Category - Devotionals

4/12                 Matthew 27:51-56 

At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. 53 They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people. 54 The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!” 55 And many women who had come from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee. 

JESUS

He died to save us.  He paid a price we could not pay.  He gave a life we could not give.  His death insured that we would have the opportunity of new birth into the family of God.  

4/11                 Matthew 27:32-50 

Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. 33 And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”).  34 The soldiers gave Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it. 35 After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 36 Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there.  37 A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. 40 “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!”  41 The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. 42 “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him!  43 He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”  44 Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way. 45 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”47 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 48 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. 49 But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”  50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. 

DEATH

Death on the Cross.  A cruel evil way to die and He did it for us.  

4/10                 Matthew 27:26-31 

So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.  27 Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29 They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!”  30 And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. 31 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified. 

TRADE

Jesus was traded for sin.  He went to the Cross for me and for you.  His death paid the price of our sin.  I don’t understand it because it is more than anything I could do but I know it and I know that Jesus died for me and He died for you.  While we were dead in our trespasses and sin Jesus paid the ultimate price-His life for my life, for your life.  Jesus died on the Cross so that we can born again into the family of God and have a relationship with Him.  

4/09                 Matthew 27:23-25 

“Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!” 24 Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!” 25 And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!” 

YES
 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Even when we come to Christ sin continues to be a problem because we still want to play God in our life.  Surrender to Jesus.  Ask Him to forgive you of your sin and come into your heart.  When you do recognize that you are a sinner and Jesus is the only way to the Father and you accept Him you have made the right decision.  Jesus is Lord.  

4/08                 Matthew 27:22 

Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” 

REALLY

Did they really say that?  The testimony says they did.  Are you surprised?  Look at the way the lost abhor Christ.  Maybe even the way you once felt about Jesus.  Jesus is Lord and there is nothing you or anyone else can do about and people dead in their trespasses and sin hate Jesus.  Turn to Christ.  Make sure of your relationship with him.  It is an eternal relationship and you can choose right now but one day the opportunity for choice will be over.  Choose Jesus. 

4/07                 Matthew 27:20-21 

Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. 21 So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!”

REALLY

Blinded by sin the people chose Barabbas.  The baddest of the bad.  A truly evil person.  Evil thought it had won.  Jesus won.  He suffered and died for our sin. 

4/06                 Matthew 27:19 

Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.” 

LISTEN

Sometimes the Lord will use people to speak to you.  Carefully evaluate what people say.  The Lord is good and He loves you.

4/05                 Matthew 27:15-18 

Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. 16 This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas. 17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 

SIN

This whole murder trial of Jesus was evil at work in the world.  Now the religious leaders had whipped up the foolish populace to demand Jesus be murdered.  We were there with them and just as they did we too nailed the nails into His hands and feet.  Evil killed Jesus.  God raised Him from the dead.  He paid the price for our sin and offers us entrée to His kingdom.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  

4/04                 Matthew 27:13 

“Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. 14But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise. 

FATHER

Jesus listened to the Father and kept quiet.  There was nothing these people could do that would change the outcome.  He was going to the Cross for us.  His mission was an amazing mission and He would complete it.  Christ is King.  

4/03                 Matthew 27:11-12 

Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him. Jesus replied, “You have said it.”  12 But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.

REPLY

What would you do?  Jesus, the Son of God, knew what they were going to do, kill him.  He denied himself and under the direction of the Father walked straight to the Cross.  He did that for you and for me.  He knew our great need and made His great sacrifice.  Jesus is Lord.