The Real Challenge of Easter Good Friday confronts us with the horrors of the cross as we see an innocent man die. The injustice of Jesus’ trial and execution is plain to see. This means that even for those who don’t accept the message of Christianity, there can still be recognition – or even admiration […]
Learning from Jesus – praying in the Garden of Gethsemane
Learning from Jesus – praying in the Garden of Gethsemane How do we pray when we are in deep distress and anguish? How do we pray when it appears God isn’t answering our prayers for relief? How do we pray in the face of great suffering? This month our Week of Prayer falls in the […]
Psalm 22 – The anguish & victory of the cross
Psalm 22 – The anguish & victory of the cross Towering across the ages as a permanent monument to the grace of God stands the cross of Christ. The events of Good Friday, the horrific suffering, crucifixion and death of the Son of God, are beyond description and should constantly cause us to be amazed […]
The King Is Alive
The King Is Alive Devotion written by Peter Davey Read: Matthew 28:1-10 As you read the passage for today I wonder what has been in your mind? – the early start? – the ‘mood’ of the two Marys? – the purpose of their visit? – their conversation as they walked? Actually Mark and Luke fill […]
The King Is Buried
The King Is Buried Devotion written by Phil Clarke Read: Matthew 27:57-66 Friday draws to a close, Sabbath beginning at sunset. Jesus’ foes have done their worst, and He did nothing to prevent them. Strange and perplexing signs have been seen, but dots are yet to be connected. Now is the time of darkness and […]
The King Is Killed
The King Is Killed Devotion written by Simon Clay Read: Matthew 27:27-54 Events have been leading inexorably to this point and today we stop and pause at the cross as the King is killed. Matthew’s account of the crucifixion is full of irony. Various people in the story say things which are true but not […]
The King In Anguish
The King In Anguish Devotion written by Simon Clay Read: Matthew 26:36-46 Today we stand on holy ground. The path of the king leads to the cross. The crucified king will transpire to be ‘a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles’ (1 Corinthians 1:23). Now that the Supper has been shared, only the […]
The King’s Feast
The King’s Feast Devotion written by Beccy Clay Read: Matthew 26:20-30 The Last Supper was a meal characterised by intimacy, friendship & betrayal. This meal celebrated the first Passover which recalled the deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt into freedom. As Jesus reclined with his closest friends, they would have remembered God’s intervention in […]
The King Is Anointed
The King Is Anointed Devotion written by Becky Floy Read: Matthew 26:6-16 Imagine the scene. In a house in Bethany belonging to Simon the Leper, Jesus is reclining at a table with friends. Although gathered together to eat and talk, He knows the sense of destiny surrounding Him. He is a wanted man. But His […]
The King Cleans
The King Cleans Devotion written by Joe Williams Read: Matthew 21:12-17 What do we make of the Jesus we see in these verses? Many struggle with this event, seeing the otherwise peaceful Jesus get direct and violent – John’s account of the same incident speaks of Jesus making a ‘whip of cords’ in order to […]
The King Arrives
The King Arrives Devotion written by Simon Clay: Read: Matthew 21:1-11 It was not the first time Jesus had visited Jerusalem. He had attended Feasts at other times but He knew that this time was different. The time was right to make a statement. Jesus asked a couple of His disciples to get a donkey […]
Following the King
Following the King The events of the final week of Jesus’ life, between Palm Sunday and Easter Day, are arguably the most significant events ever to have taken place. In his account of the gospel, Matthew spends chapters 21-28 describing these events. Matthew’s intention in writing about Jesus’ time on earth is to show that […]