Joseph and the Chance Encounter

When we last considered Joseph: A Life with Many Colors in the days leading up to Lent 2019, Joseph (our lead character from this part of the Book of Genesis) was a young emissary sent on a mission to Shechem which was a good four or five-day journey from his father Jacob’s home in the […]

May 8, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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Grave Reflections (Lent 40-2019)

The stone which had been rolled in front of the tomb remained as if frozen in time.  Jesus was dead.  He’d even said, “It is finished.”  The grave was silent and seemingly satisfied.  There is no “More to the Easter Story” for Jesus to tell because He’s dead.  He’s buried.  This stark reality of death […]

April 20, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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The Very Long Bad Good Friday (Lent 39-2019)

Jesus set down His cup and His betrayer left.  The remaining disciples tried to move beyond the awkwardness by singing a hymn with Jesus, and then they went out to the Mount of Olives.  Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is […]

April 19, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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A Significant Remembrance (Lent 38-2019)

All signs pointed to the end of His earthly ministry.  So, serving others was top of Jesus’ mind as He did the unthinkable and washed His disciples’ feet in preparation to observe the Passover.  They didn’t quite know how to react to that.  In one sense, honored, even loved, but also vastly uncomfortable, even shocked, […]

April 18, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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Signs of the End (Lent 37-2019)

The Twelve had come to accept that Jesus was not in a hurry to overthrow the Romans even if maybe one of the Twelve was not committed to stay the course in the way of the other Eleven.  Perhaps it was Judas’ impatience.  Maybe his heart had long been elsewhere.   Who knows when a […]

April 17, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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The Stone Builders Reject (Lent 36-2019)

Time was running short.  Only a few days left before His earthly ministry would be completed.  What was good news for some would be very bad news for others.  Either Jesus would be the rock-solid foundation of their salvation or He’d be the stone the builders reject and eventually—after all their chances to repent were […]

April 16, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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Temple Cleansing (Lent 35-2019)

The end of My mission is very near, thought Jesus.  And it was such a shame that those to whom He’d been sent didn’t recognize the time of God’s coming to them.  They would be missing out on so much peace to be had, if only they accepted His teaching instead of rejecting Him.  It […]

April 15, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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Untie the Donkey (Lent 34-2019)

The disciples were understandably nervous.  It was both a nervous fear and a nervous excitement.  They could see Jerusalem in the distance.  This was really happening! Luke 19:28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of […]

April 13, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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A Welcome and a Rejection (Lent 33-2019)

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through on His way to Jerusalem.  When He saw a wealthy tax-collector named Zacchaeus who’d climbed a tree to see His arrival, He said, “Come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Zacchaeus welcomed him gladly.  It was a welcome that brought joy to Jesus’ heart and […]

April 12, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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Humble Like a Child (Lent 32-2019)

Jesus was astonished (and not in a good way) witnessing the audacity of mankind. Human pride was something truly horrid to behold…but people were blind to how awful it is.  Some didn’t see it as a sin at all and yet, it was part of what was driving Him to the Cross.  It had to […]

April 11, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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