"He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
- Luke 24:46,47

When Jesus spoke of His coming death, He had also stressed that He would rise again. Peter couldn't accept such an injustice happening to the sinless Christ. In response, Jesus rebuked Peter because he had unknowingly expressed a satanic outlook. He was thinking as man thinks, not as God thinks. Jesus knew that His death was necessary to

provide forgiveness, for without shedding of blood there is no remission.

This message is to be preached to all nations. The apostles will not go out into the world telling people what steps to follow in order to get right with God. They will not propound a method for getting saved. The subject of the preaching is repentance and forgiveness of sins. It is not a conditional message but a truth to be heralded. What begins in Jerusalem is to continue in ever widening circles. It will not be finished until the ascended LORD returns to judge the living and the dead.

Christian friends, You don't have to take my word for it, of course. But have you taken His?

I know I'm a sinner and Christ is my need;
His death is my ransom, no merit I plead;
His work is sufficient, on Him I believe;
I have life eternal when Him I receive.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - Christ paid a debt He didn't owe to cancel a debt we couldn't pay.