50 Day Journey of Joy – Raised

Week 7 Friday, April 2nd, 2021

Read Acts 2:22-36 NLT

22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.

23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.

24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.

25 King David said this about him:
‘I see that the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

26 No wonder my heart is glad,
and my tongue shouts his praises!
My body rests in hope.

27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.

28 You have shown me the way of life,
and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’

29 “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us.

30 But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne.

31 David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.

32 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.

33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.

34 For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand

35 until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.”’

36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

Questions for Meditation

  1. What was God’s plan? (vs.23-24) Who did David write about? (vs.25-31)
  2. Where is Jesus now? (vs.32-33) Who has God made Jesus to be? (vs.36)

Pray

Praise God for Jesus and His power over death! Praise Jesus that the Holy Spirit has made it clear and certain to you that He is both Lord and Messiah!

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