Holy Week begins this Sunday, April 5 with Palm Sunday. Although I long to remember the hope we have in Jesus because of his death and resurrection, it is difficult that Holy Week will look very different with the cancellation of so many of Calvary’s annual Holy Week events due to COVID-19.
However, I may actually have more time this year to reflect on the last week of Jesus’ earthly life and I want to embrace Holy Week in this unexpected season of life. If you would like direction for a Bible reading plan focused on the specific events of Holy Week, this daily reading plan can serve as a guide for your week.
All is well (because of Easter),
Lisa
UPDATE:
One harsh reality of being a writer is that often I wish I could go back and change something that I’ve written because of new information or even a minor change of view or when I realize that I just got something wrong. Which brings me to this update.
Trying to combine all the Gospel writer accounts into one narrative is almost impossible, and actual bible scholars have all sorts of debates about what happened on what day or how exactly to splice up the gospels to fit in a chart. First century writers from an eastern culture simply didn’t have the same need for exacting details as we long for in western cultures. Also, each Gospel writer was writing their own narrative and didn’t intend for them to be woven together. It doesn’t change the accuracy of what Jesus said and none of the confusion on our end changes anything related to doctrine, but it can still be challenging for modern thinkers.
However, after reading through the verses again this week (I don’t normally read all the gospels each day during Holy Week) I did some more digging and realized I have made some significant enough errors that I needed to update my timeline. I’ll try to get it fixed online but I’m not sure if that will happen before Easter so below is an updated timeline (only significant changes are Monday-Wednesday). It is still just my compilation and so there might still be some inaccuracies or places I had to make a choice when an event could have happened on multiple days.
Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-11
Mark 11:1-11
Luke 19:28-44
John 12:12-36
Road to Jerusalem
On Palm Sunday, a great crowd had gathered in Jerusalem in preparation for the annual Passover celebration. As Jesus and his disciples approached the city, two disciples found a donkey that had never been ridden (Matthew 21:1-3). Bringing it to Jesus, Jesus rode into the city over the coats people had thrown on the ground to honor him. Large crowds also brought branches and went ahead of Jesus, waving the branches and shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! (Mark 11:9-10).
Bethany
Sunday night, Jesus went to the town of Bethany and spent the night, most likely at Martha’s house because she often extended hospitality to Jesus and his disciples (Matthew 21:17).
On Palm Sunday, we remember that Jesus willingly went to Jerusalem in obedience to the Father, knowing that he was on a journey toward the cross. What difficult journey are you on? What steps of obedience do you need to take?
Monday
Matthew 21:12-13, 18-19
Mark 11:12-17
Luke 19:45-46
John 12:37-50
Temple in Jerusalem
On Monday, Jesus went to the temple to teach the gathered crowds and encourage his disciples. Jesus demonstrated his spiritual authority when he overturned the money changers’ tables because they were taking advantage of the people who had come to worship (Mark 11:15-17).
Bethany
Monday night, Jesus returned to Bethany and spent the night (Luke 21:37).
On Monday of Holy Week, we remember Jesus’ teachings to his disciples, including the greatest command: to love God and our neighbors (Matthew 22:37-40). How can we demonstrate love to God and our neighbors this Holy Week?
Tuesday
Matthew 21:20-25:46
Mark 11:20-13:37
Luke 20:1-21:38
John – no recorded events
Temple in Jerusalem
Mount of Olives
Luke tells us that “each day Jesus was teaching at the temple” (Luke 21:37) and he regularly met with the disciples on the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39). On this Tuesday, Jesus was teaching in the temple, and acknowledged the beauty of the widow’s gift. Jesus also gave the “Olivet Discourse” or a long teaching to his disciples while seated on the Mount of Olives.
On Tuesday of Holy Week, we remember that it was Jesus’ usual practice to be with his disciples for the purpose of teaching and prayer. How might we follow his example this Holy Week?
Wednesday
Matthew 26:6-16
Mark 14:1-11
Luke 22:1-6
John – no recorded events
Home of Simon the Leper, Bethany
Jesus spent the Wednesday evening of Holy Week eating dinner at the home of Simon the Leper in Bethany. While Jesus was having dinner, a woman brought an expensive jar of perfume and poured it on Jesus’ head. When the guests rebuked her, claiming it was a waste of money, Jesus honored her saying, “She has done a beautiful thing” (Mark 14:6). Fuming at this extravagant act of worship, Judas left the meal. He went to the chief priests and agreed to betray Jesus.
On Wednesday of Holy Week, we remember the beautiful example of sacrificial worship demonstrated by the woman who anointed Jesus. Can we offer something as a beautiful sacrifice to Jesus today?
Maundy Thursday
Matthew 26:17-75
Mark 14:12-72
Luke 22:7-65
John 13-18:27
Upper Room, Jerusalem
On Maundy Thursday (from the Latin mandatum for “command” because Jesus gave his disciples new commands this night), Jesus ate a final Passover meal with His disciples in an upper room of a home in Jerusalem. Jesus began the meal by taking off his outer clothing, wrapping a towel around his waist and kneeling down to wash his disciples’ feet (John 13:3-17). As they ate, Jesus predicted Judas’ betrayal and Judas slipped away to find the religious leaders (John 13:21-30). Jesus also warned Peter that he would betray Jesus despite Peter’s strong objection (Matthew 26:31-35).
At the Passover meal, Jesus gave what is known as the “Upper Room Discourse,” or his final teaching where he promised the Holy Spirit and then prayed for disciples (John 14-17).
Garden of Gethsemane
Following his prayer, Jesus and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives where Jesus asked Peter, James and John to pray with him. In deep pain and agony, Jesus prayed three separate times, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me” (Matthew 26:36-44), a request to avoid the crucifixion. His prayer was so intense that sweat ran down his face like flowing blood (Luke 22:39-44). Jesus ultimately surrendered his will to the Father’s plan and, knowing all that was going to happen, went to meet Judas (John 18:4).
Judas had brought a group of soldiers, chief priests and Pharisees to the Garden of Gethsemane. Following Judas’ kiss, Jesus was arrested and taken in chains to the high priest’s house (Luke 22:47-54). Fearful for their lives, the disciples deserted Jesus (Matthew 26:56).
Caiaphas’ House
At the official residence of the high priest, which also housed a court and jail, Jesus was first questioned by Annas, the father-in-law of the high priest. Then, Jesus was sent to be tried by the high priest, Caiaphas (John 18:19-24).
In the courtyard outside Caiaphas’ house, Peter was asked three times if he knew Jesus and three times Peter denied Jesus. After the third denial, a rooster crowed and Peter ran from the house (John 18:15-18, 25-27).
Abandoned by his disciples, Jesus was accused of blasphemy and beaten. Alone, he was lowered into a dungeon pit and he spent the night in darkness.
On Maundy Thursday, we remember Judas’ betrayal, the disciples’ abandonment and Peter’s denial. Are there ways we betray, abandon or deny Jesus?
Good Friday
Matthew 27:1-61
Mark 15:1-47
Luke 22:66-23:56
John 18:28-19:42
Caiaphas’ House
Early on Friday morning, Jesus was questioned again and affirmed that he was the Son of God (Luke 22:66-71).
Roman Governor’s Palace
Jesus was taken from Caiaphas’ house to the palace of Pilate, the Roman governor (John 18:28). Finding no cause to charge Jesus with a crime, Pilate tried to release him (Luke 23:4) but the Jewish people demanded that Jesus be crucified. Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, who ridiculed and mocked Jesus before sending him back to Pilate (Luke 23:11). Pilate brought Jesus out of the palace before the crowd of people. Beaten, wearing a crown of thorns and a purple robe, Jesus was sentenced to be crucified (John 18:14-16).
Golgotha
Carrying the beam of his own cross until Simon of Cyrene was enlisted to help, Jesus was led through the streets of Jerusalem as people jeered and shouted at him. Reaching Golgotha (meaning “the place of the skull” in Aramaic), Jesus was nailed to a wooden cross (Mark 15:21-24). The soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothing (Matthew 27:35) and a sign reading “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19) was placed above him. Jesus spoke to the thieves who were crucified on either side of him, promising to the one who expressed faith, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:40-43). Several women stood near the cross. Jesus asked his disciple John to take his mother Mary into his home and care for her (John 19:25-27).
Darkness covered Jerusalem from noon until 3pm (Mark 15:33). Around 3pm, Jesus said that he was thirsty and was given wine vinegar (John 19:28-29) before crying out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). Knowing Scripture had been fulfilled, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:28-30). He bowed his head and gave up his spirit. At that moment, the earth quaked and the curtain of the temple was split in two (Matthew 27:51).
Because Sabbath (sunset on Friday evening) was quickly approaching, Pilate ordered Jesus’ legs to be broken because the Jewish leaders did not want Jesus left on the cross. The soldiers found that Jesus was already dead so they did not break his legs. Instead, they pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, which brought a flow of blood and water (John 19:31-37).
Garden Tomb
A wealthy man named Joseph boldly went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Granted permission, Joseph and Nicodemus took the body, prepared it for burial and placed Jesus into an unused tomb carved out of stone and rolled a large rock in front of the entrance (John 19:38-42).
On Good Friday, we remember the sacrifice of Jesus to endure torture and death on a cross. How might we express gratitude to Jesus?
Saturday
Matthew 27:62-66
Mark — No recorded events
Luke — No recorded events
John — No recorded events
Roman Governor’s Palace
Knowing Jesus’ prophecy that he would rise again after three days, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate to warn him that the disciples might try to steal Jesus’ body to make it appear that Jesus had been resurrected. Pilate authorized a seal to be placed on the tomb and posted a guard at the entrance.
The disciples locked themselves in a home fearful of the Jewish leaders (John 20:19).
On Saturday of Holy Week, we remember the disciples as they experienced what they considered to be the silence of God in the midst of their fear. Consider our own need for faith to believe God is at work even when we can’t see it.
Easter Sunday
Matthew 28:1-15
Mark 16
Luke 24
John 20:1-29
Garden Tomb
At dawn on Easter Sunday, Mary Magdalene and Mary went to the tomb to properly care for Jesus’ body. As they approached, a violent earthquake shook the ground and an angel rolled back the rock in front of the tomb and sat on it. The angel announced to the women that Jesus was not there. As they hurried away, Jesus met them, and the women fell at his feet and worshipped (Matthew 28:1-10). Then the women went and told the disciples. Peter and John ran to tomb and finding it empty, they believed. Then they returned to the place where they were staying (John 20:3-10).
Jerusalem
On the road to Emmaus, Jesus appeared to two disciples who did not initially recognize him and explained the Scriptures. After Jesus revealed himself, they returned at once to Jerusalem and told the gathered disciples what had happened (Luke 24:13-35). While they were talking, Jesus appeared in the room and proclaimed, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:21).
On Easter Sunday, we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Pray for God’s peace that is now freely available to rule in our hearts all year.