Introduction

This Lent, we have chosen to focus each week on one particular interaction that Jesus had with an individual or a group. Over the next several weeks, we will move from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry to His death on the cross. The season of Lent is traditionally a time to remember the suffering of Jesus, our sorrows, and our need for repentance and a Savior. The Scriptures we have chosen reflect these themes.

At least two of the four Gospels record all of our chosen stories. As you will see, though the stories may be the same, each writer describes what happened a little differently. They each give their unique perspective. In God’s inspiration of Scripture, He did not find these minor differences a problem. He wants us to learn from each person’s experience and understanding.

We have the same goal in this devotional. Our heart is to learn from the unique diversity of age, experience, gender, and ethnicity here at B4Church. To that end, we have asked a varied group of people to contribute to this book. Each week, you will read multiple reflections on the same story from the Gospels. We hope that by getting different perspectives on these stories, we will appreciate the beauty and diversity of our congregation and the family of God more broadly.

We hope that the Scriptures we have chosen, the reflections we have collected, and the questions we will pose to you each day will help you come to see Jesus and His Church with fresh eyes. May this Lenten season draw you closer to our Savior, closer to our church family, and closer to the person that God created you to be.