40 DAYS TO EASTER 

Happy Easter! He is risen! He is risen indeed. As we left off yesterday, all the followers of Jesus were hiding, fearing the worst, and some even began to pack up and head home. Luke tells us about two men who were leaving Jerusalem, distraught that Jesus was dead. 13...

It's Saturday, and it's the day all hope is lost. Everyone who thought that Jesus was the Messiah believes he is dead. Now what? It's important to point out that no one thought he would rise again. No one remembered that he predicted this several times. No one was...

All of history hinges on today's reading. So we'll read it in its entirety.  16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of...

The scene for today is one of the most famous in scripture.  We have more art and songs and stories about this several-hour exchange than most other things found in the Bible. It is often referred to as "the Last Supper." They are gathering for the Passover feast....

After the events we discussed a couple of days ago of Jesus clearing the temple, a variety of lessons are shared by Jesus. He talks about marriage, mission, and urgency. As he talks about the end times, he shares this story: 32 "But about that day or hour no one...

It's Tuesday of Jesus' final week. And he is cutting to the chase about his mission. Take a look at this story. Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then...

It is now Monday of Passion week. Jesus has entered the city to fanfare and celebration. He heads to the temple the next day, and what he sees is an abomination. People have set up a marketplace of sacrificial animals and gouged all the prices. This is not a Christian...

We now begin the final week of Jesus' life before the resurrection.  Holy Week. Passion Week. It has many names with huge significance. All of humanity was waiting for this and didn't even know it.  The people of Jerusalem thought they were welcoming their next...

Tomorrow begins our final seven-day stretch on our countdown to Easter. I've often wondered what was going through the mind of Jesus as he knew his time on earth was wrapping up. Over the next week will examine some of those things through scripture. But before we...

Got someone in your life that seems to be slow to accept Jesus?  Perhaps they seem to have no interest despite all your best efforts. Jesus tells us a story that may be encouraging to you. 28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first...

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to...

Have you ever heard the phrase, “a day late and a dollar short”? That’s what you say about someone who is always late and never prepared.   Then there is the phrase “often late but worth the wait.” That one is a bit more flattering. I prefer the phrase “God is seldom...

Today we read about one of Jesus’ most famous house calls.   Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could...

Have you ever looked for your phone while you were on it? Or used the flashlight on your phone to search for it in your car? Yep, me too. We all have moments of missing the obvious.  Jesus predicted his death to his followers several times, yet they were still caught...

During our journey to Easter, we are seeking to pray FOR someone else. Jesus tells us a story of someone doing the exact opposite. Someone praying in comparison to someone else. 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else,...

How'd you like to be James and John and be forever known for this story? 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." 36 "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 37 They replied, "Let...

Today we come face to face with our own pride and selfishness through a story Jesus tells. 20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent...

Today, we learn a valuable lesson on gratitude. 11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice,...

We completed the three stories of all things lost.  The lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son.   But, there is one last lost one to discover. While we typically talk about the prodigal son as the lost one who ran away, there is another lost son. The one who...

Today we finish our trilogy of stories Jesus told about people far from God. We’ve heard about a lost sheep a shepherd searches for, a lost coin a woman celebrates when found, and now a lost son a father waits for. 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two...