devotional

March 9th JESUS’ FINAL WEEK WEDNESDAY – The Plot Thickens They planned to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, so that there won’t be a riot among the people.” Matthew 26:4-5, The NET Bible Action: Jesus moved into the final days of his...

March 8th JESUS’ FINAL WEEK TUESDAY – Temple Controversies (d) Watch therefore [give strict attention, be cautious and active], for you do not know in what kind of a day [whether a near or remote one] your Lord is coming Matthew 24:42, Amplified Bible, Classic Edition Action...

March 7th JESUS’ FINAL WEEK TUESDAY – Temple Controversies (c) How often I have wanted to gather your people together, as a mother hen gathers her little ones under her wings. But you would not come! I tell you this. You will not see me again until the time when you say, "God bless him...

March 6th JESUS’ FINAL WEEK TUESDAY – Temple Controversies (b) Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel! Matthew 23:24, New Living Translation Action: The eight “woes” of Matthew 23 are best understood and interpreted...

March 5th JESUS’ FINAL WEEK TUESDAY – Temple Controversies (a) The very stone which the builders despised - has now itself become the corner-stone; this corner-stone has come from the Lord, and is marvelous in our eyes. Matthew 21:42, Twentieth Century New Testament Action: On...

March 4th JESUS’ FINAL WEEK MONDAY – Cleansing the Temple Then he taught the people and said, "The Scriptures say, 'My house should be called a place of worship for all nations.' But you have made it a place where robbers hide!" Mark 11:17, Contemporary English Version Action...

March 3rd JESUS’ FINAL WEEK MONDAY – Cursing the Fig Free "If you have faith, without doubting, you will not only [be able to] do what was done to this fig tree, but even if you tell this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the ocean,' it will happen.” Matthew 21:21, An...

March 2nd JESUS’ FINAL WEEK SUNDAY – Triumphal Entry Rejoice, rejoice, people of Zion! Shout for joy, you people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you! He comes triumphant and victorious, but humble and riding on a donkey--on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9, Good...

March 1st JESUS’ FINAL WEEK Walk with Christ For to this were ye called: for also Christ suffered for you, leaving behind to you an underwriting, that ye should follow upon his footsteps. 1 Peter 2:21, Julia Smith Translation Jesus final week – why is it called Passion week...

February 28th PEOPLE JESUS MET SAUL – His Conversion But I am whatever I am because of God's unearned favor, and the favor He showed me was not for nothing [i.e., Paul made the most of his conversion by being extra diligent in his service to God]. But I worked harder than all the other...

February 27th PEOPLE JESUS MET THOMAS – Benefit of the Doubt Jesus said to him. “Happy are those who have never seen me and yet have believed!” … But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God, and that in that faith you may have life as his...

February 26th PEOPLE JESUS MET CLEOPAS – Eyes opened! They said to one another, ‘Did we not feel our hearts on fire as he talked with us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’ Luke 24:32, New English Bible Profile: It was Sunday, resurrection day, Cleopas and his...

February 25th PEOPLE JESUS MET THE DYING THIEF – Saved by Grace Jesus said to him, 'Verily I say to thee, To-day with me thou shalt be in the paradise.' Luke 23:43, Young's Literal Translation Profile: Both condemned criminals along with the watching elders, priests...

February 24th PEOPLE JESUS MET PILATE – The Compromiser After that Pilate began to seek to release him, but the Jews shouted out. "If you release this man you are no friend of the Emperor. Any man who makes himself out to be king is a rebel against the Emperor." John 19:12, Montgomery...

February 23rd PEOPLE JESUS MET CAIAPHAS – A Religious Mis-leader You have no idea what you are talking about; what you don’t understand is that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people so the whole nation won’t perish. John 11:49-50, The Voice Profile...

February 22nd PEOPLE JESUS MET JUDAS – The Masquerader Then a diabolical plan came into the mind of Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve. Luke 22:3, J.B. Phillips New Testament Profile: He was the only one of the 12 that was a non-Galilean - from the same royal tribe from...

February 21st PEOPLE JESUS MET THE WIDOW AT THE TREASURY – Exploitation? But in their greed they rob widows of their houses … A widow, obviously poor, came up and dropped two copper coins in one of the boxes. Luke 20:46-21:5, The Voice Profile: Jesus had just referred to...

February 20th PEOPLE JESUS MET ZACCHAEUS – Came up Short The Son of Man has come to ‘search for those who are lost' and to save them. Luke 19:10, Twentieth Century New Testament Profile: Zacchaeus’ name means “righteous one”, but this chief supervisor of other tax-collectors was...

February 19th PEOPLE JESUS MET MARTHA – Distracted “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.” Luke 10:41-42, The Message...

February 18th PEOPLE JESUS MET THE COVETOUS MAN – A Poor Rich Man “Beware! Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are.” Luke 12:15, The Living Bible Profile: As Jesus was teaching, a man from the crowd...