Tag Archive for: 2026 WM Lenten Devotions

Lenten Devotions

Lent Devotion – From the Cross to the Grave – Week 7

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For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—to those who were disobedient long ago.
1 Peter 3:18-20a

Four Little Words

Four little words. We recite them often in the Apostles’ Creed: He descended into hell. But these four little words are tucked between some much more well-known aspects of Holy Week and Easter—crucified, died, and was buried; rose again from the dead. They’re easy to skip over, and they’re also potentially confusing on their own. Why exactly did Jesus descend into hell?

Four little words. Today’s reading from 1 Peter is the only explicit biblical reference to the descent into hell, and Peter clearly gives us the reason: Jesus went and made proclamation. He spoke to the very definition of a captive audience, to the imprisoned spirits suffering hell’s eternal torment. And although Peter tells us that Jesus went and made proclamation, he doesn’t detail the content of that message. We can infer that Jesus proclaimed everything that had occurred over the past three days—but can we be sure?

Four little words. On Good Friday, after living a life of perfect obedience, Jesus offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin. And on Easter Sunday, God the Father signaled his acceptance of this perfect sacrifice by raising Jesus from the dead. What a glorious sequence of events! The apostle Paul doesn’t teach Jesus’ descent into hell with the same clarity as Peter. But when Paul tells us in Colossians 2:15 that Jesus triumphed over them (the powers and authorities he disarmed), we naturally think of 1 Peter 3:19. Jesus’ descent into hell was like the parade of a conquering general over those he had vanquished, complete with a proclamation of victory over sin and death.

Four little words. The message that the devil dreaded to hear from Jesus is now our message as well: Satan, you are defeated. Jesus’ perfect life is credited to us, and his victory is ours. We no longer need to worry about whether our faith is strong enough or be concerned about giving Satan a foothold in our lives. We are redeemed, blood-bought, adopted children of the heavenly Father, and Satan has no power over us.

Four little words. Although we cherish our status as children of God, we are still living as sinner-saints in this present evil age. When life gets hard, when Satan seems to come at us from every direction, when God seems so far away, we can cling to this promise: Heaven is our home. The difficulties we are experiencing now are no match for heaven’s perfect peace. The sorrow that is so often present on this earth is no match for heaven’s perfect joy. And the fractured relationships that cause us so much strife are no match for heaven’s perfect unity.

Four little words. Jesus’ descent into hell isn’t just a phrase in the Apostles’ Creed or an obscure teaching from 1 Peter 3. It’s an act of triumph, one that brings us comfort even in the darkest times. Jesus’ victory over Satan is complete, and we will fully revel in that victory one day in heaven. In the meantime, we have work to do. We are called to go and tell others this amazing story.

Prayer: Risen and ascended Lord, we marvel at the depths of your love for us that we see on full display during the Lenten season. Thank you for living perfectly as we could not, for offering yourself as the perfect sacrifice, and for clearly proclaiming your victory over sin and death and Satan. Lead us to share this marvelous news with those around us. Amen.

Written by Kristi Meyer

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Lenten Devotions

Lent Devotion – From the Cross to the Grave – Week 6

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As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
Matthew 27:57-60

From the Shadows to the Cross

Have you ever hesitated before praying in a crowded restaurant? Or felt a knot in your stomach when a conversation turns to faith, wondering if you should speak up or stay quiet? It’s a common struggle, this tension between our faith and our public actions. We love Jesus, but we also fear judgment, misunderstanding, or simply being seen as different. In those moments of hesitation, it’s easy to let fear win and keep our faith tucked away.

On the darkest day in history, two men stepped out of the shadows. Matthew tells us of Joseph, but John’s Gospel adds that he was joined by Nicodemus, another prominent Jewish leader.

[Joseph] was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs (John 19:39-40).

These were not fishermen or tax collectors; they were respected, wealthy members of the Sanhedrin, the very council that had condemned Jesus to death. At a time when Jesus’ closest disciples were scattered and hiding in fear, these two men risked everything—including their reputations, their positions, and perhaps even their lives—to honor a man executed as a criminal on the “wrong side” of the ruling Romans they were so careful to avoid angering.

Why was this act so important for Matthew to record? First, it fulfilled God’s Old Testament prophesies. The prophet Isaiah had written that the Messiah would be “assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death” (Isaiah 53:9). Joseph’s tomb was the fulfillment of that promise. Furthermore, their actions provided undeniable proof of Jesus’ physical death. His body was officially requested, handled, wrapped, and sealed in a tomb, silencing any claim that he had merely fainted or “swooned” on the cross. His death was real, which makes the resurrection a true miracle.

This event also shows us a powerful picture of courage, especially when we consider the journey of Nicodemus. We first meet him in John 3, coming to Jesus by night, a curious questioner afraid of being seen. Aren’t we so often like Nicodemus? We start our faith journey “at night,” with quiet beliefs and private questions, worried about what others will think.

What changed for Nicodemus? He saw the cross. Beholding the brutal reality of the Son of God crucified for him, and for us, transformed him. This once timid and curious man was provided with the opportunity to showcase his faith through actions rarely (if ever) performed by a man of his status.

Meditating on Jesus’ actions has a way of widening our eyes. Contemplating Christ’s ultimate sacrifice turns what we know in our heads into what we do with our hands. In the face of such love, personal risk seems small. The cross calls us out of the darkness and into the light. May we give thanks for Christ’s sacrifice, which gives us the opportunity to live boldly through our actions, thankful for the forgiveness and eternal life he died to give us.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the example of Joseph and Nicodemus. Forgive us for the times we have let fear keep our faith hidden in the shadows. Fix our eyes on your cross, and let the ultimate sacrifice Jesus gave provide us with the courage to live our faith. May our gratitude for your love transform our quiet belief into bold actions for your glory. Amen.

Written by Alycia Cameron

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Lent Devotion – From the Cross to the Grave – Week 5

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Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons… Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
Matthew 27:55-56,61

Finding Remarkable in the Ordinary

We aren’t told how the news first reached the women. Maybe it was a brief, hurried conversation in the dead of night: “The Jewish leaders seized Jesus while he was with his disciples in Gethsemane.” It might have been a few words whispered in the wee hours of the morning: “The chief priests and the elders sent Jesus before Pilate in hopes of having him executed.” Or perhaps it was a hastily delivered update: “He’s been sentenced to crucifixion, and he’s on his way to Golgotha right now.”

Regardless of how the women found out, they came. They huddled at the foot of the hill as their teacher, mentor, and friend hung suspended from the cross. They heard his last words: forgiveness for the soldiers, hope for the criminal next to him, love for his mother. They experienced the darkness and the earthquake. They witnessed Jesus’ death.

Of course, the women didn’t go home immediately. How could they? Preparations for the Sabbath were waiting, and the day of rest was quickly approaching. But they had cared for Jesus’ needs during his life, and they weren’t about to stop now with his death. They followed as Nicodemus and Joseph took the body away from the cross. They watched as the linen-wrapped corpse was laid in Joseph’s own tomb. And they waited until the stone was rolled across the entrance to the tomb before going home—to rest on the Sabbath, yes, but first to prepare spices and perfumes for a trip back to the tomb early on Sunday morning.

In one sense, the women’s actions were remarkable. They faithfully followed Jesus to the cross even when all his disciples (except John) abandoned him and showed their devotion in the midst of horrific circumstances. But in another sense, the women behaved exactly as expected. They had likely prepared spices and perfumes before for other deceased family members and friends. They were simply carrying out their common, ordinary, everyday vocations in faithful service to their Lord.

How did the news first reach you? Was it a brief, hurried phone call late at night sharing the details of a termination at work? A few words texted in the wee hours of the morning lamenting the breaking of curfew again by a wayward teenager? A hastily delivered update from a family member or friend on their way to the doctor or hospital? And, regardless of how you found out, did you come? Did you bring help and prayers and words of Christian counsel? Did you simply carry out your common, ordinary, everyday vocation in faithful service to your neighbor?

Our lives today are very different from those of the women in Jesus’ day. And yet, we share a common calling with those women. As God’s holy and dearly loved people, we are called to serve those he places in our lives, whether that’s our dearest friend or someone we’ve just met. And best of all? When we faithfully carry out our vocations, when we show love and kindness to even the least of those around us, we are showing that same love and kindness to our Savior. How remarkable!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being. Lead us to see those you have placed in our lives, those who need our care and kindness. Bless our actions as we seek to faithfully carry out our vocations, and remind us that all this is done in service to you. Amen.

Written by Kristi Meyer

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Lent Devotion – From the Cross to the Grave – Week 4

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When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Matthew 27:54

Surely

Roman centurions were not easily frightened. Yet the events surrounding the crucifixion and death of Jesus terrified the centurions who were guarding him.

At first, the scene may have felt familiar. “When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there” (Matthew 27:35-36). They may have laughed as they heard the insults hurled at Jesus as he suffered on the cross. “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:40). Even the other criminals mocked him.

Then Matthew notes something that likely got their attention: “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land” (Matthew 27:45). But it was the moment Jesus died that must have caused them to be terrified. “The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life” (Matthew 27:51-52).

If the guards remained at the cross near Jesus, they would have only heard about the temple curtain being torn or the dead people raised to life. But in the darkness, they felt the earth shake and the rocks split open as creation groaned at the death of Jesus. And they were terrified.

“Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54).

Was their exclamation a statement of faith?

Whether any of the Roman guards came to faith during Jesus’ suffering and death isn’t the point of the passage. It is certainly possible that they confessed saving faith in Jesus. On the other hand, it may have been a response to the supernatural events they had seen—a conclusion drawn in fear or wonder, not necessarily faith.

Another day is coming when some people will look to the skies, be terrified, and say, “Surely this is the Son of God.” The LORD has appointed that day. Today, some laugh at the mockery and insults hurled at Christianity. Others ignore creation as it declares the glory of God and “proclaim[s] the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1).

In these days, as we await his return, God wants us to reach out to those who don’t believe. They may be sitting around or passing by. They may not be interested in spiritual things because of the darkness of their unbelief and sin. But they are on your path for a reason—and God is giving you an opportunity to build a relationship with them and talk with them about the forgiveness bought by the blood of Jesus. Tell people what Jesus has done for them and who he really is.

Surely, he is the Son of God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the Son of God. Your suffering and death paid for my sin, and I praise you for the gift of salvation. Help me always remember your sacrifice and the depth of your love for me. Fill me with your compassion to love those around me who are lost and hurting, and open my eyes to see the times I can talk about you as my Savior and King. Remind me that the day will come that everyone will know you are the Son of God—that every knee will bow as you usher in our glorious new life with you. Thank you for that gift of eternal life. Amen.

Written by Naomi Schmidt

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Lent Devotion – From the Cross to the Grave – Week 3

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The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
Matthew 27:51b-53

When the Ground Gives Way

Have you ever gotten a phone call that made the world stop? A piece of news so unexpected or difficult that it felt like the solid ground beneath your feet had suddenly turned to sand? In those moments, our carefully constructed lives are shaken, and we feel an overwhelming sense of powerlessness and fear.

On the day Jesus died, the whole world was shaken—literally.

It’s easy to read these words as just another dramatic detail in the grand story of the day our Savior died. But Matthew recorded this for a reason. The earthquake wasn’t a random coincidence. It was a sign of God’s awesome power and his righteous judgment against the sin-sick world that nailed Jesus to the cross. The splitting rocks declared that the hardest, most final barriers of sin, death, and the grave itself were being shattered by Christ’s sacrifice.

But God didn’t just show his power through destruction. He showed it through new life. This earthquake released “the bodies of many holy people” from their tombs. Think about that for a moment. These long-dead believers were raised at the moment of Jesus’ death. They served as a living, breathing embodiment of the promise of resurrection to all who believe. This was a tangible sign that Jesus’ victory wasn’t just a spiritual concept but rather a reality that broke into our physical world, defeating the enemy of death. The earth shook once more when Jesus’ body was raised from his tomb on Easter morning, and, at that time, these risen people walked into Jerusalem, providing living proof of Jesus’ victory over death for all time.

So, what does a 2,000-year-old earthquake and a handful of resurrected saints have to do with you and me today as we juggle work deadlines, pack school lunches, care for our families, and simply go about our daily lives?

Everything.

When your personal world is shaken by that scary phone call, deep disappointment, or any other earth-shattering news, remember the cross. The earth shook when Jesus died and rose once again so that your faith wouldn’t have to. The ground gave way beneath Jesus so that he could become our unshakable rock, our firm foundation.

And when you feel like you’re living in a tomb of grief, anxiety, or exhaustion, remember the resurrected saints. They are God’s promise to you. They are a glimpse of the final victory. Christ’s death and resurrection are for us, now and always. We look ahead with faith to the day he raises us to life through him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for shaking the earth to show your ultimate victory over sin and the grave. When our own lives are shaken, anchor our faith to you, our unshakable rock and our firm foundation. Help us to live each day in the confident hope of the resurrection you have won for us. Amen.

Written by Alycia Cameron

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Lent Devotion – From the Cross to the Grave – Week 2

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At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
Matthew 27:51a

Perfectly Open

You could literally set your clock by them. No matter what else was going on in the temple, no matter the chaos of the courtyard or the bleating of the animals or the calls of the money changers, the daily sacrifices continued. Morning and evening, 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., day after day, year after year—the rhythm of these sacrifices remained unchanged.

Each time, the priest on duty offered a year-old lamb without defect for the sins of the people. Each time, blood was sprinkled on the altar of the Holy Place. And each time, the curtain hanging over the entrance to the Most Holy Place loomed large as a reminder that even the blood of unblemished beasts could not fully bridge the separation between sinful humans and a holy God.

Each time, that is, until the afternoon of Good Friday. Imagine the priest entering the Holy Place as he had many times before—and then seeing the temple curtain torn in two from top to bottom by an unknown force. This curtain, thick as a man’s hand, now gaped wide and exposed the interior of the Most Holy Place. Although the priest surely dared not enter the Most Holy Place, the room stood open. The barrier had been removed.

History doesn’t tell us what happened to the temple curtain after the events of Matthew 27. One tradition states that the priests tried to repair it but could not close the rip. Regardless of the specific details, the curtain must have borne its Good Friday scars until the destruction of the temple in AD 70. The morning and evening sacrifices continued, but the scenery surrounding these sacrifices had been indelibly changed—a change that the priests likely couldn’t help but notice each time they offered sacrifices on behalf of the people.

How ironic! Imperfect priests continued to offer imperfect daily sacrifices while standing mere feet away from this reminder of the completed work of our perfect High Priest. The writer to the Hebrews sums up this contrast beautifully: “Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest [Jesus] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:11-12).

We no longer rely on the shedding of lambs’ blood for the forgiveness of sins. Nor do we need an earthly priest to approach God on our behalf. Jesus took on the role of both lamb and priest when he sacrificed himself for the sins of the world. Through his perfect sacrifice, the barrier between sinful humans and a holy God has been removed. The door to heaven stands open.

Morning and evening sacrifices don’t govern our lives like they did in ancient Israel. But 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. were also the designated times for public prayer, and we, too, are called to pray. By faith and through prayer, the throne of God is ours to approach—a throne where we see our perfect High Priest seated at God’s right hand. What joy we find in daily living out this privilege of approaching God in prayer!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for offering yourself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. During this Lenten season, impress on our hearts and minds the price you paid in offering this sacrifice. When we are tempted to rely on our accomplishments, remind us that your sacrifice is all we need—and move us to share the good news of that perfect sacrifice with others. Amen.

Written by Kristi Meyer

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Lent Devotion – From the Cross to the Grave – Week 1

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When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
Matthew 27:50

Willingly

After suffering on the cross for hours and enduring the punishment of God’s wrath to pay for sin, Jesus released his body to death. The hatred of the Jews and the cruelty of Rome did not take Jesus’ life; Scripture says Jesus “gave up” his spirit. Paul emphasizes Jesus’ willing attitude when he tells his readers that Jesus became “obedient to death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).

When Jesus proclaimed, “It is finished” (John 19:30), he was announcing that he had completed God’s plan of salvation. His spiritual work was done. Now, Jesus’ loud cry would capture the attention of those watching his crucifixion and mark the end of his physical life. With a wordless cry of anguish, Jesus completed his time on earth and yielded to death. He would soon be raised in glory to prove his power over sin and death.

As is true today, what we see with our eyes is not always the whole story. Those standing near the cross must have thought this was the end. Why did God allow Jesus to die? What would they do without their Savior and teacher? Where could they turn for comfort and hope?

Death raises difficult questions.

In moments like this, we struggle to think that God could be working beyond what is happening in front of us. Our thoughts can be so trapped in pain that reason and understanding are not within our grasp. We strain to remember that God’s greatest desire is that we join him in heaven—an eternal, perfect realm of bliss and glory that he longs to share with us. God wants us to remember there is more.

The Bible tells us the whole story of what really happened when Jesus cried out and gave up his spirit. It starts by telling us that Satan waged a war of rebellion against God and drew the crown of God’s creation into sin. Death, sin, and eternal destruction owned humanity and ruled over the hearts and wills of all people. But God promised to send a Savior to pay for sin—and the moment God gave the promise, it was as good as done. This payment covered the sins of all people because God’s own Son paid the price. With sin paid for, forgiveness is ours!

Satan still skirmishes to keep souls from trusting in God’s gift of salvation, but our Savior finished his work and then gave up his life. That’s the full, eternal perspective of what really happened.

The voice that gave up its last cry was soon resurrected. Jesus returned, and his willing spirit is within us, urging us to trust in his payment for sin; working through us to love others with his selfless, sacrificial love; and calling us to tell everyone we know about the peace of his forgiveness.

A loud cry.

A willing spirit.

An eternal victory.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the Word of God made flesh, yet your life ended with a loud cry. Your birth and your death were marked by humility—devoid of any earthly fanfare. But you are worthy of all honor and glory. You changed the course of eternity and opened the gates of heaven to all believers. You willingly made the sacrifice to become a man, live in my stead, and die for my sin so I could receive your salvation. I praise you as my glorious and risen Redeemer. Strengthen me to willingly live for you, always trust in your payment for sin, and share your truth with others. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being my Savior. Amen.

Written by Naomi Schmidt

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