For Christians, Holy Week or Passion week is more than Easter outfits, baskets, and egg hunts. Our faith rests on the events of this week–the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

In order to understand the significance of Holy Week, we must understand the importance of the Hebrew festivals, Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits. The Passover feast was a holy celebration reminding the Israelites of God’s miraculous delivery from the land of Egypt, where they had been barbarically enslaved for 400 years. To avoid the last plague upon the land of Egypt, the Israelite people were instructed to place the blood of a spotless lamb over the doorpost’s vertical and horizontal beams (foreshadowing the cross). In doing so, the Lord “passed over” the Israelites’ firstborn sons so they would not “taste” death that all of Egypt would.

Throughout this post, we will explore the prophecies, dates, and significance of each day leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion (Passover Day) and His resurrection (Firstfruits). If these feasts are new to you, be sure to check out this post and download the free Bible study on the importance of the Biblical Feast.

Sign up for the free Holy Week study, outlining this post.

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Palm Sunday

Stayed in Bethany | sundown Nisan 9th – sundown Nisan 10th

As we enter into Passion or Holy Week, we begin on Palm Sunday. This is the 10th day of Nisan (our mid-March to mid-April). We must also remember the Yom (Hebrew day) starts at sundown (6 pm) and continues until the following sundown. The spotless lamb was chosen on this 10th day in preparation for Passover. It was then kept and examined until twilight on the 14th day of Nisan, when it was slaughtered.

  1. Jesus sends two disciples to get the colt upon which no one had ridden. A colt was a young donkey not yet weaned from its mother, which is why Matthew 21:2 says you will find a donkey and her colt. Unlike a king riding in on a horse to conquer by war, a king riding in on a donkey signified peace.
  2. Jesus humbly rides from Bethany to Jerusalem (roughly 2 miles) on the back of the colt, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” 
  3. As a declaration of kingship and an act of honor paid to royalty (2 Kings 9:13), many in the crowd laid out cloaks while others cut branches from trees to place on the road ahead of Jesus as He made His way to Jerusalem.
  4. In the Gospel of John, he said when a large crowd heard Jesus was coming, they ran out with palm branches to meet Him. Not only were palm branches engraved into the temple walls and doors (1 Kings 6:29), but in Revelation 7:9, we see an uncountable multitude of saints with palm branches before the Lamb.
  5. He was acknowledged as the chosen “King of Israel” by the crowd who went before and followed after Him proclaiming His victorious messiahship while shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” The word “hosanna” is a cry of help, meaning “save us, we pray,” and finds its origin in Psalm 118:25-26. 
  6. Some of the Pharisees in the crowd told Jesus to rebuke His disciples, but Jesus responded that if they were silent, the rocks would cry out. All creation is created to worship our King!
  7. Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem, stirring up the whole city.
  8. Jesus looked around the city and visited the temple before returning to Bethany for the evening, where He stayed with His twelve disciples.

Today’s theme is recognizing Jesus as Lord and King. While some recognized Jesus as the Messiah, those trained to look for Him–priests, elders, and religious leaders–missed out. As we begin this Passion week, seek time away from the noise to reflect on your recognition of Jesus. Does He hold the rightful first place in your life? Are there areas you need to “cut off” to give Him more prominence?

Readings for today – Matthew 21:1-11 | Mark 11:1-10 | Luke 19:29-44 | John 12:12-19

Monday of Holy Week

Stayed in Bethany | sundown Nisan 10th – sundown Nisan 11th

  1. Jesus and His disciples leave Bethany, heading to Jerusalem.
  2. Becoming hungry on the way, Jesus sees a fig tree in bloom (yet no fruit is growing) and curses it, saying, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” While an entire lesson on fig trees is beyond the scope of this post, fig trees have great biblical significance. The fig tree is the first tree mentioned in Genesis 3:7 and used by Adam and Eve to “cover their nakedness” after sinning against God. Metaphorically, the fig tree was used in the Old Testament to signify both blessings and judgment. Jesus also used the fig tree metaphorically on multiple occasions concerning:
    1. Not bearing fruit (Luke 13:6-7).
    2. As a way of telling the fruit of people’s lives (Matthew 7:16).
    3. A sign of the end of time (Matthew 24:22).
  3. Upon entering the temple, Jesus is filled with holy anger (Psalm 69:9) at the use of His Father’s house and begins cleansing the temple by driving out the merchants, money-changers, and those who purchased. Referencing Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11, He refutes them for using His Father’s house as a den of robbers when it was supposed to be a house of prayer for all nations. This is the second temple cleansing (the first is found in John 2:13-17).
  4. Jesus was in the temple teaching daily. Having restored the temple to its rightful place of worship, Jesus now becomes the target of indignant chief priests and scribes who seek to destroy Him.

Because we are the temple of God’s Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16), today’s focus is on clearing out the temple of our lives and returning to a rightful wonder and worship of Jesus. Spend time asking God to reveal any unconfessed sin, imitation worship, or false idol placed above Him.

Readings for today – Matthew 21:12-22 | Mark 11:12-19 | Luke 19:45-48 | John 12:20-50

Tuesday of Holy Week

Stayed in Bethany | sundown Nisan 11th – sundown Nisan 12th

This day is full of events!

  1. Upon returning to Jerusalem, the disciples witnessed the withered fig tree. Jesus uses this time to teach them about faith in God, the power of faith-filled prayer, and the need for forgiveness.
  2. Pharisees, Herodians, Sadducees, scribes, and religious leaders question Jesus’ authority, desiring to entrap Him.
  3. Jesus uses this time to teach:
    1. Parable of the two sons, teaching the one who does the will of the Father inherits the kingdom.
    2. Parable of the vineyard owner that sent his son who the vineyard tenants murdered. This presented God as the owner, Jesus as the Son, and the religious rulers as the murderous tenants. This Cornerstone of salvation was the Stone the leaders (builders/shepherds/rulers) rejected (Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 28:16, Zechariah 10:3-4).
    3. Parable of the wedding in which Jesus taught on the kingdom of God. Many are invited to this celebration, but not many accept the invitation.
    4. Pharisees and Herodians question Jesus about tribute to Ceasar. Jesus responds by giving Ceasar what is Ceasar’s and giving to God what belongs to God.
    5. Sadducees question Jesus about resurrection. Jesus, knowing they don’t believe in the resurrection, rebukes them for not knowing the Scriptures or the power of God, reminding them God is not the God of the dead but the living.
    6. A scribe asks Jesus what the most important command is. Jesus summed up the Law in these two commands: most importantly, love the Lord your God with your heart, mind, soul, and strength. The second is to love your neighbor as yourself.
    7. Jesus openly denounces the scribes’ and Pharisees’ hypocritical actions. Speaking to the crowd, He warns them not to follow the lead of these hypocrites. They preach but do not practice, doing all their deeds to be seen by others.
    8. Jesus commends the widow’s offering who had given more than all the rich. In her poverty, she gave all she had to live on while others gave from the abundance. Having a heavenly perspective on money, she displayed the utmost trust in God for her next meal.
  4. Jesus leaves the temple for the Mount of Olives. On the mount, During the Olivet Discourse, Jesus predicted two things:
    1. Destruction of Israel, in which no stone will be left unturned. This was fulfilled in 70 A.D. when the Roman empire destroyed the temple, slaughtering 1.1 million Jews (according to the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus).
    2. Signs of Jesus’ second coming and the end of the age. Jesus warns us not to be led astray, to remain awake, and be ready, for we know neither the day nor the hour. He then gives three parables about being prepared for His return.
      1. Ten Virgins – Five were foolish, unprepared, and were locked out of the marriage feast as the Lord did not know them. Five were wise, prepared, and entered into the marriage feast. Again, Jesus warns them to “watch,” for no one knows the day or hour.
      2. Talents – A master went away on a journey and entrusted three servants with talents, each according to his ability. Two doubled the talents and were rewarded as “good and faithful servants” and entered into the “joy of the Master.” One hid his talent and was rebuked as a “wicked and slothful servant,” being cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (hell).
      3. Sheep & Goats – When Jesus returns, He (the Shepherd) will separate the goats on the left and the sheep on the right. His sheep will enter the eternal kingdom prepared for them; the goats will enter into eternal flames of punishment prepared for the devil and his angels.
  5. Jesus predicts that after two days, He will be crucified at Passover.
  6. Chief priests and elders gathered in the Caiaphas’ palace (high priest) and plotted to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.
  7. Jesus returned to Bethany for dinner at Simon the leper’s house. In an act of love, Mary breaks and pours an alabaster jar full of perfume on Jesus’ head. John’s Gospel tells us that Judas, who was in charge of the moneybag, was the first to scold her for not selling it and giving the proceeds to the poor. Jesus, defending Mary’s extravagant act of worship, supports this as a precursor for His burial and rewards her with the legacy of being remembered. It is at this point that Scripture says Satan entered into Judas.
  8. Judas meets with the chief priests and negotiates 30 pieces of silver for the betrayal of Jesus. This is the same value Hosea paid to redeem Gomer (Hosea 3:2) and the same price paid for the death of a slave (Exodus 21:32).

From the withered fig tree to the separation of goat and sheep, today’s teachings are rich in keeping God first, bearing fruit, and always being prepared. Remaining connected to the Vine of life is the only way this is possible. Do you make daily time to connect with Him? Are there any areas of your life that are even in the slightest way disconnected from Him?

Readings for today – Matthew 21:18–26:16 | Mark 11:12–14:11 | Luke 19:45–22:6 | John 12:2-8

Wednesday of Holy Week

Stayed in Bethany | sundown Nisan 12th – sundown Nisan 13th

Scripture is silent on this day, possibly because of the previous day’s ministry or in restful preparation for the days to come.

Today, spend time away from the busyness of life. After reading Colossians 2:13-14, choose a worshipful song and sit in silence as you genuinely focus on Jesus’s sacrifice for your life. Pour out your heart in gratitude for Him nailing your record of debt to the cross.

Maundy Thursday of Holy Week

Garden of Gethsemane and Ecclesiastical Trials | sundown Nisan 13th – sundown Nisan 14th

Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus washing His disciple’s feet, the Lord’s Supper, and the new command to love one another. Maundy is Latin for “mandatum” or “command” from where we get “mandate.”

  1. Jesus sends Peter and John to find and prepare the upper room for them to partake in Passover.
  2. Jesus enjoys the Paschal meal with His 12 disciples, knowing His time had come to fulfill this requirement.
    1. An argument arose between the disciples as to who the greatest was. Jesus reminds them of the upside-down kingdom of God where the first is last, and the last is first.
    2. Demonstrating this lesson on servanthood, Jesus washes the feet of His disciples.
    3. Jesus reveals Judas as His betrayer, telling him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Even after Jesus washed his feet, Judas hurried off to betray Jesus.
    4. Knowing all things, Jesus predicts all of the disciples will scatter and fall away that night, and Peter will deny Him three times before the rooster crows.
    5. Jesus gives His disciples (and us) a new command to love one another as He has loved them. This is how the world will know we belong to Him.
    6. Jesus instituted the Last Supper, in which He declared a new covenant in His body and blood.
    7. Jesus explains to His disciples that He will prepare a place for them in heaven and return to receive them. Instructing them to abide in Him, He promises the Holy Spirit (Helper, Spirit of truth) who will teach and lead in all truth.
    8. Jesus prays for His disciples and all future followers (you and me).

In an ultimate display of love, Jesus washes the feet of His disciples just hours before being betrayed by one of them and abandoned by all of them. Today, who is one person you can extravagantly love with an act of service (no, it doesn’t have to be washing feet)? Look for ways to share the Good News of Jesus and extend an invitation to church.

Readings for today – Matthew 26:17-29 | Mark 14:12-25 | Luke 22:7-38 | John 13:1-17:26

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Good Friday of Holy Week | Passover

 Stayed in the Tomb | sundown Nisan 14th – sundown Nisan 15th

  1. Jesus and His disciples go to the Garden of Gethsemane after sundown (the new day starts at sundown).
    1. Knowing His time to suffer had come, Jesus became overwhelmed with sorrow. Taking His three inner disciples (Peter, James, and John), He asks them to pray with Him. Going a little further, Jesus agonizes in prayer, submitting to the Father’s will. Three times, Jesus returns to find His disciples sleeping rather than praying.
    2. Judas, leading a large band of soldiers wielding clubs and swords, enters the garden betraying Jesus with a kiss. Peter cuts off the right ear of the high priest’s servant, Malchus. Jesus heals his ear and rebukes Peter’s behavior, instructing His disciples, “if you live by the sword, you will die by the sword.” Having been betrayed, Jesus still referred to Judas as “friend,” reflecting a continual love beyond measure.
    3. All of His disciples scatter, fulfilling Zechariah 13:7 and His earlier prediction.
  2. Jesus faces the religious trials in the dark of the night and early morning.
    1. The soldiers first lead Jesus to the house of Annas, who was a former high priest and the father-in-law of the current high priest, Caiaphas. A soldier strikes Jesus.
      1. Peter and an unknown disciple (most likely John) followed Him at a distance. Peter denies knowing Jesus for the first time to a servant girl.
    2. Annas sends Jesus to Caiaphas. Jesus is questioned but remains silent fulfilling Isaiah 53:7. Those who held Jesus in custody throughout the night blindfolded Him, mocked Him, spit in His face, and beat Him.
      1. Peter denies Jesus for the second and third time, and at once, the rooster crowed. Jesus turned and looked at Peter, who immediately ran out weeping bitterly.
    3. When daylight came, the council of chief priests, elders, and scribes assembled, questioning Jesus on His deity. He answers that He is the Son of God. He is then marched to Pilate, the governor of Judea, for the first time and wrongly accused. Pilate exams Jesus and finds no guilt in Him. Thus, fulfilling the Passover requirement to examine the lamb ensuring spotlessness.
      1. Judas, filled with remorse for betraying innocent blood, takes the money back to the leaders throwing it on the temple floor. Judas hangs himself.
      2. Chief priests used the 30 pieces of silver to buy the potter’s field, fulfilling both Zechariah 11:12–13 and Jeremiah 19:1-11.
    4. Because Jesus was a Galilean, Pilate sent Him to Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch who was also in Jerusalem. Filled with excitement, Herod expected to see signs performed, but Jesus remains silent. Herod and his soldiers mock Him, dressing Him in fine clothing before sending Jesus back to Pilate. Herod finds no fault in Him.
    5. Pilate again finds no fault in Jesus, looking for a way to release Him. Pilate is warned by his wife, who had a dream, to have nothing to do with this righteous man’s death. As was the custom, Pilate offered to free one prisoner: Jesus or Barabbas. The crowd, spurred on by the religious leaders, screams for Barabbas’ release and the crucifixion of Jesus. Hoping to satisfy the crowd without death, Pilate has Jesus flogged. Mockingly, the soldiers dress Jesus in a purple robe (indicating royalty), twist a crown of thorns, and thrust it upon His head. After striking His head with a reed, they put His clothes back on. Pilate, knowing Jesus has done nothing worthy of death, washes his hands of innocent blood. Yet, he releases Barabbas and sentences Jesus.
  3.  Jesus is condemned and handed over to be crucified. Jewish counting began at 6 am and was noted on a three-hour cycle (first, third, sixth, and ninth). While Mark says it was the third hour, John says it was about the sixth hour. Therefore, we assume it was between the third hour and sixth hour. While some will point to this as a contradiction, we must remember they could not look at a wrist for exact timing. For them, time was based on the sun’s position, with the precise timing an impossibility. While Mark may have estimated it closer to the third hour (9 am), John thought it was closer to the sixth hour (noon).
  4. Crucifixion, reserved for the worst criminals, was the most painful death sentence “perfected” by the Romans, who were “experts” in torture. After enduring hours of brutal treatment, they led Jesus to the slaughter of Golgotha (Place of a Skull), a hill just outside the city gates of Jerusalem, to be our Passover Lamb. When He could not bear His cross any longer, the guards have Simon the Cyrene carry it for Him. Driving nine-inch nails into His hands and feet, the King of the world hung in shame, fulfilling Psalm 22:16, which says, “a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.”
    1. Jesus was crucified between two criminals. While both started off reviling Him, one eventually asked Christ to remember him. Jesus promises this thief, “Today, you will be with me in paradise,” indicating there is nothing but faith required to enter. 
    2. Jesus, continuing to show abounding love, asked the Father to forgive those who killed Him for they “know not what they do.”
    3. The charge above Jesus’ head, written in every local language, read, “ThisisJesus, The King of the Jews.”
    4. Chief priests, scribes, elders, and passersby mock Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
    5.  The guards cast lots for Jesus’ clothing fulfilling Psalm 22:18, “They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”
    6. Jesus has “the disciple whom He loved” (most likely John) look after His mother.
    7. Darkness fell over the entire land from the sixth to the ninth hour (noon-3 pm).
    8. At the ninth hour (3 pm), Jesus cried out and released His Spirit to the Father, declaring, “It is finished!” The ninth hour was also the time of the daily sacrifice for the people’s sins. At once:
      1. The temple’s curtain was torn in two from top to bottom, indicating it was not torn from man’s position but rather God’s. This curtain separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy place and could only be entered by the high priest once a year to atone for the peoples’ sins upon the mercy seat. Jesus’ perfect sacrifice forever removed the veil that once separated sinful mankind from God. We now have access to the Father through Jesus, our High Priest.
      2. An earthquake shook the ground, and rocks split.
      3. Bodies of saints were raised, appearing to many.
      4. The centurion who watched the death and phenomenons stood in awe and praised God, saying, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”
    9. The Jewish leaders asked the guards to break their legs because it was the day before Sabbath (which was Saturday), and they could not remain on the cross during Sabbath. In doing this, their deaths were imminent. The guards broke the legs of the first two. When they came to Jesus and saw He was dead, they pierced His side at which blood and water flowed. Numbers 9:12 tells us that the Passover lamb shall have no broken bones and Psalm 34:20 foretells He will keep all of His bones, not one will be broken.
  5. Joseph of Arimathea–a wealthy member of the council and private disciple of Jesus–asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Joseph and Nicodemus–a Pharisee who had come to Jesus at night–wrapped Jesus in a linen shroud, anointed Him with a myrrh mixture, placed Him in an unused tomb, and rolled a stone over the entrance of the tomb.

While nails physically held Jesus on the cross, ultimately, it was the utmost display of surrender and obedience to the Father and love for us. It is only here at the cross where Jesus died that we have forgiveness of sins. Here, under the blood-stained cross, the steadfast love of the Lord casts all our sins into the depths of the sea. He is the propitiation (satisfaction) for our sins. There is no longer condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus–we are new creations. Spend time reading Isaiah 53, which foretold His death in great detail hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Given our Suffering Savior, do we value the price He paid?

Readings for today – Matthew 26:30-27:60 | Mark 14:26-15:46 | Luke 22:39-23:54 | John 18:1-19:42

Saturday of Passion Week | Feast of Unleavened Bread Begins

Stayed in the Tomb | sundown Nisan 15th – sundown Nisan 16th

This day begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread (15th of Nisan – Leviticus 23:6-8), an extension of Passover. All leaven, biblically representing sin, was purged from houses and the land. Jesus, the true Bread of life, absorbed sin for all who place their trust in Him.

  1. As He lay in the tomb swallowed by death, His disciples mourned and observed the Sabbath.
  2. The chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate seeking guards for the tomb to ensure the disciples did not steal Jesus’ body.
  3. Guards secured the entrance with their own lives and were held accountable should the body go missing. No preparation can prevent the power and purposes of God!

There is a great exchange when we place our trust in Jesus. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “For our sake, He made Him be sin who knew no sin so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Today, spend time seeking God’s help for any area you feel powerless over, remembering that when we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Reading for today – Matthew 27:61–66 | Mark 15:47 | Luke 23:55–56

Sunday of Holy Week | Feast of Firstfruits

He has Risen! | sundown Nisan 16th – sundown Nisan 17th

On the 16th day of Nisan, the Feast of Firstfruits began. This third day of Passover/Unleavened Bread was a show of thanksgiving for the beginning of harvest. Jesus became the first fruit from the dead that in everything He might become preeminent (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23; Colossians 1:18, Revelation 1:5). This day marks the beginning of the harvest for which Christ will one day return (Revelation 14:15).

  1. Toward the break of dawn, the women go to the tomb to anoint Jesus with spices. While on the way, they worried about how to roll the stone away.
  2. Like wax before a flame, the guards melted with fear as they felt the earthquake and witnessed a brilliant angel of the Lord roll the stone away.
  3. With the stone rolled away, the angel of the Lord told the women:
    1. Do not be afraid.
    2. Why do you seek the living among the dead?
    3. You seek Jesus, but He is not here, for He is risen!
    4. Come and see where they laid His body.
    5. Remember He told you what would happen.
    6. Go tell the disciples and Peter (specifically named).
  4. In response to the womens’ testimony, Peter and another disciple (most likely John) run to the tomb to find Jesus missing. They return home.
  5. Still unsure of what happened, Mary stood outside the tomb weeping over Jesus’ missing body. She encounters the risen King, supposing He is a gardener. Mary immediately recognized Him when He called her by name. Jesus tells her to go tell the disciples, who respond in disbelief.
  6. Meanwhile, the Roman guards go and tell the chief priests all that had occurred. The elders and chief priests paid the guards to say Jesus’ body was stolen, ensuring the guards that they would keep them out of trouble with the governor.
  7. Jesus meets two men (one named Cleopas) on the road to Emmaus. As their hearts burned inside, Jesus opened the Scriptures to them, revealing and interpreting from the beginning the prophecies concerning Himself. After the blessing and breaking of the bread, they recognized Him; He vanished.
    1. Though late in the evening, they immediately returned to Jerusalem (about seven miles away) to tell the others, but they did not believe the two men.
    2. With the doors locked, Jesus appears to them, revealing His pierced hands, feet, and side.
    3. When Thomas, who was not there, arrives, they tell him about seeing the risen Lord. Doubting Thomas makes his bold declaration known that unless he physically sees and touches Jesus’ wounds, he will never believe. Eight days later, Thomas’ doubt dissolved when his eyes beheld his “LordandGod!”

Today truly is a celebration of life and victory! As the sun rose over the horizon, the Son rose over death, forever defeating its sting. Now we, His followers, walk victoriously over the power of sin and the sting of death. Our faith in Jesus Christ rests on this pivotal day, for without the resurrection, our faith is worthless, we remain in sin, and death has not been defeated (1 Corinthians 15:12-20, 54-56). While today’s festivities are fun, they flop in comparison to the fullness of what Jesus did on this day more than two thousand years ago.

Reading for today – Matthew 28:1-15 | Mark 16:1-14 | Luke 24:1-43 | John 20:1-31

Holy Week is a time for Christians to reflect on the events that led to Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is a time for us to remember what Christ did for us and how we can follow His example. This week, take some time to read through the scriptures related to Holy Week and reflect on what they mean for your faith. If you’re looking for more resources, sign up for the accompanying free Holy Week outline with the daily readings and daily prompt. We hope you have a blessed Easter season!
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