Today’s Reading:
Read Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 11:55-12:11; Matthew 21:1-22; Mark 11:1-25; Luke 19:28-48; John 12:12-36; John 2:13-25
Parents, choose a familiar item to describe to your kids. Don’t tell them what it is. Use descriptive words or specific memories that your family might have about this item to see if you can get your kids to guess what you’re describing. (This item is red and is a fruit. It is the thing that Suzie was eating when she lost her tooth.) Give as many descriptive details as possible and then allow your kids to guess. The more details we give, the easier it is to guess the answer, right?
In our reading today, Jesus began to fulfill specific prophecies that the Jewish people knew would happen when the Messiah came. Knowing the Jewish law, the people would begin to recognize who Jesus was because of all that He was doing.
Mary recognized that Jesus was the Messiah and wanted Him to be honored so she anointed His head with an expensive perfume. Some people questioned her, but Jesus explained that her gift was a good thing because it showed that she knew who He was.
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to celebrate Passover fulfilled a prophecy from Zechariah 9:9. (Open your Bible up to the Old Testament and read that verse. Do you notice any similarities with today’s reading?) Jesus rode into town on a donkey and the people honored Him by shouting Hosanna meaning they were recognizing Him as the Messiah. The Jewish leaders were not pleased with this. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was the beginning of what would lead to his crucifixion, which also would fulfill prophecy.
Application/Prayer:
Do you think you would recognize Jesus if He showed up to your church one day? Discuss as a family what characteristics or signs you would recognize to let you know for sure that He was Jesus. How would He act? What would He say? Ask God to help you see Jesus every day, even if you can’t see him physically! How can we tell Jesus is with us even though we can’t see Him?
Using the daily reading prompts from George H. Guthrie’s Read the Bible for Life, here’s how to use this devotional:
- Bring your Bible! Your kids need to see that everything you are reading to them or learning about comes from an actual Bible!
- Each day starts with a reading prompt. Read the selection as a family. If your kids are readers, encourage them to read along with you.
- After you’ve read the passage, read the short devotional thought that goes along with each passage.
- Prayer and application are important any time we read God’s word! After each devotional, there is a challenge to help apply what your family has read that day.
- There is a reading for six days of the week. The last reading of the week is a Gospel Conversation Prompt to help you connect the reading from the week with God’s plan for salvation.
Other Resources:
October memory verse coloring sheet
October Fill-in the blank activity