Easter Devotion: A Palm Sunday in Heaven (5th Sunday in Lent)

The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast 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!"

Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,

"Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." 

At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.  John 12:12-16

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.  

Zechariah 9:9

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. 

They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

And they cried out in a loud voice: 

"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: 

"Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"  Revelation 7:9-12

Questions:

- Why was there a great crowd in Jerusalem? (they were celebrating the Feast of the Passover)

- What is Passover? (Passover is about how God had the Israelites put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts so that the Angel of Death would pass by them and not kill them)

- What part of Passover did Jesus represent?

- What part of the Old Testament did Jesus fulfill when He came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey? (read Zechariah 9:9)

- What is this special day called by the Christian Church today? (Palm Sunday) Why?

- Read Revelation 7:9-12...What similarities do you see between when Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and when we, some day in Heaven, will gather around Jesus and worship Him?

(great crowd/multitude, carrying palm branches, praising Jesus)

- How is the crowd different? (in Jerusalem - mostly Jews; in Heaven - people of every nation, tribe, people and language)

Thoughts: 

As we celebrate Palm Sunday today, we should not only look back into the past, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem; but we should look forward to a day, in the future, when all those who have believed in Jesus as their Savior, throughout all of history, will stand around His throne and worship Him. But this time, there will be no Gethsemane or trials before Pilate or whippings or a cross waiting for Jesus. Instead, there will be year after year, century after century of enjoying life with our Lord and God. And praise God that there will be people, in Heaven, from every nation, tribe, language and people! What a joyous day that will be. May it come quickly!

Prayer: 

We love you Jesus. Today, in our hearts, may we lift up palm branches and say to You:

"Hosanna!" 

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"  

"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

Song: Salvation Belongs to our God

Salvation belongs to our God

Who sits upon the throne

And unto the Lamb

Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks

Honor and power and strength

Be to our God forever and ever

Be to our God forever and ever

Be to our God forever and ever, Amen

And we, the redeemed shall be strong

In purpose and unity

Declaring aloud

Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks

Honor and power and strength

Here is a link with the music: Salvation belongs to Eour God

Easter Devotion: No More Separation (Day 28)

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 

When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."

Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink.

The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.

The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"  Matthew 27:45-54

Questions:

- What did Jesus say to God? What did He mean?

- What unusual things happened when Jesus died?

- What did it mean that the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom?

- What did the centurion believe after seeing Jesus die?

Thoughts: 

The most painful part of the crucifixion was not the nails in Jesus' hands or feet, or the beatings...it was the separation He felt from God. At that moment and for how long, we do not know, Jesus experienced all the guilt and punishment for all the world's sins. He essentially entered Hell because that is what Hell is - total separation from God and punishment for our sins, forever. Praise God that He did it for us! We can be with God forever, and not separate from Him. The torn curtain signified that. The curtain was what separated the people from the Holiest of Holy places in the Temple, from the place where God was present. With Jesus' death, that curtain, that separation, was destroyed. We can now enter into God's presence through Jesus Christ. And when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, God's presence enters us through the Holy Spirit. What a wonderful Savior we serve!

Prayer: 

Jesus, how we can ever begin to thank You for what You did for us. May we cry out daily to You, longing to be in Your presence, to spend eternity in Your house, in Heaven, with You. Thank You for making the way for us. We love You so much Jesus!

Song: Better is One Day

How lovely is Your dwelling place

Oh Lord Almighty,

For my soul longs and even faints for You

Oh, here my heart is satisfied (is satisfied)

Within Your presence

I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings

Better is one day in Your courts

Better is one day in Your house

Better is one day in Your courts

Than thousands elsewhere

Better is one day in Your courts

Better is one day in Your house

Better is one day in Your courts

Than thousands elsewhere

(Than thousands elsewhere)

One thing I ask and I would seek,

To see Your beauty

To find You in the place Your glory dwells

(One thing I ask)

One thing I ask and I would seek,

To see Your beauty

To find You in the place Your glory dwells

Here is a really good video with words and pictures of the earthquake, the curtain being torn in two, etc.: Better is one day

Easter Devotion: The Heart of a Son (Day 27)

Mary with the disciple John at the cross

from The Passion

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.  John 19:25-27

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.  Psalm 68:5

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  James 1:27

Questions:

- Who was nearby Jesus at the cross?

- Stop for a minute and try to imagine their horror...what must they have been thinking through all this?

- Who was Jesus concerned about...why? (Mary was a widow, Jesus, her oldest son was the one to look after her but He would not longer be there to do this)

- What did He ask John to do?

- What does this show us about God's heart towards not only His own mother but all widows? (read Psalm 68:5 and James 1:27)

Thoughts: 

Even close to death, Jesus still tenderly looked after His mother. She was a widow and now would lose her oldest son. Throughout the Bible, God is clear about His concern for widows, orphans (the fatherless) and aliens. It is called "pure and faultless religion." We, the Church, need to be about this today. We should pray and ask the Lord how we can help those in need, following in our Savior's footsteps.

Prayer: 

Lord God, there are many in need, widows, orphans and aliens, in our own country and around the world. May Your Church reach out to them and remember them, just as You remembered Your mother Mary, from the cross. Help us to be Your hands and feet to a hurting world.

Song: Your Mercy Saved Me

Here I am a sinner broken and in need of You

Take my life and wash my fears away

For You are the 'Great I am', rest assured, I feel Your hand

Holding me until the darkness clears

A Father to the fatherless, redeemer of my soul

My Life is Yours forever, my heart will always know

Your mercy saved me, mercy made me whole

Your mercy found me, called me as Your own

Here I stand a child of Yours broken and in need of You

Break these chains and wash my guilt away

Healer of my brokenness, my weary soul will find its rest

You are my strength, the lifter of my head

You're greater than my yesterdays, You hold me close today

You're the Lord of my tomorrows, my heart will always say

You're greater than my yesterdays, You hold me close today

You're the Lord of my tomorrows, my heart will always say

Your mercy saved me, mercy made me whole

Your mercy found me, called me as Your own

Your mercy saved me, mercy made me whole, me whole

Your mercy found me, called me as Your own

You called me as Your own

You called me as Your own

Thank You for Your mercy

Thank You for Your mercy

Your mercy saved me, mercy made me whole

Your mercy found me, called me as Your own

Your mercy saved me, mercy made me whole

Your mercy found me, called me as Your own

You called me as Your own, Your own

Here is a link or the song by Casting Crowns: Mercy

Easter Devotion: A Criminal Saved (Day 26)

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."

There was a written notice above him, which read: This is the King of the Jews.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:35-43

Questions:

- What did the people standing around Jesus say to Him as He was on the cross?

- Could Jesus have saved Himself? If so, why didn't He?

- What did the second sinner realize about himself? About Jesus?

- What did he ask of Jesus?

- What did Jesus say to him and why?

- What does this tell us about paradise/Heaven? (indicates we go there as soon as we die)

Thoughts: 

This criminal understood what even Jesus' disciples did not yet understand. He knew that he was a sinner and deserved death. He also knew that Jesus had done nothing wrong. But most amazing, he understood that Jesus' kingdom was not an earthly kingdom. As others sneered at a broken, dying man, the criminal humbly asked a favor of Jesus, the King. Jesus had no words for the mockers, but for the man of faith, criminal though he was, Jesus, King of Kings, gave assurance of eternal life.

Prayer: 

Thank you so much Jesus for Your sacrifice for me. Thank You that You help me realize that I am a sinner and that I need Your forgiveness. I humbly come to You today, admitting my sin, asking for Your forgiveness and trusting that when I die, I will go to Heaven to be with You. I love You Jesus!

Song: We are the Reason

As little children we'd dream of Christmas morn

And all the gifts and toys we knew we’d find

But we never realized a baby born one blessed night

Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We are the reason that He gave His life

We were the reason that He suffered and died

To a world that was lost He gave all He could give

To show us the reason to live

As the years went by we learned more of our gifts

The giving of ourselves and what that means

On a dark and cloudy day a man hung crying in the rain

Because of love

Because of love

*Chorus

I finally found the reason for living

It’s in giving every part of my heart to Him (every part to Him)

And all that I do every word that I say (you know I’ll be saying)

I will give all my life just for Him, just for Him (every thing for Him)

We are the reason that He gave His life

We are the reason that He suffered and died

To a world that was lost He gave all He could give (all that he could give all)

To show us the reason to live

#He is the reason to live

(don’t you know do you know the reason

that he came, oh he came to save us

when he gave his life for us) he suffered and died

To a world that was lost He gave everything (everything that He had He gave)

To show us the reason to live

Here is a link for the song: We are the reason

Today's thoughts came from Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hibbard

Easter Devotion: We Are The Reason (Day 25)

As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.

Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.

For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'

Then " 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" ' 

For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.  Luke 23:26-34

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.  Isaiah 53:12

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.

Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:33-34

Questions:

- Why do you think Simon of Cyrene (Cyrene, Libya) was made to carry Jesus' cross? (the cross would have weighed anywhere from 40-125 lbs. depending on whether He carried the whole cross or just the crossbeam; either way, this would have been a heavy load to carry for a few miles for a healthy man and Jesus had spent a night without sleeping, drinking or eating and had been brutally beaten and whipped)

- As Jesus was being led to His death, who was He thinking about...Himself or others? How do we know this? (comment to women following Him)

- Why did He tell the women of Jerusalem to weep for themselves and their children? (He saw the coming destruction of Israel as a nation that occurred in 70 AD by Rome as well as future persecution of Jews and the Church)

- Who was crucified with Jesus? What is important about this? (read Isaiah 53:12 - fulfills prophecy that He would be crucified with criminals)

- Did the suffering that Jesus was experiencing cause Him to stop praying or to pray even more? How do you think He could pray through all the pain? (He had made prayer a lifestyle and it was as natural to Him as breathing)

- Who does Jesus pray for on the cross? Who does He think of first?

- What can we learn from His prayer? (even in the midst of our greatest sins, God loves us and wants to forgive us...His greatest desire is not for punishment but for us to be forgiven)

- What is Jesus doing today, right now, in Heaven? (read Romans 8:33-34)

Thoughts: 

Jesus was suffering greatly. We would understand if His prayers had been for Himself, for God to give Him the strength to endure, to ease the pain...but they weren't. Instead, even to the very end and in the greatest pain and agony, the thoughts and prayers of Jesus were for others. He prayed for the Jews and for the future Church, and He prayed for you and for me. You see, it wasn't just the Jewish leaders or Pilate or the Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus...it was each of us. Our sins caused Him to suffer and die. He willingly died so that we would not have to. When He prayed to His Father, asking for forgiveness, He was thinking of you and me. And He still prays that prayer in Heaven, for us. What a precious Savior we serve!

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, how can we begin to thank You for what You did on the cross and continue to do for us in Heaven today? Words can not express our thanks and our love for You. Help us to follow Your  example, to forgive our enemies and to pray for those who hurt us. And help us to continue in prayer, every day, throughout the day. We love you so much Jesus!

Song: Above All

Above all powers

Above all kings

Above all nature

And all created things

Above all wisdom

And all the ways of man

You were here

Before the world began

Above all kingdoms

Above all thrones

Above all wonders

The world has ever known

Above all wealth

And treasures of the earth

There's no way to measure

What You're worth

CHORUS

Crucified

Laid behind a stone

You lived to die

Rejected and alone

Like a rose

Trampled on the ground

You took the fall

And thought of me

Above all

Here is a video with music and words: Above All

Another wonderful song with this theme is We are the Reason - here is a video with the words

We Are The Reason

Easter Devotion: God's Plan (Day 24)

Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him." 

With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.

But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."

But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.

So Pilate decided to grant their demand.

He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.  Luke 23:13-25

The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!"

Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.

And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.  Mark 15:16-20

He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care... we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for His own sins!...He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed...He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet He never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter...Unjustly condemned, He was led away...But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush Him and cause Him grief. Yet when His life is made an offering for sin, He will have many descendants.

Isaiah 53:3-10

I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting. Isaiah 50:6

"All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.

They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.

They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.

I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you." John 16:1-4

Questions:

- Before you begin, ask the children to pray, asking God to help them understand, in even some small way, what Jesus did for them and for the world, so that we might be saved

- Why did all this have to happen to Jesus?

- Whose plan was this? (read Isaiah 53:3-10)...this was God's plan. Talk to children about how it wasn't Satan defeating Jesus but all of this happened according to God's plan, to fulfill prophecy

- What did Pilate believe about Jesus?

- Why did he decide, in the end, to have Him crucified?

- How did the soldiers treat Jesus?

- How did Jesus react? (read Isaiah 50:6)

- Read John 16:1-4...what did Jesus say would happen to His followers?

- Is this happening right now in the world? (talk about persecution of Christians...to learn more go to Kids of Courage

- Do you think you could stand for Jesus even if you were being treated cruelly?

- How can you prepare now so that like Pilate, you won't give into peer pressure and like Jesus, you can take abuse for Jesus?

Thoughts: 

It's hard to begin to understand why Jesus suffered this way. He didn't have to. At any time He could have stopped it all. It wasn't the Jewish leaders or the crowds or the Roman soldiers who were in control. God was in control. It was the Lord’s good plan to crush Him and cause Him grief. Yet when His life is made an offering for sin, He will have many descendants. We are those descendants when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus did this for each of us. He stayed there and took all the hurt and pain because He did not want us to suffer the same thing in Hell, forever. He loves us more than we can ever imagine. It's His love that kept Him there.

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, how can we begin to thank You for what You did for us. You took the hurt of the world on your shoulders, the beatings, the mocking, the crown of thorns and the cross, out of Your great love for us. What a wonderful Savior we serve. May we live our lives, every day, in honor of You. We so look forward to one day being with You forever, in Heaven. We love You Jesus!

Song: He Will Carry You

There is no problem too big

God cannot solve

There is no mountain too tall

He cannot move

There is not storm too dark

God cannot calm

There is no sorrow too deep

He cannot soothe

If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders

I know, my brother that He will carry you

If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders

I know, my sister that He will carry you

He said come on to me all who are weary

And I will give you rest

Here is a video link for the song:  He Will Carry You

Easter Devotion: Truth Will Prevail (Day 23)

The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him.

They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?"

And they said many other insulting things to him.

At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them.

"If you are the Christ," they said, "tell us." Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer.

But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."

They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied, "You are right in saying I am."

Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips." 

Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king."

So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" 

"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.

Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."

But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here."

On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.

When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle.

He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.

The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.

Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.

That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.  Luke 22:63 - 23:12

"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.  Matthew 7:6

Questions:

- What did the guards do to Jesus? Why?

- What questions did the Jewish leaders ask Jesus?

- How did Jesus answer them?

- What lies did the people tell about Jesus?

- What did Pilate think of Jesus and why did Pilate send Him to Herod?

- Why did Herod want to see Jesus?

- Why did Jesus not answer Herod? (read Matthew 7:6)

- Why did Herod and Pilate become friends that day?

Thoughts: 

Here is God Himself being abused by the very people He created. During this abuse, Jesus spoke nothing but the truth, and they hated Him for it. The world will often hate the truth and those who dare to speak it. Pilate, the Roman governor put in charge of Judea at that time, recognized that there was nothing wrong with Jesus...that He should not be condemned to death. But Pilate gave into the desires of the people...he was swayed by peer pressure. Herod, the local ruler who ruled with permission of the Roman government, was really only interested in being entertained. When Jesus wouldn't perform for Herod, ie, "giving dogs what is sacred or casting pearls before pigs," Herod turned on Jesus and abused Him.  Ironically, Herod and Pilate became friends that day...partners in the greatest crime committed in the history of the world. Today there are military leaders, church leaders and political leaders who will mock Christianity and do all they can to abuse those who follow Jesus, but ultimately, God is in charge. Jesus is "seated at the right hand of the mighty God." He will reward those who are on the side of truth and punish those who oppose Him.

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, what You suffered for us is unimaginable. You, the way, the truth and the life, allowed incredible abuse so that we would not have to suffer that same abuse for all eternity. We love You so much Jesus. Please help us to stand up for truth and to pray for those who suffer abuse because they are Christians. Thank You Jesus.

Song: Oh How He Loves You and Me

Oh, how He loves you and me,

Oh, how He loves you and me.

He gave His life, what more could He give;

Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,

Oh, how He loves you and me.

Jesus to Calv'ry did go,

His love for mankind to show.

What He did there brought hope from despair.

Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,

Oh how He loves you and me.

Here is a video of a sweet little boy singing this song: How He Loves