Straight Thinking 042168 Resurrection Results
Straight Thinking
042168
RESURRECTION RESULTS
Sunday. How can anyone deny the resurrection of the dead? The pilgrims would never have believed that television was possible, but it’s a little hard to deny its existence now. So is it a little hard to see and talk to the Master in front of his empty tomb and yet deny that there can be life after death? (Read John 20:11-18.)
Monday. “There wasn’t anything special about Christ’s foretelling his death; anyone could have seen that the Jews would kill him if he didn’t stop getting in their way.” Whoever would say such a thing needs to remember that Jesus also predicted his resurrection—something no fake prophet would try! His resurrection gives final proof of his power to prophesy. (Read John 14:1-3.)
Tuesday. Jesus wasn’t a martyr to a good cause; he intended to die. His enemies didn’t overcome him; he triumphed over them when he died. Satan ended his own power by exerting it against Jesus, because his mission among people was to reveal the terms on which they could overcome sin and death, and to give his cleansing blood as the means of making that salvation possible. His sacrifice for sin is the fact; his resurrection is the proof of it. (Read John 10:17-18; Acts 13:26-33.)
Wednesday. “Because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead I am called in question.” That’s the way Paul summarized the Christian message in his defense before the Jewish Sanhedrin and the Roman rulers. Wherever the gospel has gone, it has lifted people’s hopes because, since the Son of man has risen, the sons of men have hope of rising too. (Read Acts 23:6; 24:21.)
Thursday. Why do we obey God—because of fear? because of love? because we’re happier when we do? because we feel obligated to him for the blessings we have received? We also consider the future life made possible by the triumph over the grave; the resurrection of Jesus has brought another reason to be righteous. (Read 1 Corinthians 15:16-21.)
Friday. “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” Christ arose bodily; his body was incorruptible, glorious, powerful, spiritual, immortal, unbound by physical forces or material barriers. His resurrection proves that resurrection can happen, and it provides some idea of what our own resurrection will be like. (Read John 20:19; Acts 1:9; Philippians 3:20-21.)
Saturday. Every generation has its trials. Your grandfather’s generation fought the First World War; your father’s generation fought another one. In twenty years, you may face the firing squads of communism. But Christ’s resurrection results in a hope that endures temporary trials and leads to eternal joy beyond whatever happens meantime. (Read Romans 8:11-18.)
Virgil Warren, Straight, April 21, 1968, p13. christir.org