23 He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.

24 But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip.

32a God has raised this Jesus to life

— Acts 2:23-24; 32a

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,

— 1 Peter 3;18

Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,

— Hebrews 2:14

For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!

— Romans 5:10

“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”

— Revelation 11:15b

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

Evil men crucified Jesus, the sinless Son of God, the Lamb of God, who was, according to the council of God, originally sent to the world to take away the sin of the world. Though God’s enemy caused Jesus to suffer greatly on the cross, through His death, God has brought wave upon wave of good to those who believe Jesus. God’s goodness will escalate throughout eternity. We praise Jesus that He is and always will be triumphant.

We will never again experience sin’s damage. Jesus is rightly named “Faithful and True.” Our Savior who died for us possesses all power and rules the world without rival. When Jesus returns to reign visibly, He will overcome all God’s enemies and intervene on behalf of God’s people. This is the great reality toward which all history is moving. We will comprehend the supremacy of Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and comprehend the beauty and wonder of our union with Christ unto eternity. Let us rejoice and be glad to give glory to the Lord!