Easter Devotionals

Devotion #1

It’s helpful to review prophecies about the coming Messiah which point to the ministry of Jesus on the earth. We’ll start with Matthew 13:10-15 (New International Version), which says:

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see. Though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”

This scripture references the prophecy in Isaiah 6:9-10. As we consider Jesus’ words, I’m sure we may have family members and friends who have heard about Jesus, but they do not really listen or understand. We likely know people who appear to have a heart that is calloused and hardened to the truth of the Bible. Isaiah knew this would happen, and Jesus saw this occur in his day, as many rejected his teachings. We also see this happen today. Let us pray that this year -- as folks attend churches on Easter or Resurrection Sunday, and some attend out of tradition or because it’s a holiday – let us pray that eyes would be opened and ears would hear the Good News for the first time. Let us pray that calloused hearts would be softened to really know Jesus like never before.

Devotion #2

Today, we will continue to review some scriptures that prophesy Jesus’ work on the earth. It’s amazing to see how the prophets in the Old Testament spoke about the coming Messiah.

For example, Matthew 3:1-3 (New International Version) says, “In those days, John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near’. This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”  

This verse refers to the prophecy of Isaiah from chapter 40 and verse 3: A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah as he preached repentance and prepared for Jesus to come onto the scene.

When Jesus began his public ministry, he also talked about John the Baptist in Matthew 11:7-10. It says: 

As John’s disciples were leaving, he began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: 

“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.”

With this reference, Jesus is mentioning Malachi 3:1, which says:

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, who you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.

Let’s pray. Lord God, we thank you for Your Word which shows us the prophecies of Jesus’ coming. We thank you for John the Baptist, who preached about the Kingdom of God and asked people to repent and prepare. Father, would you show us how we can be more like John the Baptist today as we help people prepare for Jesus’ second coming? May we be messengers of the Good News here and now as we point people to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Devotion #3

Mark 14:32 (English Standard Version) states:

And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Have you ever been in a situation where you cried out to God and begged him to change your circumstances? Perhaps you were praying for a child who is far from a relationship with God, a prodigal son, and you were pleading as you asked God to bring them back home.

Or you were praying for a sick family member, crying out to God to heal them.

In times like these, it’s truly difficult for us to say, “Your will be done.” In fact, it’s painful for us to say that when our situation is heart-wrenching. But most of us will probably encounter it at least once in our lives.

Jesus experienced it. What we deal with on earth is nothing compared to Jesus’ sacrifice. We likely will never be put in a position where we will have to knowingly surrender to torture, death and separation from God. But Jesus did. 

They say that as we grow in our knowledge of God, we will more readily accept His will. It may not always be easy. We may have our own Gethsemane moments. But I pray that our hearts would grow closer and closer to the Father’s heart. I pray that we learn to align to His will and that we grow closer and closer to the Father’s will. I hope that our prayers will grow closer and closer to what the Father desires. May the phrase “Your will be done” be more than words. May we truly mean it and live it.    

Devotion #4

Romans 5:1 (English Standard Version) says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Then, in verse 6, it says, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. 

Unfortunately, there are many people today who don’t think they need Jesus. They don’t see themselves as a sinner, so they don’t think they have any need for a savior. It’s often when we see the depths of our pride, ambition, greed, or anger that we finally recognize our immense need to be cleansed of that sin. I wish it wasn’t the case, but often we have to get to rock bottom, to a point of desperation, without any other options, and then we finally cry out to God.

God knew this about us. He knew exactly who we are as human beings. How weak, how sinful, how stubborn. Yet, this scripture encourages us that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God sent Jesus to die for all people, and the verse says that “God showed His love for us” in this way. 

I hope that you don’t normally dwell on your sin. I hope that you’re not constantly beating yourself up for the person you were before you met Jesus. But as we consider the suffering that Jesus willingly bore on our behalf, I pray that you would thank him from a place of deep gratitude. I pray that you would spend a moment considering, as the beloved song says, how His grace could “save a wretch like me.”  Because when we fully realize how undeserving and unworthy we were for the gift of salvation, then we can start to comprehend how truly “amazing” that grace is.