Daily DevotionalS

As we prepare for the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ this week, we invite you to join us Monday-Thursday morning at 8:00am for a time of Worship, Teaching, and Prayer.

Follow along with us by selecting the weekday below:

The Triumphal Entry and Cleansing of the Temple:

Scripture Readings
1. Jesus enters Jerusalem as a King (Matthew 21:1-11)
2. Jesus cleanses the Temple (Matthew 21:12-17)

Devotional 
"Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD... The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." (Psalm 118:19, 22)

As we begin our journey through Passion Week, we focus on two key events: Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and His cleansing of the Temple. These moments reveal Christ as both King and Reformer, showing us how true worship transforms both communities and hearts.

In Matthew 21:1-11, Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey, deliberately fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy (9:9): "Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey." The crowds respond with jubilation, spreading palm branches and shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David!" This Hebrew expression means "Save us now!" — a cry that recognizes Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah and Deliverer.

Yet how quickly their celebration would turn to rejection. Psalm 118 prophetically declares, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." Even as they welcomed Him with praise, many would soon join the crowds demanding His crucifixion.

After His entry, Jesus proceeds to cleanse the Temple, overturning tables and driving out merchants who had transformed sacred space into a marketplace. "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers" (Matthew 21:13). This powerful act of purification demonstrates Christ's authority and His passion for authentic worship.

The Temple cleansing invites us to examine our own approach to worship. Have we allowed distractions, materialism, or routine to corrupt our communion with God? Just as Jesus sought to restore the Temple to its intended purpose, He desires to purify the temple of our hearts.

The Apostle Paul would later write, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?" (1 Corinthians 6:19). Jesus' cleansing of the physical Temple foreshadows His desire to cleanse our spiritual temples, removing whatever hinders our worship and relationship with God.

As you begin this Holy Week, consider: What tables need to be overturned in your life? What distractions need to be driven out? Allow Christ the King to enter triumphantly into your heart and restore your life as a house of prayer.

Reflection Questions
1. What does it mean to welcome Jesus as King into every area of your life today?
2. What might be some "tables" in your heart that Jesus wants to overturn to restore authentic worship?
3. How can you distinguish between superficial praise (like the crowds who later rejected Jesus) and genuine devotion?
4. What practical steps can you take this week to make your life more fully "a house of prayer"?

The Authority of Jesus and His Teachings:

Scripture Readings: 

1. Jesus teaches in the Temple (Matthew 21:23-27)
2. Parables of the Two Sons and the Tenants (Matthew 21:28-46)

Daily Devotional: 
"Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations... He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth." (Isaiah 42:1, 4)

On Tuesday of Passion Week, Jesus returns to the Temple to teach with authority. As the Son of God, His words carry more weight than the religious leaders' traditions, and His teaching exposes the condition of their hearts.
In Matthew 21:23-27, the chief priests and elders challenge Jesus: "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?". Their question reveals their failure to recognize the Messiah standing before them. Jesus responds with wisdom that silences His critics, demonstrating that His authority comes directly from heaven.

Isaiah's prophecy illuminates this moment beautifully: "Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights". The Father had publicly declared Jesus as His beloved Son at His baptism, placing His Spirit upon Him. Now, Jesus exercises this authority in the very heart of Israel's religious center.

Jesus then shares two penetrating parables. In the Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32), He contrasts empty promises with genuine obedience. One son says "yes" to his father but doesn't go work in the vineyard; the other initially refuses but later repents and obeys. Jesus teaches that actions reveal true devotion more than words alone.

The Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21:33-46) delivers an even more sobering message. The vineyard owner (God) sends servants (prophets) to collect what is due, but the tenants (religious leaders) beat and kill them. Finally, he sends his son (Jesus), whom they also kill. Jesus concludes with the devastating pronouncement: "Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits" (v. 43).

Both parables emphasize that authority requires accountability. Having knowledge of God's will is meaningless without corresponding obedience. The religious leaders knew Scripture thoroughly yet failed to recognize its fulfillment standing before them.

Isaiah's prophecy promises that the Messiah "will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth". Despite growing opposition, Jesus continues His mission with unwavering resolve, establishing God's justice through His teaching, life, and ultimately His sacrifice.

Today, examine how you respond to Jesus' authority. Do your actions align with your professions of faith? Are you bearing fruit worthy of God's kingdom? Allow Christ's teachings to penetrate beyond intellectual understanding to transform your heart and conduct.

Reflection Questions

1. In what areas of your life do you struggle to fully submit to Christ's authority?
2. What is the difference between knowing God's will intellectually and embodying it practically?
3. What "fruit" is God looking for in your life as evidence of His kingdom's presence?
4. How can you respond to correction or conviction more humbly when God's word challenges your attitudes or behaviors?

Watchfulness and Readiness for Christ's Return:

Scripture Readings: 

1. Jesus teaches about the end times (Matthew 24:1-44)
2. The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
3. Judas agrees to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16)

Daily Devotional
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?... For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock." (Psalm 27:1, 5)

On Wednesday of Passion Week, Jesus delivers the Olivet Discourse, teaching about the future while a dark betrayal unfolds in secret. These contrasting events highlight the tension between faithful watchfulness and devastating unfaithfulness.

Seated on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem, Jesus reveals signs that will precede His return: false messiahs, wars, natural disasters, persecution, and the desecration of the holy place (Matthew 24:1-31). He then emphasizes the uncertainty of His timing: "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only" (v. 36). This mystery demands constant readiness.

The psalmist's words connect beautifully here: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" Jesus assures His followers that despite coming tribulations, those who remain faithful will ultimately be vindicated. Their safety is secure in the Lord, who promises to be their shelter in the day of trouble.

Jesus illustrates this readiness through the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). All ten await the bridegroom, but only five prepare adequately with extra oil. When the bridegroom arrives unexpectedly at midnight, the unprepared virgins find themselves excluded from the wedding feast. Jesus concludes with the imperative: "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour" (v. 13).

The "oil" in this parable represents the internal reserves of spiritual vitality that cannot be borrowed or transferred last-minute. It comes through consistent communion with God, knowledge of His Word, and a lived relationship with Christ. Such preparation cannot be hastily acquired in a moment of crisis.

Meanwhile, as Jesus teaches about future faithfulness, present betrayal unfolds. Judas secretly arranges to hand Jesus over for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). Having walked with Jesus for three years, Judas still chooses momentary gain over eternal loyalty. His actions remind us that proximity to Jesus doesn't guarantee genuine devotion—only a heart transformed by grace ensures lasting faithfulness.

Today, examine your spiritual preparedness. Are you cultivating the "oil" of intimate relationship with Christ? Are you maintaining vigilance against subtle compromises that could lead to greater unfaithfulness? Remember that readiness for Christ's return isn't achieved through anxious speculation about timing but through consistent, faithful discipleship.

Reflection Questions

1. What does it mean to "keep watch" in practical terms in your daily Christian life?
2. What spiritual practices help you maintain "oil in your lamp" during seasons of waiting?
3. What worldly things tempt you to compromise your devotion to Christ?
4. How does Christ's certain return shape your priorities and decisions today?

The Last Supper and Garden of Gethsemane:

Scripture Readings: 

1. Jesus washes the disciples' feet (John 13:1-17)
2. The Last Supper and institution of Communion (Matthew 26:17-30)
3. Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46)
4. Jesus is arrested (Matthew 26:47-56)

Daily Devotional
"Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which was brought upon me, which the LORD inflicted on the day of his fierce anger." (Lamentations 1:12)

On Thursday of Passion Week, we enter the Upper Room and the Garden of Gethsemane, witnessing some of the most intimate and agonizing moments of Jesus' journey toward the cross. Here we see both the depth of His love and the weight of His suffering.

The evening begins with an act of service. John 13:1-17 records how Jesus, "having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end". Knowing His hour had come, Jesus removes His outer garments, wraps a towel around His waist, and washes His disciples' feet—including those of Judas, His betrayer. This humble act of service becomes a living parable of the greater cleansing He would soon accomplish through His blood.

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet" (v. 14), Jesus instructs them. The Kingdom of God operates by an inverted logic—the greatest must become servants, and leadership is demonstrated through sacrifice. The foot-washing prefigures the ultimate service Jesus would render through His death.

At the Passover meal, Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:17-30). Taking bread and wine—elements of the traditional Passover—He infuses them with new meaning: "Take, eat; this is my body... Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (vv. 26-28). In this sacred moment, Jesus establishes the memorial that Christians would observe for millennia to come.

The ancient words from Lamentations resonate powerfully with what follows: "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow". After the supper, Jesus enters the Garden of Gethsemane and experiences sorrow beyond human comprehension. Matthew records that Jesus "began to be sorrowful and troubled" and confessed to His disciples, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death" (26:37-38).

Three times Jesus prays, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will" (v. 39). His prayer reveals both His human desire to avoid suffering and His commitment to the Father's redemptive plan. The cup He faced contained not just physical pain but the spiritual agony of bearing humanity's sin and experiencing separation from the Father.

While Jesus prays, His disciples sleep. Their inability to "watch and pray" for even an hour foreshadows their coming failure and flight. When Judas arrives with an armed crowd, Jesus submits to arrest, refusing to call on heavenly armies that could rescue Him. "But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?" (v. 54).

Today, consider the contrast between Jesus' full awareness of His coming suffering and His willing surrender to the Father's will. His example teaches us that true love expresses itself in sacrificial service and submission to God's purposes, even when the path leads through sorrow.

Reflection Questions

1. How does Jesus' example of foot-washing challenge your understanding of leadership and service?
2. What significance does communion hold in your spiritual life, and how might you approach it with renewed appreciation?
3. When have you experienced a "Gethsemane moment" of needing to surrender your will to God's? What helped you through it?
4. In what situations do you need to pray, "Not my will, but Yours be done" right now?