With Easter fast approaching, I want to prepare my heart to fully experience and appreciate this year by spending time in scripture. I pulled together a list of these Top Ten Free Easter Devotionals so I can read passages that walk me through Easter week and help me to reflect on the deeper meaning of the cross. This year and last year look very different from Easter celebrations in the past. We’re more isolated and many are not able to celebrate in a group setting, so with these tools, despite the changes, I know this Easter you will have a heart full of peace, praise, and worship for our Lord.
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What is the meaning of Easter for a Christian?
I’m not going to dig into the meaning or history of the Easter Bunny. I did enjoy the candy in my basket every year when I was growing up, but I also have many memories of attending church on Good Friday and feeling the somber weight of what Christ endured in order to take the punishment for my sin. Even as a little kid, it really grieved me. I just couldn’t understand why God needed the sacrifice of His only Son to pay the price. Why not some other way?
The cross was only the beginning
As I pondered for a long time the “why” of Jesus’ death and the feeling of grief it brought to my heart, I missed focusing on the resurrection. I missed the faithfulness of the Father and His perfect plan of provision that we celebrate on Easter. After three days in the grave, Jesus rose from death and was alive again. He defeated sin and death. He completed the work of paying for my sin, your sin and all the sins past present and future for all who place their faith in Him. Amen!!!
New life is what we celebrate
Because of the first Easter miracle when Jesus rose from the dead, we too have new life when we believe. When we die, everyone goes to one of two places—heaven or hell. If you trust Jesus and believe that He died for your sin and took your punishment, His blood atones for your sins and you are a new creation. One that is free from the stain of sin and death. You have assurance that when you leave this earth, you will immediately be in the presence of the Lord. What assurance we have because of what Jesus did for us! My heart is full. How about you?
How do I make Easter special?
This time of year is a celebration, and a refocusing on Christ’s atoning sacrifice. You might think, “I already read my Bible and pray, should I do anything different during the season of Easter?”
There is great value in renewing and revisiting the last days of Jesus’ life on earth. Taking time each year to reread the Gospels and companion passages refreshes and deepens your faith. It helps you truly reflect on the meaning of the cross, what the Lord endured and how beautifully the resurrection impacts all people for all eternity.
Where do I begin?
Spending time in scripture blesses you as the Lord speaks through it directly to you. Take some time beginning on Ash Wednesday to read through the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Try reading the same passage in other translations or versions of the Bible. Sometimes it’s also helpful to read it in a paraphrased translation such as “The Living Bible or The Message.”
As you read, pause and reflect and ask yourself questions about what’s going on, who’s speaking, what do you learn from it, how can you apply it to your own life?
Here’s an example from Luke 22:34:
Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
As I come across this passage, I find that Jesus is speaking to Peter shortly before His arrest. He tells Peter what is about to happen. I’m sure Peter never thought that he would deny Christ. He loved Him with all of his heart. But that’s exactly what happened. As I ponder how this applies to my own life, I might ask myself “How do I deny Christ?”, “In what ways am I like Peter and how will I pray in advance of this weakness?” Asking yourself questions and applying scripture to your own life helps you set aside your selfish desire and draw closer to God.
Devotional Materials–Top Ten Free Easter Devotionals
If you’d like a more guided approach, On Calvary’s Hill: 40 Readings for the Easter Season by Max Lucado is an excellent book with a reading for each of the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday. Or Journey to the Cross: A 40-Day Lenten Devotional by Paul David Tripp is a new book that also gives you daily scripture and devotions to read leading up to Easter.
Top Ten Free Easter Devotionals – Holy Week Resource
I put together a one-page resource to hone in on passages just for Holy Week. Each day put yourself in the place of Jesus and the disciples as you begin on Palm Sunday and the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Then reflect on scripture passages each day in the last week leading up to the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord. May your mind and heart be moved in a fresh new way as you read these familiar passages again.
How should I pray?
As you read and reflect, ask the Holy Spirit to help you take in what God wants you to learn. Ask Him to open your mind and heart to help you know Him more and have a more vibrant relationship with Him. He will be faithful to do just that, and it will lead you to more specific prayers for yourself and others.
Some Resources for Kids
For my Top Ten Free Easter Devotionals, let’s start with a couple for the family.
- The free downloadable resource above from Inspired and Refreshed is perfect for children and adults. You could read the passages together and have great discussion and teaching time to help them connect the importance of the resurrection. I’ve also written an excellent resource to help your kids study the Bible on their own—any passage! It’s amazing! The Kids’s Bible Study Toolkit.
2. Another resource from churchleaders.com has “devotionals to help teens prepare their hearts and minds to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. They offer a look at the events surrounding Jesus’ last days on earth. Each day is interactive and will provide a solid Bible-based approach to helping teens focus on each day’s key takeaways from Scripture.”
3. From Rightnow Media – 5-Minute Family Devotionals for Easter Week
“Check out the 5-Minute Family Devotional from JellyTelly! Eight days of short video devotionals will help your family celebrate the importance of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection this Easter.”
More great devotionals for the Easter season
4. FROM CROSSWALK.COM- “A daily set or readings beginning 2/17 and going through Easter. Every day from Ash Wednesday until Resurrection Sunday, we’ll bring you one devotional from our archives about Easter, the miraculous joy of the Resurrection, confronting our guilt, or the resulting spread of God’s Church. Check back every morning as you thank the Lord for His gift of victory over sin and death!”
5. FROM CBN.COM – The best way to understand the real meaning of Easter would be from Jesus, in His three words … the new covenant. This article does a good job at explaining the meaning of Easter.
6. FROM TODAY DEVOTIONAL.COM – “As you celebrate the joy of Easter, let these short devotions remind you of the power and purpose believers have in Jesus’ death and victorious resurrection. Five short Easter devotionals to fill your heart.”
And a few more . . .
7. FROM LIFEWAY EASTER DEVOTIONALS–
- Week 1: Only through Jesus
- Week 2: No Christ Without the Cross
- Week 3: Approach the Father
- Week 4: Jesus Defeats Death
8. FROM BILLYGRAHAM.ORG – “Prepare for Easter—for Holy Week a devotional each day from Thursday through Sunday. Easter is a time when we celebrate God’s love and sacrifice for us. These meditations for the remaining days leading to Easter Sunday include reflections on Jesus’ death and resurrection. As you prepare your heart for Easter, find renewed meaning in these verses and insight from Billy Graham”
9. FROM CROSSWALK.COM – “What is Easter? Understanding the History and Symbols”
Also, this one from Crosswalk.com
10. MAXLUCADO.COM – “What happens when you die? An Easter meditation.”
I KNOW I PROMISED THE Top Ten Free Easter Devotionals, but I found this and it was too good not to include . . .
11. DESIRINGGOD.ORG – Make the Most of Holy Week
I pray that your Easter is a blessed time where you grow closer to the Lord and understand and know Him in a deeper way. God bless you, friend!
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