God Raised Jesus from the Dead

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Scripture: Acts 13:28-33 (ESV)

28 And though they found in him [Jesus] no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus.

Devotion:

            In this scripture we find in brief form the Gospel message. Luke is the author of these words that Paul spoke to Jewish listeners in the Synagogue at Pisidian Antioch. In these words, Paul is outlining what was done to Jesus by the people when he was crucified in Jerusalem, and what God did just three days later by raising Jesus from the dead. Paul also gives us information that is not included in the gospel accounts about Jesus post-resurrection appearances. Paul declares that these words were good news for his original audience just as they are good news to us today.

            It is important to note that the people who witnessed the appearances of Jesus following the resurrection immediately became witnesses to that event. Even so, we must become witnesses of what we have now heard about Jesus. One reason that the church has seen its influence wane in the western world is likely that we have neglected to be witnesses as Jesus first followers were. I believe that we take the impact of these wonderful words for granted. Many in the church today are content to come to church to be entertained by some good uplifting music, hear a good message, and walk away unchanged. We go about our days unaffected by our Sunday experiences.

            We must repent of this. The words of Paul here must change us. In the resurrection of Jesus from the dead something new and unexplainable has happened. Death has suddenly lost its grip on us. If we believe in Jesus, we are new creatures, and we must live differently than we used to. We must simply be people who tell other people about the wonderful thing that has happened to us. Jesus is not simply a great teacher; he is a great savior. We can be bold to declare to our hurting and desperately ill world that Jesus Christ is risen. Let us pray for that boldness right now.

Prayer:

            Lord God, we come to you today to ask that we be changed from apathetic people into new and bold witnesses to your resurrection power. Help us to speak the words of salvation to those we come in contact with each day. Restore to us the joy of your salvation. That we may live our lives in such a way that they bring glory to your name every day. Help us to live in light of the great promise of your salvation. Let nothing be the same for us. Change us into the people that you want us to be. Amen.

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