Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. (Luke 22:7-13)

In this section of Scripture, Jesus sent Peter and John with clear instructions but without a detailed roadmap. They didn’t have every step of the plan laid out, but they did have a command—go, and you will see. If you recall, this is similar to the situation from Palm Sunday when Jesus sent two disciples to fetch a donkey. He didn’t just send them, He equipped them with the words they needed to say when they would be questioned. Both situations required obedience before fully understanding. God often calls us to step out in faith, trusting Him even when we can’t see the whole picture. Peter and John could have doubted or hesitated, but instead, they obeyed. They went out and found it like Jesus had said.

Sometimes we can be tempted to wait around for the perfect plan to be revealed before we decide to move forward, hoping God will reveal every detail. But true faith requires us to act on what He has already told us. Like the disciples, we are called to go out and find it as He told us. God equips us for what we’ll encounter, but first, we must walk by faith in obedience.

The disciples didn’t know it yet, but this Passover meal was not going to be like any other. This was going to the be the last meal Jesus ate with them before He would be arrested and crucified. This was going to be the Passover where Jesus gave the fruit of the vine and the bread new meaning as a symbol of His body and blood being broken and poured out for them in the new covenant. And not only for them in that moment, but also for us to do in remembrance of Him long after He rose and ascended. Peter and John had an important command to obey, but in order to carry it out, they had to walk by faith and trust that what Jesus had told them was enough.

Walking by faith means stepping out, even when we don’t see the end result, simply because God told us to. It’s about trusting the One who knows all things and believing that His provision will be enough for us along the way. Today, let’s resolve to choose to listen, obey, and walk by faith.

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. (Luke 22:1-6)

This section of Scripture reveals a sobering reality—proximity to Jesus does not equal devotion to Him.

The chief priests and scribes, men who claimed to serve God, were blinded by their pride and hunger for control. Their fear of man outweighed their fear of God. They sought to eliminate Jesus, but only in a way that would not harm their political standing. Their hearts, though dressed in religious robes, were far from the righteousness of God.

Then we see Judas. He was one of the twelve—a man who walked with Jesus, listened to His teachings, and witnessed His miracles firsthand. He handled the money bag, but his love for money outweighed his love for Christ (John 12:6). His selfish heart remained unchanged despite years in Jesus’ presence. And in the end, his idolatry led to his downfall. Judas didn’t follow Jesus for Jesus—he followed Him for what he thought he could gain.

Judas’ betrayal reminds us that an unchecked heart can lead to devastating consequences. He wasn’t suddenly overtaken; he had been choosing greed over devotion for a long time. When the opportunity came, he asked the chief priests, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” (Matthew 26:14-15). He saw Jesus not as the Lord to be worshiped, but as a commodity to be traded. His self-seeking nature made him susceptible to the influence of Satan, who ultimately used him to fulfill his evil plans.

And yet, even in this betrayal, God’s sovereignty was at work. What Judas intended for evil, God used for the redemption of mankind. Jesus’ journey to the cross was set in motion, ultimately fulfilling the divine and foreknown plan of salvation.

This passage forces us to look inward and ask ourselves questions. Take a moment to ask yourself these really hard questions and get real with yourself and God, knowing He already knows your heart and wants to reveal and change any areas not yet right with Him. He loves you so much!

• Are you truly following Jesus solely out of love for Him, or are you at all seeking personal gain—status, recognition, or comfort?
• Are there idols in your heart that compete with your devotion to Christ, just as Judas’ love for money did? Sometimes we make our families, our ministry service, and even ourselves into idols.
• Do you fear God more than man, or do you, like the chief priests, make decisions based on how they will affect your earthly reputation?
• When you hear Jesus’ words, do you obey with a heart of humility, or do you ever twist them in your mind to fit your own ambitions? Sometimes this can look like applying His word to how we think others need it in their life, instead of applying it to our own life.

Scripture warns us to be watchful over our hearts, because “the heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9). None of us are immune to sin’s deception. Even those who are near to Jesus—who serve, who listen to sermons, who participate in church—can have hearts that remain unchanged if they do not truly surrender to Him.

The call is clear:

• Come humbly before God, asking Him to search your heart (Psalm 139:23-24).
• Seek God’s face, not just His hands—pursue His presence and being transformed in it, not just what He can give you.
• Repent of any idols you have before they lead you further from Him.
• Fear God above man—live in reverence and obedience, regardless of what it costs you.

We will give our lives one way or another – either now in humble obedience and adoration to God for His work of salvation in our life, or in torment paying the penalty for our own sin. Life in Christ, both here and in eternity, is far better than any amount of money, status, recognition, or comfort we could ever gain here. I encourage you today, choose the better portion of Jesus and guard your heart against anything that could disrupt you from it.

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:25-28)

It’s no secret that we’re living in the end times and that the world is in chaos. Nations are restless, the earth groans with disasters, and fear and anxiety grips the hearts of many. People look around and see only uncertainty, but Jesus calls His followers to look up.

Jesus told His disciples there would be signs and that those signs would cause many to faint with fear. But for those who belong to Him, these are not signs of despair – they are reminders of His promise. All the things we’re seeing in the world is signaling that the return of Christ is closer than before.

Fear is our natural flesh nature response to uncertainty, but Jesus calls us to a supernatural response of faith and courage. He tells us to straighten up and lift our heads, not because things will get easier, but because we know His return is sure. Our redemption is not something we’re grasping for—it is something that is coming for us. So why wouldn’t we be raising our heads in anticipation of Him?

If we don’t keep our eyes on Jesus, it’s extremely easy to be consumed by the troubles of this life. The news bombards us with stories of destruction, political upheaval, and moral decline – good is called evil and evil is called good. But Jesus reminds us that these things are temporary and He urges us not to be weighed down by fear or distracted by what’s going on in this life. Instead, He calls us to be eternal minded, focusing not on what is seen but on what is unseen and everlasting.

This world will not last forever, and we aren’t meant to make this earth our home – we’re merely sojourners, a bride awaiting her bridegroom to come take us to the place He’s been preparing for us. The pains and struggles we experience now are light and momentary, a vapor, and if we’re setting our hope on anything in this world, we will be disappointed. But if our hope is built on Jesus, the rock of our salvation, then we will not be shaken.

The apostle Paul had a clear vision of what awaited those who remained faithful. He wrote in 2 Timorthy 4:8 that there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Are we longing for His appearing? Or are we getting caught up in the things of this life, forgetting our status as sojourners, called with the mission of discipleship while we await His return? The awareness of His eminent return should stir us with eager anticipation and joy, with a reverent fear and desire to be found faithfully tending to our master’s business upon His return.

Jesus’ words warning us of what’s to come are not a call to panic, they’re a call to posture. Jesus told us these things to prepare us. When the world fears, we’re called to have faith. When others faint with worry, we’re called to stand with confidence. Jesus’ return is near, and for those who trust in Him, that is a day to eagerly anticipate. So when fear tempts you to believe that everything is falling apart, remember the truth that it’s actually everything falling into place. Prophecies are being fulfilled and our King is coming, so in the midst of uncertainty right now, we can trust God and live each day with eternity in mind.

Be encouraged as you see these things taking place. Straighten up. Raise your head. Because your redemption is drawing near.

But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. (Luke 21:12-16)

Jesus had been speaking about the end times and now He was warning His disciples that persecution would come, and we too should expect it. He told them that they would be delivered up, betrayed, and even hated for His name’s sake. After all, Jesus was delivered up, betrayed, hated, and killed, and as followers and ambassadors of Him – shouldn’t we expect the same kind of treatment for His name’s sake? Yet, He gave them an unexpected command for when they were faced with those trials: “Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer."

The natural response to pressure, conflict, and betrayal is to rehearse our defense, to ruminate on every possible outcome – all to grasp for control in some way. But Jesus tells us not to. Instead, Jesus gives us a personal promise that He Himself will give us the words to speak. He assures us of grace and wisdom in those moments of trial. And let’s be honest with ourselves anyway - in what situations when we’ve tried to control everything and plan out what to say, have we been an effective witness for Christ? We can’t be, because apart from Him we can do nothing. But Jesus said this would be our opportunity to bear witness, not justify ourselves before men.

This is a call to trust, not to strategize. Our goal in the midst of persecution and trial is not to be securing a particular outcome – regardless of whether we’re being faced with deliverance or suffering, life or death. The goal is to completely trust God in the journey, continue walking in obedience with Christ no matter where the path leads. Some will live, some will die, but nothing is outside God’s sovereignty. We can say with full conviction in the Spirit, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) because we know that “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15).

Rather than meditating on what to say in the face of opposition, we are called to meditate on the Word of God and to let the joy of the Lord be our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). When trials come, we don’t need to fear or frantically prepare, we only need to keep doing what Jesus has told us to do – abide in Him. The same God who promises to give us words to speak, is the One who promises to walk with us through those moments.

Our hearts and minds can be completely settled and at peace in the Lord when we stay focused on Him. When we’re tempted to endless rumination, may we cry out to the Lord to teach us to trust in His promises to give us wise words and to keep our spirits safe in Him until the end. As Paul wrote from prison, may our heart and perception be aligned with this too – as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:20-21)

And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” (Luke 21:5-9)

As some were marveling at the grandeur of the temple, Jesus gave them an unexpected heads up in prophesying that the destruction of the temple would come. Could you imagine the shock? They asked the obvious question on their minds as they asked, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” But Jesus’ response didn’t focus on exact dates; and instead He focused their attention on how they should live in uncertain times: Don’t be deceived and don’t be afraid.

Jesus warned that many would come claiming to be the Messiah, leading people astray. And history confirms this – false prophets have misled so many people with promises of salvation, political revolutions, and doomsday predictions; and yet Jesus’ words remain extremely clear: “Do not go after them”. Our hope is in Christ alone, not in well-spoken and persuasive leaders, cultural movements, or hyped-up trends that claim to have all the answers.

Jesus also cautioned against fear when we hear about wars and turmoil going on in the world. Jesus said that these things must happen, but that the end will not be at once. The world’s instability and end-times chaos can be frightening, but Jesus doesn’t leave us in uncertainty. He has already given us the heads-up, so to speak, so that we will stand firm and trust Him until the end.

Jesus is not only the Author of our faith, He’s also the Finisher of it (Hebrews 12:2) and He will complete what He began in us and bring us safely home. He is sovereign over history, over every storm, over every war, and has equipped us to not be led astray by deception. The world may shake, but He remains unshaken. We don’t need to panic or chase after every sign, we just need to trust our God fully.

I’ll leave you with this encouragement from the Psalms: I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. (Psalm 16:8-9)

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:1-4)

As Jesus sat watching the temple treasury, His heart must have been lifted by the sight of a poor widow offering her last two coins. He had just endured relentless questioning from the scribes, chief priests, and Sadducees with deceitful motivation, yet here was an act of pure devotion by a poor widow giving all she had. Her small offering spoke louder than the wealth of the rich.

Jesus sees us when we give. He notices the amount, but what He is really looking at is our heart and motive in giving. The widow’s two coins, worth only about 1% of a day’s wage, could have easily been divided—one for God, one for herself. Yet, she gave it all to God. And God wasn’t measuring her gift by its size but instead He measured it by the depth of her trust in God.

Jesus declared that she gave more than all the others combined, not because of the amount, but because of the cost to her. True generosity is not about abundance but rather it’s about sacrifice. King David understood this when he said, “I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24). God does not seek for us to give out of guilt or obligation. Paul told the church in Corinth that each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). God wants us to have a heart that delights in trusting Him and therefore gives cheerfully.

I have experienced not knowing where the next paycheck will come from, and maybe you have too, but I’ve never experienced being literally down to my last 2 cents. Yet regardless of what financial situations we’ve faced in our lives, this widow’s offering is a challenge to us. Do we wait to give to God until we have more to give from? Or do we give in faith, trusting that God sees and provides? Jesus’ observation and comment about the widow’s gift shows us that the heart behind the giving is what determines the value of the gift more than the financial amount.

Our giving – whether time, talent, money, or any other resource – never goes unnoticed by God. Our genuine faith is more precious than gold that perishes (1 Peter 1:7). Whatever you surrender and sacrifice to God in faith, no matter how small, is precious in His sight. As we determine what to give God, let’s not measure our gift by the value the world may place on it, but instead let’s focus on giving from a right heart before our Lord.

But he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is David’s son? For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?” And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” (Luke 20:41-47)

In this instance, Jesus challenged the religious leaders’ understanding of the Messiah. These leaders had prided themselves on their knowledge of Scripture, yet they failed to grasp who Jesus truly was. They assumed they had all the answers and knew the truth, but they failed to see Truth standing in front of them. And when Jesus spoke truth with authority, they hated Him for it and were stirred with so much jealousy, they wanted to kill Him. In the same way, we must be careful not to think we have everything figured out, especially when it comes to God – pride blinds us to truth.

Jesus then warned His disciples about the scribes, exposing their desire for honor, status, and recognition by specific examples in their behavior. The scribes used their positions and titles for personal gain, taking advantage of others, like widows, while appearing righteous and likely even self-deceiving of how spiritual they really were. The truth of the matter is that the scribes focus was on being exalted in this life, but Jesus made it clear that those who live life that way would receive a greater condemnation.

If our goal is to gain status, admiration, or earthly rewards, then that is all we will receive. But if we live for Christ, surrendering our pride and our selfish ambition, we will gain something far greater – Him. Paul said in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” The question is, are we seeking temporary glory of our own in being driven by our pride, or are we living for God’s glory being driven by humble submission to Him, knowing that one day we’ll gain being with Christ for eternity?

Let’s take a quick moment to do a heart check, just you and the Lord:

• Do you seek recognition, acknowledgement, or thanks, or do you serve in humility solely for the glory of God?
• Do you act spiritual for others to see, putting on a persona of Christianity afraid that others might not see you as a mature Christian, or do you truly hunger for God and obey His words to grow deeper and more mature in Him?

Let’s not settle for fleeting praise and waste time acting like we think we “should” just to gain the perception and opinions of others – instead let’s live for Christ alone, knowing that in the end, HE is our greatest reward.