Our series of "Out of the Ordinary" Lent Devotions has finished. Thank you so much for joining in and for all the lovely comments; it's been fun and we'll do it all again next year! If that's too long to wait, I publish a monthly blog on this site which I'd love you to follow. The next blog will be up in May.

For now, it just remains for me to wish you an extraordinary Easter.

When He comes, our glorious King,
To His kingdom us to bring,
Then anew this song we’ll sing
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

Thank you, Jesus!

God frequently works through the ordinary. Through them he shares something of his love for us and reveals elements of his redemption plan. In this devotional series we look at some of the ordinary things Jesus would have encountered as he journeyed towards the cross. Today, we're considering Jesus' mouth and the words he spoke on the cross. Holy Spirit, will you reveal something extraordinary through them. Amen.

Being human means we will experience disappointment and frustration, and face things that cause us to be angry and afraid. It's OK at those times to ask God what he’s doing. But it’s imperative we don’t let the questions we have derail us. The proof of that is in the biggest question any man has ever asked God; the one Jesus asks as he hangs on the cross, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?”

Now on the face of it, Jesus is simply crying out in agony to God. But he’s doing much more than that. You see, his cry is the opening line of Psalm 22, a Messianic prophesy. The Jews in the crowd would have known that Psalm by heart and their habit would have been to speak out the first phrase of a passage of Scripture to bring it all to remembrance. Consequently, they would have recited the entire Psalm.

In the middle of the trauma, blood and pain the onlookers probably would have gone through the motions and wouldn't have experienced hope, or joy, or peace. But in three days’ time, things will start to make more sense. Because the second half of the passage is triumphant. Verse 24 says about God: For he has not despised nor detested the suffering of the afflicted; Nor has he hidden his face from him; But when he cried to him for help, he listened. And the final verse - verse 31 - says: They will come and declare his righteousness to a people yet to be born- that he has done it [and that it is finished].

At Golgotha, in the middle of the suffering, it feels like God is absent. At the end of the resurrection, at the beginning of victory, it’s absolutely evident he was right in the middle of everything that happened.

Let's pray
Thank you, Father, that there is never a point at which you abandon us. Never a thing we experience, a time when a cry goes up from us to you when you don’t hear it and to which you don’t respond. Thank you for the cross, Jesus, my Saviour and friend. I worship you. Amen.

God frequently works through the ordinary. Through them he shares something of his love for us and reveals elements of his redemption plan. In this devotional series we look at some of the ordinary things Jesus would have encountered as he journeyed towards the cross. Today, we're thinking about Jesus' head. Holy Spirit, will you reveal something extraordinary through today's devotion. Amen.

Just days before his crucifixion, Jesus entered Jerusalem to the excited crowd spreading coats and palm branches on the road ahead of him, and shouting, “Hosanna.” This was an appropriate welcome for a king.

But, in stark contrast, on the morning of his crucifixion the Roman soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and placed it on Jesus’ head, openly mocking and ridiculing him. Not only did he endure the abuse of the soldiers but also the heart-breaking realisation that some of those who welcomed him with shouts of “Hosanna” were also in the crowd screaming “Crucify!”

Beyond the immense agony caused by thorns being pressed into the skull of an already broken and bloodied Jesus, the cruel crown he bore reminds us of the scorn and humiliation Jesus endured for all of us. He gave up everything to wear a crown of suffering and shame, tasting death for everyone.

Of course now he is crowned with glory and honour, and is established as the King of Kings for all time. But we shouldn’t forget what it cost him to be given the name that is above all names. All hail, King Jesus.

Let's pray
There is none like you, God. No-one who cares more, or loves harder. No-one prepared to go to such extraordinary lengths to save me. Fix that in my thoughts today, Holy Spririt. Remind me, every time I look at a face, at a head, that it cost you everything to rescue me. I worship you today and every day, lord. Amen.

God frequently works through the ordinary. Through them he shares something of his love for us and reveals elements of his redemption plan. In this devotional series we look at some of the ordinary things Jesus would have encountered as he journeyed towards the cross. Today, we're considering an ear. Holy Spirit, will you reveal something extraordinary through it. Amen.

We learn from John that the servant's name was Malchus. The healing of his ear is the last miracle Jesus performs, and yet possibly his most significant. It certainly serves to point us to everything he will achieve on the cross to come.

In the chaos and darkness of Jesus’ arrest Peter strikes Malchus with his sword and cuts off his ear, but Jesus immediately heals it. To do that, he must have bent down, and picked the ear from the ground, and put it right back where it was. I imagine Malchus flinching as Jesus tenderly touches and powerfully reinstates the connections between the tissues, muscles, and nerves, bringing full restoration to what had been lost. Jesus - the King of Kings and Lords of Lords stoops to heal a slave, and undoes the damage Peter had caused.

These actions of Jesus are a phenomenal foreshadow of what he will do on the cross. As he bends under the beatings and endures the lashings at the whipping post, Jesus will bring about our complete healing and full restoration. By his victory over sin and death he will undo the damage done by Adam’s rebellion, and powerfully reinstate the connection between us and the Father.

The Son of God rescues and saves. Whoever and whenever.

Let's pray
Thank you, Jesus, for the care you showed Malchus and how it witnesses to your love and compassion for all humanity. Thank you that you made yourself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant so I could be rescued and saved. I love you, Lord. Amen.

God frequently works through the ordinary. Through them he shares something of his love for us and reveals elements of his redemption plan. In this devotional series we look at some of the ordinary things Jesus would have encountered as he journeyed towards the cross. Today, rocks! Holy Spirit, will you reveal something extraordinary through each of them. Amen.

When the Pharisees demanded Jesus silence his supporters he pointed to the ground and said if the people didn't proclaim who he was the rocks would cry out instead. Romans tells us the whole of creation is a witness to the glory of God, but it is his people who get to do more than simply point him.

We have the privilege of sharing who he is and what he has done. We have the honour of being welcomed into his presence and commissioned to partner with him to bring the Kingdom to earth.

Look to the sky tonight and you will see the sparkling evidence of the beauty and imagination of our Creator. Look at the trees and see his extraordinary attention to detail as they signal the seasons. Look at the rocks and you will see nothing less than a testimony to the power of our God. Cry out with the stones. Jesus is the King of glory!

Let's pray
Help me take a moment today, Lord, to revel in your astonishing creation. Help me to discern your Spirit and find joy in the world around me. And help me worship you with my whole being so my life speaks profoundly of your love and grace. You are the King of glory! In Jesus' name. Amen.

God frequently works through the ordinary. Through them he shares something of his love for us and reveals elements of his redemption plan. In this devotional series we look at some of the ordinary things Jesus would have encountered as he journeyed towards the cross. Today we're thinking abut a rubbish tip. Holy Spirit, will you reveal something extraordinary. Amen.

Have you ever stood close to a rubbish tip? It stinks. There are so many flies and everywhere you look, pile after pile of rotting trash. In Jesus’ day there would also have been rats, wild dogs, excrement, blood, soiled rags, and rotting bodies. (Often there would be nobody who would want to claim the bodies of crucified criminals so the soldiers would peel the bodies off the cross beams, and toss the corpses onto the rubbish pile. Leaving them baking - stinking - in the sun.)

Although no-one can confirm the exact location of Golgotha, historians suggest that the little section of land where Jesus was crucified, was on or next to a rubbish tip.

I wrote earlier about the importance of remembering we are in a relationship with the God of the mountain. It is equally vital we understand we are also in a relationship with the God of the rubbish tip. Sometimes we need to stand at the foot of the cross and witness the extraordinary nature of God. We need to be reminded of his love and sacrifice. To remember that by his death Jesus has dealt with every bit of stinking trash that has accumulated in our lives.

Let's pray
How did you do it, Lord? How did you, the Holy One, stand the stench of my sin and rebellion? How did you hold yourself to the cross, in such agony, for so long, just so your death would give me life? I am so grateful and so humbled by your mercy and love, Lord. Thank you for everything. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God frequently works through the ordinary. Through them he shares something of his love for us and reveals elements of his redemption plan. In this devotional series we look at some of the ordinary things Jesus would have encountered as he journeyed towards the cross. Today we are considering roads. Holy Spirit, will you reveal something extraordinary through each of them. Amen.

Jesus always travelled deliberately. Even when he took what seems to be a diversion, he walked the road the Father asked him to walk. And he changed countless lives in the process.

Many people argue that every road leads to God. That it doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you are a good, sincere person you’ll be OK with God. But that’s not true. Jesus says no-one can come to the Father but by him. We have to confess Jesus is Lord. Of course, there are caveats (babies who haven't learned to speak, for example!) but if you can read and understand this, there is no exception for you! You have to say 'yes' to Jesus.

So today I’m not taking any chances with your salvation (nor should you!). If you have not accepted Jesus as Saviour and Lord I am giving you a prayer you can pray to take that first step into eternity. You don't have to be perfect or have it all worked out. Just pray the prayer, Jesus will do the rest.

Start to travel more deliberately. See where the Father takes you. You could change countless lives in the process.

Let's pray
Jesus, I know there are things I have done wrong in my life and am sorry for them. Please forgive me as I turn away from everything I know is wrong. Thank you that you died on the cross for me so I could be forgiven and set free. Thank you that you offer me abundant, everlasting life filled with joy and peace. Thank you for the gift of your Spirit. I now receive that gift. Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me forever. Help me to learn to walk with you every day. Thank you, Lord Jesus, Amen.

If you have prayed this prayer, please make contact with a church near you. The people there will help you grow in your relationship with Jesus and help you travel well.