Jesus: A 365-Day Devotional

By Zondervan

Jesus isn’t just found in the New Testament of the Bible—mentions and whispers and echoes of him can be found throughout the Bible. There are hundreds of clues and promises about Jesus in the Old Testament, which are fulfilled in the New Testament. This 365-day devotional for ages 8–12 unpacks those verses from the beginning of the Bible story to the wedding of the Lamb in Revelation. Each devotional includes a Scripture, an explanation, and a prayer for reflection to help children discover the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is a promised fulfilled for all of us. God promised he would send a deliverer, and he did. Jesus is ready and waiting for you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Oct 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9780310758082

Book preview

DAY 1

JESUS FOREVER

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

GENESIS 1:1

Can you say to a pile of building blocks or wooden boards, Form a house, and then watch them jump into place? Of course not. You have to pick up each piece and build the house with your hands. But God can speak anything into existence.

Before there was an earth, God was. He simply spoke, and the heavens and the earth formed. He created the stars in the sky and filled the oceans with water

God has always existed. In the beginning there was God, his Spirit (see Genesis 1:2), and his Son, Jesus. John 1:1 says that Jesus, called the Word, was not only with God in the beginning, he was God. Isn’t it amazing to know that Jesus existed as God even before the creation of the earth?

Many years after creation, Jesus left his home and his Father in heaven and came to live on earth. He came to die on the cross and rise from the dead so you could have eternal life with him and have a relationship with God.

As Jesus was present when the earth was first formed, he is with you now too. There has never been a time when Jesus wasn’t around and there never will be. Jesus will always be. Yesterday, today, forever—Jesus never changes.

Thank you, God, for creating a beautiful world. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for loving me so much that you came so that I might live. Amen.

DAY 2

MADE IN HIS IMAGE

Then God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.

GENESIS 1:26

Do you know what God looks like? Do you ever try to imagine what he looks like? The Bible says we are made in his image, but that’s hard to understand because we can’t see God like we can see ourselves when we look in the mirror.

How do we know, then, what the image of God truly looks like? By looking at Jesus. We don’t have actual pictures of Jesus, but his physical appearance isn’t what matters. That’s because the image of God means being created with the characteristics of God. The Bible tells us exactly how Jesus was God in human form. He loved all people perfectly. He was strong, kind, and good. He served others, forgave people, and never betrayed his friends. Everything about Jesus’ character showed us what God is like!

You were created in God’s image, in Jesus’ image. You were created to love God, to be loved by God, and to love as God loves. When you let God’s image shine through, you reflect the very image of Jesus!

Thank you, Jesus, that I am made in your image. I know that you love me. Help me to do my best to honor and love you and others. Amen.

DAY 3

JESUS TO THE

RESCUE!

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

GENESIS 3:15

Who is your favorite superhero? Someone who fights evil? Someone who saves the day? Even against the worst villain or in the face of the most horrible evil, the good guy always comes to the rescue.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they brought a villain into the world: sin. That’s why God sent Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, he took our sins with him. He took every sickness, every evil, and every sadness. He was victorious over everything we would ever face! Most of all, he defeated the devil right then and there. KA-POW! The devil never stood a chance.

While you are still on earth, you will continue to experience suffering and sin. But remember, no matter what the problem is, the battle has already been won. Jesus rescues you when you ask him to save you from sin’s grip! And then someday, you will live with Jesus forever in heaven, where there will be no more sin or pain or sadness or crying or death (see Revelation 21:4).

Jesus, thank you for rescuing me from sin. Thank you for loving me enough to die so that I can live with you forever. Amen.

DAY 4

THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT

Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering.

GENESIS 4:4

Think about your most valuable possession. Maybe it is a favorite video game, a brand-new bike, or a stuffed animal you can’t live without. Would you be willing to give it to God?

Abel gave God his best possession. Abel loved his sheep, and giving up the firstborn of his flock was hard. But he did it to please God.

You might be unable to imagine giving away your valuable possession like Abel did. But God understands what it’s like to give something away that is deeply loved. He gave his only Son so that we might be free.

God knew that nothing we could give him—no matter how precious or valuable—would ever be enough to pay the price for our sin because the wages (price) of sin is death. So he sacrificed his Son to die in our place.

The next time you look at your best possession, remember that it can never compare to God’s most valuable gift of Jesus.

Dear God, thank you for sending us your firstborn, your only Son. Thank you for paying my debt with that final sacrifice. Help me to give you all my love. Amen.

DAY 5

GOD’S PROMISE

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: Never again will I curse the ground because of humans.

GENESIS 8:20–21

In Noah’s time, the world had grown evil. It wasn’t the world God had intended. So, like a giant eraser to messy math homework, God brought the flood.

But Noah was a good man who had found favor with God. As a result God told him to build the ark, which would protect Noah and his family from the worldwide flood. The ark also protected an amazing number of animals.

Even though it probably didn’t make sense to build such a large boat, especially on sunny days before all that rain dumped down, Noah obeyed God. Because of his obedience, Noah’s family was saved.

Like Noah, Jesus obeyed God and did everything God asked of him, even the hardest thing of all: dying on the cross. Because of Jesus’ obedience, we are protected as one of God’s chosen people. Jesus covers our lives and shields us from the attacks of our enemy, Satan, who wants to destroy everything God has made.

After the flood, God set his rainbow in the sky to remind the people of his promise to never again flood the whole earth. When you see a rainbow, let it remind you of how Jesus’ sacrifice provides protection for you forever!

Father, thank you for your promises and the protection that Jesus gives to me. Amen.

DAY 6

GRANDPA ABE

The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing."

GENESIS 12:1–2

Have you or your family ever moved? Maybe you moved across the street. Maybe you moved across the country! Moving isn’t easy. In fact, sometimes it’s downright difficult. Moving means leaving behind people and places that you know and love.

Imagine what Abraham thought when God told him to leave his homeland of Ur for Canaan. We can’t be sure exactly how far it was between the two places, but some experts say the journey was probably close to 600 miles. Cars and trains didn’t exist back then. Abraham and his family walked to Canaan in their sandals! It was likely a difficult journey, but Abraham was a faithful man. When God called to him, he listened, and God loves an obedient heart.

Because Abraham was so faithful to God, God promised Abraham that his descendants would bless the world! And what a promise that would turn out to be. Abraham was the great-grandfather (plus 41 more greats) to the Savior of the world. What an honor—all because Abraham was faithful to God.

Abraham was a picture of what Jesus would be like. Jesus, too, would obey the will of the Father, and he would bring salvation to the world.

Lord, thank you for being so faithful. Help me to be faithful to you just like Abraham and Jesus. Amen.

DAY 7

GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDMA

I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.

GENESIS 17:16

Your mom or dad probably get buy one, get one free deals, for things like cheeseburgers or toothpaste, that they use for your family. Everyone loves getting double or extra of anything. Wouldn’t you love an extra game or ice cream for free?

Did you know that God’s blessings are better than any deal or sale? He says things like, You’ve got nothing, so I’ll give you thousands. For example, Sarah was ninety years old. She could not have children. So she needed the blessing of one really BIG God. Can you imagine how she must have felt when God told her husband, Abraham, that she would be the mother of many nations? Kings would be born from her!

Sarah might not have known it then, but she would go on to be the great-great-great-(many, many greats more)-grandma of the nation of Israel to and Jesus, the King of Kings.

The blessing of Jesus is the greatest deal of all. He gave everything to love and save us. All Jesus asks for is our hearts in return. That’s a deal!

God, it is amazing to think that your blessings are better than anything I can even imagine. Thank you for the greatest blessing of all, your Son Jesus. Amen.

DAY 8

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby . . . Then the LORD said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD?

GENESIS 18:2, 13–14

Have you ever been on a cell phone when your reception is bad? You may only hear every other word the other person says. Or maybe you can hear the person on the other end, but they can’t hear you. They keep asking, Can you hear me now?—over and over as they try to get a better signal.

Sarah wasn’t making it easy for God to have a good connection. She wasn’t listening to what God was telling her. He sent three visitors to her home, and they said she would have a baby. But all she heard were her own doubts. She didn’t believe God. A baby seemed impossible.

Abraham called one of the three visitors Lord. Many Bible experts believe that this visitor was Christ himself. This is called a theophany of Christ: a big word that means it was an appearance of Jesus before he was born as a human on earth.

Jesus said, Is anything too hard for the Lord? Even if a situation seems impossible to you, it doesn’t appear impossible to God. Sarah’s baby Isaac was the perfect reminder that nothing is impossible for God!

Dear God, when trouble comes into my life, I know I can remember your promise to Sarah. Nothing is too hard for you. Amen.

DAY 9

JESUS IS THE LAMB

Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, Father? Yes, my son? Abraham replied. The fire and wood are here, Isaac said, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? Abraham answered, God himself will provide the lamb.

GENESIS 22:7–8

How hard would it be to give up the one thing you loved more than anything?

That is exactly what God asked Abraham to do. He asked him to sacrifice his promised, long-waited-for son, Isaac.

And Abraham loved and trusted God so much that he was ready to do the thing that no parent would ever want to do. He took his own son up the mountain and prepared a fire. He was ready to offer Isaac to God.

Just as Abraham picked up the knife, God told him to stop. Because he was willing to offer his beloved son, God provided a lamb instead for the sacrifice. Isaac was saved.

Abraham was a picture of what God was going to do someday to bring salvation to the world. God was willing to give his Son. And unlike with Isaac, there wasn’t a lamb waiting as a substitute. That’s why Jesus is often called the Lamb of God. God sacrificed Jesus so that we wouldn’t have to be the ones paying for our sins. God paid the ultimate price. He sent us the Lamb.

Jesus, thank you for sacrificing your life so that I might know God’s love for me. Help me to honor you in all that I do. Amen.

DAY 10

THE PROMISE MAKER

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.

GENESIS 28:15

If your parents promised to take you to a movie next weekend or to an amusement park this summer, how would you know they’ll keep their promises? If the promise maker has a track record for promise keeping, he or she is trustworthy. You can count on their word.

Jacob had to run away from his home because his brother wanted to kill him. As Jacob wandered around, God promised Jacob that he would bring him back to his homeland. God also said he would be with Jacob at all times. Jacob knew these promises were good because they came from God, and they came true.

God has made us promises too. He promised to send a Savior. He promised to forgive our sins. He promised to always love us. Through Jesus, he has kept all these promises and more. We can always count on God keeping his promises.

God, I’m so thankful that you are a good and trustworthy promise maker. Thanks for sticking by me wherever I go. Amen.

DAY 11

AN OFFERING TO GOD

Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.

GENESIS 35:14

Jacob was in the middle of the wilderness when God came down and spoke to him. God told Jacob some really big news. Jacob’s family would grow to be huge, he would be given a lot of land, and great kings would come from him. Jacob was so honored that he poured out a drink offering to let God know he was ready to serve him all his life.

Jesus poured out a drink offering too! When he died on the cross, Jesus’ spilled blood was called a drink offering. Right before Jesus died on the cross, he celebrated his last meal with his disciples. (We call it the Last Supper.) At that meal, he picked up the cup of wine and said, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you (Luke 22:20). His blood literally poured out when the soldier pierced his side with a spear (John 19:34).

Today, we don’t need to build a physical altar and pour out an actual drink offering to show God that we are ready to serve him. Because Jesus was the perfect drink offering, all we need to do is trust in him. He was the last drink offering ever needed. Now, when we give our lives to Jesus, we can live our lives as an offering to God.

God, I am listening for your voice like Jacob did. I want to hear your voice and serve you every day. Amen.

DAY 12

BETRAYAL!

When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing—and they took him and threw him into the cistern.

The cistern was empty, there was no water in it . . . So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

GENESIS 37:23–24, 28

Have you ever felt betrayed by someone close to you? Maybe someone blabbed one of your secrets. Maybe someone spread a false rumor about you. Maybe someone blamed you for something you didn’t do.

Being betrayed doesn’t feel good. It hurts, especially when someone you love betrays you. This is what happened to Joseph. His brothers ripped his beautiful robe. They discussed killing him. Then they sold him into slavery. Talk about betrayal!

This was a sign of the betrayal that the Messiah would face when it was time for him to go to the cross. Judas Iscariot handed Jesus over to the Jewish religious leaders in exchange for thirty silver coins. As hurtful as Judas’ actions were, Jesus knew this betrayal had to happen—he had to be taken by the religious leaders so he could go to the cross and bring salvation to the world.

Always remember that God is in control and uses all things, even betrayal, to carry out his will in the world.

Jesus, I know that you went through so much just for me. I am so thankful that no matter what I go through, you really do understand. Amen.

DAY 13

FALSELY ACCUSED

Then she told him this story: That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house. When his master heard the story his wife told him … he burned with anger. Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.

GENESIS 39:17–20

Poor Joseph. His troubles just kept coming. Things seemed to be looking up when he found favor with his master, Potiphar. Unfortunately, he also found favor with Potiphar’s wife—a little too much favor!

Joseph was a good-looking guy. He was a real catch. And it wasn’t long before Potiphar’s wife noticed. But Joseph rejected her because he was an honorable man. Angry that she’d been rejected and trying to cover up her own misbehavior, Potiphar’s wife lied. She told her servants that Joseph tried to take advantage of her. Potiphar was furious and threw Joseph in prison.

Jesus was falsely accused too. He was condemned to die simply because he told the truth. But God stood up for Joseph and Jesus. God raised Joseph up as a leader. God raised Jesus up from the dead.

When we suffer or face trouble, Jesus understands exactly what we’re going through. He is always willing to listen to your troubles. He will go to God the Father for you and ask him to right the wrongs done against you.

Jesus, I know it wasn’t easy for you to live in this world. But I am so glad that you understand what it’s like to face trouble. One day you will right all wrongs. Amen.

DAY 14

THE TRADE

Please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father.

GENESIS 44:33–34

Joseph had not seen his brothers since they sold him into slavery. The brothers didn’t know he had become an important ruler in Egypt. They didn’t even recognize him when they came to his door asking for food.

To test them, Joseph put a silver cup in his youngest brother’s bag. He framed him for stealing it. Joseph then said that the youngest brother must become his slave as punishment.

Joseph did this so he could see what was in his brothers’ hearts. He wanted to see how they would respond. Would they allow their little brother to go into slavery just like they’d done to Joseph years ago? Or would they do something to save him?

Judah, the oldest brother, decided to step up. He offered to become a slave in his little brother’s place. Judah offered to trade his life for his brother’s life.

Jesus, in a similar trade years later, did the same thing for us. Jesus offered himself as a ransom, to die in our place so we might be freed from slavery to sin and death. In the end, Judah didn’t have to go through with his trade. But Jesus did. He took on the consequences of all our sin.

Dear Jesus, thank you for trading your life for mine. I want to use my freedom to live for you! Amen.

DAY 15

THE LION OF JUDAH

The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.

GENESIS 49:10

What’s your nickname? Your parents might call you something kind of embarrassing, like Cuddle Dud or Turkey Tail. But whatever your parents may call you, they do it out of love.

Jacob blessed his son Judah when he called him a lion’s cub (Genesis 49:9). This might sound a little funny, but Jacob was making a serious statement. In the wilderness, the lion is the king. He is respected. He is brave. He is a conqueror.

While Jacob spoke of his son Judah, Jacob also mentioned someone who would come later—someone even mightier. Jesus came from the tribe, or family, of Judah. This is why Jesus is nicknamed the Lion of Judah. He is the Mighty One, the one Jacob prophesied would come to save us all. He would be brave. He would conquer. He would be the King of the wilderness and the King of the world.

Jesus, you are Lord of my life and King of my heart. When I face problems in my life, I know you can defeat them. Because you are like a lion and you live in me, I too can be a conqueror. Amen.

DAY 16

GOD’S GOOD PLAN

But Joseph said to them, Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

GENESIS 50:19–20

Has rain ever ruined your plans? Like when you are all excited to go to the zoo and see the zebras. You get your pass and walk through the gate. Then the skies open up, and the rain falls. Suddenly, you’re soaked and surrounded by mud puddles.

Joseph experienced a lot of mud puddles in life. He was a slave. He was falsely accused. He was thrown into prison. But God had a plan to use all those rainy times. God used Joseph to save people from famine and starvation. When it was time for Joseph to face his brothers, he forgave them. He told them it had all worked out for good.

Jesus faced a lot of rain too. God used it all for good—the good of the world. Because Jesus suffered, you can have eternal life. So remember, when troubles in your life pour down like rain, God is working behind the scenes to do something good.

Jesus, I know that you want good things for me. Help me to remember that the rain in my life will soon become a beautiful thing. Amen.

DAY 17

GOD’S PROMISES

The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.

EXODUS 2:23–25

Have you ever made a promise to someone? That promise is an agreement that you’ll keep your word and do whatever you promised to do. A covenant is an unbreakable promise or agreement. When God makes a covenant, he is making a promise. And God doesn’t break promises.

God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so he came to the Israelites’ rescue. God had told Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that he would give their descendants a land of their own. They would have many descendants, and these people would bless the world.

Though it was probably hard for those enslaved Israelites to imagine these promises ever coming true, God did everything he said he would.

God made another covenant when Jesus came. The biggest promise ever made was between God and Jesus, his Son, for our sake. Jesus would die on the cross to pay for our sins, and God would accept that sacrifice for anyone who would believe in Jesus. Jesus’ blood sealed the deal. This new covenant is the free gift of salvation and eternal life through Jesus.

And nothing will ever make God break that promise.

Thank you, Jesus, for the covenant you made that saves me from my sins. Thank you for loving me enough to die for me. Amen.

DAY 18

I WILL GO WITH YOU

So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.

EXODUS 3:10

Do you ever feel ordinary? Maybe you feel you don’t have any special talents or skills. Moses thought he was an ordinary guy. He was humble, shy, and a little scared. But God wanted Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.

God didn’t dismiss Moses or ignore him. God stayed beside Moses. And Moses accomplished the mission God gave him. God will not send someone on a mission without helping that person do the task.

What has God given you to do? As a kid, some of your responsibilities are obeying your parents and teachers, being kind to your siblings and friends, and taking care of your belongings and any pets you may have.

Jesus, God’s Son, will help you do these things. He will be with you at all times. He will help you accomplish everything God wants you to do. Even when you think you can’t or when you feel too shy or too scared, you can do what God wants you to do.

Moses accomplished his mission by the power of God. God stayed with him. Jesus stays with you and gives you God’s power too.

God, please show me what you want me to do, and then give me the strength and courage to obey through the help of your Son. Thank you for never leaving my side as I work to do your will. Amen.

DAY 19

PASSED