Holy Week Daily Devotionals

Introduction to Holy Week Devotionals

Jesus’s victory over sin, death, and the grave declares His rule over all things—our past, present, and future. During Holy Week, we reflect on the power of His death, burial, and resurrection, through which He has proven His authority as King of forgiveness, King over the demonic, and King of the world itself. He reigns not as a distant ruler but as a King who invites us into His kingdom, bringing redemption, healing, and hope.

As you journey through these devotional readings and scriptures, may you be reminded that Jesus’s resurrection is not just an event in history—it is the ultimate declaration that He reigns now and forever. Let your heart be stirred by the truth that all things are held together in Him, and may you live in the power of the Resurrected King.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday: The Triumphal Entry of the Resurrected King

On Palm Sunday, we remember Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey as the crowds laid down their cloaks and palm branches on the road, shouting:

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9)

It was a moment of great celebration, as the people recognized Jesus as their long-awaited King. Yet, they did not fully understand the kind of King He was. They expected a ruler who would overthrow Rome, but Jesus came as the King who would conquer sin, death, and the powers of darkness.

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the most powerful demonstration of Jesus’ kingship: His journey to the cross, His victory in the grave, and His resurrection that declares Him King over all. He did not enter Jerusalem on a warhorse, but on a donkey—a symbol of humility and peace—because His path to victory was through sacrificial love.

As we reflect on Jesus’s kingship, several key themes emerge:

1. The humility of the King – Jesus, though the rightful King of the universe, chose to come in humility, riding on a donkey. His kingdom is not built on power as the world sees it, but on servanthood and sacrifice.
2. Joy in the King – The crowds rejoiced, crying out, “Hosanna!” which means “Save us now!” Even as we recognize our need for salvation, we rejoice because Jesus has indeed come to rescue us. His reign brings life, hope, and restoration.
3. The authority of the King – Jesus entered Jerusalem not to take a throne but to take up a cross. His ultimate authority would be displayed not in military conquest, but in His triumph over sin and death through His resurrection.
4. The Salvation of the King – The cries of “Hosanna” were prophetic. The people longed for a savior, and Jesus would answer that cry—not just for them, but for the whole world. Through His death and resurrection, He has opened the way for eternal life.

As we celebrate Palm Sunday, let us recognize that Jesus is not just a King of the past—He is the Resurrected King who reigns now and forever. Let us welcome Him into our lives with the same passion as the crowds, but with a deeper understanding of what it means to follow a King who rules through love, who saves through sacrifice, and who reigns in victory.

Hosanna to the King of Kings!

 

Holy Monday

Holy Monday: The Authority of the Resurrected King

Holy Monday marks the beginning of the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry, leading to His crucifixion and ultimate victory in the resurrection. In Matthew 21:12-22, we see Jesus entering the temple and overturning the tables of the money changers and merchants.

At first glance, this might seem like an act of anger, but in reality, it was a bold declaration of His authority as King. Jesus was not just cleansing the temple—He was asserting His rule over the hearts of His people. The temple was meant to be a house of prayer, a place where people could encounter God, but greed and corruption had taken over. By overturning the tables, Jesus was showing that His Kingdom is not built on exploitation or empty rituals but on righteousness, holiness, and true worship.

This moment foreshadowed the greater cleansing Jesus would accomplish through His death and resurrection. He was not merely removing corruption from the temple—He was establishing Himself as the true and final High Priest, the One who would purify hearts and restore access to God.

Key Themes of Holy Monday

1. The Authority of the King – Jesus did not act as a passive teacher but as a King with divine authority. He confronted sin and injustice, demonstrating that His reign is one of truth and holiness.
2. The Purification of the King – Just as Jesus cleansed the temple, He desires to cleanse our hearts. His resurrection proves that He alone has the power to remove sin and restore true worship.
3. The Power of the King – After cleansing the temple, Jesus healed the blind and the lame who came to Him (Matthew 21:14). His kingship is not about destruction but restoration—bringing healing and wholeness to all who seek Him.
4. The Call of the King – Jesus calls us to examine our own hearts. Are there “tables” He needs to overturn in our lives? Areas of compromise, selfish ambition, or misplaced priorities? As King, He invites us to surrender fully to His rule.

As we reflect on Holy Monday, we are reminded that Jesus, the Resurrected King, is not a passive ruler—He is actively reigning, cleansing, and restoring. His victory over sin and death means that we are no longer bound by the things that once kept us from God. Let us come before Him with humble hearts, allowing Him to refine us, purify us, and establish His reign in every area of our lives.

May we submit to the authority of the King who reigns in righteousness, knowing that His power is at work to transform us and make us new.

 

Holy Tuesday

Holy Tuesday: The Expectation of the Resurrected King

On Holy Tuesday, we continue our journey through Jesus’ final week before His crucifixion and resurrection. In Matthew 21:18-22, we see Jesus approach a fig tree, expecting to find fruit. But when He finds none, He curses the tree, and it withers and dies. At first glance, this act may seem harsh, but it carries a profound message about Jesus’ kingship and His expectation for His followers.

In biblical times, fig trees were often used as symbols of Israel’s spiritual condition. A fruitful tree represented a people living in obedience and bearing the righteousness that God desired. When Jesus found the tree barren, it was a picture of empty religion—outwardly alive but inwardly fruitless. This moment was a warning that mere appearances of faith are not enough. Jesus, the Resurrected King, calls for true transformation, not just religious rituals.

Key Themes of Holy Tuesday

1. The Authority of the King – Jesus’ words had power. When He spoke, the tree withered. His kingship is not passive—He reigns with authority over all creation, including our lives.
2. The Expectation of the King – Just as a tree is meant to bear fruit, our lives are meant to reflect the character of Christ. Jesus calls us not just to look like believers but to live as His followers, producing the fruit of righteousness.
3. The Warning of the King – A barren tree is a picture of a faith that is all form and no substance. Jesus warns against a life of outward religiosity that lacks real transformation. He desires hearts that are fully surrendered to Him, bearing fruit in love, obedience, and faith.
4. The Power of Faith in the King – After the fig tree withers, Jesus tells His disciples that if they have faith, they can move mountains (Matthew 21:21-22). True faith in the Resurrected King is not stagnant—it is bold, living, and powerful.

A Call to Fruitfulness

As we reflect on Holy Tuesday, let us ask ourselves: Are we truly bearing fruit, or are we simply going through the motions? Jesus is not looking for hollow worship but for lives that are transformed by His power. He calls us to live in faith, to love sacrificially, and to walk in obedience to His word.

May we surrender anything that keeps us from being fruitful. May we abide in the King who conquered sin and death, knowing that through Him, we have the power to bear fruit that lasts. And may our lives be a testimony to the reign of the Resurrected King, who calls us to live fully in Him.

 

Holy Wednesday

Holy Wednesday: The Rest of the Resurrected King

On Holy Wednesday, the Gospels do not record specific actions of Jesus. After days of intense teaching, confrontation, and preparation for what was to come, it is likely that Jesus took this day to rest—a moment of stillness before the storm of betrayal, suffering, and ultimately, victory through His resurrection.

This pause in the Holy Week narrative speaks profoundly to us. In a world that glorifies busyness and constant achievement, Jesus reminds us that rest is not weakness—it is an act of trust in God’s sovereignty. Just as He would soon demonstrate His power over death itself, He also models for us the power of resting in the Father’s will.

Key Themes of Holy Wednesday

1. The Peace of the King – Before stepping into the suffering of the cross, Jesus embraced stillness. His confidence was in the Father’s plan, and He rested in the unshakable truth that He would be victorious.
2. The Trust of the King – Jesus knew what lay ahead, yet He did not strive anxiously. He trusted the Father’s timing. Likewise, we are invited to trust the King who holds our future, knowing that His resurrection guarantees our hope.
3. The Invitation of the King – Jesus offers more than salvation—He offers rest. In Matthew 11:28, He calls to us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” The Resurrected King invites us to lay down our striving and find peace in Him.
4. The Strength of the King – True strength is not found in endless striving but in knowing when to rest in God’s presence. Jesus would soon endure the weight of the world’s sin, but before doing so, He paused—because His strength came from abiding in the Father.

A Call to Rest in the King

As we reflect on Holy Wednesday, let us embrace the rest that Jesus modeled. The same King who conquered death also calls us to abide in Him. His resurrection proves that He is not just in control of eternity—He is Lord over our present struggles as well.

May we surrender our anxious striving, knowing that the Resurrected King reigns over all things. May we come to Him with our weariness and burdens and find rest in His presence. And may we learn to trust that the One who overcame the grave is more than able to hold our lives together.

Be still and know that He is God. Be still and trust that He is King.

 

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday: The Covenant of the Resurrected King

On Maundy Thursday, we remember the final meal Jesus shared with His disciples before His betrayal and arrest. In Matthew 26:26-29, Jesus takes the bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and gives it to His disciples, saying:

“Take, eat; this is my body.”

Then, taking the cup, He gives thanks and says:

“Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

This was more than a farewell meal—it was a declaration of a new covenant, a foreshadowing of the sacrifice that would soon be made, and a confirmation that Jesus was establishing His eternal reign as the Resurrected King.

The bread and the cup symbolize the body that would be broken and the blood that would be shed—the very price of redemption. But Maundy Thursday is not just about death; it is about the power of Jesus’ sacrifice that would soon be validated by His resurrection. Through His body given and His blood poured out, Jesus established His Kingdom—one that is built not on conquest but on sacrificial love.

Key Themes of Maundy Thursday

1. The Covenant of the King – Jesus institutes the new covenant in His blood, fulfilling what the prophets foretold. No longer would access to God be through temple sacrifices—the way to the Father was now through the sacrifice of the Son.
2. The Invitation of the King – The communion table is an open invitation to all who will receive it. No matter our failures or sins, Jesus calls us to come and partake—to experience the forgiveness and grace that He alone provides.
3. The Humility of the King – On this night, Jesus also washed the feet of His disciples (John 13:1-17), showing that true kingship is found in servanthood. The Resurrected King does not rule with dominance but with love, calling us to serve one another as He has served us.
4. The Strength of the King – As Jesus prepared for the cross, He did so with full knowledge of the victory to come. He did not fear death because He knew the grave would not hold Him. The same power that would raise Him from the dead is the power that now strengthens us to walk in faith and obedience.

A Call to the Table of the King

As we reflect on Maundy Thursday, we remember that the Resurrected King invites us to His table—not as strangers, but as His beloved. We might similarly reflect on how King David invited lame Mephibosheth to dine at his table.

No matter how unworthy we may feel, His sacrifice is enough. May we come to the table with gratitude, remembering that His body was broken so that we could be made whole. May we drink the cup with reverence, knowing that His blood was poured out so that we could be set free. And may we go forth with renewed strength, ready to live as ambassadors of the Resurrected King, proclaiming His love and grace to the world.

“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26)

 

Good Friday

Good Friday: The Victory of the Resurrected King

Good Friday is a day of deep sorrow, yet it is also a day of victory—for though Jesus suffered and died, His crucifixion was not the end of the story. It was the beginning of the greatest triumph in history. On this day, we remember that our King conquered not with a sword, but with a cross. His suffering purchased our freedom, and His death paved the way for His resurrection, proving once and for all that He is the King over sin, death, and the grave.

In Luke 23:33-34, as Jesus hung on the cross, enduring unbearable pain, He did something unimaginable—He forgave.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Even in His final moments, Jesus displayed the depth of His kingship—not by condemning His enemies, but by offering mercy. His reign is built on forgiveness, grace, and love, extended to all who will receive it.

In Psalm 23:5, we are reminded:

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

Even in the face of suffering, God’s provision is sure. The cross, which appeared to be the greatest defeat, was in fact the ultimate victory. Jesus faced the greatest enemy—death itself—and overcame. Because of His sacrifice, we are welcomed into His kingdom, even in the midst of life’s trials.

Key Themes of Good Friday

1. The Love of the King – Jesus’ love is relentless. Even as He suffered, He extended mercy, demonstrating that His Kingdom is one of radical grace.
2. The Power of the King – The cross was not a sign of weakness, but the greatest act of strength. Jesus willingly laid down His life, knowing that through His resurrection, He would defeat sin and death forever.
3. The Forgiveness of the King – Just as Jesus forgave those who crucified Him, He offers forgiveness to us. No sin is too great, no past too broken—the King’s sacrifice is sufficient for all.
4. The Invitation of the King – Through the cross, Jesus makes a way for us. We are invited into His presence, not as enemies, but as beloved children, redeemed by His blood.

A Call to Remember the King’s Sacrifice

As we reflect on Good Friday, let us stand in awe of the King who suffered for us, the King who forgives us, and the King who invites us to His table of grace.

May we look to the cross and see not just suffering, but victory. May we extend the same forgiveness and love that Jesus demonstrated, knowing that because He died, we live.

And as we wait for Easter morning, may we hold fast to the promise that the story does not end in death—because the King will rise.

“It is finished.” But the victory has just begun.

 

Black Saturday

Black Saturday: The Waiting of the Resurrected King

Black Saturday is a day of silence, waiting, and mourning—a day when hope seemed lost, when the disciples sat in confusion, and when Jesus’ body lay in the tomb. Matthew 27:62-66 describes how the religious leaders sealed the tomb and stationed guards to ensure that Jesus’ body would remain where they had placed it.

It was a day of darkness, grief, and uncertainty. But what seemed like the end was actually the pause before the greatest victory in history.

For the disciples, this was a time of waiting—a time when everything they had believed in seemed to be buried with Jesus. Yet, even in the silence of the tomb, God was at work.

The Tomb and the King Who Waited

The tomb was not the final destination of Jesus—it was the doorway to resurrection. What looked like death was actually a moment of divine preparation. This reminds us that even when God seems silent, He is still moving. Even when hope feels buried, resurrection is coming.

Key Themes of Black Saturday

1. The Silence of the King – Jesus, the King of all creation, lay still in the grave. This silence reminds us that in seasons of waiting, God is not absent—He is preparing something greater than we can imagine.
2. The Faithfulness of the King – Though the disciples did not yet understand, Jesus had already promised that He would rise. God’s promises never fail, even when we cannot see how they will come to pass.
3. The Comfort of the King – The tomb represents grief, loss, and mourning, but it is also a place where God meets us in our sorrow. Just as Jesus’ followers grieved that day, God welcomes those who mourn and gives them hope beyond the grave.
4. The Hope of the King – What seemed like defeat was only a pause before victory. The King was not conquered—He was preparing to rise. In our own seasons of waiting, we too can trust that resurrection is coming.

A Call to Wait with Hope

As we reflect on Black Saturday, let us remember that waiting is not wasted. Even in the silence, God is still writing the story.

May we bring our grief, our doubts, and our unanswered prayers to the King who knows what it means to wait. May we sit in the quiet with trust, knowing that even when all seems lost, hope is never buried forever.

And may we hold onto the truth that Sunday is coming—because the King will rise.

 

Resurrection Sunday

Resurrection Sunday: The Victory of the Resurrected King

Resurrection Sunday is the pinnacle of history—the day death was defeated, the grave was conquered, and Jesus proved that He is the Resurrected King!

In Luke 24:13-35, we see two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus, grieving the loss of Jesus. Their hopes had been shattered, and they struggled to understand all that had happened. But as they walked, the risen Jesus Himself joined them, though they did not recognize Him.

It wasn’t until He broke bread with them that their eyes were opened, and they realized the truth—Jesus was alive! In that moment, their sorrow turned to joy, their doubt turned to belief, and they hurried to share the news: The King has risen!

The King Who Walks With Us

The story of the road to Emmaus is a powerful reminder that Jesus is with us, even when we do not recognize Him. He walks beside us in our doubts, our grief, and our confusion, revealing Himself in ways we may not expect. And just as He did with the disciples, He invites us to His table, where our eyes can be opened to His presence.

Key Themes of Resurrection Sunday

1. The Triumph of the King – Jesus’ resurrection is the ultimate victory over sin, death, and the grave. No power in heaven or on earth could hold Him—He is the King who reigns forever!
2. The Presence of the King – Just as Jesus walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, He walks with us today. Even in our moments of doubt or despair, His presence is near, guiding us back to truth and hope.
3. The Revelation of the King – The disciples’ eyes were opened when Jesus broke bread with them. Jesus reveals Himself to us when we come to Him with open hearts, ready to receive. The resurrection is not just an event to remember—it is a reality to encounter.
4. The Commission of the King – After recognizing Jesus, the disciples ran to tell others the good news. The resurrection is not meant to be kept to ourselves—it is a message that must be shared! The King is alive, and His Kingdom is advancing!

A Call to Encounter the Risen King

As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, may we come to the table with expectation, knowing that the Resurrected King is present. May our eyes be opened, our hearts be set on fire, and our lives be transformed by the power of His resurrection.

And may we, like the disciples, go forth with joy and boldness, declaring to the world:

“The King has risen! He is alive, and He reigns forevermore!”

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!