Walking With Jesus Through Holy Week (Easter)
Living All of Life In Light of the Victory of Christ
As God’s people, Resurrection Sunday is not an annual event; it is meant to be an all-pervasive reality that continually claims new dominion in our hearts, minds, and lives as Christians. We are called to live each and every day in light of the finished and all-sufficient work of our Savior, Jesus Christ. From his cradle to his cross and from his final respiration to his glorious resurrection, Jesus has obtained the gift of eternal life for each and every person who calls on him in faith, (I Jn. 5:12; Rm. 10:13). These are the bedrock realities that shape the Christian’s life, identity, expectations, investments, and longings.
While God instructs his people to live in light of King Jesus’ ministry each and every day, we make a special effort each Spring to consider the final events of Jesus’ earthly life; we call the events of his final days “Holy Week”. Holy Week recounts the events from Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the cheers of the fickle crowds (Palm Sunday), through the last supper, his betrayal, arrest, trial, crucifixion, burial, three days in the tomb, and finally his vindication at the resurrection (Easter).
The gospel is the center of the Christian faith, and the gospel is not mere pleasantries; it is the authoritative proclamation of the historically factual events of what Jesus Christ has willingly done for the salvation of sinners from all nations, tribes, and tongues (Matt. 28:19-20). When we recount these events, we recount the work of the One who lived, suffered, died, and conquered so that we who deserve God’s wrath would only ever know his mercy, (I Peter 2:24).
We encourage you to walk with Jesus through the final days of his earthly ministry this Holy Week. Take time to meditate over the work of Christ for you. Take time to pray to God concerning these things, offering thanksgiving and awe, repentance and sorrow over the sins that remain in your heart. Take time to share these truths with your friends, your coworkers, and your precious children.
Our hope is solid, trustworthy, and sure because of this unchangeable fact: The One upon whom all the weight of our sin and misery was laid, who bled and died and was buried in a tomb of darkness—“he is not here, for he has risen, as he said!” (Matt. 28:5-6). “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it,” (Acts 2:24).
May the victory of Christ over sin and death remind you that if you are in Christ, your future with him cannot be snatched up or taken away by any earthly sorrows. Because he lives, so we too shall live, (Jn. 14:19).
“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (I Cor. 15:57).
A Basic Reading Plan For Holy Week
•Palm Sunday
For a full account of the events of this day, see: Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, John 12:9–19
•Monday
For a full account of the events of this day, see: Matthew 21:12–22, Mark 11:12–19, Luke 19:45–48
•Tuesday
For a full account of the events of this day, see: Matthew 21:23–26:5, Mark 11:27–14:2, Luke 20:1–22:2, John 12:37–50
•Wednesday
For a full account of the events of this day, see: Matthew 26:6–16, Mark 14:3–11, Luke 22:3–6
•Thursday
For a full account of the events of this day, see: Matthew 26:17–75, Mark 14:12–72, Luke 22:7–71, John 13:1–18:27
•Good Friday
For a full account of the events of this day, see: Matthew 27:1–61, Mark 15:1–47, Luke 23:1–56, John 18:28–19:42
•Saturday
For a full account of the events of this day, see: Matthew 27:62–66
•Resurrection Sunday
For a full account of the events of this day, see: Matthew 28:1–20, Mark 16:1–8, Luke 24:1–53, John 20:1–21:25