Palm Sunday

“Hosanna to the Son of David;

Blessed is He who comes

in the name of the Lord;

Hosanna in the highest!”

Passion Week begins with the Triumphal Entry as Jesus enters Jerusalem. On this day, Jesus fulfilled prophecies about the Messiah found in Zechariah 9. As the Messiah humbly entered the city riding a donkey, the several hundred thousand people proclaimed His arrival by laying palm branches and their coats before Him. The Triumphal Entry is one of a few events in the life of Jesus that were recorded in all four Gospels.

Study:

Palm Sunday and Jesus' triumphal entry is recorded in Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19.

Observe:

• Why did the crowds call Jesus a prophet? (Matthew 21:11)

• Why did the Pharisees want to rebuke the crowd? (Luke 19:39)

• Why did Jesus cry when He saw the city? (Luke 19:41)

Apply:

• Sing the song “Hosanna in the Highest” alone or with your family. Think about the significance of the words as you worship the Lord.

• As a family, walk around your neighborhood and gather palm branches. Think about His creation and look at other things that He created.

Pray:

• Praise the Lord for the things that He has done this past week.

• Pray for your neighbors that you may love them and preach the Gospel to them.

• Thank Jesus for His Triumphal Entry.

Dig Deeper:

• Read Revelation 7 and notice what people will be holding while they worship God.

Holy Monday

“My house shall be a house of prayer,

but you have made it a robbers den.”

Holy Monday begins with Jesus cursing a barren fig tree. Soon afterwards, Jesus entered the Temple and drove out the money changers in front of the large crowds. The crowds followed Jesus wherever He went throughout Jerusalem. The chief priests and the scribes witnessed the actions of Jesus and the plot to destroy Jesus began to take place. The stage was being set for the most important week of all time.

Study:

Holy Monday's events are recorded in Matthew 21:12–22, Mark 11:15–19, and Luke 19:45-48.

Observe:

• Why did the sick come to Jesus to be healed, but the chief priests came against Jesus? (Matthew 21:14-15)

• Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? What is the significance of this event? (Matthew 21:18-22)

Apply:

• Reflect on times in your life that you “were hanging on to every word” of the Lord (Luke 19:48).

• Think about how you can have a healthy reverence towards the Lord.

Pray:

• Jesus says that the Temple was to be a place of prayer “for all the nations.” Pray specifically for other nations.

• Spend a long period of time praying about thankfulness.

Dig Deeper:

• Read Mark 11:20-25 and James 2 and think about the significance of the cursed fig tree.

• Read Hebrews 11 and notice how Jesus’ sacrifice was better than the ones happening in the Temple.

Holy Tuesday

“When the crowds heard this,

they were astonished at His teaching.”

Holy Tuesday includes several very rich teachings by Jesus. The chief priests were developing plans to kill Jesus while the Lord was answering questions and demonstrating His authority. The enemy was attempting to discredit or show that Jesus was unable to answer specific questions. However, Jesus continued to marvel people with His answers about marriage, paying taxes to Caesar, and more parables.

Study:

Holy Tuesday’s events are recorded in Matthew 21:23–24:51, Mark 11:20–13:37, Luke 20:1–21:36, and John 12:20–38.

Observe:

• What is the significance of the widow’s financial giving? (Luke 21:1-4)

• Why did Jesus say the Eight Woes to the Pharisees? (Matthew 23:13-39)

Apply:

• Spend time meditating on the idea that the Lord will return. (Mark 13:24-37)

• Think about how you can witness to unbelievers since Jesus foretold his death and resurrection. 

Pray:

• Pray that you will understand and apply giving to others as the widow did. (Luke 21:1-4)

• Pray for specific friends, family, and neighbors that they may believe in Jesus.

Dig Deeper:

• Read and study the Olivet Discourse found in Matthew 24:1-25:46. Here Jesus teaches especially about the end times.

Spy Wednesday

“From then on he began

looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.”

It is traditionally acknowledged that Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Therefore, this day has been known as Spy Wednesday because of the actions by Judas. Although this event may have been the most horrific thing for a person to ever do, the Lord would use this act of evil to bring about salvation for the world. 

Study:

Spy Wednesday’s events are recorded in Matthew 26:14–16.

Observe:

• How could a person that was following Jesus for several years betray him in this way?

• Why did Jesus choose Judas to be a disciple?

Apply:

• Think about the attitude that the Lord showed Judas throughout His ministry. Do you show an attitude of grace towards your enemies?

Pray:

• Pray for your heart to grow so that you are able to love your enemies.

• Give praise and thanks for God’s grace and lo shown to you even when you have acted against Him.

Dig Deeper:

• Spend an hour writing down times that the Lord has been gracious to you when you rebelled against Him.

Maundy Thursday

“This is My body which is given for you;

do this in remembrance of Me.”

The word “mandate” in English comes from the Latin word mandatum (or shortened as maundy) in Latin. Jesus gave His new “command” or “mandate” during the Lord’s Supper on this day of Passion Week, hence the name Maundy Thursday. Three significant events took place on Maundy Thursday. First, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper which is also called Communion. Secondly, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. Lastly, in the middle of the night Judas would hand Jesus over to the chief priests.

Study:

Maundy Thursday's events are recorded in Matthew 26:17–75, Mark 14:12-72, Luke 22:7-62, and John 13:1-38.

Observe:

• Why did Jesus wash Judas’ feet?

• What is significant about Communion?

• What is the new commandment (maundy) that Jesus gives? (John 13)

Apply:

• As an act of service, wash the feet of the people in your home. Think about other ways that you can serve these people.

• Sing a hymn together in your home. (Matthew 26:30)

Pray:

• Pray over the person as you wash their feet. How will this act show your love for them?

• Spend some time quietly praying the lyrics of a hymn.

Dig Deeper:

• Write down a list of ways that you can live out the “new commandment.”

Good Friday

“Father, forgive them;

for they do not know

what they are doing.”

Good Friday is named with Sunday in mind. On this day in history our Lord was crucified and buried. After severely being beaten and rejected, Jesus went to the cross for the sins of the world. Yet, this was a good day because the resurrection would take place. Between the death and resurrection, the world was missing the Son of Man.

Study:

Good Friday's events are recorded in Matthew 27:1-62, Mark 15:1-47, Luke 22:63-23:56, and John 18:28-19:37.

Observe:

• Look back at the events from Palm Sunday. Compare and contrast how the crowd responded to Jesus at the Triumphal Entry and at His trial before Pilate. Why did the crowd respond the way that they did? 

• Why did Pilate give in and allow Jesus to be crucified? (Matthew 27:11-26)

• What happened to the thief on the cross? (Luke 23:39-43)

Apply:

• Think about Peter’s denial. How have you ever betrayed the Lord? After repenting, meditate on the goodness of forgiveness.

• Call friends and family that you need to forgive or ask forgiveness from.

Pray:

• Thank the Lord for forgiveness.

• Pray for the salvation of your close friends and family members.

• Pray that you will witness to people in brief conversations that may lead to their salvation.

Dig Deeper:

• What were the seven cries from the cross?

Holy Saturday

“You have a guard;

go, make it as secure

as you know how.”

Holy Saturday is regarded as one of the darkest days in history. The disciples were hiding in their homes unsure of what would happen next. The Jewish and Roman leaders believed that they had killed a rebellious man. Satan himself must have felt proud. Darkness was felt, but the God of the universe was still on the throne. Jesus was going to come back. Sunday was coming!

Study:

Holy Saturday's events are recorded in Matthew 27:62-66, Mark 16:1, and Luke 23:56.

Observe:

• What must the disciples have felt during this time?

• Why was Jesus’ grave protected?

Apply:

• Meditate on the sobering reality of our own death. For the Christian, our death leads to life in heaven. For the unbeliever, their death leads to destruction. 

Pray:

• Pray for the salvation of your friends, family, and neighbors.

• Pray that you will be intentional with conversations so that people may become saved by the Holy Spirit.

Dig Deeper:

• Look back John 2:13-22 and see how Jesus foretold His own resurrection.

Resurrection Sunday: Easter

“He is not here,

for He has risen,

just as He said.”

“He is not here, for He has risen” should lead us to worship. It has been one week since Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. During this week our Lord showed His power over death. The fulfillment of prophecies, healing the sick, proclaiming His return, and the access for eternal salvation happened because of the Passion Week. Christ suffered on our behalf so that we would not have to suffer eternally. 

Study:

Resurrection Sunday's events are recorded in Matthew 28:1-13, Mark 16:1-14, Luke 24:1-49, and John 20:1-23.

Observe:

• What was the initial reaction of people when they saw the resurrected Jesus?

• Why did Jesus specifically tell the women to tell Peter? (Mark 16:7)

Apply:

• Ponder the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. How does this make you feel knowing that He did all of these things with you in mind?

• Sing praises in your home about salvation.

Pray:

• Thank the Lord for the gift of salvation.

• Pray for specific friends, family, and neighbors that they may become saved.