Raised

This Week's Readings:

Acts 10:34-43

Psalm 118:14-24

I Corinthians 15:19-26

John 20:1-18

Acts 10:34-43 (NIV)

³⁴Then Peter began to speak:

"I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

³⁶You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

³⁷You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

³⁹"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.

They killed him by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.

⁴¹He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

⁴²He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.

⁴³All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Resurrection makes all the difference.

Without it, Peter doesn't really have a sermon. Without it, what he has is the sad story of a very good man who died tragically.

Without resurrection, Jesus is a well-intended fool who got himself killed for nothing.

But it's a lot to swallow, isn't it?

We want to believe, but logic just tells us it can't be so. People who die, just stay dead.

But what if we don't? What if Peter saw exactly what he says he saw?

Yes, you'll have to decide to believe that by faith. And that makes all the difference, too.

Peter says it plainly, "I ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead." You can read John 21 to see exactly what he's talking about.

He doesn't plan to miss any opportunities to feed the sheep.

Resurrection changes everything, and it's what we're going to think about this week.

Life. God really, really seems to like the idea.

Grace & Peace,

Adam

PS: This week, I'll be posting one of the songs that we're going to sing in worship this Easter Sunday. Watch and get excited about our worship this week!