The Whole Story: A Life in God's Kingdom, Part FourSample

Family Devotional:

Often, the crucifixion is seen as the apex of the Christian faith. Obviously, Jesus’ atoning death on the cross is a pivotal aspect of YHWH’s plan of redemption. All that said, it is important to realize that there were a lot of people who claimed to be a messiah – many of whom were killed for their claim. What’s the difference between those people and Jesus? Well, let’s put it this way: all of the other people are still in the grave. On Resurrection Sunday, Jesus Christ did exactly what he said he was going to do. He rose from the grave – defeating both sin and death. In other words, the apex of the Christian faith can be found in the resurrection of our one true God, the savior of the world.

Daily Demonstration:

The week leading to Jesus’ crucifixion began as a celebratory event as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey alongside his disciples. As the week wore on, however, that celebration quickly turned dark. By Friday, Jesus was crucified – but he wouldn’t stay that way. At the end of the week, there was reason to celebrate once more as Jesus rose from the grave and appeared to his disciples. Today, spend time with your friends and family and celebrate this incredible news: Jesus Christ is risen!

Additional Resources:

• Celebration Church, Online Resources, The Table: A Passover Dinner Guide
• Seven Minute Seminary, YouTube, Seedbed, Ben Witherington, Easter & the Resurrection
• N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope, (Amazon)