The Great Fifty Days of Easter - Day 3 - April 3rd

Day 3:  April 3rd
Raised
1 Corinthians 15:4-5 (NIV)

...that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas (Peter), and then to the Twelve.

During the first two days of the Great Fifty Days of Easter, our key words were Gospel and Scriptures.  We were reminded how important the Gospel and the Scriptures are to us -- they are not an afterthought.  They confirm for us that Jesus died to save us from our sins.  Today's key word is "raised."  Jesus' resurrection is essential to the story because it proves that Jesus overcame sin and death.  Without this victory, if Jesus had just one sin left in him, he would not have overcome sin and death, and we would not have received his sacrificial atonement for our sins.  Also, don't get caught up in what appears to be an error in verse 5.  First, Cephas is Simon Peter, and the fact that Jesus appeared to Peter probably means that he first appeared to Peter alone -- not when Peter was with the other disciples.  The second "error" that appears is when Paul says Jesus appeared to the Twelve.  Some theologians believe that Paul was calling the disciples by a term that defined what group they were a part of -- the original twelve disciples -- even though when Jesus appeared to them on several different occasions, there were different numbers of them.  The important part of verse 5 is that the RISEN Lord appeared to them just as he said he would.

Today as you focus on the verses that we have previously read and today's verse, consider using the form of a Breath Prayer for your time of quiet.  Paul urges us to pray without ceasing, and this is one of the best ways to do so because without breath, we have no life.  This prayer is also called "The Jesus Prayer."  Close your eyes, imagine God is calling you by name, breathe in and say, "O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God," and breathe out as you say, "have mercy on me, a sinner."

Listen to All Sons and Daughters' "Great Are You, Lord."  Listen for the words, "It's Your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise."