July 26 — "Dead Man Walking!"

Today's Reading: Acts 25 

Sometimes, what seems like a small religious disagreement to  those in the world is actually the most important truth in the universe.

In Acts 25, Roman governor Festus tries to explain Paul’s case to King Agrippa, saying it “was something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive.” What Festus tried to downplay (the resurrection of Christ) was proclaimed loudly by Paul: Jesus is alive! And everything hinges on that!

From the Roman viewpoint, Festus couldn’t quite wrap his official mind around Paul’s bold proclamation. To him, this was just some strange religious quarrel “about a dead man.” In Festus’s practical, rational thinking, dead people typically stay dead. End of story. Resurrection? Come on—it sounded like the kind of folklore you’d find scrawled on a tavern wall.

This single verse throws us headfirst into the thunderous collision of two worldviews. Rome, ever so grounded in politics, order, and raw earthly power, faced off against the incredible, supernatural claim at the very heart of Christianity: resurrection! To Festus, this was just a baffling assertion about some man walking out of a tomb. It was theological gibberish to his imperial ears.

To Paul, though? Jesus being alive wasn’t a quirky side note—it was everything. The resurrection confirmed Jesus wasn’t just another passing religious figure but the Victorious Conqueror of sin and death. It proved His divine authority, stamped God’s eternal “YES” over His promises, and flung open Heaven’s doors for anyone who’d believe. Festus’s shrug? It only magnified how deep the chasm ran between mere human logic and the divine disruption of history.

This clash between materialist and Biblical worldviews is still alive today. Like Paul, Christ-followers should stand firm in Gospel truth, live out its transforming power, and engage others with humility and winsome dialogue—offering a compelling vision rooted in Jesus’ resurrection. After all, this dead Man is actually alive!

Today, may you be filled with courage to stand firm in the truth of Christ's resurrection, sharing His transformative power with humility and grace. And may you, like those before you, loudly proclaim, “He is not here; He is risen!”—declaring with every breath that death is defeated, hope has triumphed, and the impossible has become possible.