Sonrise Service 2025

Song - O Praise the Name

Prayer

Song - In Christ Alone

Devotional and Discussion

Read Spurgeon’s - The Risen King, devotional, Day 40 He is Risen!

The Risen King - Day 40

He Is Risen!

Matthew 28:1-10

Matthew 28:1–10 ESV

1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:6

The resurrection of Christ is vital because it tells us that the gospel is the gospel of a living Savior. Let it be known and understood that foundational to our faith is that Christ’s very limbs, which lay stiff and cold in death, became warm with life again. The silent heart began to beat again, and through the stagnant canals of the veins, the lifeblood began to circulate. The soul of the Redeemer again took possession of the body, and he lived once more. Let it be known that the very body which lay there, with its bones and blood and flesh, became again animated with life and came forth into a glorious existence. He was no phantom—no illusion. Jesus is a real man in glory now, even as he was when here below. Now, we always want to have that doctrine stated to us plainly, for though we believe it, we do not always realize it. And even if we have realized it, it is good to hear it again, to confirm it in our minds.

The doctrine of a risen Savior is exceedingly precious. The resurrection is the cornerstone of the entire building of Christianity. It is the keystone of the arch of our salvation. When our Lord Jesus rose from the dead, after having died, he had fully paid the penalty that was due to justice for the sin of his people, and his new life was a life clear of penalty, free from liability. You and I are clear from the claims of the law because Jesus stood in our stead, and God will not exact payment both from us and from our substitute.

This is why we will not face Gods wrath in the tribulation. A just God would not have Jesus face His wrath and then double dip into us for more.

And now, joy upon joy! He who took our debt has now delivered himself from it by dying on the cross. His new life, now that he has risen from the dead, is a life free from legal claim, and it is the token to us, whom he represented, that we are free also.

I love this imagery. There is no law that can lay claim to us. We have our pass. We have our statement of exoneration…the blood of Jesus applied to us.

In God’s eyes, we ARE NOT guilty. Even though we continue to struggle with sin, there is no legal basis for condemning us. We are free from the law laying claim to us.

Listen! “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised” (Romans 8:33-34). Fear takes a knockdown blow when the apostle says we cannot be condemned because Christ has died in our stead—but he puts a double force into it when he cries, “More than that, who was raised…” If Satan should come to any believer and say, “What about your sin?” tell him that Jesus died for it, and your sin is put away. If he asks a second time, answer him, “Jesus lives, and his life is the assurance of our justification.”

Remember your risen Lord and how he cares for you. Do weaknesses hinder you? The living Christ will show himself strong on your behalf. You have a living Christ, and in him you have all things. Do you dread death? Jesus, in rising again, has vanquished the last enemy. He will come and meet you when it is your turn to pass through the chill stream, and you shall cross it in sweet company. What is your trouble? No matter what it is, if you will only think of Jesus as living, full of power, full of love, and full of sympathy, having experienced all your trials even unto death, you will have such a confidence in his tender care and in his boundless ability that you will follow in his footsteps without a question. Remember Jesus and that he rose again from the dead, and your confidence will rise as on eagles’ wings.

Today, in some way or other, I pray you make known that Jesus Christ is risen. Pass the news around, as the ancient Christians did. On the first day of the week, they said to one another, “The Lord is risen indeed.” If anyone asks what you mean by it, you will then be able to tell them the whole gospel. For this is the essence of the gospel: that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He died as the substitute for us criminals and rose as the representative of us pardoned sinners; he died that our sins might die and lives again that our souls may live.

Reflect

Is the reality of the risen Christ more precious to you today?

How are you making it more precious every day?

How will you live in light of the risen King? Be specific

Who needs to hear from you that the Lord is risen indeed? Who will you tell?

Pray

My risen King, your heart beats, and it defeats my sins, the devil, and death. I trust in your blood spilled at the cross and the blood that courses through your veins in heaven at this very moment. Because you live, I can face yesterday, today, and tomorrow. All hail, the risen King! What a happy Easter! In your name, Jesus. Amen.

Spurgeon, Charles H. . The Risen King: 40 Devotions for Easter from C.H. Spurgeon (pp. 133-136). (Function). Kindle Edition.

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