Today Daily Devotional

“I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!”

— Revelation 1:18

The apostle John may well have been the last surviving apostle when he was exiled to the island of Patmos. He was sent there to live as a prisoner because he had been preaching “the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” Though all the doors on earth were now closed to John, the Lord opened a door in heaven for him. John received a series of amazing visions of the glorified Christ, whose hair was “as white as snow” and whose face was “like the sun shining in all its brilliance.”

Jesus’ eyes were “like blazing fire” and his feet were “like bronze glowing in a furnace.” His voice was “like the sound of rushing waters,” and out of his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. The apostle fell at the Lord’s feet as though he was dead, but he heard, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!”

The conquering Christ is the Lamb who was slain but rose again. He triumphed over death in his resurrection. The victorious Lamb sits on the throne of the universe and rules the heavens and the earth.

God, just as your Word teaches us about Jesus’ suffering, it shows us his resounding victory that came through his resurrection. Christ is alive! Alleluia! In his name we pray. Amen.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. . . .

— Isaiah 53:7

The prophet Isaiah pointed to Jesus about 700 years before his birth, describing him as a suffering servant of God who was “led like a lamb to the slaughter, and . . . did not open his mouth.” The Son of God was “pierced for our transgressions” and “crushed for our iniquities.” And “by his wounds we are healed.” He was despised and mocked. He was led to crucifixion under the cursing of a bloodthirsty crowd, but he did not return cursing for cursing. Like a silent lamb, Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice for our sin.

He endured the excruciating pain of being nailed to a cross and lifted up to die in view of all who passed by. Even though he suffered terrible torment, he scorned the shame of the cross for the joy that was set before him (Hebrews 12:2). Even though he was obedient to death, he endured the crushing blow of the law that we deserved. Even though he was the blessed one, he was made to be a curse for us by taking our place. He bore our sins and shed his blood to redeem us from captivity and certain death. His suffering brought us relief. His death brought us life. There, at the cross, Jesus opened for us the inexhaustible fountain of salvation!

Lord God, your Son bore the sufferings that should have been mine. But at no time did he complain. He was moved by love to receive my punishment so that I might have peace. In him I give thanks. Amen.

[Christ] was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

— 1 Peter 1:20

Jesus is the holy Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He came into the world to die for our sins. His death was not an accident; his mission was set in eternity. Although his death took place nearly 2,000 years ago on a cross outside Jerusalem, in the mind and plan of God it was set in motion from before the creation of the world. When God planned our salvation, there was no universe and no earth yet. The stars did not yet shine, nor did the sun give its light.

Before creation, in the depths of eternity, God had already set his heart on you—and Jesus, the Son, was chosen to be slain in your place, on your behalf. The same is true for each one of us who believes.

The cross of Christ was not a sign of defeat but of triumph. Jesus died not as a victim or martyr but as the Redeemer. And he died willingly. He gave himself for you and for me, and he was chosen for that mission from eternity. He glorified the Father in his death and won eternal redemption for us.

Praise be to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Holy God, we are amazed that Jesus’ voluntary surrender was planned in eternity. You decided to love each one of us even before you created the world. We thank and bless you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

— Romans 5:9

As we noted yesterday, when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at Eastertime, we may often hear about the Easter bunny and eggs and chocolate. Those old secular traditions have nothing to do with Jesus’ gift of new life for all who believe in him. But they can be distracting if we forget to focus on God’s amazing love shown to us through the death and rising of his Son, Jesus.

Reflecting on the shed blood of Jesus may make us uncomfortable. Perhaps we would rather focus on nicer, sweeter things—like chocolate or some other treat—at this time of year. But the sacrifice of Christ is the only thing that could pay the debt of our sin and bring us peace with God. There is no redemption through chocolate.

Our redemption from sin and death came through the shed blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God. As we saw earlier this month, when God delivered his people from slavery in Egypt, the sacrificed lamb of the Passover pointed ahead to the sacrifice of Jesus, God’s only Son. He became “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). By his death we have life. By his shed blood we are set free and cleansed from all sin!

Lord God, you have freed us from sin through the blood of Christ shed on the cross for our sake. Through his death we can now enjoy full life in you. In his name we pray. Amen.

Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

— 1 Corinthians 5:7

As we celebrated Jesus’ resur­rec­tion yesterday, we may have seen or heard references to the Easter bunny, Easter eggs, and chocolate. In ancient Europe, the Germanic goddess Eostre (Eastre in Old English) was celebrated during the spring equinox. Rabbits and eggs represented fertility and the revival of life in springtime. Since Jesus’ death and resurrection occurred at the same time of year, the church in Europe tried to replace that pagan tradition with the worship of Christ and the celebration of new life in him. They even used the name “Easter” to try to Christianize the springtime holiday.

But that hasn’t worked very well, has it? The celebration of Christ’s victory over death has nothing to do with rabbits, eggs, or chocolate. Sadly, all of that can distract us from reflecting on the gift of life we have through the death and resurrection of Jesus. But in Christ we can remember another ancient tradition—Passover, with its sacrificed lamb and celebration of deliverance from slavery. That pointed to the gift of Jesus, who came to free us from the slavery of sin.

So let’s focus on the Lamb of God, Jesus—our Savior and the giver of full life—which is far greater than the seasonal refreshing of life in spring. This doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate with feasting or a bit of chocolate, but let’s be sure to worship the one true God who loves us and sent his Son to save the whole world!

Lord, guide us to remember and celebrate all that you have done for us in Christ. Amen.

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

— Romans 5:8

Today we celebrate the proof of God’s love for us. Jesus has risen, victorious over death! He laid down his own life for us so that our debt of sin would be paid, and because he rose from the dead, we can have new life with him forever. Through the Spirit of God our new life begins now—and even though we may die physically before Jesus comes again, we are promised that our bodies too will rise when he comes to usher in the new heaven and earth! Alleluia! Praise the Lord God!

God’s love for each one of us is eternal, unchanging, and unconditional. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God proves his love for us by the fact that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” and “while we were God’s enemies, we were ­reconciled to him through the death of his Son.” We have salvation not because of our love for God, but because God loves us and sent his Son to pay for our sins and to give us new, eternal life.

Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to reveal God’s love for us. The finished work of Jesus is all the proof we need that God cares for us all. The God of love is determined to save us!

Heavenly Father, thank you for your amazing love. Move us, who were once your enemies, to love you and serve you today and always, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

— John 19:30

Before he died on the cross, Jesus uttered a cry of triumph, saying “It is finished.”

The Greek word here—tetélestai—had three meanings that point out Jesus’ finished work for us.

First, it was used for the completion of a task. When a son finished his work on a project, he would say to his father, “Tetélestai,” meaning, “The work entrusted to me is finished.”

Second, it was used to pay off a debt. When a person paid off a debt with the legal authorities, the document was stamped “Tetélestai,” meaning, “The debt has been paid.”

Third, this word was used to declare a person’s definite possession of a deed. When someone bought a piece of property and paid for it in full, they received the deed with the inscription “Tetélestai,” meaning, “You have the right of possession.”

When Jesus gave up his life for us on the cross, he completed the work the Father had entrusted to him so that we could be saved from sin and death. And on the cross he paid our debt in full, opening the way to eternal life for us. We have forgiveness and salvation. Because of Christ’s finished work, we have received the right to take possession of eternal life.

Jesus’ sacrifice was fully sufficient to offer us eternal redemption and full life forever!

Father, you have forgiven me a debt that I could never repay. May the certainty of your forgiving love create in me a forgiving heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining.

— Luke 23:44-45

When Jesus was born, there was a bright light at night (Luke 2:8-14). When Jesus died, there was darkness at noon. Even the sun hid its face from the terrible suffering of the Son of God. Jesus’ suffering was not only physical but, more deeply, spiritual. Even though his pain was indescribable, from the flogging and torture he endured to the excruciating agony of crucifixion, Jesus’ greatest suffering was that he was separated from the Father and subjected to the torments of hell.

Jesus became a curse for us. Our transgressions lay fully on him. The ugliness of our sin covered him with shame and pain. The crushing weight of our iniquities was cast on him. Because he was made to be sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), the law demanded his death, for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

In the darkness of that day, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, and Jesus opened for us “a new and living way” to God (Hebrews 10:20). Through his death we are reconnected with God.

On the cross, Jesus opened for us the door to heaven!

Father, the darkness that inhabited my heart has been dispelled by your light. The glory of your majesty has filled my soul with the presence of Jesus. In him I give thanks! Amen.

Being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

— Luke 22:44

Praying in anguish, Jesus asked his Father to take away the suffering that he would soon be facing on the cross for our sake. Jesus prayed so earnestly that his sweat fell like drops of blood to the ground. And as he raised his tearful cry to heaven, Jesus’ disciples fell asleep. Yet he said to the Father, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

On that dreadful night, the religious leaders were plotting against Jesus as he prayed in Gethsemane. Led by Judas Iscariot, the temple soldiers marched into the garden to ­arrest Jesus forcefully. But Jesus, now ready to lay down his life for us, proceeded ­willingly.

Jesus knew that on the cross he would take our place, carry the weight of all our sins, and take on the curse that we all deserve so that he could rescue us from sin and death.

Jesus went to the cross not because Judas betrayed him out of greed (Luke 22:1-6), nor because the religious rulers handed him over out of envy, nor even because the Roman governor Pilate sentenced him out of cowardice (Luke 23:1-25; John 11:45-53; 19:1-16). Jesus went to the cross out of love!

Blessed Lord and Savior, we know that what moved you to face the cross for our sake was your eternal love alone. May this love fill our hearts today and move us to serve you faithfully. Amen.

“God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”

— Genesis 22:8

Abraham had already passed through several tests of his faith in God. God had called Abraham to move to another land, and he did (Genesis 12:1-7). God had promised to give Abraham an heir, and he believed (15:4-6). God had said that all the males in Abraham’s household were to be circumcised to be part of God’s covenant with him and his descendants, so Abraham did that too (17:9-27).

But now Abraham faced the hardest test of all. After receiving his son Isaac and seeing him grow in fulfillment of God’s promises, Abraham was told by God to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. So, trusting that God could even raise the dead and keep his promises (see Hebrews 11:19), Abraham responded in obedience. Abra­ham loved Isaac, but he loved God more. And God had kept all his promises. So Abraham trusted God.

Isaac said, “The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” And Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb, my son.” Abraham then prepared the altar and got ready to offer his son there.

But God did not want Isaac sacrificed; God wanted Abraham’s love. In this gripping test of faith, God was pointing ahead to show that Jesus, his only Son, would become a sacrifice for us. For Isaac there was a substitute lamb, and Jesus became the Lamb of God for us. God “did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all” (Romans 8:32).

Lord God, thank you for giving up your only Son to die in my place. In Jesus’ name, Amen.