5 Day Sermon Devotional: The Last Hours of Jesus - Part 2

April 07, 2025

The Confusion

• John 12:20-26

• Isaiah 55:8-9

• Matthew 16:24-25

Devotional Thought:

When the Greeks came asking to see Jesus, it set off a response that didn’t answer their request directly. Instead, Jesus spoke about His coming death and what it means to follow Him. This moment of confusion isn’t just theirs—it’s ours too. We expect Jesus to operate on our terms. But He speaks of dying to live, losing to gain, serving to lead. It’s upside-down. The confusion isn’t because God is unclear; it’s because His way cuts against ours.

God isn’t playing games—He’s revealing a kingdom that requires surrender, not strategy. We come looking for a Messiah who fixes our problems, and He shows us a cross that transforms our perspective.

Self-Reflection:

Where am I trying to fit Jesus into my expectations instead of submitting to His?

April 08, 2025

The Judgement

• John 12:27-31

• Romans 8:1-4

• Revelation 20:11-12

Devotional Thought:

Jesus speaks of judgment—not in a far-off sense, but as something happening now. “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out” (v. 31). The cross is the dividing line. It judges the world’s system of power, pride, and self-preservation. And it breaks Satan’s hold on it.

Judgment doesn’t just condemn evil; it also reveals what is true and lasting. In Christ, judgment isn’t about punishment—it’s about exposing what saves and what doesn’t. The cross becomes both a mirror and a rescue mission.

Self-Reflection:

What parts of my life are shaped more by the world’s system than by the cross?

April 09, 2025

The Exaltation

• John 12:32-33

• Philippians 2:5-11

• Numbers 21:8-9

Devotional Thought:

Jesus says, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.” He’s talking about the cross. But “lifted up” also hints at glory. For Jesus, the cross isn’t a detour—it’s the throne. This is what divine exaltation looks like: not crowns and thrones, but nails and surrender.

That’s hard for us. We want resurrection without death, glory without cost. But Jesus shows us the path. His exaltation doesn’t bypass suffering—it transforms it. And from that place of being lifted up, He draws us in—not to admire from afar, but to follow closely.

Self-Reflection:

What does “lifting up” Jesus look like in my life today—and what might it cost me?

April 10, 2025

The Misunderstanding

• John 12:34

• Luke 24:25-27

• 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Devotional Thought:

The crowd doesn’t get it. They’ve heard the law say the Messiah remains forever—so how can Jesus talk about dying? They thought they understood the plan. But Jesus wasn’t the kind of Messiah they expected.

This isn’t just a first-century problem. Misunderstanding Jesus happens every time we try to shape Him into a version that fits our comfort or preferences. We want a Savior who conquers by force, not one who suffers by choice. But the cross tells the truth: victory looks like sacrifice. Power looks like humility. And love looks like loss—for a while.

Self-Reflection:

Where might I be misunderstanding Jesus because I’m clinging to my own version of Him?

April 11, 2025

The Darkness vs. The Light

• John 12:35-36

• Isaiah 9:2

• Ephesians 5:8-14

Devotional Thought:

Jesus warns: the light is here for a little while longer. Walk while you have it. Darkness isn’t just the absence of light—it’s the consequence of ignoring it. Jesus isn’t threatening; He’s pleading. Walk with the light or you’ll lose your way.

Light exposes. It also heals. Jesus calls us not just to believe in the light but to become children of light. That means allowing His truth to guide, correct, and shape us—even when it’s uncomfortable. The window isn’t open forever. His light is here now.

Self-Reflection:

Am I walking in the light—or just occasionally stepping into it when it’s convenient?