The first thing I did was place before you what was placed so emphatically before me: that the Messiah died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells it; that he was buried; that he was raised from death on the third day, again exactly as Scripture says; that he presented himself alive to Peter, then to his closest followers, and later to more than five hundred of his followers all at the same time, most of them still around (although a few have since died); that he then spent time with James and the rest of those he commissioned to represent him; and that he finally presented himself alive to me.
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (Message*)
He is risen! The Christian church celebrates this all the time, but with special emphasis at this point in the year. Christ's resurrection is a source of hope for all of us who believe.
Paul here notes that many saw Jesus after the resurrection. He includes himself here, although he is in a different category from the rest. The rest saw him before the ascension; Paul didn't see the risen Christ until after - on the road to Damascus. That He presented Himself alive to Paul is precedent for the risen Christ presenting Himself alive to each of us.
Have you experienced the risen Christ in your life? Do you live in the reality of His resurrection?
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Document last modified on Saturday, 22-Apr-2006 17:47:36 EDT