Peter was boldly speaking to people who were there as part of the trial and the crucifixion of Jesus.

He said, “You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.” (Acts 3:15)

All of the disciples possessed such incredible boldness as they went into the streets of Jerusalem talking about Jesus, the one who rose from the grave.

The people hearing their message believed. There were too many people running around the city saying they had seen a resurrected Jesus for people not to believe.

So the people began asking, “What are we going do about this now? How should we respond?”

Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins.” (Acts 2:38a)

The resurrection is why so many still call Jesus Lord, even to this very day. The resurrection validated everything Jesus had ever said.

When Jesus died, the Jesus movement died right along with him. But the thing that reengaged those first century Jesus followers and the thing that should get our attention, as well, is the resurrection. When Jesus rose from the grave, the message of the Jesus movement rose right along with him.

The resurrection is the point of the crucifixion. It is all about the forgiveness of sin. That’s why Jesus died in the first place — so that we could be forgiven.

Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death. Three chapters earlier, in Romans 3:23, the Apostle Paul tells us that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I have never met anyone who would argue with that.

Since we are all sinners and the wages of sin is death, the blood price had to be paid. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22b)

Jesus paid the blood/death price for you and me and then he offers us the gift of eternal life. That is the Gospel. We can get into heaven on his ticket. He offers us this gift because of his incredible love for us.

When Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life,” it means there is a resurrection and there is life. If someone can predict their own death and their own resurrection and then pull it off, wouldn’t it be wise to pay attention to what they have to say?

Steve Greene is the lead pastor of The Point in Seymour. Read his blog at pastorgreene.wordpress.com or email him at [email protected]. Send comments to [email protected].