You’ve heard the phrase. Maybe you’ve used it yourself. “It was a real Damascus Road moment” — meaning something stopped you cold, turned you completely around, changed everything.

The expression has become so common that it’s easy to assume we already know the story. But the actual account in Acts is stranger and more unsettling than the phrase suggests.

Saul of Tarsus was not a confused man searching for meaning. He was not someone open to a new perspective. He was on his way to Damascus with legal authority to arrest followers of Jesus — to drag them back to Jerusalem in chains. He was certain he was doing God’s work. He was zealous, educated, and completely, catastrophically wrong.

Then the light. Then the ground. Then the voice.

And here’s where the familiar story gets unfamiliar: Jesus doesn’t ask Saul why he’s persecuting the church. He doesn’t ask why Saul is persecuting his followers, or his people, or his movement.

He says, “Why do you persecute me?”

Me.

Saul hadn’t laid a hand on Jesus. Jesus was risen, ascended, glorified. And yet — every believer dragged from their home, every family torn apart, every person imprisoned for following the Way — Jesus counted it as done to himself. He was so completely identified with his people that an attack on them was an attack on him.

That’s not just a comfort for people facing persecution. It’s a staggering claim about who Jesus is and how close he stays.

It means the lonely person sitting in the back of the church — Jesus is there. The believer nobody checks on — Jesus notices. The one who feels invisible, forgotten, like their suffering doesn’t register anywhere — Jesus says, that registers with me. That happened to me.

Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” — the right question, finally, after years of being certain he already knew.

Sometimes, the most important thing a Damascus Road moment does isn’t change our direction. It changes who we think we’re dealing with.

Father, open our eyes to how closely you identify with the people around us. Help us see that how we treat others — especially the forgotten and the struggling — is how we treat you. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Cliff McCartney

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

You are listening to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast written and produced by the people of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee.

Today is Easter Sunday when we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. It is the most important and most joyous day in the Christian calendar, and we are happy that you have joined us today.

The first Easter morning did not start with celebrations of Hallelujah! It began with sadness, followed by fear and confusion. A group of women went to tend to Jesus’ grave, still grieving from the horror of his crucifixion and likely in fear of encountering Roman soldiers at the tomb. On arrival, they found the stone rolled away and an empty tomb…Jesus’ body was gone. If that did not put them into shock, their encounter with an Angel, described as the appearance of lightning and clothes as white as snow must have completely frightened them. Then we hear the Angel speak:

He (Jesus) has risen, just as He said! Come and see for yourself and then go witness to the disciples. In fear and joy, the women delivered the message.

Jesus had risen, just as He said! And having appeared to the disciples, they too were charged to go and be a witness.

In 1739, Charles Wesley penned a hymn that has been sung during Easter services for the last 286 years.

In the last two thousand years since that first Easter, how many times have people encountered the risen Jesus, and having believed gone out to be a witness. I am one of them. On this Easter morning, I join with countless Christians to celebrate the risen Christ, to sing Hallelujah, praises to God. I celebrate the witnesses in my life, my parents and a faith community that led me to a relationship with Christ, accepting Jesus as the Savior who died on a cross for my sins. On this Easter morning and every Easter morning, we celebrate Christ the Lord has risen today.

When we sing our Hallelujahs, we provide a witness to others that Jesus has risen, just as He said. We are Easter people, we witness to the risen Christ who is still with us today. Hallelujah!

This devotion was written and read by Owen Ragland.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Welcome to our special Holy Week Podcast for Maundy Thursday.

The word “maundy” comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning command. The English word mandate comes to mind. This term Maundy Thursday helps us to recall Jesus’ mandate to remember Him, using the observance of Holy Communion/The Lord’s Supper…

Today’s scripture comes from two segments of Luke Chapter 22.

In this last supper gathering with his twelve closest disciples, Jesus knew what was coming and he made good use of every moment, and every word said at this meal. He wanted his disciples to understand how important his final instructions were. The disciples may not have known why Jesus said the bread was his body and the cup his blood, but we do.

As events unfolded, they would have remembered the strange words about bread as body and wine as blood. Perhaps their very first recollection of his commanding words filled them later that evening as they were with him in the Garden as he prayed.

We hear this part of the evening from our second scripture selection.

Perhaps the disciples heard his anguished prayer and even saw his bloody agonized sweat that stained his robe. As the evening came to its dreadful finale, with his arrest, they all ran away, leaving him alone with no support as the battalion of soldiers took him away.

I can imagine the disciples as they walked the floor or tossed and turned in their beds, sleepless that whole night. Perhaps the mandate from Jesus rang over and over in their ears – “This is my body. This is my blood. Remember me! Remember me!”

We know they did remember and thank God they wrote his stories and his words and their memories of him in the Gospels and letters in the New Testament, so we too can know and remember Him.

In the United Methodist Church when we observe Holy Communion services, we ask the Holy Spirit to be poured on us and on the gifts of bread and grape juice, that the bread and juice be for us the body and blood of Christ, so we, who receive them, may be for the world, the body of Christ redeemed by his blood.

So, friends, let’s lift up this Maundy Thursday prayer to our Lord Jesus to show Him and the world that we do remember and that we hope to LOVE as He loves, to live as He lived, always loving GOD and our neighbor.

Dear Loving Lord Jesus, who died on that cross for all of us – help us to always remember you and to follow your mandate to LOVE one another as you have LOVED us - not only on this Maundy Thursday but every day of our lives. In your Holy Name we pray, Amen.

This devotion was written and read by Bernice Howard.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Welcome to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast written and produced by the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. Thank you for joining us today. This is Holy Week, a time when Christians everywhere observe the days leading up to the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Christ. This week, we present a special set of podcasts that day by day, trace the activities and words of Jesus during this time. Again, thank you for joining us on this journey.

“Crucify him!”

“Crucify him!”

Years ago I heard a pastor ask while giving an Easter sermon “who do you most identify with in the resurrection story?” He then listed central characters: Peter, Pontious Pilate, the Pharisees. Afterwards I told him that it seemed to me that Barabbas, who he had not named, was the only choice I could make. He seemed surprised, but to me Barabbas represents all that I do not understand in the mysteries of grace and what I have been given. Barabbas was pardoned so that Jesus could make the most divine, powerful, and loving sacrifice ever made.

“Crucify him!”

In John 3:8 Jesus shares, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Just the other day, I saw a photo of mist on the water with gorgeous orange and pink hues in the sky. I thought to myself what a beautiful sunset. I wondered where it was. Then I read the caption and saw the location but also learned that it was a sunrise and not a sunset. In a photo, I could not sense east from west. In life, I do not know whether it is the beginning or the end. Who am I to say how or where the Spirit will move? I do not know what will be asked of me or of you.

“Crucify him!”

Jesus cried out on the cross the prayer of David in Psalm 22:1: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” but as we know God did not forsake him. He loved him above all others. Judas sat at the table with Jesus and said “surely you do not mean me, Rabbi?” Immediately after, Jesus shares the new covenant with everyone at the table. It is shared with Judas, and Peter, who denies Jesus three times before the cock crows, and now with all of us. Judas is a beloved child of God, and what a task he was given. Jesus knows and feels all that Judas is going to do, and he says to him in love, “What you are about to do, do quickly." The most infamous betrayer in history shared the cup with Jesus and his sins were forgiven because Jesus was crucified.

Abba, may we remember that all are beloved and are forgiven! We know in our heart that you do not forsake us even in our darkest moments, but let us remember it always. Let us also understand in our hearts that we should not cry out “Crucify him!” about any beloved child of God, but forgive us when we do it anyway. Your mysteries are great, and our understanding is small. When I look into the eyes of others and think I see Judas, may your spirit be with me so that I recognize Jesus. Amen.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Hello, and welcome to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee! I’m Grace Jonas, the reader and writer of today’s devotional, which I’ve entitled “By What Authority?”. Thank you so much for joining me on this Holy Tuesday! Now, I’d like to invite you to take a moment and pause with me as we meditate on today’s scripture:

If we expand upon this story further, Jesus counters this questioning by asking those who would question him: “tell me, John’s baptism, was it from Heaven or from human origin?” A question which the elders discussed among themselves, concluding that if they said it was from heaven, they would be asked why they did not believe him.

On the other hand, however, if they answered that it was of human origin, that they would be stoned due to the belief that John was a prophet. So, they answered that they did not know where it was from, and in response, Jesus said “neither will I tell you by what authority that I am doing these things.”

In this day and age, it can feel easy when faced with questions of authority such as “who told you that you could do this?” to resort to the response of being told by a parental figure or otherwise authoritarian figure to do a task. The historian in me would even go as far as to put the assumption out there that some would say that the tasks they are carrying out are pleasing to God, citing him as the one who gave them such authority.

But notice how instead of resorting to responses such as these, Jesus simply questions the men in return, asking them to think about a different angle, almost as if he is posing a riddle of sorts. Instead of caving, he stands strong, and when he is given an answer that they did not know the origins of John’s baptism, he opts that he will not tell them where his authority comes from that is allowing him to teach the good news within the temple. It can be implied and widely believed that his authority comes from none other than the grace of God, or in other words, from heaven, much as John’s baptism is implied to be from heaven.

Throughout this Holy Week, as we meditate on the scripture and the teachings of Jesus during his last week, let us remember that while it may be the authority of God and the heavens that allows us to act, not all may believe us, but we don’t have to justify that, we should simply strive to keep acting in a manner pleasing to God no matter what.

God, when we are faced with authority being put to question, help us to remember that the authority of heaven and your will is what matters and should influence our words and actions when others may doubt and question us. And help us to always remain unwavering in these beliefs. Amen.

This episode was written and read by Grace Jonas.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

In this scene, an event which is recorded in all four gospels, Jesus calls out injustice toward the poor and marginalized, and toward God. The temple, intended to be a place of reverence and worship, had become a mechanism of oppression. The poorest people, who could afford only the minimal sacrifice, were being taken advantage of the most. They were subject to price gouging, and because they had to exchange their currency for temple-approved coins prior to the sale—often at unfair rates—they were doubly wronged.

The money changers and merchants in the temple courts were participating in a system of social and divine injustice. Jesus, in overturning the tables and clearing out the temple, was protesting that system and its oppression of the vulnerable, under the guise of religious practice. In doing so, Jesus was also restoring the temple to its right purpose, realigning worship with God’s will and removing the barriers that kept people from experiencing God’s presence.

Religion at its best leads humanity closer to God and into personal and social holiness. Religion at its worst has, throughout human history, served as a means for some groups to suppress and disadvantage others, obstructing the relationship between humanity and God.

As we remember Jesus’ journey toward the cross during this Holy Week, and especially as we read of Jesus clearing the temple, I cannot help but think of those places Jesus might enter and clear out in righteous anger and indignation if he were here now. Where might Jesus be calling us today, as His followers, to go, turn over some tables?

Lord Jesus, forgive us when we, in our human frailty, have turned your house of worship into a den of thieves. Open our eyes to the ways our religious practice might serve to harm the vulnerable or to hinder those who seek you. Call us into those places where tables need overturning, that you might restore all your people into right relationship with you. In Christ’s name we pray, amen.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.