Journeying with Jesus to the Cross & the Empty Tomb

Holy Week Devotional Guide

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Holy Week

If one wants to more fully appreciate the freedoms and privileges of living in a free country, he or she need only to sit down to a meaningful conversation with someone who fought, bled, and sacrificed to give that country her liberties.

And if one wants to more fully appreciate the freedoms and privileges of being a Christian, a Christ-follower, then perhaps the best way to do that is to have a meaningful exchange with the One who sacrificed, bled, and died to set Christ-followers truly free.

This is an invitation to a meaningful conversation with Jesus this week—a chance to walk and talk with the One who sets people truly free.

This is an opportunity to experience the jeers, the whips, the pain, the discouragement, the misperceptions, the betrayals, the crown of thorns, and the piercing of Christ’s hands and feet. This is an occasion to participate more fully in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—God’s Son, our Savior and Lord.

As you choose to walk with Jesus “in His steps” this week, may you become more acutely aware of that which you were saved from and what you are saved for. May you understand more of sin and death so that you may understand more of resurrection and rejoicing. May you know more than ever that Christ died for you while you were yet a sinner, and out of His infinite love, brought you from slavery to freedom, from death to life.

May Christ be especially near to you in your conversations and exchanges as you journey with Him this week ... “in His steps.”

Included in your Daily Journey

Scripture references for each day’s historic events, a devotional, a prayer, and questions for reflection.

Introduction

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Sunday & Monday

Jesus, the King of Kings

Sunday’s and Monday’s Events:

Matthew 21:1-22, Mark 11:1-26, Luke 19:28-48, John 12:12-16

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus—who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-7)

Who is this King of Glory? Do kings of glory grace the backs of donkeys? Isn’t royalty reserved for stallions and thoroughbreds? Aren’t the rich, the strong, the powerful, and the influential of any era supposed to display their dominance, show their wares, demonstrate to one and all exactly what put them in such a place of supremacy?

Yet, Jesus shows what real sovereignty looks like. Having all power at His disposal, Jesus chooses to use none, save the power of love.

How about you? What does the sovereignty of your own life look like? Is your life more about “pomp and circumstance” or humble submission to the only true King of kings and Lord of lords?

Prayer

Jesus, I bend my knee, submit my will, and offer my life to your pleasure and plan. Amen.

For Reflection

Why would Jesus empty Himself of all that was rightfully His in order to suffer and die for me?

Are there places in my life that I am not letting go? Places I feel that I have somehow earned the right to possess? Places of self-lordship that need surrendered?

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Tuesday

Jesus, the Teacher of Teachers

Tuesday’s Events:

Matthew 21:23-25:46, Mark 11:27-13:37, Luke 20:1-21:36, John 12:17-50

In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. (Psalm 71:1)

What keeps you from opening yourself to the reality of the world around you and receiving the gift of God’s healing hand? Could it be you are too prideful to admit that you are powerless and broken? Could it be that you might have to admit that you don’t know? That you can’t? That you’re not the one in control?

Is there any of us who could have stood under the rigorous interrogation of Jesus by the religious authorities of His day—who sought to trip Him up, throw Him off, and bring Him down?

The answer most certainly is “no.” But many of us try. We try to answer all the questions, disprove all of the controversies, and quiet all the critics. But we cannot. Nor were we meant to do so. And in our floundering and futile striving, we most often find ourselves tired, frustrated, and a little closer to self-righteousness than holiness.

Jesus alone is the only one who can hold up under such scrutiny, because He alone is God. His ways are not like our ways. His infinite wisdom far exceeds our most brilliant attempts. Maybe this week is a call to do less fighting and striving with the world and all the Church’s critics and resign to take refuge in Jesus who will not put any of us to shame.

Prayer

Lord, may the only thing I prove this week is how much I desperately need your love and forgiveness. Amen.

For Reflection

Is there anyone I’ve sought to set straight lately about God and His Church— and do I need to ask their forgiveness for doing so?

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Wednesday

Jesus, Anointed & Betrayed

Wednesday’s Events:

Matthew 26:1-16, Mark 14:1-11, Luke 22:1-6

The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

Ever wonder what Jesus was thinking the night before He was handed over to suffer and die? If you’ve ever tossed and turned the whole night before a major surgery or tirelessly wrestled with a gut-wrenching, life-changing decision—maybe you’re on the right track to understanding.

We can’t pretend to know what it is like to carry the full weight of sin for all humanity as Jesus did. We often can’t hold up under the burden of our own demise. But we can learn from Jesus how to face our deepest fears and darkest hours.

Jesus knew the Psalms. He meditated on them, taught them, quoted them, and leaned on them. They were the songbook of His daily living.

Perhaps one of the Psalms that came to mind that very long night was one from David’s pen, reminding Jesus that what He was about to face He neither needed to “fear nor be afraid”—because His Lord was His light, salvation, and stronghold.

Maybe you need that reminder this week as well.

Prayer

Jesus, in the midst of a life of blessing and curse, light and darkness, anointing and betrayal, teach me not to fear. Amen.

For Reflection

What is it I am fearing?

Of whom or what am I afraid?

Do I trust the Lord to be my light, salvation, and strength?

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Thursday

Jesus, Master & Servant

Maundy Thursday’s Events:

Matthew 26:17-75,Mark 14:12-72, Luke 22:7-65, John 13:1-18:27

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:12-15)

The custom of washing feet in Jesus’ day was a very practical matter. In a dry, desert climate, open-toed sandals made for dirty, dusty feet on even the shortest of journeys. It was the duty of the lowest slave or servant to wash the dust and grime off of the feet of the master of the household and any visiting guests.

Jesus modeled to the disciples the kind of love and servant attitude those who love God ought to have in their heart and demonstrate with their hands. It’s the kind of love where a master washes the feet of a slave. It’s like a CEO washing the hands of a mailroom worker or a judge bathing the feet of an inmate he’s just convicted.

If Jesus, the Master and Lord of all, willingly stoops to wash our dirty feet, is their anyone’s feet just too dirty for us to bathe? Is there anyone whom we just cannot serve or love?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, teach me to serve others as you have loved and served me. Amen.

For Reflection

When’s the last time I genuinely served someone as if to stoop and wash their feet?

When might be the next time?

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Friday

Jesus–Tortured, Executed & Buried

Good Friday’s Events:

Matthew 27:1-66, Mark 15:1-47, Luke 22:66-23:55, John 18:28-19:42

After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said,”It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:28-30)

In this passage, John records two of the last seven words of Jesus before His death: “I am thirsty” and “It is finished.”

What might be the last words you utter before you die?

Will they be words of blessing or curse? Will they be excuses made or thanks given? Will they be more about you or more about the One who made you and gave you life?

Jesus’ last words were those of love, of forgiveness, of commitment, of honest agony, of eternal victory. And through His obedience to God’s perfect plan, Jesus cancelled humanity’s debt to sin once and for all. Indeed, on that very good Friday, “it was finished.”

What words do you have to offer to Jesus this Good Friday for such a sacrifice of love for you?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of your suffering and sacrifice for this world and for me. Amen.

For Reflection

What is my soul thirsty for these days?

Does my life reflect that I am truly thankful for Christ’s great sacrifice of love on the cross?

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Holy Saturday

Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath

Saturday’s Events:

Luke 23:56

As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law. (Luke 23:55-56)

With a stone rolled against the tomb and armed guards standing by, Jesus’ grave was secure. He was gone. Dead. And by all earthly appearances, it was truly over. The love Jesus gave, the truth He taught, the forgiveness He offered, the miracles He performed, and the hope He promised—all seemed to have ended in utter failure, buried with Him in His grave.

All that remained was for those who loved Jesus to anoint His body, honor His remembrance, and begin to find a way to carry on without Him.

But God had bigger plans. There’s more to the story. And we, like the first Easter people, are called to a time of Sabbath—to rest, reflect, remember, and be renewed. Tomorrow we will celebrate God’s continued resurrection story in our lives.

So let’s prepare our hearts—for joy comes in the morning!

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me to always find my rest in you. Amen!

For Reflection

What might I have done, said, or thought that very first Easter Eve when all seemed abandoned and lost?

How can I prepare my heart and life to honor and celebrate Jesus, the living Lord, in a most special way?

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Easter Sunday

Jesus, Risen Lord & Savior!

Sunday’s Events:

Matthew 28:1-15, Mark 16:1-8 (9-20), Luke 24:1-49, John 20:1-18

Jesus said to Mary at the empty tomb, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you’re looking for?” (John 20:15)

Who are you looking for this Easter morning?

Mary was looking for the dead body of a precious friend. In her search, she understandably misidentified Jesus as the gardener of the cemetery. Mary was looking for the dead among the living. What she soon discovered was an encounter of the living among the dead. Jesus, the one in whom she had placed all hope, was no longer dead, but alive! Her Master, her Teacher, her Lord, was alive!

Who are you looking to encounter this Easter morning? Are you ready to celebrate the risen Lord who has brought you from death to life? Are you looking for the living among the dead? If so, rejoice! If not, why not make today the day you say “yes” to Jesus and place the lordship of your life in His hands? Jesus, God’s Son, the world’s Savior, lives! Hallelujah!

Give yourself fully and completely in worship today ... so that, like Mary Magdalene, you may say with great joy, “I have seen the Lord!”

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, may we praise you now and forever! Alleluia! Amen!

For Reflection

What does it mean to me that “Christ is risen”?

What in my life is in need of Christ’s resurrection power?

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