Month: March 2024

Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
Mark 16:2-6

Who Will Roll Away the Stone?

Daily Devotion – March 31, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 16:2-6


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The women who went to the tomb on Easter Sunday morning were preoccupied. Their only thought was the stone that covered the entrance of the tomb. Who will roll away the stone? Would the soldiers who stood guard help? Would the disciples possibly be there to help? It must have been an agonizing trip.

Often, we are like the women who visited the tomb. We are preoccupied with worries, concerns, and far-ranging issues. The joy and confidence we could know are blocked by the stone of doubt and confusion.

When we are filled with doubt and fear we are invited to view the place where Jesus was laid. And we are invited to believe Jesus’ words of promise: “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25,26).

It almost sounds too good to be true, but it is true! Jesus has risen! He has burst the confines of the tomb. He has conquered death and the grave. His promise is true, and life is ours.

As we gaze by faith at the tomb of Jesus, we can rejoice. Not only has the stone been rolled away, but the grave is empty. Jesus lives!

Prayer: (Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal – 152)
I know that my Redeemer lives; what comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead; He lives my ever-living Head!

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
Mark 16:6,7

A Once and for All Sacrifice

Daily Devotion – March 30, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 16:6,7


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How do you think the apostle Peter felt on Good Friday? Just watching Jesus go through all his suffering must have been bad enough, but to know that he had denied knowing Jesus had to make him feel awful. Even worse, he’d done it three times. More than that, Jesus had warned him plainly, in advance, that he would do it! How might Peter have felt? I’m guessing he felt horrible.

Then, on Easter Sunday, the women who arrived at Jesus’ empty tomb were given a clear instruction by the angel. “Go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Tell Peter. Tell Peter specifically. Why?

Probably because Peter really needed to hear it! Peter needed to hear that his sins were forgiven and that he had a risen Savior who still loved him and would always love him.

You and I are no different than Peter. We’re sinful human beings, just like he was. We’ve denied Jesus in our own ways, whether by blatant statements (like Peter), or not letting our light shine, or failing to trust God fully, or neglecting God’s Word. We’ve failed and sinned. We’re Peter.

God sent angels to announce the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection marks his victory over death which assures us that our failures and sins are forgiven. The good news of Jesus resurrection is the special message of God’s Word for you! You have a risen Savior! Jesus died and rose again from the dead to assure you that your sins are all forgiven.

Prayer:
O gracious and living Savior, your resurrection gives me the confidence to believe all you have done for me. Open my eyes to the great blessing of your undeserved love, and keep my eyes fixed on you who won for me victory over sin, death, and the grave. Amen.

Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.
Hebrews 7:27

A Once and for All Sacrifice

Daily Devotion – March 29, 2024

Devotion based on Hebrews 7:27


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Sacrifice… blood, sweat, tears. That’s what it takes to succeed in this world. You have to work hard. You have to be willing to give up something to gain something greater, whether it’s on the athletic field, in school or work, in business, or anywhere else.

Don’t we sometimes approach our relationship with God that way? To please God, I have to make sacrifices. If I do something wrong, I have to make up for it. The more of yourself—your time, money, blood, sweat, and tears—you give, the more God will bless you. It seems reasonable, but is it true?

Long before Jesus came into the world, God’s laws taught his people that sacrifices were necessary. Something had to be done about all the ways that people didn’t measure up to God’s demands. And so, he commanded priests to offer sacrifices—lambs, bulls, and goats—day-after-day. There was no end to it. Through this, God also taught them that no animal sacrifice or anything a sinful human could offer was enough to make up for those sins or take them away.

But there was one sacrifice. One perfect sacrifice offered by the perfect priest—Jesus, the Son of God. He offered the sacrifice that only he could. He gave himself. And he didn’t do it for himself; he didn’t need to. He gave that sacrifice for you, dear sinner. Knowing that you could not earn God’s favor, knowing the best you could offer could never cover a single slip-up, he offered his own life on a cross. Because Jesus was the Son of God, his innocent life was infinitely valuable. His sacrifice was perfectly pleasing to God. It never has to be repeated. It was a once-and-for-all sacrifice for all people.

Through that sacrifice offered on a Friday twenty centuries ago; your relationship with God is perfectly restored. Once and for all. No strings attached, no wonder we call this Friday good!

Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for giving yourself as the perfect once-and-for-all sacrifice for me. Amen.

“The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
Mark 14:21

A Hunger To Help His Betrayers

Daily Devotion – March 28, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 14:21


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In Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, the title character speaks the words “Et tu, Brute,” a Latin phrase that means, “You too, Brutus?” just moments before his death, when he recognizes his friend Brutus as one of those involved in the assassination.

While few of us can claim to have a friend plotting to kill us, betrayal is something almost everyone experiences. When someone we love and trust says or does something to hurt us, the wounds can be deep and lasting, maybe never really healing. If somehow you knew that someone would betray you, wouldn’t you distance yourself from that person if you could? Nobody wants to be hurt like that.

For centuries, prophets sent by God wrote and spoke about Jesus. They described his life and saving work in vivid detail. That life would end with betrayal, torment, abuse, and excruciating death. On the night he would be betrayed and handed over to those who would do their worst with him, Jesus said, “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man!”

He was not caught by surprise. As the eternal Son of God, Jesus knew exactly what was coming. He knew that one of his closest friends would satisfy his appetite for money and power by betraying his friend, teacher, and Savior. But Jesus didn’t avoid the situation.

That night and the following day, Jesus would satisfy an appetite that he had, too. He would satisfy his appetite to show love and mercy not only to his betrayer but to every one of us who betray him every time we disobey God’s law. In unimaginable love, Jesus endured unspeakable injustice and abuse to win forgiveness and eternal life for his abusers and his betrayers, for you and me.

Because of his unshakable love and determination to save us, our longing to be close to God and enjoy an eternal relationship with him is fully satisfied.

Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, I hunger for your mercy, and in you, I am fully satisfied. Thanks and praise! Amen.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Hebrews 12:1,2

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

Daily Devotion – March 27, 2024

Devotion based on Hebrews 12:1,2


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I don’t know about you, but I am easily distracted. So many things come at us from every different direction and want our attention. Sometimes just a voice in another room or something I see off to the side on my desk derails my train of thought and interrupts my focus.

Not everything vying for our attention is bad. There are important people and things in our lives that need our attention. But an inability to focus on one thing at a time can make it difficult to give the important things in our lives the attention they need.

What’s getting your attention? Does the devil have you chasing after sinful pleasures and selfish urges with the promise of happiness that never really comes?

Does work or school consume all your energy and focus? Is it hobbies, recreation, sports, money, entertainment? What about family? Many of these things are good things; but they aren’t the only thing. And they aren’t what matters most. And if they are all we focus on, we’ll wear ourselves out with temporary things and miss out on far greater blessings from our God.

In the next few days, I hope you will join Christians around the world in taking a journey. Set aside time to attend your local church for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday services. There, take a spiritual journey as you hear about and meditate on events that changed the course of history. There, tune out the distractions of daily life and just watch and listen.

There, fix your eyes on Jesus, who fixed his eyes on you when he came to die for you. Fix your eyes on Jesus, who let nothing distract him from his mission of mercy to rescue you from sin and death. Fix your eyes on Jesus, who persevered through adversity to win for you an eternal inheritance.

In faith, see him who loved you enough to die for you. In faith, see him who is waiting for you across life’s finish line, waiting to welcome you home.

Prayer:
Jesus, my Savior, fix my eyes on you, as I run life’s race, so that one day I will see you face-to-face. Amen.

For the joy set before him [Jesus] endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

The Joy Set Before Him

Daily Devotion – March 26, 2024

Devotion based on Hebrews 12:2


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An athlete in a race needs to keep their sights set on the finish—not just in the race but in the days, weeks, months, or even years of preparation that go into that competition. Keeping your focus on the finish is important for many other difficult tasks in life, too—a big project or hard assignment, physical therapy following an injury, or grueling treatment for cancer or some other disease. Individuals and organizations who keep the goal or mission in mind tend to be more successful and find greater joy in the difficult journey to get there.

Jesus came into this world knowing that the road would be rough. The challenges would be great. The pain would be almost unbearable. What he would have to endure would be more difficult than any race, task, assignment, or mission we will ever face. And, when it got the most difficult, there would be no one by his side cheering him on. He would have to go through it completely alone.

This week that we call Holy Week, we see Jesus enduring that dreadful mission with a singular and undivided focus. Knowing what was coming, Jesus went willingly to the cross, where he literally suffered hell he didn’t deserve.

What kept him going? Our Bible verse for today says, “For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame.” Jesus focused on the finish. He saw the end.

But it wasn’t just that it would be over soon, and life would be happy again after he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. The joy set before him was joy for you. It was the joy of knowing that because he suffered hell, you would never have to face hell for your sins. It was the joy of knowing that, through his suffering to forgive our sins, he would open up heaven for you to live with him in perfect peace forever. Love for you that saw what his suffering would accomplish for you is why he willingly endured the cross and scorned its shame. He loves you that much!

Prayer:
Jesus, your love for me is beyond words. Thank you. Amen.

His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.
Zechariah 9:10,11

Real Strength Rules to Rescue

Daily Devotion – March 25, 2024

Devotion based on Zechariah 9:10,11


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If you were to list the most powerful rulers in history, men like Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, or other leaders of powerful empires would surely be part of the conversation. Their strength was not just in political savvy but in eliminating opposition, controlling the people, and intimidating or destroying enemies.

History teaches us to expect great strength to be used in wicked ways. Lord Acton, a 19th century British historian, wrote, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority.”

Just days before he died, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey. This royal ride was predicted by the prophet Zechariah centuries earlier. As people remembered those prophecies, they began to sing his praises. They knew that Zechariah also foretold that this King’s rule would extend to the ends of the earth. They may have imagined a mighty warrior destroying nations to establish his empire and bring them peace and prosperity.

But as King Jesus came to rule, he didn’t come to destroy but to save. He didn’t come to enslave but to rescue and release. Jesus’ strength was not in the bloodshed of his enemies on the battlefield or the death of those who opposed him. His strength was in his blood—the innocent blood of the Son of God who came to save. He would lay down his life for friend and foe to conquer the devil—the spiritual enemy that enslaves and oppresses all people. By riding into Jerusalem to bleed and die, King Jesus would free us from the pit of our sin and guilt to live as blessed citizens of his eternal kingdom.

The most powerful man in the history of the world used his strength to resist the temptation to use others for himself. Instead, he humbly gave himself up and shed his blood to set you free forever.

Prayer:
King Jesus, by the power of the blood, you have set me free from sin and death. Give me strength to use that freedom to serve you and those around me. Amen.