Easter_2025_Week_1.pdf

Devotional

Day 1: The Perils of Self-Righteousness

In the trials of Jesus, the religious leaders' self-righteousness blinded them to the truth, leading to unjust actions against Him. This serves as a warning to us about the dangers of self-righteousness. When we allow our hearts to pursue our own standards of holiness, we risk becoming disconnected from God's truth. True faith requires humility and a willingness to let go of our own standards in favor of God's. We must be vigilant in examining our hearts to ensure that our religious practices do not hinder our relationship with Jesus.

Isaiah 64:6 (ESV): "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."

Reflection: In what ways might your own self-righteousness be clouding your judgment or hindering your relationship with Jesus? How can you seek humility and align your standards with God's truth today?

Day 2: Trusting in Jesus' Words

Believing in Jesus is more than acknowledging His existence; it involves trusting in His words and teachings fully. Jesus' claims about His identity and authority demand our belief and obedience. This means accepting His power over sin and Satan, His role as the sole path to God, and His call for our obedience. Our journey with Jesus is a progressive transformation, where we learn to trust Him more deeply and follow His teachings more closely.

John 14:23 (ESV): "Jesus answered him, 'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'"

Reflection: Are there specific teachings of Jesus that you struggle to fully trust or obey? How can you take a step today to deepen your trust in His words?

Day 3: Choosing Jesus Over Self

The choice between Jesus and Barabbas symbolizes the daily decisions we face between following Jesus or our own desires. Barabbas represents our sinful nature, deserving of punishment, yet Jesus took our place. Choosing Jesus means acknowledging our need for His sacrifice and embracing the righteousness He offers, rather than relying on our own merits. This choice is a daily commitment to prioritize Jesus over our own desires and to live in the freedom He provides.

Galatians 5:24-25 (ESV): "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are tempted to choose your own desires over following Jesus? How can you make a conscious choice today to prioritize Jesus in that area?

Day 4: Responding to Injustice with Grace

The trials of Jesus were marked by legal and moral injustices, yet He responded with humility and love. This teaches us about the nature of true justice and the power of responding to injustice with grace. Jesus' example calls us to trust in God's ultimate justice and to respond to wrongs with love and humility, even when faced with persecution or misunderstanding. By following His example, we can be agents of grace and peace in a world that often lacks both.

1 Peter 2:23 (ESV): "When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly."

Reflection: Is there a situation in your life where you are experiencing injustice or misunderstanding? How can you respond with grace and humility, following Jesus' example?

Day 5: Living in the Freedom of Barabbas

Reflecting on Barabbas's release in place of Jesus invites us to see ourselves in Barabbas's position. We are guilty, yet Jesus took our place, offering us freedom and life. This profound exchange calls us to live in gratitude and transformation, recognizing that our freedom is not earned but given through Jesus' sacrifice. It challenges us to live as people who have been set free, embracing the righteousness of God and living in a way that reflects our gratitude for His sacrifice.

Romans 6:18 (ESV): "And, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness."

Reflection: How can you live today in a way that reflects the freedom and gratitude you have because of Jesus' sacrifice? What specific actions can you take to embrace the righteousness of God in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

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In this sermon, we explored the trials of Jesus as depicted in Luke 22:66-71 and Luke 23:1-25, focusing on the four trials Jesus faced: before the Sanhedrin, Pilate, Herod, and back to Pilate. The sermon challenges us to reflect on three critical questions: whether our religious practices hinder our relationship with Jesus, whether we truly believe what Jesus said, and who we choose between Jesus and ourselves. The trials reveal the religious leaders' hatred and the injustices Jesus faced, yet He responded with humility and love. The sermon emphasizes the importance of believing Jesus' words, recognizing His authority, and choosing Him over our own desires, much like the choice between Jesus and Barabbas.

Key Takeaways

1. Righteous Religion:** The trials before the Sanhedrin highlight how religious leaders allowed their self-righteousness to cloud their judgment, leading to unjust actions against Jesus. This serves as a warning to us: when our hearts pursue self-righteousness, we risk becoming our own standard of holiness, rather than aligning with God's truth. True faith requires humility and a willingness to let go of our own standards in favor of God's.

2. Believing Jesus, Not Just Believing in Him:
The question of whether we believe Jesus, rather than just believing in Him, challenges us to trust in His words and teachings fully. Jesus' claims about His identity and authority demand our belief and obedience. This means accepting His power over sin and Satan, His role as the sole path to God, and His call for our obedience, which is a progressive journey of transformation.

3. The Choice Between Jesus and Self:
The crowd's choice of Barabbas over Jesus symbolizes the daily choices we face between following Jesus or our own desires. Barabbas represents our sinful nature, deserving of punishment, yet Jesus took our place. Choosing Jesus means acknowledging our need for His sacrifice and embracing the righteousness He offers, rather than relying on our own merits.

4. The Injustice of Jesus' Trials:
The trials of Jesus were fraught with legal and moral injustices, yet He responded with humility and love. This teaches us about the nature of true justice and the power of responding to injustice with grace. Jesus' example calls us to trust in God's ultimate justice and to respond to wrongs with love and humility, even when faced with persecution or misunderstanding.

5. Standing in Barabbas's Shoes:
Reflecting on Barabbas's release in place of Jesus invites us to see ourselves in Barabbas's position. We are guilty, yet Jesus took our place, offering us freedom and life. This profound exchange calls us to live in gratitude and transformation, recognizing that our freedom is not earned but given through Jesus' sacrifice. It challenges us to live as people who have been set free, embracing the righteousness of God.

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

**Bible Reading:**
- Luke 22:66-71
- Luke 23:1-25
- 2 Corinthians 5:21

**Observation Questions:**

What were the accusations brought against Jesus during His trials before the Sanhedrin, Pilate, and Herod?
How did Jesus respond to the questions and accusations during His trials?
What was the crowd's reaction when Pilate offered to release Jesus instead of Barabbas?
What legal and moral injustices were present in the trials of Jesus as described in the passages?

**Interpretation Questions:**

How does the behavior of the religious leaders during Jesus' trials reflect the danger of self-righteousness in religious practices?
What does it mean to believe Jesus' words and teachings, rather than just believing in Him as a historical figure?
In what ways does the choice between Jesus and Barabbas symbolize the choices we face between following Jesus or our own desires?
How does Jesus' response to injustice with humility and love challenge our understanding of true justice and grace?

**Application Questions:**

Reflect on your own religious practices. Are there areas where self-righteousness might be hindering your relationship with Jesus? How can you address this?
Consider the teachings of Jesus that you find challenging to fully believe or obey. What steps can you take to deepen your trust in His words?
Think about a recent decision where you had to choose between following Jesus or your own desires. How did you make that choice, and what would you do differently now?
How can you respond with humility and love when faced with injustice or misunderstanding in your own life?
In what ways can you live in gratitude and transformation, recognizing that your freedom is a gift through Jesus' sacrifice?
Identify a specific area in your life where you need to embrace the righteousness offered by Jesus rather than relying on your own merits. What practical steps can you take this week?
How can you actively remind yourself of the profound exchange that took place when Jesus took your place, much like He did for Barabbas?

Sermon Quotes

"Does your practice of religion inhibit your following of Jesus? When our hearts pursue self-righteous religion, we become our standard of holiness. Have you passed judgment on who Jesus is?"

"The trials before Jewish authorities showed the degree to which the Jewish leaders hated Him, carelessly disregarding many of their own laws. They were blinded by their own self-righteousness."

"Do you believe Jesus? The question is not just about His existence but about believing what He said. Do you believe what He said is true and all that He said is true?"

"Jesus demands your obedience. His grace is displayed in that this obedience is progressive and not instant, dealing with the work in the heart as well."

"Barabbas is you and me. Barabbas was guilty and Jesus was innocent. Barabbas went free, and Jesus went to the cross. Jesus paid the price for us."

"Jesus is the only way to God. When He says He is the only way, He means anything you try to add to help or justify yourself impedes you from God."

"The crowd chose Barabbas, but who do you choose? Do you choose Jesus or yourself? This choice reflects our understanding of grace and redemption."

"What is on trial is not did Jesus exist; what is on trial is what did Jesus say? Do you believe Jesus and the truth of His words?"

"Look at how Jesus responded through this entire horrific ordeal: humility and love. He allows them to pass judgment on who He is."

"Things Jesus said that we struggle to believe: He is authorized to forgive, has power over Satan, and demands our obedience. Do you believe these truths?"

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