Holy Week – A Family Devotional
Holy Week - A Family Devotional
Day 1
The Triumphal Entry – Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-11
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
“Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
On Palm Sunday, we reflect and celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus as he entered the city of Jerusalem. The Jews were expecting this grand, elaborate entrance of their new leader—one who was going to rescue them from the Romans. Yet Jesus entered humbly, on a donkey, as their king.
During this time, riding a horse into a city meant his mission was to declare war, or he was there to conquer; but Jesus rode a donkey, which meant he came in peace.
Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy from Zechariah 9:9:
“he is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey.”
Jesus came to tell the people that He was the son of God and his mission here on Earth was to rescue us from sin and death.
The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!” – Matthew 21:9
The Good News: Jesus came not only to save the Jews, but he came to save the rest of us too! Hosanna means “come save us now!” He came to rescue us from our sin and death. He came so we can worship Him and have Him as our king!
Question of the Day: What does it mean to have Jesus as your King?
Day 2
Cleansing the Temple
Matthew 21:12-17
Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”
And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,
‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?”Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.
After Jesus made His entry into Jerusalem, he went to the temple. It was there he saw people buying and selling goods. Jesus was furious. This was His Father’s house, and the people were not using the temple for its intended purpose of worship and prayer.
In his passion, Jesus threw over the tables and cleared the temple of all the people who were only there to make money. Then he invited in the blind and lame and healed them. He invited in the children and they worshiped Him, shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David!” He invited the least inside!
The Good News: Jesus cleared the temple of its impurities. He brought it back to a place of healing prayer and worship for all of us! We are a part of His church! This is how He spreads His love to the world through His church, His people, that’s us!
Question of the Day: What part, or role, does Jesus want you to play in the church?
Day 3
Feet Washing
John 13:1-17
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had comefor him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Jesus knew His time on earth was coming to an end. Before He left, He wanted to show His disciples what it means to truly lead and love well. Jesus displayed servant leadership by doing the job that a household servant usually does. He washed His disciples’ feet!
They were so surprised by this and they questioned Jesus as to why He would do such a thing. This was just the beginning. Little did they know that Jesus would humble Himself to death on the cross.
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. – John 13:3-5
The good news: Jesus lead by example and showed us what it means to truly love and lead others.
Question of the Day: How can I love and serve someone in my family or neighborhood today?
Day 4
PASSOVer
Luke 22:7-38
Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”
“Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him.
He replied, “As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.” They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.
When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”
Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”
He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
“But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.” The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.
Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.
“You have stayed with me in my time of trial. And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”
But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler’s bag, or an extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?”
“No,” they replied.
“But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels.’[d] Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.”
“Look, Lord,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.”
“That’s enough,” he said.
After Jesus was finished washing His disciple’s feet, He shared a meal with them called Passover. This meal was something the Jews celebrated yearly to remember what God had done for them and how He had rescued them from slavery in Egypt. It was at this final meal with them that Jesus shared that He was going to be the final sacrifice so that they can be freed from the bondage of sin forever!
Matthew 26:26-28:
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
The Good News: Jesus died on the cross for you! This means that He has taken all your sin so that you can live with Him in eternity. This is a free gift! All you have to do is confess you are a sinner and ask Him to come into your heart!
Question of the Day: Do you know Jesus as your Lord and savior? If not pray and ask Jesus to wash away your sins and come into your heart today!
Day 5
Praying in the Garden
Mark 14:32-42
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hourmight pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Jesus knew that the time was coming for Him to be arrested. Before He left this earth, He needed to take some time in prayer with His Father. He asked God if there was any other way to take care of the sin of the world. He was so sad and overwhelmed not only by the thought of death on the cross, but His heart was so heavy for all of us as He took on our sin!
In Mark 14:36 Jesus said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”
Jesus prayed for another way, but then told His Father that He wanted to do His will and not His own. He was open and honest about how He was feeling. He knew He could always be honest with His Father.
The Good News: Jesus knows exactly how you feel, no matter what you are going through. He has felt every bit of sadness, fear, anger and joy that you have felt. You can be completely honest with God about your emotions. He wants you to share everything with Him.
Question of the Day: Has God ever comforted you when you were afraid? If not, next time you are, ask Him to comfort you.
Day 6
THE CRUCIFIXION
Luke 23:26-43
As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then
“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
and to the hills, “Cover us!”’For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus was the only perfect man who walked here on earth. He was free from sin, yet He died the worst possible criminal’s death.
While praying in the garden, Judas, one of His twelve disciples, betrayed him, and led the chief priests to Him. After he was arrested and tried, Jesus was sentenced to death on a cross. The people shouted, “Crucify him!” Jesus was then whipped, beaten and forced to carry His cross to a place called Golgotha outside of the city of Jerusalem. It was there that Jesus hung, and in a loud voice he called out:
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. – Luke 23:46
The Good News: Jesus died for us so that our sins could be washed away! We are clean, completely pure because of His ultimate sacrifice for us. “We love because He first loved us!” – 1 John 4:19
Question of the Day: How can you live freely since Jesus died for you?
Day 7
A DAY OF GRIEF
Matthew 27:62-66
The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
The day after Jesus was crucified, His followers must have felt so alone, sad and discouraged. God didn’t answer their prayers the way they wanted Him to. Jesus was dead and buried. And now the Roman authorities had a huge stone sealed over his tomb, with soldiers guarding it.
It might have seemed like everything was over. Many of Jesus’ followers probably stopped believing the things that Jesus had told them. They wondered if He really was the Son of God. The problem was, they didn’t understand God’s plan, so they didn’t know what was going to happen next.
The Good News: God doesn’t always do things the way we want. He has a bigger, better plan than anything we could imagine. Jeremiah 29:11 says:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Question of the Day: When it feels like God says “no” to your prayer, can you still trust Him? Can you believe that He has a bigger, better plan than you could dream of?
Day 8
THE RESURRECTION – Easter Sunday
Matthew 28:1-10
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Jesus conquered death! Mary the mother of Jesus and His dear friend Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where Jesus’ body was laid, to mourn Him. When they got there the huge bolder in front of the tomb had been rolled to the side, and the tomb was empty.
The Marys could not believe their eyes. They were so sad, thinking someone had taken Him. Then an angel appeared and said:
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay...” – Matthew 28:5-6
The Good News: We were once separated from God because of our sin. Jesus came and walked on earth so that He could make the ultimate sacrifice. He died and rose again, taking on all our sin. And he conquered death.
We are now united with Him. All we have to do is confess that we are sinners, ask Jesus to come into our hearts, and live life in unity with Him. It’s a free gift! We do not deserve it, but He loves us so much. He has a unique plan and purpose for your life. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you less.
Question of the Day: Is there anything standing in your way of accepting this incredible free gift? Praise Jesus and share with Him what a good Father He is!