As we enter Holy Week, take time to read, reflect, and pray. "Holy" means "other" or "set apart." How can you "set apart" this holy week? Holy Week is a time of remembrance and an opportunity for spiritual renewal for followers of Jesus. The author of Hebrews wrote that the awareness of Jesus’ sacrifice should inspire us to live out our faith with intention all year round.

Hebrews 12:1–3 (NLT) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

Some of the events of that day:

• Jesus and his disciples travel to Jerusalem for the Passover Week
• He sends John and Peter ahead, with instructions to find a certain man who had a donkey and its colt
• Jesus rides the donkey into Jerusalem
• Crowds along the road show Him praise by waving palm branches and cheering; some spread their cloaks on the road before Him

Matthew 21:6–9 (NLT) The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. 8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!”

Truth to Consider: Jesus is worthy of all praise and honor

In what ways can you give praise and honor to Jesus? How could you make this part of your daily relationship with Jesus?

Prayer: Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Some of the events of that day:

• Jesus heads back into Jerusalem
• On the way, He sees a fig tree that has no fruit and curses it
• He uses the tree to teach about having inner righteousness, not just a nice appearance on the outside
• He weeps over the city’s lack of faith
• He cleanses the temple, driving out the merchants

Mark 11:12–19 (NLT) The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it. 15 When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. 17 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” 18 When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching. 19 That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city.

Truth to Consider: Jesus is holy and righteous

Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and He should be the priority and center of our life. Are there things in your life that need to be driven out? Has anything else taken center stage of your heart?

Prayer: Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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 and forgiveness
• 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 teaches the 10 commandments as 2

Mark 11:20–26 (NLT) The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. 21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!” 22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. 24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. 25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

Truth to Consider: Jesus is our Teacher

The scripture for today tells us that when we pray, we should first forgive anyone we are holding a grudge against so that we can be forgiven. Is there anyone in your life you need to forgive?

Prayer: O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

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 some money

Luke 22:2–6 (NLT) The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction. 3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4 and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5 They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. 6 So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around.

Truth to Consider: Jesus has peace despite opposition and betrayal

During times where we feel betrayed by people close to us, we can know that Jesus understands us and is with us. Is there an area of your life where you need to receive God's peace?

Prayer: Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Some of the events of that day:

• Jesus is anointed for burial in the house of Simon the leper
• Jesus predicts Peter's denial
• Preparations begin for the Passover: Jesus sends Peter and John to secure the upper room
• That evening, Jesus and all 12 disciples gather there
• Jesus washes their feet and they ate the Last Supper together
• He tells 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

Mark 14:22–26 (NLT) As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. 25 I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.” 26 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Truth to Consider: Jesus is fully submitted to the will of God

If the Son of God had to say, "Not my will, but yours be done," how much more should we? What do you need to surrender to the will of God?

Prayer: Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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 up the crowd 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

Mark 15:25–26 (NLT) It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 A sign announced the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.”
Mark 15:37–39 (NLT) Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

Truth to Consider: Jesus died to forgive sins once and for all

How does uniting with Jesus’ suffering and death help us maintain enduring hope during trials and tribulations?

Prayer: Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Some of the events of that day:

• Guards are placed at the entrance of the tomb
• The Sabbath is observed

Luke 23:55–56 (NLT) As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. 56 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.

Truth to Consider: Jesus is always working

Today, the day before Easter, is a day of expectant waiting. Whether or not we see it or feel it, Jesus is always working behind the scenes. The Savior of the world had died and was buried, but it wasn't the end of the story. What are you expectantly waiting for? Surrender that to Jesus and trust that He is working.

Prayer: O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Some of the events of that day:

• Mary Magdalene and another Mary visit the tomb
• There, they find 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

Mark 16:2–6 (NLT) Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. 5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.

Truth to Consider: Jesus is victorious over death

How would you explain to a friend what the Resurrection is all about? Why is it a big deal to you that Jesus rose from the dead?

Prayer: Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 


This guide was adapted from the article, “Scriptures to Read for Each Day of Holy Week,” with prayers from The Book of Common Prayer