Scriptures to Read for Each Day of Holy Week

Some of the events of that day:

- Jesus and his disciples traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Week

- He sent John and Peter ahead, with instructions to find a certain man who had a donkey and its colt

- Jesus then rode the donkey into Jerusalem

- Crowds along the road showed Him praise by waving palm branches and cheering. Some spread their cloaks on the road before Him

Palm Sunday Scripture

“The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” (Matthew 21:6-9).

Truth to Consider: The Lord is worthy of all praise and honor

Palm Sunday Prayer

Almighty God,

You alone are deserving of my praise, so I join those crowds outside of Jerusalem and lift up my worship. Let it be a pleasing offering to You. And please help me keep that praise tucked in my heart and ready on my lips every day.

I pray this in Jesus’ Name.

Day 2: Holy Monday

Some of the events of that day

- Jesus heads back into Jerusalem

- On the way, He sees a fig tree that has not borne fruit and curses it

- He uses the tree to teach about having inner righteousness, not just a nice appearance outside

- He weeps over the city’s lack of faith

- He cleanses the temple, driving out the merchants

Holy Monday Scripture

“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, ‘It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers’” (Matthew 21:12-13).

Truth to Consider: The Lord is fully holy and righteous

Holy Monday Prayer

Lord,

As Scripture tells us, Your Son is pure and holy. Thank You that the perfect Lamb was sacrificed to take our sin away so that we could have a relationship with You! Let me start each day with a sense of awe and delight about that.

I pray this in Jesus’ Name.

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Some of the events of that day:

- On the way into the city, Jesus sees the withered fig tree He had cursed, and uses it to teach on the power of faith

- Jesus tells several parables to condemn the religious elite and to explain the Kingdom of God

- Jesus delivers the “woes” to the religious leaders

- Jesus talks with His disciples on the Mount of Olives about the end times

Holy Tuesday Scripture

“‘Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him’” (Matthew 24:42-44).

Truth to Consider: The Lord is our true Teacher

Holy Tuesday Prayer

Father God,

Your Son came to teach us about You and Your Ways. I know that I’m always blessed when I receive those lessons. So, please help me remain humble enough to learn from Jesus how to grow more in righteousness each day.

I pray this in His Name.

Day 4: Holy Wednesday (“Spy Wednesday”)

Some of the events of that day:

- Jesus continues teaching 

- The Sanhedrin scheme about how to kill Jesus

- Judas makes an agreement to betray Jesus to the Sadducees for gold

Holy Wednesday Scripture

“...the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present” (Luke 22:2-6).

Truth to Consider: The Lord displayed peace in the midst of storms

Holy Wednesday Prayer

God,

The events of this last week of Jesus’ earthly life were turbulent, and ended in violence. I confess it’s hard to imagine that He could have had any rest or peace during that time. But Your Word says He made peace with His destiny, because He leaned on You. Help me to do the same - to release my worries and take hold of the peace You offer instead.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

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Some of the events of that day:

- Preparations began for the Passover: Jesus sent Peter and John to secure the upper room

- That evening, Jesus and all 12 disciples gathered there

- Jesus washed their feet, and they ate the Last Supper together

- He told them again that He would suffer and die, and that one of them would betray Him

- Judas leaves to find guards to arrest Jesus

- On the Mount of Olives, Jesus is arrested

- He is put before authorities - first Annas, and finally Caiaphas the High Priest

- Jesus is found guilty of blasphemy and condemned to die

Maundy Thursday Scripture

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,’ he said to them. ‘Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Mark 14:22-26).

Truth to Consider: The Lord fully submitted to God

Maundy Thursday Prayer

Abba Father,

All the way through His Earthly ministry, Jesus displayed a humble obedience to Your Will, even when it meant giving His life. I pray that You would give me the strength to follow His example. Let me seek Your Will each day, and be ready to respond well.

I pray this in Jesus’ Name.

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Some of the events of that day:

- At dawn, Jesus is brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor

- Pilate offers the crowd a criminal to be crucified instead, but the religious leaders stir the crowd up to demand Jesus

- Pilate agrees and Jesus is forced to walk to Golgotha, where He hangs on a cross

- After 6 hours, Jesus dies

- His body is taken down and placed in the tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea, a council member

Good Friday Scripture

“It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews … With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’” (Mark 15:25-26, 37-39).

Truth to Consider: The Lord gave His all to save each of us

Good Friday Prayer

Gracious God,

Thank You for this amazing gift of mercy! Your Son was the only One who could rescue us, and out of love He paid the ransom for us in full. Let the awareness of what Christ did sink deeply into my heart and mind, stirring me to give of myself to others.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

Day 7: Holy Saturday

Some of the events of that day:

- Guards are placed at the entrance of the tomb

- The Sabbath is observed

Holy Saturday Scripture

“The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment” (Luke 23:55-56).

Truth to Consider: Our Lord is always working

Holy Saturday Prayer

Jehovah,

I am so glad that Your Plans cannot be thwarted. Jesus’ disciples may have thought all was lost when He died on the cross. But they’d soon see how You would bring Your will to pass in a miraculous way. Thank You that I can trust in Your promises even when I can’t see exactly what You are doing.

I pray this in Jesus’ Name.

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Some of the events of that day:

- Mary Magdalene and another Mary went to the tomb 

- There, they found an angel sitting on one of the large stones that had covered the tomb entrance

- The angel tells the women that Jesus is not in the tomb, but has risen

Easter Resurrection Sunday Scripture

“Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, ‘Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?’ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him’” (Mark 16:2-6).

Truth to Consider: Our Lord is victorious over death (and life)

Easter Resurrection Sunday Prayer

Almighty God,

What a glorious morning - Jesus is alive! I pray that remembering the angel’s wondrous news would always fill me with joy and encourage me to tell it to others. Let me claim that truth for myself, and celebrate today and every day with worship. I pray this in Jesus’ name.

Holy Week is a time of remembrance, and an opportunity for spiritual renewal for Christians. The author of Hebrews wrote that the awareness of Jesus’ sacrifice should inspire us to live out our faith with intention all year round.

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

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