Embrace His Death and Resurrection
Had to Suffer

Scripture Reading:  Acts 17:1-9

Key Verse:  Acts 17:3

…explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he said.

How important to the early church was the message that Jesus not only died, but was resurrected?  It was so essential and central to their message that they were willing to suffer and die themselves if need be.  Our scripture today describes a time when Paul and Silas were preaching that Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.  They continued by saying that this fact made Him “the Christ.”  This preaching caused a riot in the city.  Paul and Silas had to hide and leave that town by the cover of night.  The good Christ following brother in the Lord who hid them was taken from his home and dragged before the city officials.

            If these first century followers had any doubt about Jesus’ death and resurrection, they would never have been willing to pay such a price.  Had they believed that the apostles had pulled off a hoax, hiding Jesus’ dead body, would anyone stand up for this hoax and suffer for it?  No, the reason people down through the ages have suffered themselves over this belief is because of the reality of what God did for our salvation.  God allowed Jesus, His only son, to suffer and die for our sins—the sins of the world.  Then, by God’s almighty power, He stepped onto the scene and raised Jesus from the dead.

            If you are going to truly embrace Jesus, you must embrace, as absolute truth, the fact that He died and rose again!

Father, I embrace Jesus and His life, death and resurrection.  Thank you for saving my soul.  Jesus, thank you for standing in my stead.  In Jesus’ name, amen.