May 20, 2010 - Acts 13:30-31

"'But God raised Him from the dead, and for many days He was seen by those who had traveled with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.'" Acts 13:30-31.
In Pisidian Antioch, which is in modern day Turkey, Paul was invited to speak at the local synagogue. He told the story of Jesus, culminating with eyewitness accounts of people who saw Jesus after God raised Him from the grave. To Paul, Jesus' resurrection from the dead was the exclamation point of the proof that Jesus was the Chosen One, the Messiah, the Son of God. In one of his letters, Paul stresses the importance of Jesus' resurrection, saying, "if Christ (Jesus) has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." (1 Corinthians 15:17) According to Paul, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is of central importance to our faith.
As I ponder the importance of this central element to Paul's message, I am struck by the power of the message and the hope that is conveyed through it. There is something within me that takes notice and says a resounding, "YES!" to this good news. Sometimes when things are going roughly, if I remember to ponder this, I am encouraged with the hope of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It is a comfort and strength to me.
Questions to consider: What does Jesus' resurrection from the dead mean to you? How are you encouraged or strengthened by it? How central or important is it in the story you tell of the life of Jesus?
Prayer: Father, thank You that You did not leave Jesus in the tomb, but instead You raised Him up to new life. Thank You for the hope this gives me as I journey through rough times. Amen.