Celebrate Jesus for Who He Is and What He Did Palm Sunday mark’s Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It celebrates his arrival. It occurs only a few days before his arrest and execution, and it happens just one week before his resurrection from the dead, which we celebrate on Easter Sunday. All four of the […]
Today’s passage: Matthew 22:34–40 and Mark 12:28–34 Focus verse: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37) After he shares the three parables, the religious leaders—roiling over Jesus’s parable of the tenants—seek to trap him […]
Jesus Is the Word Today’s passage: Revelation 19:11–21 Focus verse: His name is the Word of God. (Revelation 19:13) Though the invitations to Jesus’s wedding have been sent, this doesn’t mean the wedding is ready to take place. Not yet. Jesus has more to do first. The next thing John sees in his vision is heaven opening […]
Today’s passage: Matthew 21:28–46, Mark 12:12, and Luke 20:9–19 Focus verse: When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. (Matthew 21:45) Immediately after Jesus counters the religious leaders who challenge his authority, he shares some parables. With a crowd already gathered, it provides him with a […]
Today’s passage: Matthew 21:23–27, Mark 11:27–33, and Luke 20:1–8 Focus verse: “By what authority are you doing these things?” [the religious leaders] asked. “And who gave you this authority?” (Matthew 21:23) Let’s recap what Jesus has done in the past few hours. First, he rides into Jerusalem like a victorious king, with the people shouting […]
Discover the Marvelous Things Our Lord Does for Us Paul writes to the church in Rome, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). There are many wonderful passages in the Bible like this one that use the phrase but God. Let’s […]
Today’s passage: Matthew 21:18–22 and Mark 11:12–14, 20–25 Focus verse: “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matthew 21:22) The next morning, as Jesus and his troop return to Jerusalem, he’s hungry. Seeing a fig tree, he expects a tasty meal and searches for fruit. Though the tree has lots […]
The Lamb Will Overcome Today’s passage: Revelation 17 Focus verse: “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” (Revelation 17:14) With God’s final wrath complete, we can now move steadily […]
Today’s passage: Matthew 21:14–17, Mark 11:18–19, and Luke 19:47–48 Focus verse: The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him. (Mark 11:18) After Jesus clears the merchants from the courtyard around the temple, people come to him for healing. This includes the blind and […]
It Is Done Today’s passage: Revelation 16:17–21 Focus verse: The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!” (Revelation 16:17) Jesus has just warned everyone to remain ready for his return, which will happen as unexpectedly as a thief coming […]