Read: Mark 11:12-25 I played little league as a kid. As a result, I had to sell candy bars to raise money for the team. Because of this text, I wasn’t allowed to sell them inside the Church. I was, however, allowed to wait outside in the parking lot. Even as a kid, I wondered, […]
Category Archives: Holy Week
Sunday, April 10, 2022 The Triumphal Entry of the Servant King
Read: Mark 11:1-11 In ancient Rome, when a general had won a considerable victory for the Republic, they would hold a parade known as a Triumph. The victorious army would march through the city followed by their general, riding on a chariot pulled by four horses. He would be wearing a purple toga, a color […]
Daily Readings for Holy Week From the Gospel of Mark
Introduction: Read: Mark 4:1-20 For the past several years, I have committed myself to writing out daily devotionals for Holy Week from one of the four Gospels. Each time I cycle through these familiar texts I am reminded of the unique perspectives each of them provide. While dealing with the same source material, they all […]
Resurrection Sunday | April 4, 2021 The Empty Tomb
When the women went to the tomb following the Sabbath, they expected to find the body of Jesus in a tomb, the entrance covered with a heavy stone. They had no way of knowing how they would get inside, but they went ready to anoint Jesus with the appropriate burial ointments. What they saw when […]
Saturday | April 3, 2021 A Deliberate Denial
Saturday gives us little to read, but much to ponder. Remembering that Jesus said He would rise from the dead after three days, the religious leaders went to Pilate to commission a guard and seal the tomb to make sure that the disciples wouldn’t steal Jesus’ body and perpetuate a story that He had risen […]
Good Friday | April 2, 2021 Forsaken for Our Forgiveness
In the morning after Jesus was betrayed, the religious leaders decided that they didn’t want to be held responsible for killing Jesus, so they brought Him before Pilate. Judas is quickly dispatched as he is overcome by the guilt and shame from betraying Christ. He had counted the pieces of silver, but he had not […]
Maundy Thursday | April 1, 2021 Is There Any Other Way?
As the disciples prepare for the passover meal, Jesus tells them how they are going to find the upper room by directing them to a certain man, “The Teacher says, ‘My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” Take note of this. Jesus has repeatedly told His […]
Wednesday | March 31, 2021 A Contrast of Treasures
The religious leaders had tolerated Jesus because of how well liked He was. They didn’t like what He was teaching, but they didn’t know how to silence Him without upsetting the people. They initially tried to reprimand Jesus for allowing His followers to worship Him when they called Him the Son of David, “Do you […]
Tuesday | March 30, 2021 The Woes to the Pharisees
It’s interesting that Matthew gives more time to the events of Tuesday than any other day during Holy Week. John prefers to spend time in the upper room with Jesus and the disciples on the night He was betrayed. Perhaps the significance of Matthew’s perspective gives us a pointed warning to the false teaching in […]
Monday | March 29, 2021 The Cursed Fig Tree
In a series of strange events during Jesus’ final week, cursing a fig tree is certainly at the top of the list. On the day after Jesus was hailed, “Hosanna, the Son of David,” He returned to the city, but He became hungry. He saw a fig tree without any fruit. He cursed the tree […]
Palm Sunday | March 28, 2021 The Triumphal Entry
Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, entered the city of Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. This was to fulfill the prophecy of 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 […]
Daily Readings for Holy Week from the Gospel of Matthew by Adam Miller
Dear Fellow Worshippers, I can remember last year at this time when everyone was sheltered away in their own homes watching their phones or computers to check in for Church during Holy Week. In a season when most Churches are usually ramping up their outreach ministries, they were instead rushing to find a […]