Day 38 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Marvin Schaefer

With His final words—“It is finished”—Jesus declares that the work of redemption is complete. What looked like defeat was actually victory, as His death satisfied the wrath of God, tore the veil separating us from His presence, and opened the way for new life. In this episode, we see that because of the cross, we are no longer distant from God—we are invited into full, confident relationship with Him, forever changed by what Christ has accomplished.

Scripture

1. Matthew 27:51-53, John 19:30

Reflection Questions & Spiritual Practice

1. Sit in the Finished Work

Spend 10–15 minutes in complete silence, meditating on these three words:

Don’t pray. Don’t journal. Don’t try to do. Simply be still in the presence of the God who tore the veil so He could be with you.

Just as Jesus’ death split the curtain and opened access, stillness helps us remember this access. It’s a practice of holy attentiveness to grace already given.

2. Reflect on What God Has Torn Down

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what “curtains” of fear, guilt, or striving you still hold up—even though they’ve been torn. Sit in silence and let Him speak.

1. Light a candle or visualize the temple curtain tearing.
2. As you sit, ask: “What separation do I still falsely believe exists between God and me?”
3. When something comes to mind, whisper: “It is finished.”

3. Embrace the Awe of Resurrection

Go outside in silence. Walk slowly, without music or distractions. Meditate on the truth that graves were opened—and that death has lost its sting.

“What would it look like to live today as someone whose grave has already been opened?”

4. Celebrate Access Together –Family activity

Activity:

Gather your family and create a simple “curtain” using a bedsheet, blanket, or large piece of fabric. Hang or hold it up so that it blocks a doorway or hallway in your home. Begin on one side together, and talk briefly about how, before Jesus’ death, humanity was separated from God’s presence by the temple curtain.

Then, at the right moment, tear the sheet down together (or dramatically pull it aside)as you read Matthew 27:51 out loud:

“At that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split…”

Afterward, walk together through the space where the “curtain” once hung and enter the other side as a family—symbolizing your access to God’s presence through Jesus.

Reflection Prompt

“Now that the curtain has been torn, how can we live like a family who has full access to God’s presence?”

Day 37 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Maureen Evans

While many fled, the women stayed. They stood at a distance, watching the crucifixion with courage, grief, and unwavering devotion. In a culture that overlooked them, Jesus saw their faithfulness—and later entrusted them with the first news of His resurrection. This episode reminds us that God honors those who remain near in the hardest moments and often chooses the overlooked to carry His greatest message.

Scripture

1. Matthew 27:55-56

Reflection Questions

1. Am I willing to speak about Jesus to those around me, even when it may lead to rejection or discomfort? How can I remain faithful like the women who stayed near the cross?
2. Do I ever overlook the people in Scripture whom Jesus chose to honor or use for His purposes? What might that reveal about the way I view others today?
3. The women watched from a distance but stayed near in heart. How can I draw near to Jesus even when I can’t see what He’s doing?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. Have you ever felt left out or unseen? How does it make you feel to know that Jesus always sees and values you?
2. The women told others that Jesus was alive! Who could you tell about Jesus this week?

Spiritual Practice - Thankfulness & Worship

In this exercise, you will need a journal. Take a few moments each day and write out the ways you have witnessed God move in your life. After you write your thoughts for the day, turn your heart towards worship. You can sit and sing out a song or listen and follow the words to music. Do this for at least two weeks and see how much you have to be thankful for.

Day 36 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Carlos Montoya

As Jesus cries out from the cross, quoting Psalm 22, we witness the depth of His suffering—and the cost of our salvation. In that moment, He fully bears the weight of sin and experiences the anguish of separation so that we would never be forsaken. This episode invites us to sit in the tension of lament and hope, reminding us that even when God feels distant, He hears our cries and is faithfully working redemption through our pain.

Scripture

1. Matthew 27:46

Reflection Questions

1. When have you felt abandoned or distant from God, and how did you respond in that moment? How does Jesus’ cry from the cross help you understand that feeling in a new light?
2. What does it mean to you that Jesus willingly experienced separation and suffering so that we could be reconciled with God?
3. How can Psalm 22—moving from lament to praise—guide your journey through suffering and into hope?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. Have you ever asked God where He is? How has God answered this question? How has God reminded you of His presence?

Spiritual Practice - Confession & Fasting

First John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Spend time confessing to God about times you’ve doubted His presence, moments you’ve turned away from Him in pain, and sins that weigh on your heart. Write these down in a journal,asking God to forgive you for these.

As you fast from sundown yesterday through Encounter tonight, let your hunger or longing remind you of Jesus’ suffering on your behalf, your deep need for God’s presence, and the hope of resurrection and restoration. Let the pangs of hunger be a time of prayer that Jesus is better than food and that His suffering led to your salvation, which is found only through Him.

Day 35 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Erin Benton

Even in the agony of the cross, Jesus responds not with resistance, but with complete trust—offering forgiveness to His enemies and entrusting His life fully into the Father’s hands. His words reveal a deep confidence in God’s character, showing us that trust is not the absence of pain, but surrender in the middle of it. In this episode, we’re invited to follow His example—learning that even when life feels uncertain, we can rest in the faithful hands of a good and sovereign Father.

Scripture

1. Luke 23:34, 46

Reflection Questions

1. What areas of my life am I holding back from God because I fear the outcome?
2. Can I forgive others while I’m still hurting, like Jesus did?
3. Am I willing to say alongside Jesus, “Into Your hands I commit my spirit,” even when the path ahead is uncertain?
4. Trust isn’t about understanding everything. Trust is about believing in God’s character when nothing makes sense. Pray and ask God to increase your trust in Him and His plans.

Kid-Friendly Question

1. When do I find it hard to forgive others? How might Jesus want me to forgive someone who has hurt me?

Spiritual Practice - Prayer

Set aside some intentional time to spend in prayer today. The battle is won through time spent on our knees in surrender. Spend time worshipping the Father for who He is and how He is faithful and never changing. Cry out on behalf of the lost. Cast all of your burdens and cares at His feet, ask God to increase your trust in His faithfulness.

Father,

In the moments when suffering surrounds me, and questions rise in my heart, remind me of Jesus, who trusted You completely, even in the agony of the cross.

Help me to forgive as He forgave. Help me to surrender as He surrendered. Let my life echo His final words: “Into Your hands, I commit my spirit.”

Because even in the darkness, You are still worthy of my trust. Amen.

Day 34 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Glyn McKay

As darkness covers the land at the cross, it marks more than a moment in history—it reveals the weight of sin and the depth of Christ’s sacrifice. What looks like defeat is actually the turning point of redemption, where Jesus bears the full judgment of sin so that we can be brought near to God. In this episode, we see that God’s light often shines brightest in the darkest moments, reminding us that even when His work feels hidden, He is accomplishing something greater than we can see.

Scripture

1. Matthew 27:45-56

Reflection Questions

1. What areas of your life feel like they are covered in darkness right now? How does the cross help reframe that experience?
2. Have you ever felt like God was silent or absent—only to look back and see that He was working all along?
3. What does it mean to you that God’s greatest victory came through suffering? How might that change the way you view your own pain?
4. Where might God be calling you to trust that His light is working even when you cannot see it?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. When you’re scared or feel alone, what helps you remember that Jesus is still with you? (You can remind them: Even in the dark, Jesus is the Light.)

Spiritual Practice - Meditation & Memorization

1. Meditate: Spend 5–10 minutes in quiet prayer reflecting on Jesus’ words in verse 46. Ask Him to help you trust His presence even when you feel forsaken.
2. Memorize: Commit 2 Corinthians 4:6 to memory this week. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Use it as a reminder that when life feels like night, God is still working toward dawn.
3. Journal Prompt: Where in your life does it feel dark right now? Write down how you might trust God’s presence and purpose even when you can’t see the light.

Day 33 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Chase Akin

Judas feels the weight of his sin—but instead of running to Jesus, he tries to fix it with the very thing that led him there: money. His remorse is real, but it reveals a deeper misunderstanding of grace—he attempts to purchase what can only be received. This episode exposes how easily we try to use our idols to repair the damage they caused, reminding us that true repentance isn’t about proving ourselves, but trusting in the finished work of Christ.

Scripture

1. Matthew 27:3

Reflection Questions

1. Where are you trying to use your idol to fix what your idol has broken?
2. How might your approach to spiritual disciplines reveal you’re still trying to earn what Christ has already provided?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. If you broke something valuable, would bringing money to your parents fix the relationship, or would saying “I’m sorry” and accepting their forgiveness work better?

Spiritual Practice - Sabbath

Today, practice receiving rather than achieving your way back to God.

Write down one area where you’ve been trying to “pay God back” through religious performance. Ask yourself: “What idol am I using to try to earn what grace offers freely?”

Instead of making your Sabbath productive, make it receptive. Spend time simply enjoying God’s presence without trying to impress Him. Read Scripture for delight, not duty. Pray for connection, not performance.

Before bed, ask: “What did I receive from God today that I didn’t earn?” Thank Him specifically for grace that can’t be purchased.

Day 32 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Chase Akin

In a stunning reversal, the same crowds who once praised Jesus now call for His crucifixion—not out of sudden hatred, but because they were persuaded by the voices they trusted. This moment reveals how easily hearts can be shaped by influence, especially when authority is misused. In this episode, we’re invited to examine the voices forming our own beliefs and to respond to others not with judgment, but with the same compassion Jesus showed—recognizing how deeply we all need truth, grace, and a faithful Shepherd.

Scripture

1. Matthew 27:20

Reflection Questions

1. Who in your life has been “persuaded” by cultural voices to trade Jesus for something else? How has your response been more like judgment than Jesus’ compassion?
2. What voices in your own life have you trusted that might be leading you away from Jesus without you realizing it?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. If someone you trusted told you something that wasn’t true, would that be your fault for believing them? How can we help people who have been told lies about Jesus?

Spiritual Practice - Community & Evangelism

Today, practice Jesus’ approach to those who have been persuaded away from truth.

Write down the names of 2-3 people in your life who seem to have traded Jesus for cultural alternatives (political ideologies, lifestyle choices, philosophical systems). Instead of listing what’s wrong with their choices, write: “They have been persuaded by .”

Day 31 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Savon Pena

Jesus stands silent as the crowd chooses Barabbas—the guilty walks free, and the innocent stays. This moment isn’t weakness; it’s redemption unfolding. In His stillness, Jesus willingly takes the place of sinners, absorbing the punishment we deserved so we could walk in freedom. This episode invites us to slow down and feel the weight of that exchange—because we are Barabbas. And because He stayed, we get to walk free.

Scripture

1. Matthew 27:17, 26

Reflection Questions

1. Where in your life have you walked away free, knowing deep down it should have been you who paid the cost?
2. What would change in your posture toward Jesus if you slowed down long enough to truly sit in the weight of what His silence accomplished for you?
3. How might you live differently today knowing that Jesus stayed when He could have walked away?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. Have you ever broken something that cost money to fix? Have you ever had someone else pay for it? (Parents can help remind them of examples)
2. How did that make you feel? What are the things that we have broken by our sin that Jesus’ death and resurrection fixes?

Spiritual Practice - Silence & Stillness

Today, find a moment to sit in silence for at least five minutes. No phone, no music, no agenda. Just be in the presence of the Father, remembering that you were able to walk because Jesus stayed.

As you sit, notice what rises in your heart. If condemnation or guilt begins to surface, don’t run from it—bring it into the light. Agree honestly with the sins that come to mind. We did do those things. But then, listen for Jesus’ response: “I paid for that.”

Wait there. Let the reality of His payment sink in—the Son of God stood silent so you could stand forgiven. Feel the weight of His mercy, and the freedom that flows from it.

If you want to declare it out loud, do so with gratitude and faith: “Jesus, my Lord, paid for that.”

Day 30 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Jim Parks

As the soldiers mock Jesus with words that sound like worship—“Hail, King of the Jews”—their actions expose a sobering truth: it is possible to say the right things about Jesus while our hearts remain far from Him. This moment reveals that true worship is not merely about correct language, but a surrendered heart that honors Christ as He truly is. In this episode, we are invited to examine our own worship, remembering that because of the gospel, we can draw near with sincerity, reverence, and hearts fully devoted to our King.

Scripture

1. Matthew 27:28-29

Reflection Questions

1. Has the Spirit brought conviction that your words of worship have not been with a heart to honor Jesus? If so, spend a few moments in confession. Tell Him that you are sorry and that you desire to honor Him with your words of worship.
2. Plan a time to worship Jesus today. Why not right now? Choose a song of worship to sing along with. Sing a new song to him. Make a joyful noise. Yes, that’s worship too! Glorify Jesus as King with a heart posture to honor Him as King of kings and Lord of lords. He is worthy of your worship!

Kid-Friendly Question

1. What are good words that you would say about Jesus? You can use Galatians 5:22-23 as prompts if needed.) Allow your child to use the words they thought of to praise Jesus in prayer. They can start by saying,“ Jesus, I praise you for...”

Spiritual Practice - Thankfulness & Worship

Today, practice resting in God’s available power rather than your own limited strength.

Begin your Sabbath by reading Matthew 26:53 aloud. Write down three things you’ve been trying to control this week. Next to each one, write: “God has 72,000 angels available for this.”

Set aside 30 minutes to solve zero problems. No phone, no planning, no fixing. If anxiety about undone tasks surfaces, remind yourself: “The God who commands legions of angels can handle this while I rest.”

Day 29 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Richard McKay

Before Pilate and the mocking soldiers, Jesus responds to injustice not with defense, but with deliberate silence—choosing surrender over self-preservation. His quiet strength reveals that the Kingdom of God advances not through force, but through sacrificial love that absorbs suffering to accomplish redemption. This episode invites us to follow Christ’s example, trusting that in our own suffering, God is at work—using humble, faithful obedience to display the power of the gospel.

Scripture

1. Matthew 27:11-14, 27:27-31

Reflection Questions

1. Have you ever felt the urge to defend yourself but sensed God calling you to remain quiet? What did you learn from that experience?
2. Is there someone you need to forgive who has mocked or misunderstood you? How could releasing that need for justice become a witness to them?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. Have you ever been blamed for something you didn’t do? What would it feel like to trust God to take care of the problem instead of arguing back?

Spiritual Practice - Confession & Fasting

Fasting is all about surrendering your wants and desires in order to open yourself to receive more of God. It could even be considered a way to enter into Jesus’ suffering in a small way. Fasting may also lead us to feel more uncomfortable, easily agitated, or less in control of our responses. Consider the suffering that Jesus endured and His self-control when given chances to defend himself. Pay attention today to ways that you jump to defensiveness or harshness and ask God to lead you to a posture of humility and obedience to His Word.