He is Risen

January 23

(Acts 2:24-32 NIV) ““But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. {25} David said about him: "'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. {26} Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, {27} because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. {28} You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.' {29} "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. {30} But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. {31} Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. {32} God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.””

(1 Corinthians 15:12-22 NIV) "But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? {13} If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. {14} And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. {15} More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. {16} For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. {17} And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. {18} Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. {19} If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. {20} But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. {21} For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. {22} For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

The foundation of our faith is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The early church rose up declaring this truth. They didn’t just believe it -- they lived and died for it because they were witnesses of the fact. In the church’s first sermon, Peter declared its centrality. He preached that death could not keep Jesus down. By God’s power, Christ had risen from the dead. Peter noted that the great Jewish hero, King David, had seen the resurrection coming and had spoken of it. Don’t miss the fact that Peter explained current events of his day by looking deeply into God’s word. But more than David’s prophecy, Peter declared that he and many others were witnesses to Christ’s resurrection. It wasn’t just theory -- it happened, and they had seen it. This was a bold and dangerous statement that put the lives of the apostles on the line. They were willing to testify to what God had done. Are you? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day