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This Lent, we’ll journey through the Gospels to experience Jesus’ ministry all the way to the cross. We’ll immerse ourselves in Scripture and prayer, meditating on our Savior Jesus and the upside down kingdom He reveals to us on every inspired page.
Each day you’ll read a passage of Scripture, an imaginative devotional on the reading, and be invited into a time of movement or prayerful breathing.
Please share your thoughts, prayers, and your takeaways with us in the comments!
Table of Contents
Come To The Water: Matthew 3:1-2
“In those days, John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Matthew 3:1-2
This Lent, we’ll journey through the Gospels to experience Jesus’ ministry all the way to the cross. We’ll immerse ourselves in Scripture and prayer, meditating on our Savior Jesus and the upside down kingdom He reveals to us on every inspired page. We’ll begin our journey at the Jordan River where John the Baptist invites us to come to the water for a baptism of repentance.
Imagine standing on rocky, sandy soil before the Jordan River. As the water flows, you see John the Baptist walk into the water in his camel hair garment and leather belt, followed by a line of others. Some with slightly confused looks, others crying, others holding the hands of children. You remember how your ancestors once crossed this same river to get into the Promised Land. This is the river where God led them to salvation from the Egyptians and into a land flowing with milk and honey. But it doesn’t seem so promised anymore. Will going through this water bring you some kind of rescue too?
You begin to walk to the water. It feels odd that you aren’t carrying a sacrifice to the priest as a sin offering, nor is it the Day of Atonement when the Temple and all God’s people are cleansed from our sins. Still, it isn’t hard to recognize your sinfulness, the places you’ve turned away from God. After you enter the water and confess your sins, John plunges you into the river. You feel the water rush into your ears and get into your nose. But as soon as a panic begins, you rise to the surface. You feel cleansed, but something is missing. There must be more.
With knowing eyes, John looks at you and says, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (3:11). Suddenly, John’s eyes focus on someone behind you. You turn and see Jesus.
Though we are at the part of the redemption story after Jesus’ first coming, we begin at John’s baptism because it echoes the invitation of repentance and humility during the Lenten season. During these 40-days, Jesus invites us to come to the water with our sins, baggage, guilt, and questions. He invites us to see our world through His eyes and for us to see the greater reality of His Kingdom breaking through. So, come close and keep your eyes open; for what you seek, you will find.
Mind: Don’t let your guilt run on a loop, confess it to Jesus.
Soul: Jesus forgives you of all your sins!
Body: Sit tall in your chair, feel the weight of your bottom in the chair. You are supported by the Love of God.
Additional Movement: #455: REVING The Word: “Living Water” (Genesis 1) – Intervals
Jesus Emptied Himself: Philippians 2:5-7
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:5-7
In a world where you can have it all at the click of a button, self-denial is really challenging. The moment you say no to one desire, a thousand ads pop up on your phone for new products that you can’t live without. If we’re not vigilant, we can go days without recognizing our dependence on God.
As Scripture and prayer moves our heart into a posture of repentance, fasting can move our bodies into a posture of greater dependence on the Lord during the Lenten season. Whether you are led to do a short, full fast, or a longer element fast, you get to share in Jesus’ self-denial as He bore the limits of humanity and died to give us life. He served when He could have seized power and reigned, He died when He could have called for swift and complete judgement on the world. This is the King we serve and follow!
Now, you may not feel the the great spiritual benefits of fasting on the first, or the third, or the fifth time you do it. You may not feel the peace and gentleness that Jesus displayed every day He walked on the earth. Instead, you may feel cranky, obsessive and find yourself longing for the food you gave up instead of Jesus. But, if you allow it, with prayer and perseverance that hunger can yield a space for God to fill with His compassion, love, and heart for His broken world. So, let’s join together to deny ourselves and depend on Christ, our true safety, comfort, and Savior!
Mind: Pay attention to the swirling thoughts in your mind.
Soul: Jesus denied Himself to save us.
Body: Write today’s verse on a notecard and recite it out loud anytime your hunger tempts you to draw away from God.
Additional Movement: #504 – REVING The Word: Lectio Divina- Philippians 2:5-11 (Endurance)
Miracles Restore People: Mark 5:29
“And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.” Mark 5:29
Let’s continue our Lenten journey through the Gospels in Mark 5 where Jesus heals a woman who has been bleeding for 12 years. According to Mosaic Law, she would be considered unclean, not allowed to “touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed” (Leviticus 12:4). In addition, her continuous bodily discharge would cause anyone who touches her and anything she touches to become unclean (Leviticus 15). In short, she may have been ostracized, without a husband, and had no way to support herself. Until, she hears about Jesus.
Imagine yourself in the crowd pressing in on Jesus. Maybe you need healing or you just want to hear from the man everyone is talking about. You recognize some friendly faces in the crowd, your family members or friends. You also recognize the beggars who sit or stand at the entrances to the Temple. You wonder why Jesus would let them come close to Him. What could He possibly do for them?
You keep moving with the crowd and suddenly, you come close to Jesus. You look to the side and see a woman hunched over, a trickle of blood under her feet. She kneels at Jesus’ back and touches the hem of His robe. You’re afraid she will get trampled, but suddenly she stands, her face glowing, her eyes wide. Jesus turns to her, talking about feeling power come from Him. His disciples look confused, then Jesus locks eyes on the woman. She says she has been healed. She is restored to a new life!
This is one of the many miracles that we are told about in the Gospel of Mark. As we read about these miracles, it is easy to forget the purpose of these supernatural acts of God. If we miss the purpose of the miracles, we may miss the ultimate purpose of Jesus. Is God just showing off? Is this just one method to show Jesus’ divinity? How do the miracles fit within Jesus’ message? Scot Mcknight in his book, “Open to the Spirit,” writes, “Miracles, again speaking generally, are not done to prove the truth about God or about Jesus Christ…Any glance at the many records of Jesus’ miracles in the Gospels reveals what the miracles normally do: They restore people” (153).
This miracle is not just a show of God’s power or even to prove who He is. Instead, His miracles line up with His message to proclaim, “The kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 10:7). As we know from other parts of Scripture, the kingdom of heaven is where God rules and reigns, where there are no tears, no pain, and no death (Revelation 21). It is a place shining with the presence of God and all the good things He made. As Jesus walked on earth healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, feeding thousands, and dying on the cross, He was displaying the Kingdom of God on earth! He was giving us a glimpse of the resurrection life we will have upon His return.
And Jesus hasn’t stopped restoring people. Keep your eyes open to see the work of God around you today. As you fast, pray for God to restore the broken, sick, and lost people in your city. Then, be Jesus’ hands and feet today.
Mind: Remember that in Christ, you are redeemed!
Soul: God is still restoring people today.
Body: Look around and give God thanks for one thing you see.
Additional Movement: Michele’s Rev on the Mat “Walking in the Healing”
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Will You Surrender?: Luke 18:24-25
“Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, ‘How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’” Luke 18:24-25
In the West, money and stuff provides a sense of security. The more money you have, the less you’ll get knocked down by changes in the market. The more stuff you have, the more freedom you’ll have. At least, that’s what we want to believe.
While the certain rich ruler in Luke 18 didn’t have access to the abundance of Amazon or a money-multiplying stock market, he was very wealthy, and he didn’t want to let go. With kindness and truth, Jesus didn’t mince words, telling the man and His disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”
Whether or not you’re swimming in money, following Jesus requires surrender. John Mark Comer says, “To come under authority is to surrender (under your own free will and volition) your autonomy and control over your life to somebody else… and we hate that in the West.”
For some, it requires a surrender of their stuff to the poor or their money to the church. For others, it requires a surrender of their reputation or their idea of right and wrong. No matter where you fall, you are called to come under Jesus’ authority and trust Him with the outcome.
As we practice self-denial this Lent, let’s ask God to help us recognize the ways that we are not surrendering to Him. Then, let’s be bold and ask for the Holy Spirit to help us do what seems impossible.
Mind: Remember that Jesus is your security, not things.
Soul: With God all things are possible.
Body: Inhale through your nose and exhale loudly through your mouth. Try this three times.
Additional Movement: Wes’s RevX Strength AMRAP “We Are Not Consumed”
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Jesus Overcomes Temptation: Luke 4:1-13
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.” Luke 4:1-2
Read Luke 4:1-13
Today on our Lenten journey, we wait in the wilderness and watch as Jesus is tempted by the devil. Imagine that you have just left the shores of the Jordan River after hearing a voice from the heavens saying, ““You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). You have little doubt that it was Yaweh speaking.
The woman next to you whispers to you that she saw a dove descend on Jesus. You remember reading in the Torah about the Holy Spirit hovering over the chaos waters at the beginning of Creation (Genesis 1:1). Was God doing something new again? Is this a new act of creation?
Almost as quickly as you saw Jesus enter the Jordan River, you see Him leave. As if He is following someone, Jesus begins walking to the barren wilderness without a bag, food, or water. By this time, most people have started their journey back home to the city. It’s getting close to dinner time and you feel your stomach rumble. But, you need to see where Jesus is going.
You wander far behind Jesus on the warm desert sand when suddenly Jesus stops and kneels. Nothing happens for hours. Nothing happens for days – 40 days to be exact. You go home every evening wondering what He is doing. Then, on the last day, the devil appears. Not as a cartoonish red devil with horns, but in a form much more sinister. He is surely not human, but he is more ordinary. His appearance more subtle than you imagined.
The devil offers Jesus bread, then authority, then asks Jesus to display His power for all to see. Jesus is there and gone and back again. You can’t see or comprehend all that happens before you, but in the end Jesus is alone. The devil is gone. Suddenly, wild animals and angels are attending to Him (Mark 1:13).
You walk away astonished and dumbfounded. Did Jesus really deny the temptation of the devil? Did He do what Adam and Eve could not? What does this mean for you?
Mind: Remember, you are not enslaved to sin.
Soul: Jesus overcame temptation by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Body: Gratitude exercise- Reflect on your day and give thanks for one thing.
Additional Movement: #547 REVING The Word: “Temptation Training” (Matthew 4-1-11) Lectio Divino – (Endurance)
Love is Worth It: Luke 5:10-11
“Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” Luke 5:10-11
Much of the season of Lent is defined by sacrifice and self-denial. No matter how imperfectly you observe these 40 days, by the end your heart, mind, body, and spirit has experienced some level of the cost of faith, the cost of God’s love on the cross.
But, we know the season of the Lent doesn’t end with an empty tomb. So, even as we practice self-denial and repent of our sins to God, we can be filled with joy as we exchange death for life. We exchange momentary pleasures for treasures that no moth will destroy. We exchange fruitless habits for disciplines that connect us to the Vine. We exchange our hearts of stone for hearts of flesh. This is Great Exchange that Simon Peter and the other disciples experienced on the Sea of Galilee the day they met Jesus.
After fishing all night with no catch, Simon Peter, James, and John, are exhausted and most likely discouraged. Fishing is their livelihood, their source of income and security. Yet, they caught nothing. Now, a strange, unfamiliar man asks them to push their boat out into the water so He can teach a crowd of people growing on the shore. He isn’t a rabbi from town and He doesn’t wear the garments of a Pharisee. But He spoke with such authority that no one looked to the right or the left.
When He finished, Jesus asked the fisherman to push the boat into deeper waters and to throw their nets for a catch. They obeyed and caught the catch of their life. As they approached the shore, Simon “fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’” (v. 8).
Instead of retreating from Simon’s broken humanity, Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” (v. 10). The Great Exchange. Peter and his friends left the boat and followed Jesus. They exchanged the lives they knew and understood for a life that they could not begin to fathom on the shores of the sea of Galilee. But this exchange would be worth it because Love is worth it.
Mind: Remember Jesus is worth the cost.
Soul: Jesus is a treasure!
Body: Drink some water and give thanks to God for giving you His living water.
Additional Movement: #393 Be Still & Be Loved: A Good Portion (Luke 11:38)
The Depth of Jesus’ Heart: Luke 7:11-17
“As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’” Luke 7:12-13
Read Luke 7:11-17.
As we walk with Jesus to the cross, it is helpful to remember His humanity. He wasn’t simply God shapeshifting into the form of a human being. Or, the Spirit of God in some disposable body, like a body snatcher.
Jesus is fully human and fully God. He was conceived, born, and experienced all the stages of development from baby to teenager to man. He experienced the full range of emotions and all the bodily processes that you do. He had friends, family, endured pain and experienced joy. His body is essential to His mission to love and restore the world into what it was meant to be. Just as your body is essential to God’s call on your life.
It is moving to meditate on Jesus’ humanity and emotions on full-display in stories like this, from Luke 7:11-17. Imagine you are in the crowd of mourners, following a widowed woman who has just lost her son. You and the others are walking to the tombs to lay her son to rest. You knwo that today will not be this widows only day of sorrow.
Her future is bleak to say the least. No husband. No son. Who will protect her? Who will provide? Where will she live? How long before you see her begging at the Temple gates? The questions make you weep harder.
As the group moves closer to the city gates, you see a man approach. He isn’t from Nain, but you wonder if He is the man you’ve been hearing about. The one who reads the Scriptures with authority and the one who heals the sick.
You see his eyes take in the scene. His face seems to draw in the sorrow that surrounds Him. His gaze stops at the widow and her son carried on the bier, and he walks toward them. With all the tenderness and compassion of a father to his child, Jesus reaches out his hands to cup the face of the weeping widow before Him, saying, “Don’t cry.”
Her eyes meet His as the tears stop flowing. The next moments seem unbelievable. Jesus stops the bearers from moving a step further. He calls out to the dead man to get up, and seconds later, the man gets up! You and the rest of the crowd are in disbelief, but a shout and a praise rise up in you, “God has come to help his people.”
From His own compassion and love, He has restored the life of this widow. What else has He come to redeem?
Mind: Remember Jesus has compassion for you!
Soul: God is healing and restoring lives now.
Body: Breath Prayer – Inhale: Jesus’ heart, Exhale: Goes out to me
Additional Movement: Alisa’s Flexibility “Life Support”
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Prayer for the Persecuted: 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5
“Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.” 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5
According to Christianity Today’s, “50 Countries Where It’s Hardest to Follow Jesus in 2023,” “More than 5,600 Christians were killed for their faith last year. More than 2,100 churches were attacked or closed. More than 124,000 Christians were forcibly displaced from their homes because of their faith, and almost 15,000 became refugees.” At the top of the list of dangerous countries for Christians are Sub-Saharan Africa, North Korea, and China.
Let’s pray together for our brothers and sisters in Christ who face persecution for their faith. They show us how to bear the heavy love of the gospel with hope, resilience, and love.
Dear God, we lift up the men, women, and children who are persecuted for their faith around the world. We ask you to protect them from attacks, terror, and displacement. We ask you to hide them from the face of danger. Lord, protect them in your mercy and love.
Jesus, we lift up those displaced from their homes and separated from their churches. The isolation from their families and other people of faith can cause hopelessness and despair. Lord, we ask that you guard their hearts and minds from the despair of loneliness. Whisper your words of love and encouragement in their hearts as they endure the challenges of each day. Bring them into a haven of fellowship and peace while they await reunification with their people.
Father, we lift up the scattered sheep of Your flock; the pastors, priests, ministry leaders, and congregations of churches that have been shut down. We pray God, that they may find one another again for the worship of You and for the benefit of their towns, villages, and cities. We pray that you build them up, even if their buildings have fallen. We pray that you remind them of the Cornerstone who holds them upright. We pray that one day all these churches will be rebuilt, and these nations will find healing.
Lord, let Your Holy Spirit remind your suffering children of the love and reward you have for them. Let the truth of your gospel strengthen them and hear our prayers, dear Father; for you are the Holy One, you are our Prince of Peace! Amen!
Mind: Ask the Holy Spirit to bring a group of persecuted Christians to your mind, that you may pray for them today.
Soul: God hears your prayers.
Body: Kneel- Take 30 seconds to kneel (or sit tall with palms open) in surrender to God, knowing that the truth of the gospel is worth any trial.
Additional Movement: #313 Be Still & Be Loved: Trust & Lean (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Jesus Bears the Heavy Cross: Matthew 26:1-2
“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ‘As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’” Matthew 26:1-2
As we near Holy Week, let’s meditate on Jesus willingness to bear the heavy cross because of His love for us. In the beginning sections of Matthew 26, Jesus is two days away from His crucifixion. He had just told His disciples three parables about two groups of people: those who trust God and those who reject Him.
In this short section of Matthew 26:1-5, we get a glimpse of both groups – Jesus’ disciples listening to their friend and Lord and the chief priests and elders plotting to kill Jesus before the festival. It is a sobering scene. You might imagine the disciples are filled with a mix of fear, confusion, and sorrow. Do they still think this could never happen to Jesus (Mattew 16:22)? Would it be better for them to fight back (v. 51) or just put their allegiences on the side of power (v. 14)? Would they be like sheep or like goats (Mattew 25:31-46)?
Although the disciples and the chief priests had a limited understanding, Jesus knew what He was doing when He went to the cross. By His love and mercy, He endured an unjust death for both the people who trusted Him and the ones who rejected Him. As we approach the final days of Lent, read these passages in Matthew 25 and 26 carefully and imaginatively. If you believe in the work of Jesus on the cross, you are saved! But are you living like it’s true? Does your life reveal the hope of Christ and His Kingship in your life? Jesus is coming back! Make yourself ready, knowing He is a good Father who has restored and redeemed you by the blood of His only Son.
If you do not know Christ, it is never to late to know Him and put your trust in Him! He is your only salvation and the source of all that is good and holy! He loves you and desires to bring transform you into the man or woman you were created to be. By His death and resurrection, you can shake off the chains of sin and live a life of freedom– both now and forever!
As you meditate on Jesus’ love for you poured out on the cross, pray this prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the Cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.” (Prayer for Mission, Book of Common Prayer, 2019)
Mind: Remember you are a child of God
Soul: You are saved by the heavy love of Christ.
Body: Breath Prayer
Inhale: Your arms stretched out on the cross.
Exhale: Are your saving embrace.
Additional Movement: #634 REVING The Word: Prayer PART 4 – “Pray The Cross” Alisa Keeton (ENDURANCE)
Continue your Lenten journey using the Holy Week Devotionals found in the Lent Resource Guide!
Gabrielle Wenos (Platoon 21) is the Content Manager for Revelation Wellness. She loves creating resources for others to strengthen their faith and get into community. You can read her devotionals on the Revelation Wellness App!
Cultivate a Hunger For God
Did you know the Easter season is the Christian’s biggest celebration of the year? The day Jesus, the Lamb of God, rose from the grave is the day the changed the entire history and future of the world. The resurrection of Jesus is the event our faith hinges upon!
So, if Easter is so central to our faith, how do we celebrate it? And how does Lent fit in?
Learn about Lent and Easter and their traditions, read devotionals, and find other resources to help you deepen your faith through these seasons!
