Easter Devotional 2023
Palm Sunday- April 2
Today the final journey of Jesus’ ministry will begin. What appears to be a parade that will usher in a new day will have an interesting twist. Indeed, they were welcoming the long-awaited Messiah into their broken world, but they were hoping for a government overthrow. They wanted their earthly circumstances changed. They wanted power back! What they got was a Savior of the whole world. Today pray that we all see the true meaning of what a Messiah is all about. He will love these people. All of them! You too are loved today by that same Jesus. Celebrate today! Wave a palm branch! The Messiah/Savior has come into the city…into our very hearts! Blessed is the King! Hosanna!
The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!”
John 12:12-13
April 3
The first place Jesus went after the parade on Palm Sunday was to go into the temple. He made quiet the stir there by overturning tables and upsetting the church officials. Then he proceeded to heal the blind and lame, who were not permitted in the very inner sanctuary area because they were not considered “worthy” of such a holy place. Then we read these words in Matthew’s gospel of the indignance of the officials because of the children’s words and the actions of Jesus. It is troubling to witness these church officials acting in this manner. They couldn’t see through their fear and hate who it was in front of them…doing wonderful things. Today, give thanks for the wonderful things Jesus has done in your life. Find the words today to express that. Be specific! What has Jesus done for you? Start at the cross! He is our Savior! Amen!
The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.
But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts,
“Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
Matthew 21:14-15
April 4
In those final days, Judas would turn away from Jesus. We don’t really know what happened in his heart. Was this anger over the scolding he received over the perfume incident? Was he trying to force Jesus’ hand and move Jesus into action to take over Rome? Was he convinced that Jesus wasn’t the real Messiah, and it was time to bring this to an end? We don’t know. We just know he sold Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver. The betrayal is set in motion. The leaders were so happy! Think about that for a moment today. Palm Sunday’s joy is quickly turning to sadness. Today friends, pray a prayer for the broken world. Pray that the Kingdom of God will be on earth as it is heaven. Pray for all those who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus. Pray for the betrayers and lost ones who don’t understand who Jesus is, but don’t lose heart because Jesus is loving all those people. His love is no small gift! Trust that today! Believe in His word. Stand on that promise! Amen!
Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.
And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.
They were delighted and agreed to give him money.
Luke 22:3-5
April 5
This verse brings great hope in the midst of discouragement. Jesus speaks these words to the disciples as he is attempting to share what is going to happen in the next few hours. They, of course, are more confused with these words than encouraged. They are blinded by their inability to understand what the Messiah is about to do. Indeed, they are going to be mourning when in a little while their hero is going to be arrested and then lead away to be crucified. Jesus is trying to tell them! Today, pray that the words of Jesus will be on your heart. Yes, there are times when weeping and mourning seem to be the rule, but we have been witnesses that Jesus has defeated death. Our grief will not last. It will turn to joy! We all have seasons of sadness, but praise be to Christ our King, who has defeated the sting of death! Tomorrow we start those last hours of Jesus’ life. There will be much sorrow and sadness. Today, be at peace! Your grief need not last forever. Jesus will not let us down! Amen!
Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.
You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
John 16:20
April 6
John’s gospel tells the story of the last supper in a very different way. His account includes this story about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. Today is Maundy Thursday. Maundy is a word that is derived from the giving of alms to the poor, but over the years it has come to mean a ceremony of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. He is the King of glory, and he bows at the feet of each of disciple’s and washes their feet. It is the lowliest of all the duties of the household, and Jesus does it. That is who he is. The disciples, except for Judas, are all talking about who is going to be first and who has earned the seat next to the King. Jesus shows them what the Kingdom of God is all about. It is a humbling example of love and compassion to those who don’t understand. This evening we will gather to do communion at church and remember Jesus at the feet of his friends. Pray that your heart will be reminded of this amazing moment of Jesus kneeling before the broken ones around the table. He is going to do a wonderful thing for you. Let him, and be thankful! Amen!
It was just before the Passover Festival.
Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.
Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
John 13:1
April 7
Good Friday. What’s good about this day in the life of Jesus? The reference “Good Friday” is used because it refers to the whole of the story in that Jesus will be crucified and then after three days, He will defeat death and walk right out of the tomb. Still, there is a kind of sadness around this day. What a horrible set of circumstances surround it. The church leaders have worked out a scheme to have Pilate kill Jesus. The crowd is now convinced that Jesus is a fraud because this is not the plan of a Messiah. They too have turned their backs. Jesus' disciples, though promising not to let him down, have all run for safety. He is all alone. He is led away! He will be too weak to carry his own cross. Nails will be run through his hands and feet! “King of Jews,” the guards will say and then…he dies! Pray today that you see this scene through the heart’s perspective of sorrow, but also gratefulness. Pray that you will be moved to see Jesus as your Savior who was willing to do for you what only he could do. Today, you are loved! Think on this! Believe that Jesus died for your sins and give Him your life. He gave his for you! Amen!