Day 8: Mary Magdalene

Devotional by Abigail O’Neel

Read John 20:11-18

Devotional

You likely don’t jump into an intimate relationship with someone without first growing in a knowledge of who they are. Most people view familiarity as a prerequisite to intimacy, and in most situations, I think this a healthy take on relationships. In today’s text, though, I dare to differ. Sometimes intimacy begets familiarity.

Mary Magdalene stands weeping outside the entrance of the tomb where her Savior lay. The same Savior whom Luke tells us delivered her from seven demons (Luke 8:2). Her weeping only intensifies as she notices that the body of her Savior has been moved. The angels inquire about her weeping, to which she responds, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”

My Lord. To Mary, Jesus was not just simply the Lord, a lord, or even Israel’s Lord. He was her Lord. She knew him intimately. She had followed him from Galilee (Matthew 27:57) to the cross (John 19:25) and now, to the tomb. This intimate love led her wherever He was, and because of this, she became one of the first to see Him alive. Of course, she does not recognize Him at first. Perhaps that is because, as some theologians would suggest, her tears impeded her ability to see who was so clearly standing before her, but you better believe she recognized her Lord the moment she heard His voice. “Mary,” He said to her. “Rabboni!” she responded and immediately clung to Him. Like sheep who recognize the voice of their shepherd, Mary recognized the voice of her Savior. Intimacy begot familiarity.

Jesus was Mary’s beloved Lord, whose death broke her heart. He was her Savior, who delivered her from darkness. He was her teacher (“Rabboni!”), who taught her while he was still in Galilee (Luke 24:6). And now, upon her recognition of Him, Jesus became her brother and her sender (John 20:17-18). “Go to my brothers and say to them,” Jesus commands Mary, and to the brothers she obediently went, proclaiming, “I have seen the Lord!”

Questions

1. Like Mary Magdalene, can you confidently say that Jesus Christ is your Lord?

2. Is there anyone in your life to whom you need to obediently go and proclaim, “I have seen the Lord”?3. Is your love for the Lord so intimate that you desire to be wherever He is? How can you daily stir such an intimate affection for Him?

Read This

In Luke 8:1-3, we learn that several women were among Jesus’ followers. Check out this article by Rebecca McLaughlin to learn more about two of these women who followed Jesus.

Day 7: The Disciples

Devotional by Lori Mosser

Read Luke 24:36-49

Devotional

When my family moved into a new home last summer, I posted photos on my Instagram story of the progress we were making while unpacking boxes and decorating. The images made the rooms look so “perfect,” but many times, there were still piles of boxes to unpack behind the scenes that no one could see. One day, I showed a picture of my entryway, perfectly decorated. But the next picture I posted was a view with my camera backed up about five feet to show all the trash and boxes still lingering. It wasn’t very pretty. I was trying to show “Instagram vs. Reality” and make the point that, at times, what you see or read on social media is too good to be true; things are not always what they seem to be. 

Today’s Scripture explains what happened when Jesus appeared to His disciples after the resurrection. Many of His followers were in disbelief, even frightened, and thought they saw a ghost. They were not sure if what they saw before their eyes was real. But in Luke 24:38, Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” The disciples were hesitant to believe because it was too good to be true! However, Jesus is the real deal, nothing fake. Jesus proved He was the risen Christ by showing His hands and feet and fulfilling the words He spoke to them before his death (Luke 24:44). We, too, can have no doubt when it comes to Jesus.

Jesus went on to tell His disciples in verse forty-eight, “You are witnesses of these things.” They were instructed to share their personal experience of the risen Christ. Jesus is the real deal, and we are called to share His story with others, just like the disciples.

Maybe you have experienced a situation that caused you to doubt what you believe about Christ or the Bible. I know there have been times of doubt in my own life. But doubts can allow you to grow deeper in your faith if they are handled properly. Don’t be afraid to look further into God’s Word for the answers you seek. He will respond to your questions with compassion and kindness.

Questions

1. Have you ever doubted Jesus only to experience Him do something that seemed “too good to be true?”

2. Have you shared that testimony with others?3. If so, what was their reaction? If not, share your testimony with your Life Group this week.

Read This

For further reading on the subject of doubt, check out this article by Focus on the Family.

Day 6: The Penitent Thief

Devotional by Jeremy Hamblen

Read Luke 23:32-43

Devotional

If there’s one thing we know in Houston, it’s disaster. Hurricanes, floods, ice storms, and heatwaves – each season comes with its own slot on the roulette wheel of catastrophe. If you’ve ever done relief work in these situations, you know there’s an uncomfortable strangeness to the frozen nature of time at ground zero: people still in the clothes they wore to bed, dishes in the sink, and personal effects indiscriminately strewn about. Still, no one apologizes for the mess, and no one makes mention of it – it’s just the nature of rescue. When disaster strikes, we come just as we are.

The thieves on the cross were headed for disaster. Like Jesus, these violent robbers had been beaten, nailed to a wooden beam, and hung in public humiliation. This was only the beginning of their slow march towards a protracted death by asphyxiation – the real cruelty of the infamous Roman crucifixion. Staring down the inevitable outcome of their just desserts, each breath shallower than the last, one of the thieves noticed…something.

The Man on the middle cross had stuck out since sunrise. His demeanor was different, the measure of brutality He received was different, and the case against Him especially seemed different. But here He was, praying for their forgiveness, even as the abuse continued to pile up. It was then, suddenly, miraculously, that one thief turned penitent, proclaiming the innocence of Jesus, admitting his own guilt, and calling out the guilt of others. Naked and ashamed before the perfect Lamb, with nothing to bring and no time to make right, his unvarnished request was his profession of faith.

He came just as he was.

It’s easy to try and add to the Gospel because God calls us to so much more, but it all starts and ends with faith. We don’t need to try to clean ourselves before collapsing into His mercy because it is only by His mercy that we are cleansed, and it is offered to us on mercifully simple terms: grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. That’s all the penitent thief needed on the cross, and because of the cross, that’s all Christ requires of us, no matter how far we are, and no matter how late we feel. All we have to do is come, just as we are.                                 

“Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, 

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; 

Because Thy promise I believe, 

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!”

Questions

1. Anyone can make a promise, but Jesus’ words, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise,” carried significant meaning because of His authority. In fact, His authority was a primary reason He was on the cross (He taught as one with authority, acted as one with authority, and claimed to be a King). How can Christ’s authority over our lives and our world bring us comfort and joy?                                                        

2. Many people try to use the story of the penitent thief as a reason they can “beat the system” by waiting until their deathbed to repent and turn to Jesus. What would you say to someone to caution them against this outlook?
                                                                                      
3. The penitent thief was Jesus’ last companion on earth, crucified together at a conversational distance. The thief defended Him in His presence, and then petitioned His forgiveness directly. Jesus responded in kind. Even in that brief and final encounter, the thief’s rescue was about a relationship – just between the two of them. What can this tell us about the importance of our relationship with Jesus in our everyday lives?

Watch This

Enjoy this extremely uplifting Gospel presentation by folksy-Scottish preacher Alistair Begg who imagines the scene in Heaven upon the entry of the penitent thief.

Day 5: Pilate

Devotional by Mark Lanier

Read John 18:37-38a

Devotional

Some people have a knack for the obvious. Others can have something staring them in the face and miss it all together. I put Pilate in the “others” category.

Pilate was going through his routine day, having come 75 miles from his home base in Caesarea into Jerusalem to deal with administrative matters. As the procurator over the region, Pilate was in charge of keeping the peace and administering the judgement of Rome.

Dealing with Jesus wasn’t on Pilate’s agenda. Jesus was an issue that had just come up. Certain Jewish authorities were quite upset over Jesus, and they wanted Pilate to deal with him. The easiest way was to paint Jesus as one leading a rebellion, one claiming to be a king in opposition to Rome and Caesar. This accusation elevated Jesus to a status requiring Pilate’s personal attention.

Pilate questioned Jesus, “Are you really claiming to be a king?” Jesus replied, “Those are your words.  I came into the world to bear witness to the truth.” Jesus added that anyone, regardless of status or placement in the Roman Empire, who would hear and listen to Jesus, would be part of the truth.

Here was Pilate’s big moment. Pilate had a one-on-one encounter with the Son of God. Pilate had an opportunity to ask the question that most atheists demand – “If God is real, have him appear for me and tell me!” Yet Pilate blew it.  He couldn’t see the truth that was standing right before him. With a chance to dialogue with God, to get life right, to find forgiveness, to have a relationship with God fully restored, to do an about face and find faith, with all of those chances and more, Pilate missed it. Pilate turned the opportunity into a humdrum, dismissive, almost cynical reply: “What is truth?”

Truth was staring Pilate in the face, and he did nothing with it. He was too blind to see what was right in front of him. Am I?

Questions

1.  Jesus stands before me in this passage today. Do I see Him for who He is?  
2. Do I seize this moment to address Him as God or do I dismiss Him too? 

Pray This

Lord, I pray that my encounters with You would lead to a more intimate and personal relationship with You. Help me to seek Lord, I embrace You today as my Lord, my God and the truth I need in my life. Guide me for Your name’s sake. In Jesus name, amen.

Day 4: Simon of Cyrene

Devotional by Alex Jones

Read Luke 23:26

Devotional

Life is full of interruptions. On a daily basis, we face decisions, situations, and circumstances that we don’t expect. We can all relate to feeling flustered or thrown off when our life doesn’t happen according to plan. As Christians, we are reminded throughout Scripture that we are not in control—we may plan our way, but God establishes our steps. Although the Bible is clear that we should expect the unexpected, we still sometimes find ourselves reluctant to the ways of God. We so often forget that our all-powerful God is on the throne intentionally directing our path. God can use even the seemingly mundane to change our lives. This was just the case for a man named Simon from Cyrene.

On his journey to Jerusalem for Passover, Simon was interrupted by Roman soldiers who seized him and commanded him to carry the cross of Jesus. This abrupt burden placed on Simon was surely frustrating and inconvenient but ultimately led to an intimate encounter with Jesus. As Simon picked up the blood-stained cross, he experienced the presence of the Son of God. He heard the words of Jesus as he spoke truth to the crowd who followed him. He experienced Jesus’ humility as Jesus surrendered Himself to God’s will. Most importantly, we are told that Simon followed behind Jesus. Simon was the first to live out the calling to “take up his cross” and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24-26). Simon walked away from his encounter with Jesus knowing Him more deeply and following Him more closely.

Simon’s encounter led to deeper intimacy with his Creator. In the same way, when we are faced with unexpected interruptions, we may also be just one moment away from knowing God more deeply. His ways are not our ways as He is intentionally working through every area of our lives. The same God who ordained Simon’s steps continues to go before each of us. No matter the difficulty or burden placed on us, Jesus promises that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. So, in the midst of your next frustrating interruption, seek to understand how God may be at work in you. We may not be able to control our circumstances, but we can control our response.

Questions

1. When you feel interrupted or inconvenienced, what is your natural response? What steps can you take to trust God in those moments?

2. How are you following Jesus daily? 

3. What areas of your life hinder you from following him fully?

Pray This

Lord, I pray that my encounters with You would lead to a more intimate and personal relationship with You. Help me to seek You regardless of my burdens. As I deny myself and follow You, I will trust and believe that Your way is better. May I draw near to You as You draw near to me. Lead me to look more like You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 3: Judas Iscariot

Devotional by Shauna Wallace

Read Matthew 26:46-56

Devotional

Judas makes me uncomfortable. I want to peg his flaw as blindness to his atrocity, because how does a disciple, one of the twelve, a friend who had a seat at the table with Jesus and managed the ministry’s money, become memorialized as Jesus’ betrayer?

For three years, he walked with Jesus and saw a lot of the things he did. When he and his armed cohort of Jesus’ religious enemies approached Jesus in the Garden—a place Judas knew, “for Jesus often met there with his disciples” (John 18:2)—he greeted Jesus as Rabbi, then planted the kiss of death on Jesus’ face. It was the sign that sealed the deal he’d already made with the devil (see John 13:2 and 27), and it betrayed the truth about him.

That’s what betrayals do. They reveal the truth, and they start long before the acts that make them known. They start with our affections.

Judas may have looked the part of a Jesus follower, but he was an indignant thief who didn’t care about the poor (see Matthew 22:8 and John 12:4-6). He dipped his hand in the money bag long before he dipped it in the bowl with Jesus at the Last Supper, the very thing Jesus used to identify him as “My betrayer” (Matthew 26:46). Judas feared man and loved money, affections we may deem relatively harmless, along with ours. But here’s another truth: seemingly harmless affections eventually lead to painful betrayals.

Maybe you don’t struggle with fear of man or love of money. I do. Maybe you are honest and care for the poor. I’m not always great at this. Regardless of what may divide our loyalty to Jesus, we can all learn from Judas and from Jesus’ sobering words to His disciples after the Lord’s Supper just prior to the Garden scene: “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’” (Matthew 26:31).

All fall away and go astray to our own way (see Isaiah 53:6).

They did.

We do.

When Judas called Jesus, “Rabbi” (or teacher), he left out, “Lord”. Judas’ kiss was the outward evidence of his inward loyalty to another master. Jesus may be a lot of things to us. If He is Lord, He desires and deserves to be our single affection. Lord of all.

Questions

1. Is Jesus your Lord and master—is He Lord of all the affections of your heart?
2. What affections trump your allegiance to Christ, even in ways the devil wants you to consider harmless?
3. By the power of the Holy Spirit, what is one way you could surrender one of your divided affections to Jesus today?

Pray This

Lord, I am humbled by Judas and how alike we are. I am of all who fall away, and when my affections pledge allegiance to the world and its things, I am vulnerable to painful betrayals. Just like Judas. It could have been me who planted a kiss on Jesus’ face while I kicked up my heel against Him. But by Your grace, you saved me, redeemed me, and started a work in me that You are faithful to finish to the end. Please forgive me for the ways I have betrayed You or harmed others, and help me as I forgive those whose divided affections have hurt me. Lord, my heart is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). Please forgive me for the wickedness in my own heart and accept the words of David in Psalm 19:12-13 as the cry of my heart today:

Day 2: Jesus in the Garden

Devotional by Durell Comedy

Read Matthew 26:36-46

Devotional

I’m not the only person who’s had a hard time being vulnerable. Many of us find it challenging to be our truest selves even when surrounded by friends and family, those who know us best. Truth is, I have a constant fear of everyone (my wife included – haha) seeing me surrender to my frailty. They must ONLY see that I have it “all together” and that nothing will cause me to unravel. But let’s be real, how sustainable is this mindset? If we don’t express our fears, worries, and anxieties to someone, it’s only a matter of time before those issues gain control over us. In today’s reading, we get to walk alongside Christ during one of the most difficult moments in His life, where he, too, struggled to let even His own disciples know the heaviness of His heart.

After Jesus and His disciples finished having “The Last Supper” in the upper room together, they walked to the place called Gethsemane to pray and seek the Father. Jesus took James, John, and Peter aside and began to express the depth of the emotional anguish He was experiencing. He encouraged them to watch and pray with Him. What a beautiful picture of community and reminder to us that if the perfect Savior needed others’ prayers and support during challenging seasons, we do all the more. But Christ didn’t only share with His chosen disciples. He continued this confession with His Father, pleading for another path to walk or another cup to drink. Yet, his request was immediately bound in submission with the famous words “Not my will but Your will be done” (v. 39). This is an incredible demonstration of a Christ-like prayer: that it is acceptable to ask anything of and from our Father, knowing that His answer to us might be “no,” yet instantly committing to obeying God and His plan. 

After Jesus returned from being alone and found His friends sleeping instead of praying (some friends, huh?), He isolated Himself again and prayed the exact same prayer to God twice more.

Repeatedly going to God in prayer shows us two things:

·   Prayer is a weapon to battle temptation (see James 5:16)

·   It shows our constant need to release our burdens to God (see Matt. 11:28-29).

Questions

1.  When was the last time you were completely transparent with the Lord in prayer, allowing your emotions to help communicate a deep concern in your life?

2.  Have you found others that you can be just as vulnerable with and that you can confide in on a regular basis?

3.  When was a time in your life where you were obedient to God regardless of feelings or circumstances?

Pray This

Dear Lord, I’m grateful for the example of our Savior Jesus, who demonstrated obedience even unto death. Because of that death and resurrection, I have new and abundant life in You! Now help me God, by the power of Your Spirit, to live with a posture of immediate obedience to Your will and plan for my life. Even when I find myself in the struggle and pain of surrender, remind me that on the other side of obedience is joy and peace. I pray that I would constantly run to You with every one of my cares, knowing that You care for me. Surround me with those who will comfort and challenge me in Your ways and Your truth. I love You, God, not just with my words or emotions, but with and in every decision I make. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Day 1: The Crowd

Devotional by Jarrett Stephens

Read Matthew 21:1-11

Devotional

The setting of this passage is Passover. In five short days, Jesus will offer up His life for the sins of the world. One can imagine how packed the city of Jerusalem was, lined with pilgrims that had traveled from all over to celebrate God’s deliverance of His people from the bondage and slavery of Egypt all those years ago.

The ministry of Jesus is at its climax. He is known for His preaching and performing of miracles, one of the latest being raising a man named Lazarus from the dead. Jesus is no longer a secret to the authorities wishing to kill Him, or in this case, the crowds wishing to crown Him. The day that Jesus enters Jerusalem, He is fulfilling a prophecy that had been given by Zechariah 500 years prior. The prophecy spoke of Israel’s coming king who would ride into Jerusalem humbly on a donkey (Zech. 9:9).

The irony is hard to miss. A king should be riding on a horse, not a donkey. A king should come in power, not lowly and humble. In this, we see that Jesus is a different kind of king. He is not at all what the people expected.

Still, they went “before him,” laying palm branches in front of Him, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:9).

The word, “Hosanna” means “save now” or “please save us.” The crowds were repeating a psalm (118:25-26) they believed was being fulfilled right before their very eyes. What is significant about the text we are looking at today is not so much the crowd’s response to Jesus, it was Jesus’ response to the crowds – He received their veneration and worship.

Think about that! Not one time does Jesus tell this crowd to stop hailing Him as Israel’s king. We don’t read any hint of Jesus telling the crowd to settle down or warning them that things are getting out of hand. Luke’s account of this scene informs us that some Pharisees asked Jesus to rebuke the crowds that were gathered worshiping Him (Luke 19:39-40). But instead, Jesus let them continue. He was worthy of their worship and therefore accepted their worship.

Jesus is worthy of our worship. The question is, will we be like the crowd and give Him the worship that is due His name?

Questions

1. Sometimes God does not operate in a way that we understand. Are you trusting the Lord in the circumstances of life even when it doesn’t seem to make sense?

2. Why do you think it was so easy for the Pharisees to be frustrated with Jesus?

3. Think about and list three to five reasons Jesus is worthy of your worship.

Pray This 

“Father, help me to worship You as You deserve to be worshiped. You are worthy, and I praise Your name. Thank You for going into Jerusalem that day fully knowing what awaited You. Thank You for laying down Your life for my sins and rising again to give me victory and hope in life and in death. May I be like the crowds that day on Passover that welcomed You in and worshiped You out loud. Amen.”