Read Acts 13:26-33.


                                                   "But God raised him from the dead" (v. 30).

   Welcome to Holy Week - the days leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. The Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Feast of the firstfruits only hinted at God's wonderful plan. Not only will the perfect, sinless sacrifice be made, but God will also raise Him from the dead, and the power of death will be defeated. The whole story of Jesus' life leads right up to the resurrection. God sent His Son into the world through means of the virgin birth. The perfect, sinless Son willingly became the sacrificial Lamb upon whom all the sins of the world were laid, and then God raised that very same Son from the grave, proving the power of sin and death no longer have power over God's creation.
   The Gospel is just an unfinished story if we leave out the resurrection. We can't ignore it because we don't understand it. We don't need to understand it, but we must believe it! We must teach it and preach it, and we must live it out in our daily walk. Yes, the resurrection is that important! It is the cornerstone of the Gospel; without the resurrection, we have no hope. (LeeAnn Davidson)

                                                                           Up from the grave he arose;
                                                                    with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
                                                                 he arose a victor from the dark domain,
                                                            and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
                                                           He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
                                                                                                                            -- Robert Lowry

                        The story of Jesus' life on earth could not be complete without the resurrection!