. You are still his. He bought you, and he will not let you go. You have grieved his spirit, but he has followed you through every twisting, winding path in your life and to the shameful places, and he will never let you go. And if I am to lead this congregation into the glory tonight, I want you to come with us. [00:23:49]

The Christ who said because I live, therefore you shall live also, and he says it not only to the greats, not only to the Lloyd Joneses of church history, but he says it to the least and latest believer. There is equal justification in the blood that has flowed for sinners, and you may join us as we step into the glory. [00:25:46]