God Moves Us To Empty Ourselves

ApriL 2

Station 11: Jesus Promises His Kingdom to the Good Thief (Luke 23:39-43)

There were two criminals crucified alongside Jesus on the day He died. One of them made fun of Jesus. But the other one knew that Jesus had done nothing wrong. Because the man was a criminal, he thought that God didn’t love him. But Jesus loved the man very much, and promised him that he would be able to live in paradise with Him forever.

Station 12: Jesus Speaks to His Mother and the Disciples (John 19:25-27)

Jesus taught us that we are all part of God’s family. When He was dying on the cross, He asked His friend, John, to take care of his mother. And He asked His mother, Mary, to treat John like she would treat her own son. Even when Jesus was dying, He wanted to show us how to love and care for each other.

Read and reflect on the passages.

1. There are two thieves crucified next to Jesus. They talk to him with very different words. How would you describe their two points of view? Why didn’t Jesus save Himself?

2. What promise does Jesus give to one of the thieves? How does this promise change or not change that thief’s situation?

3. Jesus said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son,” and to His disciple, John, He said, “Here is your mother.” Why did He do that?


—David White

                                                            March 26

Stations of the Cross

Station 9: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem (Luke 23:27-28)

While Jesus was carrying His cross, He met some women from Jerusalem who were crying. They were very sad because they knew that Jesus was good person and did not deserve to die. Even though He was in incredible pain himself, Jesus stopped to comfort them and bless them.


Station 10: Jesus is Crucified (Luke 23:33-34)

Jesus came to teach us about God’s love. Jesus wanted us to listen to Him and follow His way. Some people did not like what Jesus was teaching them, and so they decided to crucify Him on the cross. But even on the cross, Jesus continued to teach us about God’s love. Because Jesus was crucified, we can now share eternal life with God.


Read and reflect on the passages.


1. How am I, this Lenten season, following Jesus on His path to the cross?

2. Once Jesus was nailed to the cross, what does Jesus say to the criminals on His right and His left, during the last hours of His life?

3. How do I want to respond to Jesus’ offer of forgiveness today?


—Andrea Taphorn

Ash Wednesday

God On the Move Lenten Devotional                                                                   Ash Wednesday
                                                                            1 March
Stations of the Cross

Ever since Jesus died and rose again, believers have been finding ways to reflect on Jesus’ journey from the Last Supper, to the Cross, to the Empty Tomb. Some of the earliest Christians were able to visit these sites and reflect on Christ’s amazing sacrifice. Even today, people travel to Jerusalem to “walk in the footsteps of Christ.” Although an incredible experience, it’s not practical to make that kind of annual pilgrimage to honor Jesus. Instead, we may enter into each stop or station of Christ’s journey by bringing those images to our homes and churches.

This year, UALC is utilizing an illustrated version of the Stations of the Cross based on specific verses from the Gospels. They are designed to be interactive and spark conversation amongst us, so together we may appreciate and celebrate that He is risen. He is risen indeed!

Station 1: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-41)

Jesus spent the night before He died with His friends at the Last Supper. He was very sad because He knew that one of His friends, Judas Iscariot, would tell lies about Him, and then turn Him over to be arrested. After dinner, Jesus took His three closest friends—Peter, James, and John—with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. But Peter, James, and John couldn’t even stay awake with Jesus while He prayed.

Station 2: Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Arrested (Mark 14:43-46)

When you betray a friend you hurt them by telling a lie about them. Judas was one of the twelve apostles, and one of Jesus’ friends. But he also betrayed Jesus by lying to the priests and police about who Jesus was. The priests gave Judas thirty pieces of silver in return for betraying Jesus. While Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas showed the soldiers where He was. Because Judas told lies about Jesus, Jesus was arrested.

Read and reflect on the passages.

1. What do you notice about Jesus’ experience in the Garden of Gethsemane? Why does it drive Him to tears?

2. Jesus commanded His disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” What can we learn from this?

3. If Jesus is innocent of all sin, why was He arrested?

—david white