Holy Week Devotional

The Triumphal Entry – Luke 19:28-44

In this passage, we witness an important event in Jesus’ ministry: His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As Jesus approached the city, riding on a donkey, the crowds erupted into praise, spreading their cloaks on the road and shouting, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38). This scene is full of symbolism and significance, offering us important lessons to learn as followers of Jesus Christ.

First, we should reflect on the humility of our Savior. Jesus, the King of Kings, chose to enter Jerusalem not on a majestic horse as earthly kings would probably have done, but on a humble donkey. This displays His humility and servanthood, contrasting with the grandeur often associated with earthly rulers. Jesus’ humility challenges us to examine our own hearts and attitudes. Are we willing to embrace humility and servanthood in our lives, following the example set by our Lord?

Second, Jesus’ triumphal entry reminds us of the true nature of His Kingdom. The people of Jerusalem expected a conquering king who would overthrow Roman oppression and establish an earthly kingdom. However, Jesus came to establish a kingdom not of this world – a kingdom characterized by love, righteousness and peace. His Kingdom transcends earthly boundaries and includes all who believe in Him, regardless of nationality or social status. As followers of Christ, we are called to live as citizens of His Kingdom, embodying its values and principles in our daily lives.

Third, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem foreshadows His ultimate triumph over sin through His sacrificial death on the cross. Just as the crowds hailed him as their King, we acknowledge Jesus as our victorious Savior who conquered sin and death through His resurrection. This triumph offers hope and assurance to all who believe in him, reminding us that through Christ, we have been reconciled to God and granted eternal life.

How does Jesus’ choice to enter Jerusalem on a humble donkey challenge your understanding of leadership and power? In what ways can you reflect His example of humility in your own life?

Consider the expectations of the people in Jerusalem who hailed Jesus as their King. Are there areas in your life where you might have misconceptions about Jesus’ Kingdom and His role in your life? How can you more accurately align your understanding with the truth of Scripture?

Whose Son is the Christ? – Matthew 22:41-46

In this passage, Jesus engages in a thought-provoking conversation with the Pharisees, asking them a question that goes beyond their understanding: “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” (Matthew 22:42). His question challenges the Pharisees’ understanding of the Messiah’s identity and unveils profound truths about Jesus’ authority, both to them and to us.

The Pharisees, ever grounded in their traditional beliefs, respond by affirming the Messiah’s lineage as the son of David. This answer comes from their understanding of prophecies that promised a descendant of David to establish an eternal kingdom. However, Jesus presents to them a challenging truth by quoting Psalm 110:1, in which David refers to the Messiah as his Lord: “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’”

Through this scripture, Jesus challenges the Pharisees—and us—to expand our understanding of the Messiah’s authority. Yes, the Messiah is a descendant of David, but he is also the Lord of David, revealing His divine nature and His authority over all creation. By doing this, Jesus reveals himself to the Pharisees as the long-awaited Messiah whose authority transcends human lineage and earthly kingdoms.

Often it is easy for us to fall into the same kind of thinking as the Pharisees who saw the Messiah as a historical figure from the line of David, and not necessarily as the Lord of David. We can let ourselves think of Jesus as a Biblical character we read about but not surrender to Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Does Jesus’ revelation of His authority and divine nature challenge your perception of who He is? What areas of your life do you need to submit to His lordship?

The Day and the Hour Unknown – Luke 21:5-37

In this passage, Jesus addresses his disciples’ questions about the end times, offering them insights into the signs preceding His second coming. However, Jesus does not directly answer their question about when these things will happen. He simply describes what it will be like, implying here what is written in Matthew 24:36, “But about that day or hour no one knows… only the Father.”

The unknown day and hour of Christ’s return carries profound implications for our lives as believers. It underscores the importance of living in constant readiness and anticipation of his coming. Instead of speculating and attempting to predict the precise moment, we are called to focus on radical obedience and vigilant discipleship. We get to be on the welcoming committee, not the planning committee.

If we’re able to embrace the uncertainty of Christ’s return, we will live with a sense of urgency and purpose. Jesus encourages us to prioritize spiritual preparedness, aligning our lives with His teachings and fulfilling the tasks entrusted to us by our Lord: the Great Commission. Every moment becomes an opportunity to grow in faith, love and obedience as we await Jesus’ return.

The uncertainty about the timing of Christ’s return requires us to adopt a spirit of trust and surrender. Rather than trying to control or guess the future, we can find peace in placing our lives in the hands of the One who holds all things. We are reminded to live each day with faith-filled dependence on God’s providence, knowing that He will fulfill His promises in His perfect timing.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

“Because He Lives” -Bill & Gloria Gaither

Reflect on your readiness for Christ’s return. Are there areas of your life where you need to realign your priorities? What steps can you take to live each day with greater anticipation of Christ’s second coming?

Anointed for Burial – Matthew 26:1-13

In this passage, we encounter a pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry as a woman pours expensive perfume on his head. Despite objections from His disciples about the wastefulness of her gesture, Jesus commends her, declaring, “She has done a beautiful thing to me… When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.”

The woman’s extravagant act of anointing Jesus with costly perfume foreshadows his imminent death and burial. In Jewish tradition, fragrant oil was used to prepare a body for burial. By anointing Jesus, the woman participates in preparing Him for the sacrificial offering of His life for the salvation of humanity.

This act of anointing Jesus serves as a symbol of sacrificial love and devotion. Her willingness to pour out such a valuable possession on Jesus demonstrates her deep reverence and gratitude for Him. Her act challenges us to reflect on the depth of our own devotion to Christ. Are we willing to offer Him our most precious possessions, talents and time in sacrificial service? How can we demonstrate our love for Jesus through acts of selfless devotion and generosity?

Despite the disciples’ criticism, Jesus acknowledges the significance of the woman’s gesture and affirms its importance. This challenges us to consider how we respond to others’ acts of love and service in our own lives. Do we recognize and affirm the sacrificial efforts of others, or are we quick to criticize and dismiss them?

What does the woman’s willingness to pour out such a valuable possession teach you about sacrificial love and generosity?

The Last Supper – Matthew 26:17-29

In this passage, the disciples quickly find themselves reclining with Jesus after following His instructions to find a place for them to share the Passover meal. There, Jesus shares a significant meal with His disciples—the Last Supper. This sacred moment holds profound significance as Jesus shares the first communion with His disciples, initiating a timeless ritual of remembrance for believers.

As Jesus and His disciples gather to celebrate the Passover, they partake of unleavened bread and wine. In the midst of this familiar ritual, Jesus takes the bread, blesses it and gives it to His disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” He then takes the cup, blesses it and gives it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Through these two simple elements of bread and wine, Jesus imparts profound spiritual truths to His disciples and to us. The bread symbolizes His broken body, soon to be offered up as a sacrifice for the redemption of humanity. The wine represents His shed blood, the seal of a new covenant between God and humanity, which will bring forgiveness and reconciliation to all who believe.

The Last Supper not only looks backward to the sacrificial system of the Old Testament (of which the disciples were sure to be familiar) but also forward to the cross, where Jesus would fulfill His earthly purpose. It serves as a powerful reminder of Christ’s sacrificial love He offers to all who believe in Him. As we partake of communion in our context, we are invited to remember Jesus’ sacrifice, to celebrate the forgiveness of sins and to anticipate His glorious return.

Reflect on the symbolism of the bread and wine in communion. How does Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross bring meaning and significance to these elements?

The Death of our Savior – John 19:1-37

In this passage, we are confronted with the account of Jesus’ crucifixion—His ultimate sacrifice for the redemption of humanity. This passage makes us think about the profound significance of Christ’s death and the depths of His love for us.

As we read through the events leading to Jesus’ crucifixion, we witness the brutality and injustice He endured at the hands of Pilate and the Jewish leaders. From the mockery and affliction of the soldiers to the betrayal of his own people, Jesus faced humiliation, pain and abandonment all the way to the cross. But even in the midst of all of this, we see glimpses of His perfect love and compassion for mankind.

Throughout His suffering, Jesus embodies selflessness and obedience to the will of His Father. He willingly lays down His life as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity. The death of our Savior holds profound significance for every believer. It is through His sacrificial death that we find forgiveness, redemption and eternal life. Jesus’ death has secured our salvation!

Reflecting on the death of our Savior should cause us to examine our response to His sacrifice. Do we take for granted the immense price Jesus paid, or do we approach the cross with humility, gratitude and reverence? How does Jesus’ death compel us to live full of love, service and obedience to God?

Reflect on the depth of Jesus’ love shown through His death on the cross. How does His willingness to endure such immense suffering for our sake deepen your understanding of God’s love for you?

The Burial of Jesus – Matthew 27:57-66

In this passage, we find the solemn account of Jesus’ burial following His crucifixion. It invites us to reflect on the significance of Jesus’ burial and the truths it reveals about His identity and mission.

After Jesus breathed His last on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy and devout follower of Jesus, approached Pilate and requested permission to bury Jesus’ body. Pilate granted his request, and Joseph was given Jesus’ body. He wrapped it in linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb.

Not just the death, but even the burial of Jesus holds symbolic significance for us. It marks the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the suffering and death of the Messiah. Just as Jesus’ death was necessary for the redemption of humanity, His burial was a vital component of God’s redemptive plan. Through His burial, Jesus further identifies with our mortality, entering into our human experience and offering us the hope of resurrection and new life.

Consider the hope and assurance of resurrection found in the burial of Jesus. How does the reality of Christ’s victory over death impact your perspective on mortality and eternity? How does your appreciation of Jesus deepen as you consider the perfect, sinful life He lived on earth as He faced everything humanity faces, even death and burial?

He is Not Here, He Has Risen – John 20

In this passage, we get to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection—the cornerstone of the Christian faith! It reminds us of Christ’s permanent victory over death and helps us embrace the hope and joy that Jesus brings. What an amazing victory John writes about after what seemed like defeat to all who were around Jesus.

The story unfolds with Mary Magdalene arriving at the tomb early on the first day of the week, only to find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. She runs to inform Peter and John, who then rush to the tomb and discover the burial cloths lying there, but no sign of Jesus’ body. In the midst of what was surely confusion and doubt, Mary unknowingly sees the risen Jesus, who calls her by name. Only then does she recognize Him and proclaim that she has seen the Lord.

The resurrection of Jesus is not simply a historical event but also a spiritual exclamation point on God’s power over sin and death as He raised Jesus from the dead. Through His victory over the grave, Jesus declares His identity as the Son of God and the fulfillment of Scripture. The resurrection of Jesus shows us a glimpse of the amazing power of God at work in our own lives. Romans 8:11 – “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.” He has risen!