What does the resurrection of Jesus mean? 

As we draw near to the close of our 40 days together, this is a good question for each of us to contemplate. 

Around two thousand years ago the Apostle Paul was invited to speak before the governing body of Athens responsible for judicial and religious matters affecting the city. Paul had been debating with different philosophical groups in the Athenian marketplace, and when they heard him speak about the resurrection of Jesus, they wanted to learn more. The full account of what Paul said is found in Acts 17:22-31, but here is the essence of what he said that day: 

• God has set a day when He will judge the whole world. Paul explained that the Creator God had made all human beings for the purpose of being in relationship with Him and therefore, had a responsibility to seek for Him. On the Day of Judgement, every person will stand before God and be held to account by Him. 
• Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will be the Judge on that day. All people, at some point, will be judged by Jesus with truth and fairness. And the reason He has been appointed as Judge of the world is because He rose physically from the dead. 
• Our responsibility before God is to come to Him in repentance. Repentance simply means that we make a conscious decision before God to stop living our life according to our own will and begin living life as God desires. At its most basic level, repentance is submitting my will to God’s will. 

Why should you – or I – choose to do this? 

Because it’s the wisest decision you will ever make. If Jesus rose from the dead – I wholeheartedly believe He did – then everything He said about the afterlife is also true. There is a Heaven, there is a Hell, and there will be a Judgement. 

The only thing which remains is your response.  

Will you submit your will to the One Who rose victorious from the tomb “where they laid His body?” 

Today’s Bible reading: Mark 16:5-6