Holy Week 3/24 – 3/30

During this special time each year, known as Holy Week, Christians throughout the world remember. Yes, we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem as the crowd of Israelites cheered and welcomed the one who was sent by God to save us (Mark 11:9; John 3:17). We remember the events of the last week of Jesus’ life before his resurrection, including the Lord’s Supper. During that special meal with the disciples, which itself was an annual way for the Jewish people to remember their identity as God’s people, Jesus took the bread and a cup of wine as part of a previous way of remembering and gave them a new meaning as he revealed that his body and blood were going to be offered as a sacrifice for the people of the world for the forgiveness of sins. As we partake in the Lord’s Supper today, nearly two thousand years after Jesus shared the meal with his disciples, we remember that God established a new covenant with the people of the world, Jews and Gentiles, in and through his Son (Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20). During Holy Week we remember that Judas betrayed Jesus, which causes us to wonder how we too have betrayed the God revealed through Christ our Lord. After being betrayed he then was arrested by Roman soldiers, which caused the disciples to scatter and abandon him. We remember that later that night Peter repeatedly denied that he knew Christ. What about us? In what ways do we deny our Lord and Savior? We remember that it was first century religious leaders and a representative of the Roman government who put the author of life on trial. Yet when Pontius Pilate tried to extend mercy to Jesus a crowd of people in Jerusalem cried out for the “King of the Jews” to be crucified (Mark 15:6-15). We remember that after being tortured by the soldiers, Jesus experienced an excruciating death upon a Roman cross (Mark 16:15-37). Believes then placed the lifeless body of Jesus into a borrowed tomb (Mark 15:42-47). And we remember that that was not the end of the story, but it was the end of Holy Week.

 

During the first week of the Easter season, we will read and study the final chapter of Mark’s Gospel, along with other portions of the resurrection accounts within the New Testament. This week we will read and study Mark’s account of what happened during Holy Week, including what Jesus said, did, and what was done to him. If you did not read Mark chapters 1 through 10 during the past few weeks, you may want to listen to them, or at least read the section titles for each of the first ten chapters, before you begin reading, studying, and listening to the scripture of Holy Week. The format of this plan is designed for you to use as much or little as you have time to use each day, but you are encouraged to set this week apart from others of the year to remember what Jesus Christ has done for us. Below is a guide for the daily use of this devotional:

Each Day

 

LENTEN INVITATIONAL PRAYER:

Dear God, my Savior, I rise from my rest today to adore you, to live for you,

to serve you as I work with the people of your church in building

your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Help me to take up my cross today,

to forgive as I have been forgiven, to love others as I am loved by you,

to seek peace for the world, and to share the message of reconciliation.

I humbly offer myself to you to suffer if necessary,

with the hope that good will come from it,

just as there was good brought forth from the suffering Christ endured.

Help me to know the power of the cross of Christ.

Prepare my heart and mind for the message you have for me today.

Yes, speak to me, Lord, for your servant is listening.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit of the living God I pray. Amen.

 

DAILY CENTERING VERSE:

Each day read the centering verse to begin your time set apart to be with and encounter the living God revealed in and through Jesus Christ:

 

Jesus said, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands,

and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.”  – Mark 9:31 NRSV

                                   

MEDITATION:

You are encouraged to spend a few minutes quietly alone with God after reading the verse. You may find it helpful to sit, kneel, lay down, or walk as the message rolls around in your heart and mind.

 

DECLARATION OF FAITH:

Read a portion of the Nicene Creed as a declaration of your faith:

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

                                   

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried…

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son

is worshiped and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets…

We acknowledge one baptism

for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 

VIDEOS TO WATCH:

If you have not watched the videos yet, you are invited to watch the animated Mark overview video and the Gospel of Mark Summary video using the YouTube links or visiting the Bible Project website:

Mark by The Bible Project

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVRixfameGY&t=65s

 

The Gospel of Mark Summary by The Bible Project

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGHqu9-DtXk

 

LISTEN to and/or SING a Worship Song or Hymn to help you respond to God and what the Lord has done for us through Christ Jesus. You may find it helpful to use a different song on some, or all, of the days of Holy Week.

 

HOLY WEEK DAILY BIBLE VERSES TO READ & STUDY:

Sunday – Mark 11:1-11 (Jesus’ Triumphal Entry)

Monday – Mark 11:12-19

Tuesday – Mark 11:20-12:44

Wednesday – Mark 13:1-14:11

Holy Thursday – Mark 14:12-72

Good Friday – Mark 15:1-47

Silent Saturday – Luke 23:50-56 (The Sabbath theme for today is “SILENCE & REST.”)

 

QUESTIONS:

You may find it helpful to read the verses a second time as you ask yourself these questions while pondering about God’s message to you. You may find it helpful to write your responses to the questions, or talk about them with a family member, friend, or your small group, or to simply think about them:

What is the gospel writer revealing about Jesus in these verses?

 

What do these verses reveal about Jesus’ followers?

 

What is God’s specific message for me from what I read?

 

How should I respond to the Lord’s message today?

 

How will I intentionally remember the Last Supper on Thursday?

           

How will I intentionally remember Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday?

 

Which part of the day on Saturday will I set apart to be silent and rest as a way to remember that Jesus’ body was dead and in the tomb before his resurrection?

 

How will I celebrate the resurrection of our Savior and worship the Lord with other believers on Easter Sunday?

           

PRAY:

You may find it helpful to use the daily suggestions as you pray:

Sunday – Praise the Lord for Jesus, your life, your family, our congregation, and Mark’s Gospel. Pray for the people of Jesus’ Church throughout the world, including Catholics, Orthodox believers, and other Protestants. The “other Protestants” includes the new church starting in Avon, Livingston Anglican Church.

 

Monday – Ask the Lord to reveal who you should invite to an Easter worship service, then pray for them, and for others who will be invited to Easter worship services throughout the world.

 

Tuesday – Pray for those who are closest to you, including family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors.

 

Wednesday – Lift up the worries and concerns you have for the world, people in need locally, and yourself.

 

Thursday – Offer thanks to God for the many blessings you have been given and continue to receive.

 

Friday – Confess your sins and failures and ask for forgiveness.

 

Saturday – Listen silently for God to reveal a message to you. Consider going for a walk or sitting outside to hear the sounds of nature, neighbors, and the world Jesus came to save. As you listen ask yourself, “What are the sounds I hear, and the Holy Spirit, revealing to me?”

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations.