Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Acts 11-13
Acts 13:30
But God raised him from the dead:
Everyone rejoices in a raise in pay. How about a raise to a new life? An eternal life, a life of no pain, fear, death, taxes or death? A financial raise may lead to a better life, the kind of raise that God gives leads to a new life. A never-ending life. A perfect life. A kind of life that money cannot buy, for it can only be given. A life no human deserves, but one that God’s grace offers. On and on the list could go.
God desires to raise people up. He raised the Lord Jesus up. Consider the past tense of the word raise, which is raised. This word is used seven times in Acts 13, and sixteen times in the entire book. Far more than any other book of the Bible. Of those seven times five speak of Jesus being raised from the dead. The resurrection of Christ is a major theme in the New Testament which is highlighted in Acts 13.
Today’s simple verse states, But God raised him from the dead:. Such simple, all single syllable words, convey such an important concept! Which is the truth that this life is not all. Death is not final. Something more awaits. The fact of the resurrection of Christ, and by extension all who receive Him, alters all human perception about life and the living of it.
In passing Job spoke of the resurrection, so did David on occasion, other Old Testament prophets also. To this writer the entire story of Noah is a picture of the resurrection. That God miraculously would raise up those eight souls of faith and transport them to a new life, a new earth really, foreshadows Christ raising up those in Him and transporting them to a new life. Ezekiel’s experience in the valley of the dry bones eerily demonstrates God’s power to raise to life those who were dead. Yes, the Old Testament touches on the resurrection.
But the New Testament majors on it.
There are many things that are raised up. But only God can raise up a soul from death. Throughout the Bible are at least ten stories of individuals being raised from the dead. But the greatest of these stories is Christ’s resurrection. It dominates the New Testament. An interesting fact about the word resurrection is that it is used forty times, all in the New Testament, twenty-nine of those times are in the first seven books. The thought of being raised from the dead bursts on the scene like a firecracker on July 4th. It explodes really: giving the reader a new perspective, a repetitive reminder, and a future filled with hope and wonder.
Like the word raise, the word resurrection is used more in Acts than any other book. The preaching of this one topic seemed to be a catalyst for opposition. The human mind cannot comprehend, explain, or scientifically prove the resurrection. For, like any other doctrine, it is accepted at face value and through faith.
Speaking of preaching about this matter, in Acts 17:32 this is written, And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. Two verses later it is also recorded that some clave unto Paul believing that which he preached. Even unto today, 2,000 years later, these same three actions are evident whenever being raised from the dead is proclaimed. Some mock, some say they want to hear (learn) more, and some believe.
Yes, indeed, everyone rejoices in a pay raise. Likewise, everyone in the resurrection unto life will rejoice at the raise they receive.
Dr. William T. Howe
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