TUESDAY September 5, 2023

Preaching Jesus and the Resurrection

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
Acts 17:16-18

When Paul was in Athens waiting for Silas and Timothy to come, he did not waste time. His spirit was grieved because he saw an entire city given over to idolatry. He prayed, waited on the Holy Spirit, and then moved into action. Again, Paul sought opportunity to share Christ with the lost. He entered a synagogue to reason with Jewish and Gentile worshipers.

Then he went into the marketplace daily to speak the knowledge of the truth with anyone there. He confronted their idolatry. I love that Paul did not stay in his hotel room; he made good use of his time. As we wait on the Holy Spirit to lead us, we need to go and share with people about Christ. How else are they going to be saved?

The Epicureans were an interesting people. They believed pleasure was the chief end of life. The Stoic philosophers believed that god was in everything. So here we find two schools of thought: those who were pantheistic and believed god was in everything, and those who believed you should enjoy all the pleasures in life––to be fully satisfied.

As these thinkers and poets encountered Paul and listened to his preaching, they failed to grasp its full meaning. He powerfully preached Jesus and the Resurrection. Lacking understanding, they thought, Perhaps he is preaching yet another god among the many other ones we worship.

The resurrection of Christ is one of the foundation stones of Christianity. It was the seal of the great work that He came on earth to do. It was the crowning proof that the ransom He paid for sinners was accepted, the atonement for sin accomplished, the head of him who had the power of death bruised, and the victory won.
~J. C. Ryle~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!