Holy Week Devotionals

This devotional was written by Sam Hamstra Jr. one of our Executive Search Consultants, who served as a Pastor for over 40 years in the Chicagoland area. While Easter has passed, the importance of Holy Week remains the same and we encourage you to study the history and Biblical context of Holy Week.

Palm Sunday

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. -Zechariah 9:9

On a Sunday years ago, Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem as he had done several times before. But this time he entered riding a donkey thereby proclaiming to each person who saw him that he was the promised king—the Messiah. He made this triumphal entry during the annual celebration of Passover when Jerusalem was filled with thousands of Jews. Jesus’ entry split the city in two. Enthusiasts greeted him with great fanfare by throwing their coats on the ground before Jesus, waving palm branches, and singing, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” Sceptics told Jesus to silence the crowd and, in the days to come, crucified him. We expect two responses. Harry Emerson Fosdick once said, “Palm Sunday dramatized in unforgettable fashion the impossibility of neutrality on great issues.” Jesus forced the citizens of Jerusalem to make a decision, one which would split the city wide open. And every year as we recognize Palm Sunday, he forces us to make a decision. Will we recognize and receive Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Will we cling to him to have no other object of trust? Palm Sunday challenges us in a manner reminiscent of Joshua who said, “Choose this day who you will serve,” he said, “But for me and my house we will serve the Lord!” Will you do that today? Will you say YES, for the first time or for the 100th time, to Christ?

Monday of Holy Week

When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. “It is written,” he said to them, ‘My house will be a house of prayer’ but you have made it ‘a den of robbers’.” -Luke 19:45-46

On that day we call Palm Sunday, Jesus rolled into Jerusalem declaring that he is the Messiah. According to the Gospel of Mark, Jesus left Jerusalem that evening but returned to the temple courts on Monday morning. When he arrived, as Abram Leon Sachar wrote, Jesus was greeted “by the shouts of the venders and purchasers, their bickering and bargaining. The whole commercial atmosphere in the courts of the house of God grated on Jesus as it must have grated on other sensitive pilgrims” (A History of the Jews).

In response, Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. Plus, Jesus drove men and animals out with a whip. What are we to take away from this portrait of Jesus? Does it, for example, give us permission for righteous indignation in the face of injustice? Or could something else be going on? Instead of viewing Jesus as a model for displays of anger, we view Jesus behavior as in invitation to confess our sin. To do so, we must take our place among the robbers in the temple courts, among those whom Jesus drove out with a whip.

That’s not a big leap for believers who Scripture describes as “temples of the Holy Spirit.” Like those in the temple courts, we have allowed the practices and principles of the world to seep into our lives. We have become pretty cozy with the world and allowed our lives to become something other than temples of prayer. May that acknowledgment lead us to confess ours sins to him. With David, let us invite him to clean the temple courts of our lives by praying, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2).

Tuesday of Holy Week

“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

Jesus and his apostles are staying in Bethany, a two to three mile walk from Jerusalem—a difficult walk down to the Kidron Valley and up to city of Zion. On Tuesday morning, Jesus went to Jerusalem, the third time in three days. Back at the Temple, religious leaders, angry with Jesus for establishing himself as their spiritual authority, organized an ambush with the intent to place him under arrest. But Jesus evaded their traps and pronounced harsh judgment on them. It was that conversation which pushed Judas over the edge. The Gospel of Matthew indicates that this Tuesday was the day Judas Iscariot negotiated with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

Later that afternoon, Jesus left the city and went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives, which sits due east of the Temple and overlooks Jerusalem. Here Jesus delivered what we refer to as his “Olivet Discourse” (Matthew 24-25). His teaching answered a question from his apostles about the time and place of his return or what we would call his “second coming.” Jesus answer was simple: Ready or not, I will return.

With those words Jesus counters, a temptation to immerse ourselves in reflections about Christ’s suffering and death, a practice that could only end in deep remorse, sorrow, and guilt. As we reflect on the final days of his life on earth, Jesus encourages us to remember that, ready or not, he is coming again. May that promise not only shape how we honor Jesus this week, but also shape the way we live.

Wednesday of Holy Week

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, Jesus wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.” -Luke 19:41-42

Thus far have followed Jesus into Jerusalem each of three days. On Palm Sunday he entered riding on a donkey to great acclaim. On Monday he entered the temple courts and caused aruckus. On Tuesday he entered on his way to the Mount of Olives where he taught his followers.

What did Jesus do on Wednesday? The Gospel writers don’t tell us what he did or taught on this day. They leave Wednesday wide open. So, let’s return to Palm Sunday when, before entering Jerusalem, Jesus wept for the city and its residents. On numerous occasions Jesus was deeply moved by the conditions which surrounded him but, on just two occasions, the Bible records Jesus weeping. John, and only John tells us that Jesus wept when informed of the death of his friend Lazarus (Jn 11:35). Luke, and only Luke tells us that Jesus wept for the city and residents of Jerusalem There are differences between the two incidents, one being the verb used by the authors to refer to Jesus’ deep emotion. The verb employed by the apostle John refers to a quiet and reserved sorrow over the loss of a friend. In contrast, the very employed by the apostle Luke refers to loud lamentation and deep wailing, the kind of sorrow that shakes a person to his or her core when gripped by inexpressible anguish.

Why did Jesus weep like that over Jerusalem? Because he knew its future. He knew that the people of Jerusalem, except for a few disciples, would reject and then crucify him. He also knew that in forty years the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed. Why does Luke want us to see Jesus weeping and wailing? Could it simply be that he would have us witness the compassion of Jesus for those who are lost? By weeping and waling his encourages us to do the same for those who refuse to accept Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of their lives.

Thursday of Holy Week

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” - Luke 22:31-34

On Thursday evening, Jesus gathered in the Upper Room with His apostles to celebrate the Passover Feast. During their time together, the Lord washed the feet of the apostles and commanded the apostles to love one another (Jn 13:34). The Latin word for command is mandatum. The English alliteration of that word is Maundy. Hence, this day has been called Maundy Thursday. This is the night on which the Lord broke bread while gathered for the Passover feast, offered his last discourse, and offered his high priestly prayer, and betrayed by Judas Iscariot.

Today I direct your attention to am amazing conversation between Jesus and Peter. What is amazing is, not that Jesus predicted Peter’s sin, but that Jesus knew that Peter would do so but but continued to love him. Jesus also commissioned him for ministry. Here is a great truth: God the Father calls us to faith in Jesus Christ knowing that we will sin. He adopts us as his children knowing we will rebel against his will. He empowers us for service in His name knowing we will do more damage than good. God chooses us, calls us, adopts us, commissions us, empowers us, knowing that we will deny him, betray him, turn our back on him, steal glory from him, and lose our passion for him.

So, when we look at our neighbors lost in sin, lost in themselves, lost in lust, lost in relentless pursuit of pleasure, we don’t ask “What’s their problem?” We say, “There go I except for the grace of God.”

Good Friday

“Were You There when they crucified my Lord; when they nailed him to the tree; when they pierced him in the side; when they laid him in the tomb; when he rose up from the dead - Sometimes it causes me to tremble!”

Today is the Friday we call “Good,” an interesting descriptor for the most difficult day of Holy Week. On this day, Jesus endured the shame of false accusations, condemnation, mockery, beatings, and abandonment. After multiple unlawful trials, he was sentenced to death by crucifixion, one of the most horrible and disgraceful methods of capital punishment known at the time. Before Christ was led away, soldiers spit on him, tormented, and mocked him, and pierced him with a crown of thorns. Then Jesus carried his own cross to Calvary where, again, he was mocked and insulted as Roman soldiers nailed him to the wooden cross.

Jesus spoke seven final statements from the cross. His first words were, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). His last words were, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

Today I approach this day with a question, “Were you there?” You may recognize that question as the title of a song that asks us to imagine being at the garbage dump called Golgotha when Jesus was crucified. The lyricist asks, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord? My hope is that you will answer that question with, “Yes, I was there.” That answer, however, raises another question: If you were there, who were you?” If God allowed you to witness the brutal crucifixion of Jesus, where would you have been among the crowd of witnesses? What role would you have played in the drama of the crucifixion?

There are, at least, five options: the antagonist who opposed Jesus, the skeptic thief, the religious soldier, the believing thief, and the loving worshipers. Today, let us pray that the Lord finds us in that final group, the one that included Jesus’ mother Mary, Mary’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, and the disciple whom Jesus loved, John.

Let us sit beneath the cross, like them, with more questions than answers, more doubts than faith, more sorrow than joy, more confusion than clarity. Let us sit with them as faithful followers of Jesus, lovers of Jesus, and worshipers of the Messiah.

Saturday of Holy Week

“Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” -Psalm 30:3-4

Saturday of Holy Week is Sabbath Day in the Jewish Calendar. In our calendar, each day begins at midnight. In the Jewish calendar, each day begins at sunset. So, the Sabbath day in Scripture begins at sunset on our Friday and ends at Sunset on our Saturday. Several events took place before the Sabbath began. Joseph from Arimathea asked Pilate for Jesus’ body so that he could bury Jesus in his personal tomb. Nicodemus, the very same man who snuck out at night to see Jesus, helped Joseph. He brought 75 pounds of perfumed ointment. The faithful women watched Joseph bury Jesus before going home to prepare spices and perfumes for his body. The women planned to return on Sunday to anoint Jesus’ body with these same spices and perfumes.

Then on Saturday, the religious leaders of Judaism went to see Pilate to encourage him to secure the tomb of Christ to prohibit the disciples from stealing the body and then proclaiming that Christ rose from the dead. While they solders did their thing, the apostles spent Saturday hiding out “with doors locked in fear of the Jewish leaders” (John 20:19).

Today I invite you to imagine yourself sheltering-in-place, sequestered with the apostles. Try to imagine what it must have been like for them: their homes and dreams dashed, mourning as those without hope, wondering how to pick up their lives. They found some consolation from Psalm 30. David wrote this song from the center of a storm that threatened his life. In it David encourages himself to “Sing to the Lord… praise His holy name.”

Why? Because David believed, as we do, that “weeping my endure for a night but joy comes in the morning” (KJV).

Easter Sunday

“Thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory” -Matthew 6:13

The Protestant version of the Lord’s Prayer ends with “For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory.” While contemporary New Testament scholars acknowledge that those words were not part of the original version of the Lord’s Prayer, they are useful as a neat outline for a fresh appreciation of the resurrection of Jesus.

The resurrection of Jesus confirms “Thine is the kingdom.” Jesus came preaching about God’s kingdom, but from the beginning of his life the powers of darkness opposed him. And at last, that dark kingdom seemed victorious; on Good Friday Jesus was dead. The enemies of God no doubt exulted in their triumph. What a difference Easter made. On that day God showed that evil did not have the last word. The kingdom of Satan was not able to mock God, “Up from the grave He arose...” And that is why we pray, “Thine is the kingdom”.

The resurrection of Jesus confirms “Thine Is the power.” From the beginning God was the creator, bringing worlds into being by his word. But human beings have always known a power that seemed stronger than God, the power of death. From Adam to Christ, death seemed invincible. Death had real power in the world. The Bible calls it the last enemy of humanity. And then came Easter. God snapped death’s power that day and raised His son to life. And that’s why we pray, “Thine is the power.”

The resurrection of Jesus confirms “Thine is the glory.” Before Jesus went to the cross, he came to the Lord in prayer. He began with these words, “Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you”. Paul teaches that the Father answered Jesus’ prayer. In Philippians 2:9-11 we read that after the crucifixion, God exalted Christ, “and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”. And that’s why we pray, “Thine is the glory.”

God the Father revealed his kingdom, power, and glory on that first Easter morning when he raised our Savior from death to life? But there’s more. All those who believe in Jesus will experience the same manifestation of God’s kingdom, power, and glory when they are raised from the grave to eternal life in heaven.