THEE WORD FOR THE WEEK

Is Jesus Resurrection Credible & Necessary Matthew 28:5-7; Mark 16:6-7; Luke 24:5-7; John 20:26-29; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 14-17 September 3-7, 2012 Monday Read Matthew 28:1-10 The Greek behind our English translation of the angels words for he has risen in verse 6 is in the passive voice. In other words, Jesus did not actively raise Himself from the dead but was acted upon by someone else who brought Him to life. Historically Christianity affirms that God the Father, by means of the Holy Spirit, raised Christ from the dead. Have you entrusted yourself to the one who is able to raise you from death? What difference might it make if you were to fully entrust yourself to the one who possesses the power to raise your life from the dead? How might that be freeing & liberating? How might that move you to greater involvement in Gods redemptive mission in His world? Tuesday Read Mark 16:1-8; Mark 1:40-45; Mark 7:31-37 Compare Mark 16:7-8 with Mark 1:40-45 & Mark 7:31-37 where Jesus commands people to say nothing about who He is but they say something about Him to everyone they meet. Now, when they are commanded to say something, they say nothing. What reason does Mark give for the women saying nothing to anyone? How does fear paralyze us from saying something? The only thing that can release us from the paralyzing grip of fear is the liberation we find in the gospel. The gospel says, Even if they reject me He has received me, Even if they mock me He will love me, Even if they kill me He will raise me. Who do you need to say something to this week? Wednesday Read Luke 24:1-12 As Christian people we affirm that even the faith we place in the Lord Jesus is a gift of Gods grace. If anyone in human history should have had a leg up on the rest of us in the realm of faith, it would have been the apostles. They walked with Jesus through His earthly ministry, listened to His teaching, observed the miracles, and heard the predictions of his death & resurrection. The apostles would later suffer for their faith in Christ, but in this story, how do they respond to the report of the women who returned from the tomb? Why do the eleven consider the womens words an idle tale while Peter rose, ran, stooped, looked in, saw, & marveled? We thank God often for the many gifts He bestows on us His children. Have you thanked Him for the gift of faith lately? Take a moment to do so now. Thursday Read John 20:24-29 In this text Jesus appears to His disciples a second time following His resurrection. This time there is a skeptic among them named Thomas. How does Thomas portray the mindset of many skeptics in our world? What appeal does Jesus make to this skeptic in verse 27? What appeal does Jesus make to the rest of the world in verse 29? What skeptics in your life do you need to appeal to in the coming weeks? Friday Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 12-19 In these texts the apostle Paul indicates that the credibility of the resurrection is a necessary cornerstone for the Christian faith. How does Paul ground the resurrection as a historically verifiable event for his initial readers? Why does Paul say that the reality of the resurrection is essential to the Christian faith? Why is our preaching & faith in vain if the resurrection of Jesus did not happen? What comfort or courage do you draw from the reality of the resurrection as you face daily living?