DID THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST AFFECT THE SABBATH?
By Elder William Covert
A PROPOSITION is proved to be true through the evidence that can be produced in its favor. If the evidence is wanting, the proposition is lost. In defense of the proposition that heads this article Bible evidence is demanded. What can be brought forth from the Scriptures that will prove that the resurrection of Christ from the dead made it necessary to change the Sabbath? "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. Every doctrine of faith is revealed in the Scriptures; every sin is therein reproved; and complete instruction in righteousness is therein fully given. What reasons from the Bible are offered why the resurrection of Christ should change the Sabbath? The answer is given, "He arose on the first day of the week and therefore the change became necessary." In response, we will ask, Is the speaker certain that his conclusion is contained in his premise? He should understand that no conclusion can be drawn from a proposition that is not by logic contained in that proposition. It is admitted that Christ arose from the grave on the first day of the week, but it is denied that this fact constituted the day the Sabbath. A work performed on a certain day does not of necessity make that a rest day. We will therefore continue our demand for Bible evidence. We are told that "Christ met with his disciples on the day of his resurrection, and therefore that day is the Sabbath." But again the speaker is reminded that his conclusions629are not contained in his proposition. Did Christ say that henceforth his disciples must remember the first day of the week to keep it holy, because that on it he arose from the dead? The only true answer is, He did not. If he did not, how then can we know that such a thing is required? Christ told them to do and teach what he had commanded them. Matt. 28:20. Unless it can be shown that there was a commandment given requiring the change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week, the case is certainly lost. What does meeting upon a day of itself prove as to the sacred character of the day? —Nothing. If there had been a commandment given regulating its observance, and then we should find persons regularly meeting upon that day, the fact of their practice could then be taken as evidence of their regard for the commandment. But in the matter referred to above there is no commandment, no practice, no ordination of the day, nor blessing pronounced upon it. In every instance where Christ saw his disciples on the day of his resurrection he labored to convince them that he had arisen. In not one instance on that day do we have any account of a religious meeting or divine services being held, such as characterize a meeting held for worship. At the very close of the resurrection day the majority of his disciples were unbelievers in the resurrection of their Lord. Hear the words of Mark:— "And she [Mary Magdalene] went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue; neither believed they them. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen." Mark 16:10-14. This testimony proves positively that at the time Christ came to them at the close of the resurrection day he found their hearts hardened in unbelief. All of them were just like Thomas. They would not believe until they themselves had seen the Lord with their own eyes. Not one believed with less testimony than did Thomas. It would appear from the testimony of Luke that it took more of an ocular demonstration to convince the other disciples of his resurrection than it did to convince Thomas. When Jesus came in their midst, they were terrified and frightened and thought they had seen a ghost. Therefore it became necessary for him to eat food in their presence before they would be satisfied that he had actually risen. Luke 24:33-42. How grievously then do those people err who claim that Christ met by appointment with his disciples on the resurrection day to celebrate the event, and that because he did this therefore the day should henceforth be celebrated for the same reason. There never was a position taken by anyone on any subject that was more at variance with the facts that cluster around the subject than is this one. The disciples were not only not commemorating the resurrection of Christ, they had no thought of a change of the Sabbath. They had devotedly kept the day before the resurrection according to the commandment. Luke 23:56. What is the next supposed evidence that is offered? —After eight days Jesus again met with the disciples. Very well—what day was that? There are only seven days in a week and only six of these can ever come in between two Sundays. What then does this meeting prove as to the change of the Sabbath? We are not told even so much as what day of the week it was, only as we count eight days from Sunday night, and then settle down on some time after that still. But even if it had been on a Sunday, nothing would thereby be proved as to the sacred character of the day. The fact that Christ met with his disciples did not sanctify the time upon which he met, that it should henceforth be used each week for the same purpose for which he used it. The third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples was at the Sea of Tiberias, when they were fishing. When Jesus came to where they were in their boats, he directed them concerning the casting of their net, and the result was the catching of one hundred and fifty-three fish. Surely it will not be argued from this that a certain day of the week should be devoted to this business. John 21:4-11. It will be noticed that the disciples had toiled all the night before without catching a fish; but when Jesus directed the throwing of the net, a multitude were inclosed. Just so is it with those who fish for men, they must let Jesus Christ direct in their labors. In teaching a doctrine we should be sure that Christ is teaching, and not we, independent of him. If we are teaching apart from him, we will only be found false witnesses at last. But we are told that just as soon as the Saviour arose from the dead, he went forth with great activity in the work of salvation; therefore that day should be kept as a Sabbath. This is most illogical. Shall we be required to observe a day as a day of rest, a Sabbath day, because of the fact that that day was one of great activity? and shall we do this in obedience to a commandment which we are required to keep because there was not any work performed upon the day? The fact is that the Sabbath day is not changed in the least by the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Yet the Lord has seen fit to give to man a divinely appointed memorial of the resurrection, and in this memorial is also set forth the death and the burial of our Saviour. These have not been left to man’s appointment. Here is the testimony:— "We are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." Rom. 6:4, 5. The resurrection of Christ has in it the idea of birth and newness of life. If we want to keep it constantly in mind, let us labor for the conversion of sinners, and then through the Lord’s own appointed way introduce them into the church of Christ. In every coming forth of the candidate from the baptismal grave there is to be seen a veritable illustration of faith in the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Oh, that men would leave the Lord’s divinely appointed memorials to be observed in the order and for the purpose that God has given them! They would not then make void the law of God, that they might keep their own tradition.