Fulfilled | Day Eight

You made it to Day 8—Easter Sunday!
Thank you for joining us on this journey through Holy Week. As we’ve walked through this devotional, we pray your heart has been stirred with fresh awe, hope, and gratitude.

Though this series ends today, the invitation to draw near to Jesus continues. Let this week be the spark that fuels a lifelong rhythm of meeting with Him in His Word.

Happy Easter! He is risen!

The Prophecies Yet to Be Fulfilled

Devotional by Bo Patterson

Read Luke 21:25-28

Luke 21:25-28

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁵“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, ²⁶people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

Devotional

He is risen!

Jesus Christ is not in the grave—He is alive! On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the victorious resurrection of our Savior. His life, death, and resurrection fulfilled over 100 prophecies in just 33 years, and His resurrection proved once and for all that He is the Son of God, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. But here’s the incredible part: He’s not finished. What He has done is only the beginning.

John MacArthur notes:

“Prophecy occupies one fifth of Scripture. And of that one fifth, one third of that focuses on the second coming. There are over 650 general prophecies in Scripture, of which half of them concern Christ. And out of the 330 or so that concern Christ, 225 of those point to His second coming. Of the forty-six Old Testament prophets, less than ten speak of His first coming. Thirty-six speak of His second coming.

There are over 1,500 passages of the Scripture that refer to the second coming, one out of every twenty-five verses in the Bible. For each time the Bible mentions the first coming of the Messiah, it mentions His second coming eight times. For each time the Bible mentions the atonement, it mentions His second coming two times. Jesus referred to His return twenty-one times and over fifty times in the New Testament we are told to be ready for His return.”

Are you ready for His return? Jesus’ first coming was but a glimpse of his power, works, and reign.

Luke 21:25-28 describes the Second Coming like this:

Action Step: Church family, let’s gather! It’s time to celebrate the risen Jesus together this Easter Sunday! As we celebrate, remember that resurrection hope is meant to be shared. Who do you know that needs to hear it? Text them. Invite them. Sit with them. After the service, ask about their story—and share yours. The tomb is empty, and that changes everything.

Devotional, Holy Week 2025

Fulfilled | Day Seven

Buried in a Rich Man’s Tomb

Devotional by Nhora Medina

Read Isaiah 53:9, Matthew 27:57-60

Isaiah 53:9

And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Matthew 27:57-60

Jesus Is Buried

⁵⁷When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. ⁵⁹And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud ⁶⁰and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.

Devotional

The fact that Jesus was crucified among criminals and died as if He were one of them led many to assume that He would also be buried as a criminal. However, God had already decreed through the prophet Isaiah that His Son’s body would be placed in the tomb of a rich man.

This prophecy was fulfilled when Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy disciple, took Jesus’ body, wrapped it in clean linen, and laid it in his own new tomb (Matthew 27:57–60).

Why is this detail so important?

The Truthfulness of God’s Word:
Every word in Scripture is true. Even the smallest details of Jesus’ life and death were prophesied centuries before they happened, reminding us that God is sovereign over all of history.

The Innocence of Jesus:
While criminals were buried without honor, Christ—though crucified as a criminal—was given a dignified burial. This highlights His righteousness: He committed no sin, yet bore the sins of humanity (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Hope of Resurrection:
The borrowed tomb symbolizes temporality and transition. Jesus did not remain in death; He rose again, overcoming the grave. His victory over death fills us with hope and assures us of the promise of eternal life for all who trust in Him.

Have you ever stopped to reflect on the immeasurable love of God in sending His innocent Son to bear our sins? As you consider this divine mystery, I invite you to renew your faith and trust that—just as God fulfilled His Word in Jesus’ burial—He will fulfill all His promises in your life.

Action Step:
The Saturday between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday invites us to sit in the stillness between the sorrow of the cross and the joy of the resurrection. Today, resist the urge to rush ahead. Instead, pause and lean into the quiet.

Take a deep breath and pray this simple prayer of trust:

“Lord, thank you for your perfect plan. Help me to trust your promises and timing, knowing that you are always faithful. Amen.”

Devotional, Holy Week 2025

Fulfilled | Day Six

Pierced for Our Transgressions

Devotional by Jeremy Hamblen

Read Isaiah 53:5, Psalm 34:20, John 19:31-37

Isaiah 53:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.

Psalm 34:20

He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.

John 19:31-37

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

³¹Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. ³²So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. ³³But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. ³⁵He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. ³⁶For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.”³⁷And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Devotional

On a darkened hill called Calvary, ancient promises met divine fulfillment before a mixed audience of friends and foes. There, Isaiah’s Suffering Servant hung lifeless on the cross, fulfilling two seemingly contradictory prophecies—His body was pierced for our sins (Isaiah 53:5), yet not a single bone was broken (Psalm 34:20). One prophecy was fulfilled by what happened, the other by what didn’t—a tension not meant to be resolved, but one that would ultimately reconcile us to Him, the One who was sovereign over it all.

Immanuel—the author and architect of our flesh, who came to us clothed in it—was fully man, fully God, and fully at work.

Only in His fullness could destruction bring preservation.
Only in His fullness could justice become mercy.
Only in His fullness could the victim be the victor.
Only in His fullness could the lamb be the lion.
Only in His fullness could despair turn to hope.
Only in His fullness could death give way to life.

In Christ’s pierced yet preserved frame, judgment and mercy kissed. Just as lightning strikes a rod instead of a house, divine wrath found its willing target in the shoot of Jesse rather than in us.

This was no accident, as John recorded: “These things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled” (John 19:36). The violent wounds Jesus suffered to pay for our willful rebellion were contrasted by the protection of His bones. This not only points to the unbroken, spotless Passover lamb (Exodus 12:46), but also, to David’s original readers, “His bones” symbolized more than just His skeleton—they represented His entire being.

This dual fulfillment reveals Christ in His complete work: our substitute, who bore our piercing; our sacrifice, whose unblemished offering secured atonement; and our victor, whose preserved frame foreshadowed resurrection. In His body, both the reality of death and the certainty of victory coexisted in perfect tension. Christ embodied all divine purposes in Himself.

On this Good Friday, we stand at the crossroads of judgment and mercy, beholding the wounds that heal us and the preservation that promises us life. “He was pierced for our transgressions… not one of His bones will be broken.” In these prophetic words made flesh, we find our hope: judgment endured, redemption secured, resurrection guaranteed.

A Good Friday, indeed!

Action Step: Think of one person—a friend, coworker, or family member—who could use some encouragement or an invitation to church. Then take a bold but simple step: send them a quick text today!

Feel free to copy and paste this message:

(NAME), I thought about you today! I’d love for you to join me for our Good Friday service tonight. Can I come get you or save you a seat?

A personal invitation can go a long way in opening someone’s heart to God. Don’t wait—reach out today!

Devotional, Holy Week 2025

Fulfilled | Day Five

The Casting of Lots for Jesus’ Clothing

Devotional by Rebecca Patterson

Read Psalm 22:18 & John 19:23-24

Psalm 22:18

they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.

John 19:23-24

²³When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, ²⁴so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

“They divided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”

So the soldiers did these things

Devotional

The enthroned Messiah left heaven to serve and suffer for mankind, providing a way for complete atonement and forgiveness of our sin. Jesus willingly laid aside His heavenly robes to come to earth in human flesh. When the soldiers disrobed Jesus, they cast lots for His garments, unknowingly fulfilling the prophecy of Psalm 22:18.

The casting of lots was a common practice, as the soldiers earned a “tip of sorts” from the garments of those crucified. In John 19:23-24, we see the prophecy fulfilled as Jesus’ outer tunic was more valuable as one piece of fabric rather than divided among the soldiers; therefore, there was a need to cast lots to see who would win the outer garment.

Jesus, stripped of His only earthly garments, was physically exposed to the world as He bore the sins of the world. It is reminiscent of when Adam and Eve realized they were naked and exposed after their sin and hid themselves. At this moment of exposure, while bearing our sin on the cross, Jesus felt the separation from His perfect and holy Father and cried out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).

But, praise the Lord, He now sits at the right hand of God and will one day return in His regal robes! For us, we try to cover and hide our sins. The only way to be truly forgiven and remove the feeling of being forsaken by and separated from God is to expose and confess our sins to the Savior, our Suffering Servant. Then—and only then—can we be covered by the sacrificial blood of Jesus.

Action Step: Help us spread the word about Easter at Champion Forest by sharing one of these invite graphics with your friends and family! Just follow these three simple steps:

Press and hold (on mobile) or right-click (on desktop) the image that matches your campus.
Save the image to your device.
Text it to a friend or post it to your social media with a personal invite!

Devotional, Holy Week 2025

Fulfilled | Day Four

Silent Before His Accusers

Devotional by Abigail O’Neel

Read Isaiah 53:7, Matthew 26:59-63, Matthew 27:12-14, John 10:7-18

Isaiah 53:7

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
    yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
    and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
    so he opened not his mouth.

Matthew 26:59–63

⁵⁹Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, ⁶⁰but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward ⁶¹and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’”⁶²And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” ⁶³But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

Matthew 27:12-14

Jesus Before Pilate

¹¹Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” ¹²But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. ¹³Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” ¹⁴But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

John 10:7–18

⁷So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.⁸All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ¹¹I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹²He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. ¹⁸No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Devotional

Isaiah 53:7 offers a compelling glimpse into the steadfast resolve of the Suffering Servant:

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”

Centuries later, Jesus fulfilled this prophecy with breathtaking precision. As He stood before the Sanhedrin, falsely accused of blasphemy (Matthew 26:59–63), and before Pilate, charged with sedition (Matthew 27:11–14), He offered no defense. Pilate marveled at His silence, asking, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” Yet Jesus, the Lamb of God, remained silent. Why?

Adrian Rogers seeks to understand this mystery: “Had Jesus justified Himself, He would have condemned me.” He stood in our place, and in doing so, he had to bear the weight of our sin. A defense from Jesus would have unraveled the very purpose of His mission: to lay down His life willingly and vicariously for His sheep (John 10:11–18). Instead of defending himself, he became guilty in the sight of God—not guilty actually, but because he bore our guilt in our place, becoming sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21)—so that we might become the righteousness of God.

His silence was not weakness or defeat; it was a deliberate act of the Good Shepherd to lay down his life for His sheep and secure their redemption (John 10:11-18). Charles Spurgeon reflects on the submissive silence of Jesus, noting that while we are like sheep in our foolishness, Jesus is like a sheep in His perfect patience. Stripped of honor and glory, Jesus endured the cross so we might enter through Him—the door—and find abundant life (John 10:9). Romans 8:1 declares the result:

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

In His silence, Jesus fulfilled prophecy and revealed the depth of his grace, ensuring our guilt is silenced forever.

Action Step: Serve with Us on Easter Sunday!

Easter Sunday is just around the corner, and we need your help to make it a memorable experience for everyone, especially in Kids Ministry. Whether you’re at our Champions or North Klein Campus, there are opportunities to serve and be a part of what God is doing in our church. Click the appropriate link below to sign up to serve on Easter Sunday, or visit our general serve page to find other ways to get involved.

We’d love for you to be part of this special day as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior!

Devotional, Holy Week 2025

Fulfilled | Day Three

Abandoned by His Disciples

Devotional by Raegan Wolff

Read Zechariah 13:7 & Matthew 26:31-56

Zechariah 13:7

The Shepherd Struck

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
against the man who stands next to me,”
declares the Lord of hosts.

“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered;
I will turn my hand against the little ones.

Matthew 26:31-56

³¹Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’³²But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” ³³Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” ³⁴Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” ³⁵Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

³⁶Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” ³⁹And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” ⁴⁰And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? ⁴¹Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”⁴²Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” ⁴³And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. ⁴⁵Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

⁴⁷While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.⁴⁸Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” ⁴⁹And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. ⁵⁰Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. ⁵¹And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. ⁵²Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.⁵³Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” ⁵⁵At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. ⁵⁶But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Devotional

Betrayed by one, now abandoned by the rest. In a garden, in the darkness of night, Jesus is left without His followers and closest friends. He is left alone to endure the coming hours of trials, beatings, mocking, and, eventually, the cross—alone, with no one to stand up for Him or stand with Him.

In the Garden of Eden was where betrayal against God started, and now, in the Garden of Gethsemane, betrayal and abandonment against Jesus fulfill prophecy, revealing He is our awaited Redeemer.

Just hours before the arrest of Jesus and the scattering of His disciples into the night, Peter boldly proclaimed that even if all the others left Him, he never would. He would die for Jesus. Where is Peter now? Where are the others who claimed they loved Him, who saw firsthand the miracles and signs of the promised Messiah? Where is their faith in their Lord? Fear overcame their faith—but only for a moment in time.

He had just told them, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Yet they slept while He prayed.

Even when Jesus knew what was coming—the betrayal, the abandonment, the trials, torture, and crucifixion—He was thinking of His disciples.

He gave them a final encouragement: “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee” (Matthew 26:32).

They would see Him again. He would rise from the dead. Their faith would be restored.

When you think you’ve lost your faith in your Lord and Savior, Jesus, look for encouragement in His Word. Not all is lost in the darkness. Fear cannot steal your faith. It is only the beginning of the end. We will see Jesus again. No matter how dark it gets, watch and pray. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Action Step: Start preparing your heart now for the weekend ahead! We’ve put together a playlist of the songs we’ll be singing on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Whether you’re driving, walking, or doing dishes, press play and let these songs fill your week with anticipation. Click here to listen.

Devotional, Holy Week 2025

Fulfilled | Day Two

Betrayed by a Friend

Devotional by Louis Miori

Read Psalm 41:9; John 13:1-5, 12-26; Zechariah 11:12-13; Matthew 26:14-16

Psalm 41:9

Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

John 13:1-5, 12-26

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ²During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, ³Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, ⁴rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. ⁵Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

¹²When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? ¹³You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. ¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.¹⁶Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. ¹⁸I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ ¹⁹I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. ²⁰Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

One of You Will Betray Me

²¹After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” ²²The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. ²³One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, ²⁴so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. ²⁵So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” ²⁶Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.

Zechariah 11:12-13

¹²Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. ¹³Then the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord, to the potter.

Matthew 26:14-16

¹⁴Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

Devotional

Today’s devotional focuses on the betrayal of Jesus by His friend and disciple, Judas Iscariot, as foreshadowed in the Old Testament.

Psalm 41:9 was first written by David, who experienced betrayal from a trusted advisor. But this verse also points ahead to Jesus, who was betrayed by one of His closest followers—Judas Iscariot. In ancient times, sharing a meal was a sign of friendship and trust. The act of eating together was more than just a physical necessity; it established bonds of loyalty. To turn against someone after breaking bread together was one of the deepest betrayals imaginable.

Centuries later, in John 13:18, after Jesus and His disciples had shared the Passover meal—the Last Supper—and He had washed their feet, Jesus quotes this very passage, saying: “The one who eats my bread has raised his heel against me.”

Jesus knew what was coming. He wasn’t caught off guard by Judas’ betrayal; instead, He saw it as part of God’s plan. The phrase “raised his heel” suggests a deep act of treachery—like someone preparing to strike. Yet, even knowing what Judas would do, Jesus still washed his feet and shared a meal with him. This moment shows Jesus’ incredible love and obedience to God’s plan, even in the face of betrayal.

Zechariah foretells the exact price for which Jesus would be betrayed—thirty pieces of silver. This detail is directly connected to the moment in Matthew’s Gospel when Judas makes his fateful decision, unknowingly fulfilling what had been written centuries earlier. Even more striking, the prophecy describes the silver being thrown into the temple and used to buy a potter’s field—precisely what happens after Judas, overcome with regret, returns the money (Matthew 27:3-5).

The betrayal of Jesus by a trusted friend set into motion a series of events—rejection, false accusations, humiliation, and unimaginable suffering. Yet through it all, Jesus remained resolute, fully committed to His mission: to bring salvation to the world through His death, burial, and resurrection.

Action Step: Holy Week is a powerful time to reflect, remember, and respond to all Jesus has done. We’ve planned meaningful gatherings across all our campuses to help you do just that. Click here to see the full Easter schedule and make plans to worship, celebrate, and invite others to join you.

Devotional, Holy Week 2025

Fulfilled | Day One

The Gentle King

Devotional by Michael Neale

Read Zechariah 9:9 & Matthew 21:1-9

Zechariah 9:9

The Coming King of Zion

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
    Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
    righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Matthew 21:1-9

The Triumphal Entry

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, ²saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” ⁴This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

⁵“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

⁶The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. ⁷They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. ⁸Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Devotional

The dusty roads of Jerusalem trembled with anticipation. The air was thick with the scent of palm branches trampled beneath hopeful feet. Centuries after the Zechariah prophecy a great King approaches—not upon a warhorse, not clad in gilded armor, but upon a humble donkey’s colt. The paradox is staggering. Majesty riding meekness; humility-wrapped power. This was a warrior King of a different kind.

The shouts must have risen like a rushing tide. “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:9). The cries of desperation and wonder echoed through the hills. As they spread their cloaks on the road to welcome the royal One that they believed would restore Israel’s glory, the ignition of the week of weeks unfolds. If I would have been there, I probably would have misunderstood, too. They expected conquest, but He came with peace. They yearned for a rowdy revolution, but He offered renewal and redemption. They sought a roaring lion, but He arrived as a gentle lamb.

This moment, prophesied in Zechariah 9:9, is not a fleeting spectacle—it is another piece in the unveiling mosaic of God’s grandest design. Jesus enters not as an earthly conqueror but as Heaven’s deliverer. He comes not to overthrow Rome but to overthrow sin’s dominion. His coronation will not be in a palace but on a cross. His victory will be written not in bloodshed but in His own blood poured out for the world.

As they laid down those palm branches, let us lay down our pride, our fears, our disordered ambitions. Let us hail the humble King and welcome Him into the chaotic and weary streets of our hearts, not just for a fleeting moment, but for eternity. His rule and reign are full and final. It’s deeper than our eyes can see and more powerful than any sword. Nothing will outshine our King forever and ever. He comes not just to reign, but to redeem and restore. And His Kingdom will have no end.

“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Action Step: Holy Week is here, and with it comes a powerful opportunity: to remember that Jesus was the plan all along. As you begin this Fulfilled devotional series, don’t keep it to yourself. Text your group chat. Your cousin. Your neighbor. Invite them to follow the thread of prophecy and promise with you this week. This journey with Christ to the cross is meant to be shared.