Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
In Acts chapter 13 the apostle Paul brings the good news that God has worked salvation through Jesus. He is speaking to a Jewish audience here. It's really significant that in verse 27 he says that the Jews didn't understand what was written about Jesus.
The message of Scripture seems clear. God is going to rescue his people from sin by means of a substitute who will die in their place. Paul understood this to be Jesus, perfect man and perfect God.
The good news of God is easy to miss. Looking at it through Christian eyes it seems completely obvious. But it is not so clear to those who read or hear with only a natural understanding. Even the apostles, when told of the resurrection, didn't believe. How much more difficult is it for those who have never seen Jesus and hardly heard of him to believe?
Christ is raised from the dead. He is the one who gave his life for you and me. Perfect God, he is holy in every way. Perfect man, he is able to take the place of a man in death. He alone could take our sin upon himself and put it to death by his death.
The good news? He has risen from the dead and lives to raise us as well. So look to him, believe he is what he showed himself to be. Believe and live.
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