They killed him [Jesus] by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen…He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He [Jesus] commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead…everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
Bible Reading
Prayer
Forgive me Lord Jesus where I have forgotten the magnitude of your authority. Holy Spirit, help me obey Jesus’ command to share the fact that Jesus is the only appointed authority with the power to forgive and restore us to a right relationship with God.
To Ponder
Jesus was more than a nice bloke whom we should try to emulate. Jesus allowed himself to be brutally killed by humanity, for the sake of humanity, and then returned to life by God, and appointed the final authority when it comes to the judgement of humanity. More still, Jesus himself commands – not suggests – that we actively declare His appointment to others so they may receive the same forgiveness through his name that we enjoy. Jesus’ disciples understood this and so must we.