Read: 1 John 4:1-6

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus, is not from God.
1 John 4:1-6 (selected verses)

Are you my mother?

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Brooklyn and Bailey McKnight are identical twins. They are also YouTubers and social media personalities who go by the names “Mary & Martha.” The twin known as Martha has five young daughters ages 2–8. One time, Mary and Martha dressed the same—from their curly hair to their dangly earrings, belted dress, and black boots—they looked exactly alike! Then, starting with the youngest to the oldest, Martha’s husband separately brought each of the daughters into the room where the twins were and asked, “Which one is your mommy?” and “Which one is Auntie Mary?”

After closely examining the two ladies standing in front of them, each daughter would give her guess. The two and three-year-old daughters both guessed incorrectly—while the three older girls quickly surveyed the twins and then confidently and correctly picked their mom. When asked how they knew it was her, each gave a different answer. One said, “Auntie Mary has a beauty spot on her neck, and Mom doesn’t.” another said, “Mom is a little higher (taller) than Aunt Mary.” And the oldest daughter said, “Easy, Auntie Mary’s fingernails are manicured, and Mom’s are not.”

The older daughters had the benefit of spending more years with and studying their mom more closely. They picked up on the little differences their younger siblings had not yet learned.

In our reading for tonight, John counsels us to do a similar thing. “Test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). From outward appearances—false prophets in this world can look like the real deal. They smile and have a nice voice that says nice words, but they are “from the world and speak the viewpoint of the world.” We, on the other hand, are children of God. We want to be like those older daughters who were not fooled into believing their aunt was their mom. We want to study the Scriptures because when we do, we know more about Jesus and how to stay close to him.

Keep testing the spirits like someone who tests ice on a frozen lake! And take heart, because the “One who is in you, is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4: 4).

Closing Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for making us your children. Thank you for giving us your Word to teach us about you! Please help us to gladly hear and learn the Scriptures to tell the difference between false voices and your loving voice. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Do you know any identical twins? What are some ways that you can tell them apart?
• Does your mom or grandma ever let you ‘taste-test’ what they are baking? Why do they do that?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Arrange the following things from least to most important:
  a. Testing the buckle on an amusement ride,
  b. Testing the ice on a frozen pond,
  c. Testing the spirits to see whether they are from God.
• Why is it the most important to test the spirits?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Verse 5 says, “[False prophets & spirit] are from the world and therefore speak from the view-point of the world and the world listens to them.” Name two or three view-points that the world has today that are different from our viewpoint.
• “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world!” (verse 4) Describe a situation and explain why this verse could be of great comfort to a Christian.

 

Read: Luke 24:36-49

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Luke 24:36-49

Making Sense of Salvation’s Math

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The math teacher was nearing her wit’s end. She had done everything she could think of to explain the concept of subtracting with regrouping, but Joey was not getting it. She worked with Joey outside the classroom and at recess. She even showed him some videos on an educational website. Joey was still confused.

Then, she noticed his sci-fi shirt and had an idea. “Joey, how about you think of it like this—if you don’t have enough ones, you can go over to the tens column and then transport the tens to the ones.” “Transport?” said Joey slowly. “Oh! I see—I TRANSPORT the tens to the ones! I got it!” he ended enthusiastically.

The teacher opened Joey’s mind by using a word he could understand.

The disciples were confused, not by a tricky math problem but by the fact that the One whom they had followed for the last three years was killed, right before their eyes, on a cross. It just didn’t add up. What were they supposed to do? Confused and afraid, they hid together in a room.

Jesus appeared to his disciples and gazed at them with loving understanding. “Peace be with you,” he said as he watched their scared and bewildered faces. They wondered, “Is this really Jesus? What if it’s Jesus’ ghost?”

Then, like the teacher did for Joey, Jesus found ways to help them understand. “Here guys! Look! It’s me! See these scars on my hands and feet? Remember three days ago when you saw me nailed on the cross? Touch the nail marks, I’m real!” The teacher, Jesus, could see that his students were still not quite getting it, so he tried another approach. “Do you have anything to eat? Watch me eat this broiled fish. How many ghosts eat broiled fish?”

And then, “Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” Like Joey, they finally got it. With their newfound understanding of Christ’s death and resurrection—he urged them to tell others about what they had learned.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Teacher, sometimes things just don’t make sense. Thank you for opening our minds to the most important math lesson: 3 nails + 1 cross = 4 giveness because of Jesus, and heaven is ours! Please help us to tell others the same. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What is something you have trouble understanding?
• What were the two things that Jesus did to show his scared disciples that it really was him and not a ghost?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• It’s easy to get angry or frustrated when you don’t get something. When that happens, how can this story help you deal with times of confusion in your life?
• Who is your favorite teacher? What makes that person a good teacher? Thank God for the good teachers in your life and the best teacher—Jesus!

Questions for Middle School and Above

• What are some math concepts that confuse you? How did you eventually figure them out?
• What are some biblical truths that might confuse you? What can you do to clear up the confusion ? (Spoiler alert: thank God for the Holy Spirit who works faith in our hearts despite our confusion!)

 

Read:Acts 3:11-20

While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them . . . When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? . . . The God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed. . . . You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. . . I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.”
Acts 3:11-20

Sing a Little Ditty of Praise!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Years ago, there was a cartoon character named Psalty the Singing Songbook. Psalty had a few hit songs , perhaps his biggest hit being, “Amen, Praise the Lord!” It is an action song sung with energy by many Sunday schoolers and teachers. If there is a lull in the lesson, or the students need a brain break, nothing gets the kids moving like getting out of their seats and following the directions to this little ditty; “I’m gonna jump down, turn around, touch the ground and praise the Lord!”

Right before our reading—a man unable to walk since birth was healed in Jesus’ name and performed a similar sequence of actions. “He went…walking and jumping, and praising God” (Acts 3:8).

After witnessing the commotion of the crazy events when Peter healed the man, people composed an action verse of their own: “We were astonished, came running, showed surprise and stared at them!”

That’s when Peter began to do some finger-pointing at the surprised people. He walked them step by step through Jesus’ journey to Calvary. He said, “You handed him over, disowned him, released a murderer instead and killed the Lord.” That is not as catchy or happy as the fun Psalty song, but it had to be said. Peter knew the people “acted in ignorance”—he alerts them to what they had done without knowing they had done it.

God used those awful actions for his purpose. Like he often does, God twists, turns, and flips something bad into good for those who love him. Jesus, the author of life and composer of all, was killed. And if that was the end of the stanza, we would never feel like singing again. But there is more to the stanza of salvation, “God raised him from the dead” (Acts 3:15).

Thanks to the Holy Spirit who worked faith in our hearts, we are not ignorant of that stunning song of salvation! We know and believe that our sins have been wiped out because of Jesus, and that gives us reason to “Jump down, turn around, touch the ground, & Praise the Lord!”

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, even when things aren’t going well in our lives, please help us remember what you have done for us, and by faith, we can join in singing this song, “Repent, turn to God, be refreshed, and praise the Lord!” Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Name one thing you heard in today’s devotion that makes you want to “Jump down, turn around, touch the ground, & Praise the Lord!”
• After today’s devotion is done, have someone look up “Amen, Praise the Lord!” so you can you do all the actions!

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Discuss the following: Singing praises to God only counts as praise if it sounds pretty.
• Make a list of things you always wanted to talk to God about. Which do you want to talk to him about today?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Put yourself in the sandals of one of the people who didn’t know what they did to Jesus. How would you feel after hearing the laundry list of all those awful things you did wrong that ended with Jesus being killed?
• After Peter showed them their sins, he refreshed them with the sweet gospel message. Play the word association game. In 30 seconds, come up with all the words that you think of when you hear “refresh.” And that’s how we can feel knowing our sins are wiped away!

 

Read: 1 John 1:1-4

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.
1 John 1:1-4

Tell Me All About It!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Tell me all about it!”

Maybe a parent, grandparent, or a friend asked you that after you had gone somewhere. Maybe you had tried a new flavor of ice cream and they wanted to know all about it—what did it taste like? Maybe you just returned from an indoor water park, and they wanted to hear all about it—what did it look like? What slide was the fastest and most fun? What did it feel like? Tell me all about it!

Imagine being John for a moment. John was a follower of Jesus, one of his close friends. He had been close to Jesus for much of the time Jesus was healing people, preaching, and teaching. With his own eyes, he saw a crippled man get up and walk and a blind man see for the very first time. He listened as Jesus forgave sins and told people that the Messiah had come.

What a blessing, then, for you and me. We weren’t there, we haven’t seen Jesus with our eyes or heard him speak with our ears, but John did. It is as if we asked John, “Tell me all about it!” and John in his gospel and his letters tells us all about Jesus. He tells us about what he saw with his eyes, what he looked at, what he touched.

Because John told us what he had seen, heard, and touched, we can be sure of the same thing John was sure of—that Jesus is the Savior. By knowing and believing that Jesus is the Savior, Jesus gives us eternal life. We will live forever with our God because our sin has been paid for and washed away.

But that isn’t all! Jesus gives us “fellowship” with God. It’s a fancy way of saying that because of Jesus, we can be close with God. We are his and he is ours! We have this fellowship not only with God, but with our fellow believers as well. We are united with them in all that our God has done for us.

John was full of joy. He was happy to share what he had seen and heard so that we could be full of joy because of all that Jesus has done for us! Like John, we can share the joy as we share what John saw and heard—that Jesus is our Savior!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for telling me all about your Son, my Savior, Jesus, in your Word. Strengthen the fellowship I have with you and my fellow believers as I continue to grow in my faith. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What is one thing you would like to tell everyone about at this moment?
• What is one thing you would like to tell everyone about Jesus at this moment?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How does John make it clear that Jesus was a real person?
• What do these verses teach us about Jesus Christ?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• If the things that John tells us are not true, how would that rob us of our joy as believers?
• What does it mean that Jesus is the Word of life?

 

 

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
1 Corinthians 15:19-26

I win because Jesus won

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

There was a thing armies would do long ago. An agreement would be made between the two opposing forces. Each would send out their best soldier. These two soldiers would then fight each other. Whoever won, the army of the winning soldier would win the battle. Instead of hundreds or thousands of men being wounded or killed, it was just one soldier. While only one fought, the victory would go to the entire army.

The same thing happened about 2000 years ago on the cross. Jesus was fighting for you against some powerful enemies. He was going to battle against the devil who hates Jesus and those who follow him. He was fighting against sin, and against death, which comes because of our sin. They all seem so powerful—we all sin, we all fall for the devil’s temptations, and no one can escape death. If Jesus lost, all of us would lose too. If the devil would win, we would be separated from God forever. We would never get to heaven.

But we know what happened! Jesus didn’t lose. We heard it just a few days ago on Easter! Christ is risen! Jesus rose from the dead. He died to pay for our sin, and then on Easter, he rose from the dead. He was victorious. He had won! He has defeated sin, the devil, and death. And the best part: Jesus’ victory counts for you!

That is what Paul is saying when he talks about Jesus being the “firstfruits.” The “firstfruits” was a way of describing the very first fruit or grain that was gathered. It was given as a special offering to God. By giving the firstfruits, they were also trusting that God would bless the rest of the harvest. Jesus is the “firstfruits”—he died and rose again and won. His resurrection is the promise that God will raise us too! Jesus was the first to overcome death, and because he did it, we too will rise from the dead and overcome death. His victory is our victory.

Because Jesus did it first, we can be sure God will keep his promise to raise us from the dead and that we will live with him forever in heaven! When Jesus comes back on judgment day, our bodies will be raised to life and we will be alive again, just like Jesus, ready to live with him forever!

Closing Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for defeating my enemies and giving your victory to me. Help me to remember that victory when I feel sad or scared. Fill me with joy in knowing I will be with you forever in heaven. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• How did Jesus defeat our enemies?
• What do you think is the best blessing that comes from Jesus’ victory?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What does Christ’s resurrection assure us of?
• True or false: Without the resurrection, our faith is useless.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Why is Jesus’ victory so important for you and me?
• Paul describes death as “the last enemy.” How is death our “enemy”?

 

 

Read: Mark 16-1-8

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 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.

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
Mark 16:1-6,8

Don’t look for a living person in a grave!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Where would you look for a spoon in your house? You wouldn’t look for a spoon in your bedroom closet or on a shelf in the living room. That would be silly. Those aren’t places you would find a spoon.

Where would you look for a person you thought had died and been buried? On the first Easter Sunday, there was a group of women who thought they knew. After all, they knew Jesus had died. They knew where Jesus had been buried. They thought they would find him where you would normally find a dead person—in a grave. In a cemetery.

But were they shocked! Instead of a dead Jesus, they found an angel with the most amazing news. “He is risen!” Jesus wasn’t in the grave anymore because Jesus wasn’t dead anymore. He was alive! And you wouldn’t look for living person in a grave!

That was really good news. The women didn’t quite understand it all that first Easter morning. After all, dead people normally don’t come back to life. But Jesus did! And because Jesus was alive, God had good news for all people. God has good news for you!

Jesus died on the cross because he had to take all of our sins from us. And God said that the punishment for sin was death. But he didn’t stay dead. God raised Jesus from the dead so that he was alive again. Here’s what it means for us: Because Jesus is alive, we can be sure that all of our sins, all the times we messed up, all the times we did the wrong thing—ALL of them have been forgiven. Our enemy, the devil, has been defeated. Death has been robbed of its power. Jesus is alive, and because he is alive, you too will live with him forever!

That is all really good news! All because Jesus isn’t dead, but alive. He is risen!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for rising from the dead. Thank you for defeating the devil. Thank you for paying for my sins. Thank you for giving me eternal life in heaven. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• The women went to the Jesus’ grave because they thought he was dead. But what did they find?
• Name one good thing that happened because Jesus rose from the dead. Then name another good thing that will happen.

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why were the women going to the tomb? What were they expecting?
• Why was it so hard for the women to believe what the angel told them?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Why were the women concerned about the stone that sealed the tomb? What does this tell us about their expectations on that morning?
• Jesus died as the punishment for our sin. Why is his rising from the dead so important to us as Christians?

 

 

Read: Exodus 12:21-30

Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.”
Exodus 12:21-23

The Perfect Lamb

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Imagine living in Egypt during the time of Moses. Your parents are tired from making bricks every single day. They’re confused because of all the crazy things that have been happening: the Nile River turning to blood, the outbreaks of frogs and bugs and hail and darkness. They aren’t sure how they can possibly be rescued from their slavery to the Egyptians. And they especially don’t know what to expect from this strange new festival called Passover.

But they do know what God said to Moses and Aaron. They know that he commanded them to take a lamb and kill it at sunset. They know that God promised to pass through Egypt and put to death the firstborn son in every family—except the families who took the blood of this lamb and put it around the doorframe of their house.

So you watch as your parents kill the lamb and paint its blood on your house. You wonder why your parents picked the best lamb, a perfect lamb. You ask your father why this perfect lamb had to die. His answer is simple: “God promised us that we are going to leave Egypt and be free again. But before we can go free, someone has to die. And this perfect lamb died so that you don’t have to.” No blood of the lamb, no freedom.

This isn’t just an “imaginary” story that happened a very long time ago. The Passover looked ahead to another type of freedom that was needed. Every single person born into this world needed to be set free from sin. And so God the Father made a way for that to happen. He sent Jesus to be the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. It was simple: Jesus died so that all of us won’t have to. No blood of the Lamb of God, no freedom.

It’s the middle of Holy Week, the time of year when we get to hear about Jesus’ last days and hours before he died. Tomorrow, on Holy Thursday, we’ll hear about Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. Don’t miss the reason that Jesus and his disciples were eating together that Thursday night. They were celebrating the Passover, just as God commanded the Israelites to do so many years ago. They were sacrificing a perfect lamb—and watching as the perfect Lamb of God prepared to sacrifice himself.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for offering yourself as the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Thank you for shedding your blood to earn my freedom. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What kind of lamb were the Israelites told to pick?
• What had to happen before the Israelites could leave Egypt and be free?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What would have happened if the Israelites hadn’t painted the blood of a lamb on their doorframes?
• Why do you need to be set free from sin?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• During his life on earth, Jesus was called the Lamb of God by just one person. Who? (Hint: John 1:29,36)
• If Jesus’ sacrifice set you free from sin, why do you still sin and do bad things?

 

 

Read: John 12:20-33

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
John 12:20-22

Would You Like to Meet Jesus?

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Noah was having such a good day. His whole family had gotten tickets to the baseball game from his brother’s friend Ben, who was a bat boy for the local team. Ben took Noah and his family all around the stadium and even got them on the field during batting practice. And then, just as Noah was telling Ben about his favorite player and how cool it would be to see him, that very player walked onto the field. He waved at Ben, and Ben waved back… and then he walked over to talk to Ben and Noah and his family. Noah couldn’t believe it—not only did he get to see his favorite player, he got to talk to him too!

The people in today’s Scripture reading also wanted to talk to someone they admired. But it wasn’t a baseball player or a famous singer or a movie star. No, the Greeks who were worshiping at a festival had a request for Philip and Andrew: “We want to see Jesus.” We don’t know how long they talked to Jesus or what their conversation was about. But we do know that they wanted to see Jesus.

What about you? Do you want to see Jesus? That might sound like a silly question—after all, Jesus lived 2000 years ago, and he isn’t on earth anymore for you to see. But even though you can’t see Jesus with your own eyes like his disciples did, you can still meet Jesus.

When you have daily devotions with your family, you get to meet Jesus. When you hear and learn God’s Word with others at church and Sunday School, you get to meet Jesus. Someday, when you get confirmed and receive the Lord’s Supper, you get to meet Jesus. And so on… there are lots of ways for you to meet Jesus!

One day, you’ll get to meet Jesus face-to-face in heaven. Until then, keep learning from Jesus’ teaching and listening to what he said. You can keep becoming better and better friends with Jesus every single day. And as you become better and better friends with Jesus, you can also introduce your friends to Jesus. Maybe your friends have already heard about Jesus and want to know him better, or maybe they don’t know about Jesus at all. Through your words and actions, you can show Jesus to your friends—so that someday, they can see him with their own eyes too!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for giving me lots of ways to meet you. Give me the desire and the words to introduce you to other people and help them meet you too. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Who is someone famous or important that you’d really like to meet?
• Who did the people in today’s reading want to meet?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• If you could meet Jesus face-to-face, what would you ask him?
• Why is it important for you to keep studying God’s Word and becoming better and better friends with Jesus?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• John tells us that the people who wanted to meet Jesus were Greeks—foreigners, not part of the children of Israel. Why is this detail important?
• Think of a specific way you can meet Jesus. What can you do to make sure you meet Jesus in this way?

 

 

Read: Isaiah 43:1-7

But now, this is what the LORD says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
Isaiah 43:1

Buying Us Back

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have you ever saved up your money for something new and special that you really wanted: a new toy or a special outing with your parents? Saving your money was probably hard. You might have wanted to spend it along the way, and sometimes it likely felt like the saving was taking forever. But what a wonderful feeling it was when you finally had enough money and could buy what you wanted!

Now imagine saving your money again to buy something, but this time it isn’t for something special. It isn’t even for something new. Instead, it’s for something that you used to own but don’t anymore. That’s not as exciting, is it? It doesn’t even really seem fair, does it? To spend money on something that was already yours?

That’s exactly the picture that Isaiah paints in today’s verse. He uses a very special word: the word “redeem.” This word is used lots in the Bible, and it means “to buy back.” So when Isaiah says that God redeemed us, he means that God bought us back. But… why did we need to be bought back? And what price did God pay for us?

We needed to be bought back because we’re sinners. You, me, everyone in this world—we were born with sin, and we sin every single day. We don’t do what God commands, and we do what he forbids. God commands us to be perfect, but we aren’t even close. He should have sent us away from him forever. Instead, he loved us so much that he redeemed us—he bought us back.

And what was the price he paid for us? We’ve been hearing about that price throughout Lent. Jesus didn’t pay for us with money that he saved doing carpentry work. No, he paid for us with something much more valuable: his perfect life and sinless death. Jesus gave up everything to buy us back!

Did it work? Was the price that Jesus paid enough to buy us back? Sometimes it might not feel as though you belong to God—when you’re having a bad day, when you feel like you can’t do anything right, when you think no one could possibly love you. But we know that it did work because of three little words at the end of today’s verse: “You are mine.” And we’ll hear about how it worked in a couple of weeks at the empty tomb on Easter morning!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for giving up your life to buy me back. Always remind me that I am yours. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What’s something new and special that you really want? How much does it cost?
• What was the special word you heard about in today’s devotion? Who redeemed us?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why does the word “redeem” paint such a beautiful picture?
• Why are the words “You are mine” at the end of today’s verses so important?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• If Jesus’ perfect life and sinless death paid the price for everyone’s sins, why doesn’t everyone go to heaven?
• Think of someone you know who hasn’t heard how Jesus redeemed them. What could you say to them to tell them how Jesus bought them back?

 

 

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:1,2,4,5

That’s Not Who I Am Any More!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You see an old friend. You used to go to school together or lived near each other.

“Hey! How are you? Do you remember that time when…”

Sometimes they recall something fun, a fond memory, a happy time.

And sometimes it’s a little different: “Do you remember when you played a prank on Mr. Schultz?” “Remember when you got caught cheating on that huge test?” “Didn’t you… push someone into the mud?”

That can be embarrassing. Sometimes it’s nice to see an old friend… and sometimes that friend remembers things that are better left forgotten.

The conversation continues: “Well, that was me… but that’s not who I am any more. I did those things, but I’ve changed.”

That’s the way Paul writes. Six different times he basically says, “That’s who you were—but that’s not who you are, anymore.” Consider what he says:

• You were dead in your trespasses and sins.
• You formerly walked in those evil deeds.
• You [used to] follow the ways of this present evil world.
• You were following the ruler of the domain of the air.
• Formerly, we all lived among them, and you carried out the desires of the flesh.
• You were, by nature, objects of God’s wrath.

But that’s not who you are, anymore. Because—God.

“But God, because he is rich in mercy… made us alive with Christ.”

We know who we used to be—but that’s not who we are, anymore. We are different, not because of our own actions—but because of God.

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, I thank you for the remarkable change you have worked in my life. Instead of embarrassing me with all I’ve done wrong, you remind me of your forgiveness and promise that I belong to you through my baptism. Keep me as your very own, and help me live as a child of God. In Jesus’ name I pray this. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What does sin result in? (vv. 1-2)
• When did God make you alive?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why did God make you alive in Christ?
• “That’s not who I am, anymore.” Why is the Christian life different from life without Christ?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• If we are new people in Christ—then why do we continue to sin?
• Looking at verses 2-3, identify two things that you can know about this world and the people in it.

 

 

Read: John 2:13-22

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”

The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
John 2:13-16, 18-19

A Play on Words

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“If you need help building an ark, I Noah guy!”

“Did you know that airplanes were in the Bible? Yeah, Pontius was a Pilate!”

Okay, okay, one more…

“Did you know that baseball is in the Bible? It’s right there in Genesis 1 – in the big-inning!”

Each of these statements is a “play on words.” The entire statement, taken together, makes us think about the words in a new way. Whether it’s Noah, or Pontius Pilate, or “In the beginning God created…,” a play on words makes us think about things in a new way. Jesus does the same thing in today’s reading. He makes us think about things in a new way.

The Jewish leaders didn’t want to believe that Jesus is God. When Jesus started flipping tables and driving out the animals, they asked: What sign will you give us to prove that you can do this? They didn’t believe that Jesus was God, so they demanded proof. Show us, right now! What gives you the right to do this? Show us! Prove it!

And instead of giving proof, Jesus answers with a prophecy—a play on words: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” The Jewish leaders didn’t want to believe that Jesus is God, so they scoffed: “No one can do that!”

Except… Jesus did. His body was destroyed, and he died on Good Friday. On the third day, Jesus raised himself from the dead. He proved that he had the authority to cleanse the temple, because he had even greater authority: The power to lay down his life and take it up again.

Closing Prayer:

Christ, the life of all the living, Christ, the death of death, our foe,
who, thyself for me once giving to the darkest depths of woe:
through thy suff’rings, death, and merit I eternal life inherit.
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, dearest Jesus, unto thee. Amen.
(Christian Worship 396:1)

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What was in the temple area that made Jesus mad?
• What did Jesus say when he flipped the tables?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why did Jesus respond with anger toward the money changers and Jewish leaders?
• What was the “play on words” prophecy that Jesus gave?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• What was the sign that Jesus gave, and how did this “sign” answer their question?
• What does this account tell us about the purpose and focus of worship?

 

 

Read: Exodus 20:1-17

“I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt. … You shall have no other gods. … You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. Honor your father and mother. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet.”
Exodus 20:2-3,7a,8,12a,13-17a

Rules, Rules, Rules!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

So many rules!

You wake up. Eat your breakfast, make your bed, brush your teeth, dress for school, go to work… rules, rules, rules!

You’re sitting at your desk. Stay quiet, raise your hand, no phones, it’s not break time yet… rules, rules, rules!

Everywhere we go, we find rules: What to do, what to say, what to wear. We get so used to rules—we actually, feel kind of comfortable with more rules.

And at first glance, it looks like God just gives us a list of rules: do this, don’t do that. We even call them commandments—not “rules” from God, but “commands”!

The really cool thing is what God says at the beginning. “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt.” God doesn’t focus on our doing—God focuses on his giving.

Our “doing” isn’t nearly as important as God’s “giving.” God reminds us that he is a rescuing God, not just a rule-giving God. This rescuing God has rescued you from death; he rescued you in Holy Baptism. He rescued us! Now, how should we live? We ought to fear and love God—so that we serve him.

It’s not another list of rules, but a remembering of rescue.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Lord, help me never forget how you rescued me. Because you are mine and I am yours, help me serve you day by day. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Name a person who gives you rules to follow in your life.
• What is one rule that helps to keep you safe?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why do parents give us rules to follow?
• What is one reason why God gives us rules to follow?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Think of the commandments as you are learning them from catechism. What words follow the question, “What does this mean?” Why are they so important?
• Should these commandments (and Luther’s explanations) be taught in all the schools and homes of our nation? Why or why not?

 

 

Read: Romans 5:1-11

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings.
Romans 5:3

Rejoice

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Yippee! I get to go to the doctor today and get a shot!”

“Yes! I’m so excited. I get to go to the dentist and have a tooth pulled out.”

“Woohoo! Our teacher is going to give us a surprise test!”

All of those things sound silly, don’t they? Who would ever be happy about getting a painful shot? Who would celebrate going to the dentist? Who wants to take a surprise test?

In our reading for today, the apostle Paul said something that sounds just about as silly. “We… rejoice in our sufferings.” That doesn’t make sense. Why would we be happy about the things we suffer?

Paul explains. God promises to use the painful things in our lives for our good. Sometimes things that hurt are actually good for us. When the doctor gives you a shot, it’s to help you be healthy. When the dentist pulls a tooth, it’s so that your teeth will be straight. When your teacher gives you a test, it’s to help you learn.

At the time, it’s hard. It’s not fun. It can be painful, but in the end, it’s good for us.

God promises that if he allows something painful in our lives, he will make sure that it is for our good in one way or another. Like Paul says here, the painful things in our lives often teach us lessons. They teach us patience. They build character. They teach us to trust in God.

Because we know that they are good for us, Paul says that we can rejoice in our sufferings. That doesn’t mean you have to jump up and down shouting, “Yippee! Woohoo!” when you are sick or hurting. It’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to cry because it hurts.

Rejoicing in your sufferings means that you can be happy even in the hard times because you know that it will all work out for your good. It means you can have peace, even in the middle of the storm. It means you can thank God even for the hard times because you know they are hidden blessings.

But that’s hard to do. Pray that God helps you to trust that all the painful and hard things in your life will work out for your good. Ask him to help you rejoice, even in your sufferings.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Lord, please help me to trust that you are working everything in my life for my good. Help me to have joy, even when I’m hurting. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• To rejoice means to be happy and celebrate. What are some of the good things God gives you that you can rejoice about?
• What painful thing did Jesus have to go through, but God worked it out for the good of all people?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• The word justify is used a lot in these verses. Discuss with your family what that means. How does that impact you?
• What does it mean in verse 10 that we have been reconciled to God? How does that word impact you?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Agree or disagree. Because Jesus won for us a place in heaven and God promises to make everything in our lives work out for our good, we have nothing to be sad about.
• Apply today’s devotion. The next time you find yourself struggling, why should you remember to rejoice in your sufferings?

 

 

Read: Mark 1:12-15

[Jesus] was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan.
Mark 1:13

Why Was Jesus Tempted?

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Years ago, when the Union Pacific Railroad was being built, an elaborate bridge was built over a large canyon. Wanting to test the bridge, the builder loaded a train with enough extra cars and cargo to double the normal weight of a train. The train was then driven to the middle of the bridge where it was parked an entire day.

One of the workers asked the builder, “What are you doing? Are you trying to break the bridge?”

“No,” the builder replied, “I’m trying to prove that the bridge won’t break.”

God allowed Jesus to be tempted to prove that he could and would resist all the devil’s temptations. Jesus didn’t break. And that’s important.

It’s important because we definitely do break. Every day the devil tempts us to do bad things—to lie to our parents and teachers, to cheat on tests, to pick on other kids, to whine and complain and worry. And every day, we fall into temptation. We disobey our parents and teachers. We try to get away with the naughty things we know we are not supposed to do.

That’s why it is so important that we see Jesus resisting the devil’s temptations. Jesus did that for us, in our place. Like a substitute teacher takes the place of the regular teacher, Jesus took our place. He always obeyed God perfectly in our place. He never fell into temptation even once in our place. He did not break.

And then he did something amazing. He went to the cross and suffered the punishment we deserve in our place, as our substitute. Because Jesus lived and died as our substitute, we can be sure we are forgiven. Because he lived and died as our substitute, we can be sure we are going to heaven.

When Jesus was tempted in the desert by the devil, he proved that he was a bridge that wouldn’t break. Because he did, you can be sure he has defeated the devil and won for you a place in heaven.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for living and dying as my Savior. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Name two ways the devil tempts you to do bad things?
• When you mess up and do those bad things, why is it so important to think of Jesus as our substitute?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Agree or disagree. A temptation is something that makes you sin.
• Why is it important for us to know that Jesus did not break under the weight of temptation?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Agree or disagree. It was easier for Jesus to resist the devil’s temptations because he is God.
• Agree or disagree. Because Jesus lived and died as our substitute, it doesn’t matter if we fall into temptation.

 

 

Read: Genesis 22:1-18

Some time later God tested Abraham.
Genesis 22:1

Tests

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tests come in all shapes and sizes. Some are short, little pop quizzes; others take hours to finish. Some tests are easy; others make your palms sweat.

Most people don’t enjoy taking tests. When a teacher at school announces a test is coming, the kids in the class usually groan. Tests aren’t fun.

Abraham’s test wasn’t fun. Abraham had waited his whole life to have a child. For years, God had been promising him that he would have a son, but Abraham didn’t have his son Isaac until he was 100 years old.

Time passed and Isaac grew. But then one night God appeared to Abraham in a dream. He told him to go to a mountain and sacrifice his son—his only son Isaac—to God. In other words, God told Abraham to kill Isaac.

We know that God wasn’t going to make Abraham kill Isaac, but Abraham didn’t. Abraham didn’t understand. Why would God ask him to kill his son?

God was testing Abraham to see if he loved God even more than his precious son Isaac. Abraham passed God’s test. Even though it was the hardest thing he would ever do, Abraham was willing to give up his son if God asked him to. He trusted God. He loved God even more than his own son.

God tests us every day. He lets the devil tempt us to do things we know are wrong. He allows problems to come into our lives that we don’t fully understand. He lets us get sick or hurt.

When he does, he’s testing us to see if we will trust him. He’s testing us to see if we will love him more than anything or anybody else.

Sometimes we pass the tests God sends, but sometimes we fail. Sometimes we do the bad things we aren’t supposed to. Sometimes we doubt God and worry. Sometimes we complain about the hard things in our lives.

Thankfully, we have a God who sacrificed his own Son for us. God the Father let his Son, Jesus, die on the cross to show us how much he loves us. Because Jesus passed the test, God forgives us for every test we have ever failed.

Are you having a test of faith? Don’t worry! He gives them to bring us closer to him. He provides the answers for them in his Word. Like Abraham, let’s pass God’s tests.

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, I am sorry for the times I have failed the tests you have given me. Thank you for sacrificing your Son so I can be forgiven. Help me to do better. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Can you give an example of a test God gives you? (Hint: obedience, trust)
• When God tests you, what can you do to help you pass the test?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• God’s test for Abraham was hard because he loved his son Isaac so much. Name things in your life that you are tempted to love more than God.
• Why does God deserve to be loved more than anything or anyone else?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Abraham was really old at this time, and his son Isaac was a young man. Isaac could have probably fought back when his dad tied him up. What would you have done? Why do you think Isaac didn’t fight his father? (Hint: Isaac trusted God and his promises just like his dad.)
• As we get older, the tests in our lives change (and often get harder). Discuss a couple of tests you know you will face as a young adult. How can you begin to prepare now to face them?