Lenten Easter 2026 - THE GOOD SHEPHERD

LENTEN/EASTER 2026: The Good Shepherd

Ash Wednesday (February 18) – Easter Sunday (April 5), 2026

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

-Jesus (John 10:11)

Ash Wednesday, 2026:  Jesus is The Good Shepherd!

John 10:11-18

We begin the Lenten – Easter Season with a time of worship as a congregation. We will sing, pray, confess, repent, and come before the Lord with true humility as we also participate in the imposition of ashes. The ashes are prepared from burning the palm fronds we used last year on Palm Sunday. As we make our way through this service, we will acknowledge the grace we receive from our Lord Jesus Who is The Good Shepherd.

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

We will read through the Gospel of John together during the Lenten – Easter Season. While all four Gospels are unique and “stand alone” accounts of the life, teachings, witness, and significance of Jesus Christ, John’s account is certainly known for its particular uniqueness. Just reading the opening of his Gospel is a signal that he is offering a perspective that is different than the other 3 Evangelists. We will take note of how Jesus serves as our Shepherd throughout this entire season. Let’s get started!

February 18:  John 1:1-18

February 19:  John 1:19-34

February 20:  John 1:35-51

February 21:  John 2

February 22, 2026:  Jesus is The Word of God!

John 1:1-18

John opens his Gospel by hearkening back to the creation account in the Book of Genesis. “In the beginning” is one of the most recognizable phrases in the Old Testament. He is signaling that the story of Jesus is the story of “re-creation.” And he draws upon the imagery of the Word of God. God’s Word is His self-revelatory self-expression. God reveals His character, nature, and will through His revelatory Word. Jesus is the ultimate self-disclosure of Almighty God!

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

This week we will journey with John through some material that is unique to his account of the life of Jesus. The two famous encounters of Jesus with Nicodemus and the un-named woman of Samaria are juxtaposed on these pages. Again, as we read and reflect on these stories, we are further enlightened as to the nature of our Good Shepherd.

February 23:  John 3:1-21

February 24:  John 3:22-36

February 25:  John 4:1-14

February 26:  John 4:15-26

February 27:  1 John 4:27-42

February 28:  John 4:43-54

March 1, 2026:  Bread from Heaven

   John 6:30-35

Jesus is truly qualified to serve as our Shepherd! In this encounter with the crowds in Capernaum, Jesus compares God’s provision in the New Covenant Era to His provision for Israel during the Exodus. God provided manna in the wilderness for His people during the Exodus. He now provided the “Bread of Life” for His people through the gift of His Son. Jesus is the “Bread from Heaven” that gives life to all who seek Him. Once you partake of this Bread, you will never hunger again!

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

This week’s readings take us through some of the most famous stories recorded concerning the life of Jesus. We will read of the healing of the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda, the feeding of the five thousand, and Jesus walking on water. He is making His way across Israel in both a public and private ministry as He continues to provide solid evidence that He truly is the Messiah – and our Good Shepherd!

March 2:  John 5:1-15

March 3:  John 5:16-30

March 4:  John 5:31-47

March 5:  John 6:1-15

March 6:  John 6:16-24

March 7:  John 6:25-71

March 8, 2026:  Our Guiding Light

 John 8:12

John begins his Gospel by declaring this truth about the Incarnate Word of God: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” Jesus now declares in this powerful “I Am” statement, “I Am the Light of the World.” Isaiah prophesied that the servant of the Lord would be a light unto the Gentiles so that he would bring salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6). John also declared in his prologue that this light “shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Wow! Put all that together – and we gain more insight into the nature and role of our Good Shepherd! He is our Guiding Light!

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

As we make our way through this week’s readings, we find Jesus back in Jerusalem, as He attended festivals and taught the people. He continued His miracle-working ministry as well as continuing to challenge the empty leadership of the religious leaders of His day. Our Good Shepherd continued to display His power, authority, and love for God’s people.

March 9:  John 7:1-24

March 10:  John 7:25-52

March 11:  John 8:12-47

March 12:  John 8:48-58

March 13:  John 9

March 14:  John 10

March 15, 2026:  Sheep With a Shepherd

 John 10:1-18

We will return to our conversation we began on Ash Wednesday. Jesus is our Good Shepherd! He is our Protector and Provider. The metaphor of the shepherd and sheep is rooted in Old Testament imagery where God is portrayed as a Shepherd (cf. Genesis 48, Psalm 23, Isaiah 40, etc.). In this New Covenant Era, we have a personal relationship with our Good Shepherd – Jesus!

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

These are remarkable pages in our Bible! Jesus is approaching the end of His earthly ministry. In John 10, Jesus had left Jerusalem and crossed over the Jordan River. He will move about and around Jerusalem until time for the Passover. We will read this week of the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, the anointing of Jesus, the Royal Entrance into Jerusalem, prophecies of His betrayal and denial, and washing the disciples’ feet. The momentum is building as Jesus is now approaching the final week of His earthly life.

March 16:  John 11:1-44

March 17:  John 11:45-57

March 18:  John 12:1-19

March 19:  John 12:20-50

March 20:  John 13:1-17

March 21:  John 13:18-38

March 22, 2026:  The Jesus Way!

 John 14:1-14

Surely at our church, we are deeply familiar with this declaration, Jesus is The Way! We have long embraced the truth that we are followers of The Jesus Way here at First Baptist Arlington. In fact, we have summarized our core theological conviction with this statement: Glorifying God by Following The Jesus Way. We will re-visit this profound metaphor today in the sermon. There are many options, paths, and ways that human beings may choose to follow. We believe only one way leads to life, flourishing, and eternity ---- The Jesus Way!

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

Jesus offers us The Way to live – both abundantly and eternally. This week’s readings point us to a life of flourishing as followers of Jesus. He makes it possible for us to live purposefully and meaningfully on this earth. The fruitful life (the flourishing life) we find in Him allows us to be a blessing to others and it truly gives glory to God.

March 23:  John 14:1-14

March 24:  John 14:15-31

March 25:  John 15:1-17

March 26:  John 15:18-25

March 27:  John 15:26-16:15

March 28:  John 16:16-33

Palm Sunday 2026:  Designed to Flourish!

John 15:1-17

Our theme for 2026 is: Flourishing Together: Transformed on The Jesus Way. This sermon, combined with last Sunday’s message, directly addresses this theme as well as connecting us to the theme for the Winter of 2026: Designed to Flourish. These are powerfully significant truths. As we follow Jesus, we learn to abide in Him, and to allow God to produce His fruit in our lives. This is the life God intended for us. And that --- that is what flourishing is all about!

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

Now we come to Holy Week. Let’s slow down and journey with Jesus through the most significant week in human history. John is fully aware of the meaning of the first week of creation as he alludes to it in his prologue. He now walks us through the most meaningful week of humanity’s story as he shares the events of the week we call Holy. May God truly speak to you as you read and reflect on this powerful section of Scripture.

Holy Monday:  John 17

Holy Tuesday:  John 18:1-14

Holy Wednesday:  John 18:15-27

Maundy Thursday:  John 18:28-40

Good Friday, 2026:  The Lamb of God

 John 1:29

Tonight, we gather for a somber and deeply reflective time of worship. We join hands with believers across the world and across time to consider the sacrifice made on our behalf on Golgotha, just outside of Jerusalem. Our Good Shepherd is also The Lamb of God.

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

The ground is level at the foot of the cross. We stand humbly before our Savior as He offers up His life for us. Now we wait . . .

Good Friday:    John 19:1-37

Silent Saturday:  John 19:38-42

Easter Sunday, 2026:  He Lives!

John 20:1-10

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! 
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! 
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! 
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia

Flourishing Together Daily Bible Readings

He is risen! He is risen indeed! We are Easter people! This week we read the story of the resurrection of Jesus and the conclusion of the Gospel of John. We also will read theological reflections on the resurrection from the Apostle Paul. Let’s take time this week to meditate on the truth that Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death! Hallelujah! 

April 6:  John 20

April 7:  John 21

April 8:  1 Corinthians 15:1-11

April 9:  1 Corinthians 15:12-34

April 10:  1 Corinthians 15:35-58

April 11:  Philippians 3:7-14