DAILY READING
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REFLECTION
He is Risen!
by Elaine Pierce
Hallelujah! Jesus has risen! We repeat that phrase at Easter, don't we? It is a joyful time to celebrate Christ's resurrection. We have just observed Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on the church. And today, we're reading Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church, and Paul has some advice to pass onto this group of believers.
He reminds them what is important: Christ died for our sins. He was buried. And he was resurrected on the third day. Paul gets very specific about this. First, Jesus appeared to Peter. Then to the 12. Then to more than 500 of the brothers. Then to James, then to the apostles. Finally, to Paul. Why did he go into such detail about this?
The resurrection is not a vague concept. Jesus indeed suffered a horrible death, crucified on a cross. He did that for you and for me. It is an historical fact. And his resurrection is an historical fact. Many people - 500 in fact - witnessed him after he was resurrected. They saw him first hand. This was not the fevered imagination of a rag-tag group of Jesus' followers. This was truth.
Paul tells the Corinthians to "hold firm to the word I preached to you Otherwise, you have believed in vain." (v. 2) My friends, Easter has passed, but Jesus reigns. He is our Savior, our defender, our rock. He lived among us and now he is asking us for our heart, our allegiance, and our worship. Indeed, he is Risen indeed!
Lord, I know in my head that you love me - help that truth to permeate my heart, my actions, and my daily life. All I have is from you. Thank you for the gift of life. Amen.
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