Daily Devo

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But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31)

Expanded Passage: John 20:1-18, 30-31

Jesus conquered death and rose again, and it was not only so we could go to heaven. His kingdom has come near to us, and now we can experience and know what kingdom life looks like on this side of glory. When we read this account of Jesus’ resurrection, the stories of Jesus appearing to people he loved, and when we consider just how many other miraculous things he has done, we have the opportunity to believe. We believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, the King of Kings, the Savior of the world. And when we believe, we get to live—we get to live life to its fullest potential forevermore.

Life with Jesus is about spending time with him. We get to be in his presence, the presence of a holy and perfect God. In his presence, we can seek answers and wisdom. In his presence, we abide, listening as he speaks new life into our very spirit. Life with Jesus is about going out into the world. We get to go into the world and share this great news with people, inviting them to see and believe and truly live. And life with Jesus is about being with the ones we love. We get to share our stories and our burdens; we can have everything in common. There is nothing greater than this life of fullness we have been invited into.

Write down all the ways Jesus has brought fullness into your life.

Ethan Zent is the pastor of worship at Follow Church in Upstate South Carolina, where he lives a beautiful life with his beautiful wife.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. (John 20:30)

Expanded Passage: John 20:30-31

There’s little I wouldn’t give to know every word Jesus spoke while he walked on the earth. If it was all recorded, the books that would be written would fill the libraries of the earth. I praise God we have the words of Scripture, the living and active Word. God reveals his story to us through the pages of the Bible. Every time I open the Word to seek God’s wisdom, knowledge, correction, and encouragement, he speaks. Even if I have read the words hundreds of different times, he brings reminders and new revelations. But I wish I could read the stories of the other signs Jesus performed; I wish I could hear the conversations he had, sermons he preached and life-altering truths he spoke over people. My hope is that we will be able to access all of that and more in heaven.

Jesus has done a lot more than what was recorded during his thirty-three years of earthbound ministry. Thousands of years of history with volumes of stories were never recorded. He has performed signs and wonders in our lives and in the lives of those around us. And those God stories are out there, ready to be told, ready to be recorded. All we have to do is ask.

Ask someone you love to tell you one of their God stories.

Ethan Zent is the pastor of worship at Follow Church in Upstate South Carolina, where he lives a beautiful life with his beautiful wife.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20:18)

Expanded Passage: John 20:17-18

I am potentially one of the worst people when it comes to keeping surprises. If I buy someone a gift or want to do something for them, I almost always spoil it. When I was planning on proposing to my wife, I told her when I had bought the ring; I almost showed it to her early on a few occasions. I think the only reason I didn’t was because on the day I finally had it, I brought it to work, and I showed every single person I could. The news was too exciting. I had to tell someone.

The news Mary carried to the disciples was the single most exciting piece of news that has ever been and ever will be uttered: The Lord Jesus is risen, and he is going to ascend to his Father! She may have wanted to just stay with Jesus for longer, but when he told her to go, she understood. This was news that was much too exciting to keep to herself.

We continue to carry this good news today. And it is way too exciting to be kept to ourselves. Now is the time to boldly proclaim the truth. Now is the time to start a conversation with someone about Jesus. Now is the time to pray with someone. Make today the day; Jesus is with you as you do.

Start a conversation with someone about Jesus and pray with them.

Ethan Zent is the pastor of worship at Follow Church in Upstate South Carolina, where he lives a beautiful life with his beautiful wife.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). (John 20:16)

Expanded Passage: John 20:11-16

We are innately wired to hear our names; it is a phenomenon called the cocktail party effect or selective hearing. Our brains are able to focus our attention on a particular stimulus while filtering out a range of other stimuli. The best example of this is that we are able to hear our name being spoken in a crowded room, even if we aren’t listening for it. This begins as early as five months old as we turn towards our parents and guardians as they speak our name. And ever since then, the neural pathway of hearing our own name, even above any other noise, has been strengthened.

Mary is lost and confused. Imagine her grief as she cries, the noise within her own mind as she spirals around the thought that someone has taken her Lord away. She cannot see Jesus through the fog of her thoughts, even as he stands right in front of her. That is, until he says her name. Instantly, the recognition is made. Through all the noise and chaos, she hears her Savior speak her name.

God knows your name and he brings life to its meaning. When the God of the universe speaks your name, every and any circumstance fades into the background. No one speaks your name like Jesus. He sees you. He loves you. He is calling your name.

Learn the meaning behind your name. What is God saying through it?

Ethan Zent is the pastor of worship at Follow Church in Upstate South Carolina, where he lives a beautiful life with his beautiful wife.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. (John 20:10)

Expanded Passage: John 20:5-10

As a child, there was one question I liked asking above all others: “Why?” And then, when my parents would ultimately give a satisfactory answer, I would again ask the question, “Why?” That would continue for a while. My curiosity has continued into adulthood, an insatiable search for knowledge about topics I know little about. And ultimately, I often discover questions without a simple answer. Sometimes, I allow myself to fall into that rabbit hole and learn all I can, but sometimes I come to the decision to put aside my curiosity to save myself the long journey of discovery.

Peter and John arrived at the empty tomb, curious as to where Jesus’ body had gone. They observed the scene before them, but they didn’t understand. So, they did what I so often do, they put their curiosity aside and left. I can only speculate, but I can’t help but wonder, would Jesus have revealed himself if they would have stayed by the tomb? A lot of times, the answers we seek can only be found through the revelation of God. And from my personal experience, I have discovered that these answers take time, requiring us to be increasingly curious.

What answer are you seeking today? Maybe it’s a next step, wisdom for dealing with a difficult circumstance, or healing from a past hurt. God has your answer, so keep asking.

Ask God your question; if you don’t hear an answer, ask again.

Ethan Zent is the pastor of worship at Follow Church in Upstate South Carolina, where he lives a beautiful life with his beautiful wife.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. (John 20:4)

Expanded Passage: John 20:1-4

I’m not a runner, and I never have been. I honestly gave it my best shot when I was younger, joining track and eventually cross country, but usually finishing second to last. I have learned over the years that I definitely prefer hiking—the slower climb compared to the all-out sprint. In my case, the only time I ever really run is if I have no choice. Maybe I am far behind my schedule or, in a worst-case scenario, there is an emergency. In which case, I would benefit from some more training.

As disciples of Jesus, there are times in our faith we must hike and times we must run. There is something to be said about the slow, technical hike of discipleship. But, in this passage, everyone is running. Mary ran to tell the disciples what she saw; Peter and John ran to confirm. The common goal there was they were desperate to find Jesus, their Lord, their teacher, their friend. Do we wait until it’s the worst-case scenario to start running to Jesus? Or are we desperate for his presence every day?

Jesus is available to us; we do not have to strive to meet with him. Rather, we take on a willing posture of desperation, running into his presence every day. Don’t wait until you have no choice but to run to God; start training today.

Enter into prayer with a desperation to meet with God.

Ethan Zent is the pastor of worship at Follow Church in Upstate South Carolina, where he lives a beautiful life with his beautiful wife.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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They will have no fear of bad news. (Ps. 112:7)

Expanded Passage: Psalm 112

We are bombarded with bad news. It’s everywhere, not just in the newspaper or the radio. Access social media, and it will be there. Browse the internet, and it will manage to get in front of you. We grow so accustomed, and at times addicted, to bad news. We might call it being informed, but we are being saturated with tragedy, corruption, violence, scandals, abuse, national and global conflicts, and so on. As long as it does not affect us much at the personal level, we are very accepting of bad news. But when the bad news hits home, it can be devastating.

It is striking to read in this psalm that a righteous person will have no fear of bad news. How can that be? The poem’s opening talks about a person who fears the Lord, someone whose heart is steadfast, someone who trusts in the Lord. It does not mean that the person is incapable of fear. Fear can, in fact, be an enemy, and the righteous person in this psalm has a few foes. But the person can remain fearless in the midst of bad news, as long as they remain fearful of the Lord.

I have noticed that when I reduce my consumption of bad news and spend more time seeking God, my trust in him increases and my fear shrinks.

For twenty-four hours, disconnect yourself from news outlets.

Luigi Peñaranda is the former director of graduate programs in Spanish at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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Knowing that everything had now been finished. (John 19:28)

Expanded Passage: John 19:16-37

“Everything looks so far and small,” said my daughter. She was using a set of binoculars but was holding them the wrong way. Instead of looking through the eyepiece, she was looking through the objective lens. What was meant to magnify her vision was making everything look distant.

The Gospel of John invites us to see the crucifixion through a set of binoculars that can see beyond the immediate text. Focus, for example, on Jesus’ thirst. The last time Jesus asked for a drink, he was talking to a Samaritan woman about the living water he possesses. His water forever quenched her thirst (John 4:7–15). Rotate the focusing ring. You now see Jesus telling people that those who believe in him will never be thirsty (6:35; 7:37–39). Turn the focusing ring again. The image you see is that of a wedding. Jesus’ mother noticed that the hosts were out of wine. Jesus knew his hour had not yet come, but even so, he turned water into wine (2:3–11). Focus again on the cross. The One who offers living water is thirsty. The hour has now come.

At the cross, Jesus was drinking the cup of the Father (18:11) so that we would not thirst anymore. He drank the worst we could offer; he offered his best for all.

Set aside time to read the Gospel of John in one sitting.

Luigi Peñaranda is the former director of graduate programs in Spanish at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

They will look on the one they have pierced. (John 19:37)

Expanded Passage: John 19:31-37

The scar on my hand is a reminder of a tendon-repair surgery I once had. Some see the scar as the mark of a wound. For me, it is the vestige of healing. Some see disfigurement. I see the restored ability to move my fingers. Some think it is ugly, and I cannot disagree, but it makes me see beauty when I’m holding a pen or playing guitar.

The wound on Jesus’ side is peculiar. He was dead when the injury was inflicted. The Roman soldiers did not need to break Jesus’ legs to expedite his death. The piercing of his side simply corroborated the pronouncement. To the casual observer, this was just another dead body. But the gospel writer saw something else: it was the Passover! Jesus’ bones were not broken because he was the Passover lamb (Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12). The piercing of his side would open a fountain, as the prophet Zechariah said, to cleanse the people from sin and impurity (Zech. 12:10–13:1).

I have wondered why, after the resurrection, Jesus’ wounds were not completely erased. I am beginning to understand. Some may see marks of torture, but he is showing us signs of healing. Some may see disfigurement, but he is showing us new life. Some may think scars are ugly, but he is showing us that soon, beauty will rise.

Pray that you may see things through Jesus’ eyes.

Luigi Peñaranda is the former director of graduate programs in Spanish at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Listen to today’s devo!

Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

Expanded Passage: John 19:28-30

I thought I had to clap after the music stopped. After all, the fact that the orchestra stopped playing seemed like a clear indication that the song had ended. At the time, I had not been to many concerts of classical music. I was under the impression that people clapped after each song. A friend, instead of making fun of my ignorance, explained to me that there are extended music compositions, like the symphony, which contain different movements. Each movement is a section of the whole, but not the end of the composition. According to the social norms, I was supposed to hold my applause until the conclusion of the last movement.

The crucifixion had been orchestrated by the Father, and the director was none other than the Son. The gospel writer lets us see that Jesus anticipates the end of a movement. He knew all things had been completed. In his farewell prayer (John 17), Jesus declared that he had brought glory to the Father on earth by finishing the work he was meant to do.

The movement ends with an important cadence. Although the soldiers hung Jesus on a cross, in reality no one took his life. He laid down his own life; he gave up his spirit. But hold your applause; a movement is left. He will live again and, with him, so will we.

Write down what has been finished by Jesus and give thanks.

Luigi Peñaranda is the former director of graduate programs in Spanish at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University.

© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.