"I am the resurrection and the life," John 11:27, NIV

As Jesus’ popularity grew, the chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders became increasingly disturbed by the public’s admiration for him. Most troubling to them was his claim to be the Son of God. Though they had witnessed many of Jesus’ miracles, the raising of Lazarus from the dead finally pushed them to take action. When Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection and the life," Martha acknowledges him as the Messiah. To the religious leaders, Jesus’ declaration was nothing short of blasphemous. This profound display of divine power and authority revealed Jesus’ identity as God incarnate, prompting them to plot his death.

This moment highlights the contrast between belief and rejection. It also underscores the immense cost of Jesus’ mission. The religious leaders’ decision reflects the lengths to which some will go to suppress the truth when it threatens their own power and control.

What is our response to Jesus’ authority? Do we, like Martha, recognise him as the Messiah? Or are we sometimes blind to the truth he reveals, resisting his authority when it challenges our own?

Let’s pray
Lord, thank you for revealing yourself as the resurrection and the life. Help me to recognise your authority in every aspect of my life and surrender to your ways. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

After this, Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Luke 8:1-3 NIV

Her husband was powerful. His boss was fearful. But her Saviour, was faithful! Joanna stands out as a woman of bold faith, willing to risk everything for Jesus.

The women in today’s passage were healed by Jesus and responded by supporting him with their resources, travelling with him from town to town, and believing in him from the depths of their hearts. For Joanna, this commitment came with great risk. She was the wife of Chuza, a trusted manager in Herod Antipas’ household. Chuza held a respected position and likely served as a confidant of Herod, the ruthless ruler who had inherited his father’s evil nature. Herod’s father, Herod the Great, was the tyrant who ordered the slaughter of the innocents in Bethlehem, fearing the consequences for him of the birth of the Messiah.

Nevertheless, Joanna used her resources to support Jesus. She cared for him, followed him, and was faithful all the way to the cross and the empty tomb that followed. Joanna would undoubtedly have feared Herod, but her faith was greater than her fear.

Let’s pray
Lord, grant me the courage to trust you above all, even when faced with fear or uncertainty. May my faith, like Joanna's, be bold and unwavering. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” Luke 19:41-44, NIV

Jerusalem, the city at the heart of Lent, pulses with sacred significance. From the triumphant entry to the agonising crucifixion and glorious resurrection, its stones stand as silent witnesses to Christ’s final journey.

We walk with Jesus through its narrow streets, feeling the weight of betrayal and the sting of injustice. The Temple, once a place of prayer, becomes a stage for confrontation and rejection. The Garden of Gethsemane resonates with Christ's anguished plea to the Father. Jerusalem, a city of profound contrasts, focuses us both on human frailty and divine love. Its image serves as a reminder of the great cost of our salvation and the unshakable hope found in Christ’s sacrifice.

Let's pray
Lord Jesus, guide me as I imagine walking with you through the streets of Jerusalem. Help me feel the burden of your sacrifice and embrace the depth of your love. Grant me grace to follow you faithfully, standing as your witness, knowing that in your suffering, I find life. In your matchless name. Amen.

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19:37-40, NIV

“If they keep quiet, the very stones will cry out,” Jesus declared. This Lent, we can reflect on the silent witnesses: the rocks of Gethsemane, the stones of the Temple, and the very ground beneath the cross. They bear the physical weight of human sin and divine sacrifice. Even through their silence, we hear creation groaning, yearning for redemption. Can you hear the lament?

Wouldn't it be good today to break our own silence and join the chorus of creation in worship, proclaiming Christ’s love and acknowledging his mercy and boundless grace for everyone to hear?

Let's pray
Gracious God, open our ears to hear the cries of creation and the call to worship. Break the silence of our hearts and help us raise our own cries of gratitude and thanks to the one who is King above all kings. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Matthew 21:9, NIV

Imagine a crowd of people welcoming you as the King of kings, laying palm branches at your feet, and showering you with praise. Yet, you know that in less than a week, the same crowd will gather again, this time shouting, "Crucify Him." Even knowing what is to come, you still choose to die for those very people and for a world that doesn’t know you yet.

Jesus was clear about his purpose and mission. As he journeyed toward the cross, he didn’t let the praise of the crowd distract him from the path he had chosen.

It’s easy to be swayed by praise and adoration, to seek the approval of others. But Jesus teaches us that our true purpose and mission should not be dictated by the temporary endorsements or directions of people. We have something greater!

Let’s pray
Lord, thank you for your unwavering commitment to your mission, even in the face of rejection and suffering. Help me to stay focused on your purpose for my life. Teach me to love as you love and to remain faithful to the destination you’ve set before me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9, NIV

Zechariah foretold the Messiah's entry into Jerusalem and Jesus’ choice to be carried on the back of the colt was a deliberate statement. He was the promised Messiah, and unlike earthly kings who rode horses to symbolise power and conquest, he was the servant king who would rule with peace.

It is important that the colt had never been ridden by anyone before. In Jewish tradition, an unused animal was considered holy and set apart for a special purpose. By riding this colt, Jesus demonstrated that he was the one set apart for God's unique and redemptive purpose.

The Gospels tell us how the crowd responded by spreading their cloaks and palm branches on the ground, welcoming Jesus as the long-awaited King. Of course, we know the same crowd that praises him now will curse him in just a few days' time.

I don’t know how long you have been journeying with Jesus, but perhaps today is a good day to thank him for sustaining and keeping you. Being his friend is a long walk of obedience. Thank him for how far you’ve come and ask him for the strength to keep going.

Let’s pray
Lord, I thank you for how far you’ve brought me on this journey and ask for the strength to keep walking in obedience to you. May my faith remain steadfast and unwavering. May I always bring my praises and shouts of joy to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Mark 9:2-8, NIV

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up to a mountain where his appearance is radically transformed: his face shines like the sun, and his clothes become dazzling white. At that moment, Moses and Elijah appear and speak with Jesus.

Moses’ presence in the Transfiguration is significant because it shows that Jesus is the fulfilment of the Law that Moses represented. Elijah’s appearance holds great importance as well, symbolising the prophets of Jewish tradition. His presence highlights the truth that Jesus is the fulfilment of prophecy. Furthermore, Elijah’s appearance also points to the larger theme of the coming Kingdom of God. According to Jewish tradition (Malachi 4:5), Elijah was expected to return before the Messiah. Elijah’s presence signifies that the Kingdom of God is at hand, and Jesus is the one who will usher it in.

This moment reminds us that the work of Jesus is not an afterthought but the culmination of everything that came before Him. The long story of salvation that began with creation, continued through the promises to Abraham, Moses, and the prophets, reaches its completion in Jesus. He is the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end. Through him, sin is defeated, and death is overcome. It is finished! The redemption we so desperately needed is ours.

Let’s pray
Father, thank You for sending Jesus to fulfil all that was promised. I rejoice that through him, the Kingdom of God is at hand. Help me live in the victory of his finished work knowing that sin and death have been conquered. I choose to walk in the fullness of your redemptive plan today. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3, NIV

There are two significant accounts of Jesus being anointed by women in preparation for his burial. The first takes place at the home of Lazarus, just before Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Lazarus’ sister, Mary, anoints Jesus' feet with expensive spikenard oil and wipes them with her hair (John 12:3).

The second anointing occurs just two days before Passover, in the home of Simon the Leper. In this instance, an unnamed woman anoints Jesus’ head with the same costly oil (Mark 14:3).

In both cases, Jesus recognises these acts as expressions of honour and preparation for his burial. Jesus, fully aware that his death was approaching, used these moments to prepare those around him for what was to come, reminding them that his death was imminent. Each anointing served as a solemn reminder of the sacrifice he was about to make for the world.

Let's pray
Lord Jesus, I come before you today in awe and reverence. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for the cross. Lord, I want to be known as one who has a sincere heart full of love for you, and one who is willing to pour myself out in service to you without counting the cost. In your holy name. Amen.

The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. John 1: 43-46, NIV

Philip’s role as one of the twelve apostles highlights the importance of both evangelism and discipleship.

From his immediate response to Jesus’ call to his willingness to share the good news with others, Philip's story demonstrates the passion of a true follower of Christ. His eagerness to bring Nathanael to Jesus reveals a heart that was not just focused on his walk with Jesus but on the need for others to encounter him, too. He serves as an intermediary for the Greeks in John 12:21-22 which tells us he is a bridge-builder for Jesus.

Where are you building bridges today? How are you acting as an intermediary linking people to Jesus? Lent is the perfect season to invite others to meet him.

Let’s pray
Lord, help me follow Philip's example of eagerness to spread your word. Give me a heart that is quick to share your love and my testimony with others. Open up opportunities - even today - for me to talk about you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:13-15, NIV

I’m starting at the end; focusing on one of my favourite passages in Scripture. I want to shout when I get to verse 15!

Satan, the tempter, lurks in the shadows of Lent, a constant adversary. His whispers of doubt and temptation echo the trials Jesus faced in the wilderness. He seeks to exploit our weaknesses, drawing us away from the perfect path the Father has set before us.

To me, Lent is the perfect time to confront this adversary. To recognise his tactics and stand firm against them. We arm ourselves not with worldly weapons, but with prayer, fasting, and the word of God. By resisting temptation we strengthen our resolve and mirror Christ’s victory over the tempter. Knowing the truth helps us stay vigilant, discern his lies, cling to God's love and celebrate the freedom we have in Christ.

Let’s pray
Lord, help me to recognise the tempter’s whispers and resist his deceit. Strengthen my heart as I pray, fast and devour your word so that I will remain firm in my faith. Give me the courage to confront the darkness and stand in the light of your truth and my righteousness in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.