Holy Week

HOLY WEEK
DEVOTIONAL

Table of Contents
TRIUMPHAL ENTRY// 3.25.18
CLEANSING THE TEMPLE // 3.26.18
TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE // 3.27.18
JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS // 3.28.18
LAST SUPPER /GARDEN // 3.29.18
CRUCIFIXION // 3.30.18
THE DARK IN-BETWEEN // 3.31.18

Preface: How to Make the
Most of This Week
devotional you’re holding includes relatively brief readings for each day of the eight days of Holy
The
from Palm Sunday to Easter. In one sense, there’s nothing intrinsically holy about this Sunday to
Week,
that shows up on the calendar each year. But, in another sense, it is a sobering and beautiful time
Sunday
ponder the final week in the life of Jesus and consider how we will live our lives in light of Jesus’ life.
to
Holy Week is not an obligation, but rather an opportunity. It is a chance to walk with the “Big
Celebrating
church, throughout time and through the world, as she walks with her Bridegroom through the most
C”
week in the history of the world. It is a chance to focus our minds on, and seek to intensify our
important
for, the most important and timeless realities. In the chaos of our increasingly fast-paced and
affections
society, Holy Week is a reminder to pause and ponder, to carefully mark each day and not let the
hectic
of all weeks fly by us like every other.
greatest
help make the most of this week, we have asked a few leaders in our church to write a short devotional
To
each day [excluding Easter Sunday, when we will gather together as a church to celebrate the
for
of Jesus together]. You’ll notice that each devotional centers on a particular psalm. If you are
resurrection
familiar with the psalms, they are the worship book of the Bible. They model and instruct how to bring
not
of life to God as worship. As a rabbi and a faith-filled Jew, Jesus would have memorized all 150 psalms.
all
see evidence of this by the number of times he quotes or alludes to the psalms, including a few of the
We
words he uttered on the cross dying for our sins (Matthew 27:46, quoting Psalm 22:1).
final
encourage you to slow down and savor these devotionals. Meditate on the truths they introduce.
We
block out several minutes. Find a comfortable place to sit. Quiet your soul, and pray that God
Perhaps
meet you in their words. Consider spending a few moments in prayer after you read and turn these
would
truths Godward in adoration of Christ.
*Adapted from Desiring God Ministries.

SUNDAY

Sunday is often referred to as the “triumphal entry.” The crowd that day loudly and joyfully
Palm
Jesus like a conquering king. A few days later, the same crowd cried out, “Crucify him!” Why
welcomed
sudden shift? You might say it had to do with their kingly expectations!
the
the world of banking I often work with customers who have expectations. It is my job to equip my
In
with accurate expectations. For example, it would be wrong for me to ask someone to wait ten
customers
if it was even remotely likely that I could be longer. Nothing is worse in customer service than
minutes
expectations. A customer could sit for thirty minutes without too much trouble. That is unless they
unmet
given a wait time of twenty minutes!
were
order to understand the abrupt change of heart the Jewish people displayed, we need to understand
In
tension they faced. Day in and day out, this proud people was oppressed under the iron fist of the
the
Empire. They yearned for their long-awaited Messiah. When Jesus arrived at the city gate riding a
Roman
colt, they knew what it meant because they knew the messianic words of the prophet Zechariah:
donkey’s
greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and
Rejoice
lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zech 9:9)
victorious,
also knew what came next:
They
will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be
I
He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the
broken.
of the earth. (Zech 9:10)
ends
would usher in a literal kingdom! So imagine their disappointment when Jesus didn’t drive out
Messiah
Romans; when he didn’t restore Israel; when he didn’t bring peace to the nations. And therein lies the
the
In hindsight, we look back and understand that thousands of years unfold between verses nine
tension.
ten of Zechariah. We can be smug in our knowledge that King Jesus will return again in a blaze of
and
and overlook how hard it was for the people that day to see divine power arriving as a silent, meek
glory
who would soon wash his disciples’ feet and die on a Roman cross. Those who put their trust in
lamb
realize he may not have entered Jerusalem as a conquering king, but he did arrive as a king
Jesus
into battle. And he did win.
heading
troubles do you face in your life that you are longing for God to conquer and dismiss but have
What
little response from him?
seen
if Jesus HAS triumphed in those troubles and instead of taking the trouble away is calling you to
What
up your cross and follow him?
take
Triumphal Entry - Stephen Johnson
Psalm 24
RESPOND

MONDAY

worship life of the Jewish people centered on the Temple in Jerusalem. Three times each year, the
The
came from wherever they lived to Jerusalem for festivals to worship according to the instructions
people
gave Moses. Psalm 84 is a song that would have been sung as a way of preparing for the corporate
God
at the Temple during the festivals. The psalm poetically captures a deep longing for God’s
worship
and would be sung in preparation for the journey to Jerusalem.
presence,
of three annual festivals they celebrate was Passover, commemorating the time God rescued his
One
from slavery in Egypt. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he did so with crowds of people arriving for
people
On that Monday before he died for our sins, Jesus came to the Temple to worship and instead
Passover.
a marketplace with people taking monetary advantage of those coming to worship. According to
found
21:12-17, some were selling pigeons which meant they were particularly profiting off the poor
Matthew
made it very clear that He rejected the distortion of temple worship. And with his response, he
Jesus
himself as the one with authority to cleanse the temple and restore its primary purpose as a
established
of prayer, a place to encounter the living God. Rather than a scene of transactions, Jesus sought to
house
the kind of longing for God expressed in Psalm 84.
restore
would Jesus think if He visited our church? Would He be pleased with our worship and our
What
interactions?
to Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:16, we the church (people, not a building) are now the Temple of
According
Spirit. Where would Jesus clean house in your life if you allowed Him to?
God’s
some time to listen and reflect on the song, “Instead of a Show” by Jon Foreman. It’s an honest,
Take
song about what it means to worship (following the lead of Amos 5:21-24). Let the
confrontational
lyrics challenge your definitions and expectations for corporate worship, especially as we look
difficult
gathering to celebrate Easter this Sunday.
toward
Cleansing The Temple - Austin Hamilton
Psalm 84
(Leviticus 5:7).
RESPOND

TUESDAY

scene on Monday of Jesus turning over tables and driving out animals seems so foreign to common
The
we have of Jesus. We might ask, “Was that the same guy that said we should turn the other
caricatures
when an any strikes us, the one who said to love our enemies?” It seems so out of character with
cheek
Jesus we have previously seen.
the
Tuesday, Jesus walked into the place of worship now empty of “robbers and thieves” and their
On
of politics and commerce that oppressed the poor. He then “filled” the space with the truth,
religion
it from the false teachings of the religious leaders of the day. But I don’t think he was cleansing
cleansing
Temple merely to teach these messages. There is something deeply prophetic to Jesus’ actions and
the
might recall Ezekiel sleeping on his side for 430 days and cooking food over dung to make a point
You
coming captivity for Israel in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 4). How about Jeremiah smashing clay jars
about
front of a crowd outside of the Jerusalem wall to signify the cities coming destruction (Jeremiah 19)?
in
were dramatic and prophetic displays that Jesus’ audience would have known well. Similarly,
These
Jesus drove folks out of the Temple, he cleansed the Temple for teaching about God on Tuesday,
when
also illustrating through a dramatic act that the Temple would soon be completely destroyed (which
while
we hear all of Jesus’ teachings (Matthew 22:15-46) and warnings (Luke 20:9-19; Mark 11:20-25) on
When
Tuesday, we could easily conclude he walked into the temple saying, “You all really messed up now!
that
you thought me turning over tables was scary, you haven’t seen anything yet!” No.... Not at all... Rather,
If
was clearing the stage to proclaim in prophetically dramatic fashion, “This Temple will soon be
he
I am about to fulfill its purpose! Follow me and find the new life the Temple was pointing
unnecessary!
toward!”
think about it: he spoke those prophetic words to the very people who were trying to trap him in his
And
so they could accuse him and kill him; those who hated his very existence because he was messing
words
their monetary and political religious system. Indeed, he was modelling his own instruction to love
up
enemies.
have you viewed as an enemy over the past year? A person? A way of life? An entire people
Who
When you think about “things that are wrong...” who do you blame?
group?
deeply about whether or not they are actually enemies, and also people you might be an enemy
Think
of.
might you love those people like Jesus loved his enemies, those that wanted to kill him? Let that
How
you toward a radical grace shaped enemy love as you read Jesus teaching (Matthew 22:15-46)
fuel
Teaching In The Temple - Adam Crowl
Psalm 27
teaching as well.
it was in 70 AD).
RESPOND
and warnings (Luke 20:9-19; Mark 11:20-25)

WEDNESDAY

days leading up to Wednesday were full of scurry and noise - the triumphal entry, Jesus flipping over
The
confrontation with religious leaders, chaos in the Temple. But Wednesday was different.
tables,
aren’t exactly sure what Jesus and his disciples were up to on this particular day, as the Scriptures
We
us little information. What we do know is that in the quiet shadows, one of the disciples - Judas -
give
away to meet with local religious leaders and lay the foundation for the betrayal and arrest of the
snuck
of God. Judas met the chief priests that day and agreed to betray Jesus for just 30 pieces of silver.
Son
betrayed. Not by some anonymous character. Not by some fringe observer. Not by someone with a
Jesus,
to fix. He was betrayed by Judas. One of his best friends. The hand that once patted his back in
problem
you ever been betrayed? If you haven’t yet, you will. As psalm 55 captures so vividly, betrayal leaves
Have
confused and vulnerable (vv. 12-14). It robs us of trust (vv. 20-21). It makes us question everything we
us
we knew: our worth, our identity, our sanity (vv. 4-5). It causes us to want to lash out in anger (vv.
thought
or run and hide, burying our head in the sand and hoping the storm of hurt would just go away (vv.
9,15)
while the psalmist is honest about his betrayal, betrayal is not central to the psalm. Instead, the
Yet,
emphasizes the steadfast love of God (vv. 16-19, 22).
psalmist
perfectly lived out psalm 55. Because he knew he was perfectly loved by his Father, he steadfastly
Jesus
even the one who betrayed him. He didn’t run. He didn’t question his worth, his identity, or his
loved
He didn’t have to. Then, according to John 13, the very next night, he washed his betrayer’s feet as
sanity.
expression of this humble love. Jesus felt the pain of betrayal deeply, bore it fully, and continued to
an
has betrayal shaped the way you view yourself? What lies have you believed as a result of
How
betrayal?
can you leverage past hurt and betrayal as a motivator to extend love, grace and compassion to
How
others?
you have been hurt deeply in your past, take a moment to reflect on the betrayal of Jesus. He knows
If
pain. He understands.
the
Judas Betrays Jesus - Justin Peterson
Psalm 55
Wednesday of Holy Week was a quiet day. Eerily quiet.
affirmation now suddenly held a knife.
6-8).
love, even to the point of death on a cross.
RESPOND

THURSDAY

a young Christian, this Psalm captured my heart as I realized my newfound, eternal future in Christ!
As
utter confidence in God has always inspired me – “You alone are my portion and my cup, you
David’s
my lot secure!” David was gifted with Truth beyond his context, foreshadowing and intimately
make
to Jesus’ story.
alluding
22 captures two scenes on the night before crucifixion - at the table and in the garden - where Jesus
Luke
“the cup” to teach his disciples (and each of us) the power of prayer and the blessings God will give
uses
of the cup’s contents. At the table, Jesus took the cup and gave thanks for it, knowing the
regardless
it would provide. He told his disciples to drink from it for it represented the new covenant of His
power
about to be poured out for them. Even as betrayal sat at the table, he prayed for them and assured
blood
of future Kingdom blessings found in the covenant represented by the cup!
them
the disciples responded with a prideful uprising to the imminent betrayal, Jesus retreated with them
After
the Garden of Gethsemane. He instructed them to pray against temptation and then retreated further.
to
to a humble position, he prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will,
Falling
yours be done.” He experienced deep agony as humanity weighs upon him and divinity heard his cry.
but
– even under these dire circumstances – provided the ultimate example. He who knew and
Jesus
what was to come, thanked God for it and poured it out to serve others. He humbled himself and
revealed
his royal rights, and bore the burden of the cup God had chosen for him. And even as his
surrendered
was answered not by a call to endure the trial rather than escape the trial, he continued in prayer all
prayer
amid trials comes rather naturally, usually because we want relief! But what about praying more
Praying
as our prayers are answered differently than we desire or expect? Do you recognize that even as
earnestly
unfold God is doing the blessing? Understanding this can help reframe our agonies as we recognize
trials
power and trust Him for his blessings yet to come.
God’s
to Take Courage (Kristene DiMarco), Read Psalm 16:7-11 and pray. Recall Jesus’ courage at the
Listen
and in the garden, his painful awareness that the cup he was to endure, would be the cup of
table
The Last Supper/Garden - Jennifer King
Psalm 16
Bible references “the cup” nearly 80 times: as a carrier of poison and possibilities for kings & servants;
The
a tool to literally nourish & refresh, as a figurative description of one’s lot in life, and for pouring out
as
curses or blessings on others.
the more earnestly!
RESPOND
eternal blessing poured out for YOU.

FRIDAY

22 was written about 1,000 years before Christ was born and before crucifixion was invented as a
Psalm
of death. Yet this Psalm includes several details of Christ’s crucifixion. Did you know that around 300
form
of the Old Testament were fulfilled by Christ’s life, death, and resurrection? And not only were
prophecies
prophecies foretold, but they were foretold by different men of different times in different places.
these
have put it this way: the odds of 1 person fulfilling 8 of these prophecies is 1 in
Mathematicians
That’s a big number! And Christ didn’t just fulfill a few of the Old Testament
100,000,000,000,000,000.
either; He fulfilled them all. Only a divine Creator could be capable of something so great; a
prophecies
Creator who had a plan to save His people from the beginning (1 Peter 1:17-21).
divine
Why would God do such a crazy thing? Hebrews 12:1-3 tells us that Christ endured the cross and its
Why?
for the joy that was set before him. Friend, do you know what that joy was? It was reunion with his
shame
look back at one of the details of Psalm 22. Verse 14 says, “my heart is like wax; it is melted within my
Let’s
The fulfillment of this verse is found in John 19:34 – “but one of the soldiers pierced His side with
breast”.
spear, and immediately there came out blood and water.” Medically speaking, the blood and water
a
out of Christ’s pierced side is evidence that he died from his heart literally bursting. Christ died of
running
out 15 minutes today to spend with the Lord in prayer focused on confession, repentance, and
Carve
for our Savior and the work he completed on the cross.
admiration
Bible is dependable, reliable truth. No other book is like it. Are there things in the Bible that you
The
hard to believe or find hard to agree with? Don’t be afraid to talk about these things with your
find
community.
Study: 55 Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled: https://www.jesusfilm.org/blog-and-
Further
Crucifixion - Lyndsey Geel
Psalm 22:14-18
Heavenly Father, yes. But it was also you. You are a joy to the Lord worth dying for.
a broken heart for the joy that was set before him.
RESPOND
stories/old-testament-prophecies.html

SATURDAY

thought about what it was like for Jesus’ disciples on the Saturday between Good Friday and
Every
Matthew, Mark, and John jump right from Jesus’ burial on Friday to the empty tomb on Sunday.
Easter?
take some time to consider the plight of those first disciples. Jesus’ resurrection was at best a vague,
But
promise. Sure Jesus’ instructed them many times about his death and resurrection, but the gospel
cryptic
were brutally honest: the disciples didn’t comprehend what Jesus was saying (Luke 18:34). They
writers
their own ideas about what Messiah would do to save Israel – ideas completely dashed by Jesus’
had
after which the disciples abandoned Jesus and fled for their lives (Matthew 26:56). We can
arrest
assume they woke up that Saturday morning lost, alone, confused, disoriented, scared, and full
plausibly
faithful Jews, they likely turned to the Psalms to lift their voices in worship on that Saturday. Rather than
As
hope and help in a psalm of praise, they would have turned to a psalm like psalm 88 to help them
seeking
21st century American suburban Christians, we’ve largely lost touch with lament as a form of worship.
As
find lament psalms unsettling because we go to the psalms (or the Bible in general) for comfort and
We
Lament psalms confront us with our lack of control and with the darker emotions that arise when
answers.
out of control – anxiety, anger, jealousy, despair. In so doing, they remind us how desperate we are
we’re
a Savior! They point us to God and call us to wait patiently for his rescue, no matter how far off that
for
seems.
rescue
is your life not going as planned right now? Or where have you given up hope? Marriage
Where
Difficulties at work? Uncooperative children? Betrayed by friends? Bring that to the front of
trouble?
mind. Feel the emotions that go with it. Then read psalm 88 and let it give voice to your lament.
your
than trying to resolve the ache for resolution, let it linger through the day and remind you of
Rather
The Dark In-Between - Shane Fookes
Psalm 88
only mentions that Saturday was the Sabbath so “they rested according to the commandment.”
Luke
we lack narrative for that Saturday, we easily skip over it, paying it little attention. Why bother?
Because
After all, we know the good news of Easter!
of despair. At best, they clung to a thread of hope in the midst of overwhelming darkness.
voice their honest lament.
RESPOND
your need for a Savior.