April Bible Reading Plan

Spring into Joy with April

This month, people around the world are focused on Easter, so I would like to take a moment to share from my heart about the cross of Jesus Christ and what exactly it means for you and me, when Jesus said, it Is Finished.

When Jesus said, it is finished, it was His declaration that the debt for the sins of mankind was finished, complete. 

Our April Bible Reading plan – It Is Finished – Remind Us of the Power of Christ’s Death on Our Behalf, and that the work Jesus came for was accomplished.

To help you grow in understanding, devotion, and love for God and the finished work, our daily Bible reading plan takes us on a journey through all sections of God’s written revelation to mankind:

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What Does It Mean When Jesus Said It Is Finished

“After this, Jesus knew that everything had been done. So that the Scripture would come true, he said, ‘I am thirsty’ . . . When Jesus tasted the vinegar, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and died” (John 19:28, 30 NCV).

The only person ever to finish everything he had on his plate before he died was Jesus.

In John 4:34, Jesus said, “My food is to do what God wants! He is the one who sent me, and I must finish the work that he gave me to do” (CEV).

For you and me, Jesus did finish the work God gave him. Right before Jesus died on the cross on the first Good Friday, the Bible says, “After this, Jesus knew that everything had been done. So that the Scripture would be fulfilled, he said, ‘I am thirsty’ . . . When Jesus tasted the vinegar, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and died” (John 19:28, 30 NCV).

Jesus says, “It is finished.” You do not need to do anything to have access to God. He has done everything! You just need to believe and trust him.

He did it for you. This sacrifice was the only way your sins could be paid for without your own eternal death. Christ’s death paid the price of your sin.

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” he meant there was nothing else to do, nothing left to pay. He paid it all totally, completely, permanently.

It is Finished!

YOUR DEBT HAS BEEN PAID IN FULL

Much has been written about the last moments of Jesus at the cross—a series of historical events that were planned by God since before the foundation of the world. The prophecies about His death were fulfilled down to the detail (Psalm 22:18; 34:20; 69:21).

Looking back at all the events that took place during the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, we can see that the entire Old Testament, which explained in great detail the sacrifices and ceremonies needed for the atonement of sins, pointed to this one great sacrifice that was to take place at Golgotha.

The sacrifice that culminated in three words: “It is finished” (John 19:30). Having lived a life of perfection, as Jesus gave up His spirit in the moments that followed, He modeled for us perfect obedience, even unto death.

During His perfect life, every word Jesus spoke was true, right, and purposeful. On the cross, He was no different.

The Bible said and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8 (NKJV)

  • Not one word of bitterness or anger.
  • No complaining or murmuring.
  • Not one word of profanity.
  • Not one unkind word.
  • Not one unnecessary word.1

The Son of God, having suffered the deepest anguish known to man before or since, gathered his remaining strength, filled his burning lungs with air and spoke just eight words: “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” Those eight words spoke volumes. 

How do you feel, hearing Him cry forgiveness? Can you forgive those who put Him here, believing they do not know what they are doing?

Does it help you to forgive them, knowing Jesus’ forgiveness includes you, too? We lash out at goodness, hating ourselves, hurting others. Crucifying, over and over. We do not know what we are doing.

Stop and think of all that Jesus’ death on the cross accomplished for you and me. It makes me stop for a few moments just to thank Him for what He has done.

Doesn’t it affect you this way too? Where would you be today if Jesus had not died on the cross for you? Why not take a few minutes right now to express your heartfelt thanksgiving to Him for paying the debt you could never have paid?

Because of Jesus and His great love for you and me, the debt for sin has been PAID IN FULL, and we are truly redeemed. What victory was won at that hideous place of the cross!

You Are Forgiven: How to Forgive Others the Way God Forgives Us

Forgiveness is being pardoned with no payment necessary, but God always planned forgiveness to reach beyond the forgiven one.

For us to experience God’s plan of forgiveness and have freedom from the pain, we have to pray blessings on those who have hurt us. This releases the other person to God. When we pray for someone, we start to see them from God’s viewpoint.

Over the course of our lives, there will be many instances in which we need forgiveness and other times in which we need to offer forgiveness. For anyone who has been deeply hurt or even betrayed someone they loved, true forgiveness may be the most difficult thing we are tasked with in this life. Forgiveness at its core is unconditional love.

Forgiveness is no easy feat. Depending on the circumstances and how we have been impacted by the outcomes, forgiveness in some situations can feel almost impossible. In complete transparency, this is an area most of us struggled with.

Can you imagine Jesus on the Cross, What He went through on this cross, He did for you and me. That is why forgiveness for Jesus came so easily.

Ask yourself this questions. Can I extend this same grace to my enemies, or even to those who have hurt me?

When wrong, can I forgive? Can I pray, “Father, forgive them?” Even in the face of hurt, can I see a bigger picture, “They don’t understand what they’re doing”?

The heartbreak of false accusations, betrayal, abandonment, and the crowds cheering for crucifixion have reached their cruel conclusion. The agony of abusive mocking, the crown of thorns, flesh-ripping flogging, hands, and feet nailed, the struggle for every breath, and hanging naked have reached their intended outcome. 

In the Bible, there is an inseparable link between our receiving God’s forgiveness and our willingness to grant that forgiveness to others. In Ephesians 4:32, Paul said, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” We are to forgive others just as God has forgiven us.

How do we forgive others as God has forgiven us? First, we are to forgive those who do not deserve to be forgiven. In our minds most of us have people we are willing to forgive and people we are unwilling to forgive. In our minds, there are what we consider “unforgivable sins.” Thank God that is not in His mind. We are to forgive those who do not deserve to be forgiven.

So, how has God forgive us? Romans 5 clearly explains how God forgives you and me, and therefore how we should forgive others. Romans 5:1 says, “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul went on to say, “While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (vv. 6, 8).

We forgive others on the basis of grace. We refuse to require somebody to earn our forgiveness. We grant it as a gift, just as it was granted to us.

Andrew Murray says in his book Humility:

Jesus Christ took the place and fulfilled the destiny of man, as a creature, by His life of perfect humility. His humility is our salvation. His salvation is our humility. Believer! Study the humility of Jesus. This is the secret; the hidden root of thy redemption.1

When Jesus died on the cross, He became the once-and-for-all sacrifice that would cover your sin and mine, giving us eternal life and permanent entrance to that throne of grace, to that most holy place.

The crucifixion marked a before and an after point in the history of the world. At the exact moment when every element of God’s plan was in place, when the sacrifice had been made upon the altar, when great darkness covered the earth, Jesus uttered the words “It is finished.”

The veil described in Exodus (26:33) was torn from top to bottom, marking a new covenant between God and man. When Jesus died on the cross, He became the once-and-for-all sacrifice that would cover your sin and mine, giving us eternal life and permanent entrance to that throne of grace, to that most holy place.

Does your heart stand in awe like mine as you grasp what was happening there? The apostles and those who were present may not have fully understood all that was occurring, but today we have the full revelation of God’s Word. Through it, we can see God’s faithfulness and love for His people and for all who would believe. His holiness was satisfied once and for all, and only the perfect Godman could accomplish it.

But most clearly of all we see an astonishing model of perfect obedience, an obedience that went to the point of death on a cross. While there is no denying the pain that Christ experienced on the cross,

He always kept His eyes on the outcome, exercising an obedience that trusted the One who sent Him and who is worthy of His trust—and ours. Remember, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in you, equipping you to overcome and to share this living hope with the world around you.

Reflection Questions

1.What does the resurrection of Jesus signify about God’s power and promise to overcome sin and death? How can this truth shape your daily life and faith?

2.When Jesus said, “It is finished,” how do you interpret the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan through His death and resurrection? What does this tell you about God’s love for humanity?

3.In declaring that He has “paid our debt in full,” what does this mean for the concept of grace and salvation? How does understanding this affect your relationship with God?

4.How does the resurrection provide hope for your own life and future? In what ways can you share or reflect that hope to those around you?

5. What does the resurrection teach us about forgiveness, renewal, and the opportunity for new beginnings? How can you apply these lessons to areas in your life where you need healing or growth?

6. Have you accepted Jesus’ death as full payment for your sins? How does it feel to be completely forgiven and free from eternal death?

7. Who are the people in your life who have not accepted Jesus’ death as payment for their sins? Pray for those you know who have not asked for his forgiveness.

8. What are different ways you can thank Jesus for the wonderful love gift that only He could give? Pray and thank Him right now.

Each month, you’ll find a different plan to enjoy. Dive deep into daily readings that encourage, challenge, and equip you to follow Jesus in every aspect of your every day life Download your free Bible reading plan PDF’s below. Print them out or use them in your favorite notebook app.

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A Prayer for April

Jesus, I thank You that You are my Lord and Savior. I thank You that You died, so I could live. I thank You that You were made sin so I could be made righteous. I recognize that You became weak, suffered shame, and were condemned, so I could live strong, justified, free and healed. Isaiah 53:3-5 described Jesus’ sacrifice this way: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely, he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” I understand that You went to hell, so I could enjoy the presence of God. I am so thankful, Jesus, for all You have done for me. I know I could never earn any of it, and so I give You the glory for all that You have done, for all that I have, and for all that I am. I love and praise You. You took the blame for everyone of our sins, each wrong decision, each hateful thought, each horrific act. Jesus, you become our substitution. Thank you for your broken body and your shed blood. Thank you for living in me and giving me life. In Jesus Name. Amen

This Bible Reading Plan includes so much more. Additional Study and Reflections Questions, Additional Notes, and S.O.A.P. Worksheets, Take time and dive deep in God’s Word.

Additional April Bible Reading Plan Resources

In addition to this month’s reading plan, you might also enjoy these additional resources that are related to Jesus Crucifixion !

I pray that you will take time out of your busy schedule to spend time in God’s presence. Each month we want to engage and challenge you in the Word of God. Each plan is intentionally crafted to illuminate the inherent beauty and truth of God’s Word.

With Deepest Love!

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