Passion Week (Jesus' Final Week)

Passion Week is a very special time of year for Christians. We, at The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry, thought it might be helpful to present a basic chronological view of this week for our guests. Please keep in mind that the following is intended only to be a useful guide to reading through, and reflecting upon the Passion Week.

The final week of Christ’s life is notoriously difficult to accurately reconstruct, so this is intended to be more of a prayer guide than a precise history. Our recommendation is to read through the daily Scriptures (choose one gospel account, or read all versions) and spend a few moments in prayerful reflection in preparation for Easter Sunday.

Palm Sunday
Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey colt while crowds welcome him as the anticipated Messiah which to them meant “king” as opposed to the 2nd member of the Trinity.
Scriptures: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19

Monday
Jesus clears the temple.
Scriptures: Matthew 21:10-17; Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-48

Tuesday
Jesus engages the priests and authorities in debate and evades their verbal traps. By afternoon he begins teaching in parables which, among other things, warn the people against the Pharisees and predict the temple’s destruction.
Scriptures: Matthew 21:23-24:51; Mark 11:27-13:37; Luke 20:1-21:36

Wednesday
The gospels do not specifically mention the events of this day. We recommend you make a special emphasis on prayer this day. Set aside extended time to be in conversation with God. Work through either the 22nd Psalm (quoted by Christ from the cross) or the Lord’s Prayer to guide you.Recommended Scriptures: Psalm 22, Luke 11:1-13

Thursday
Here Jesus celebrates the Passover meal a day early and in the process charges it with new meaning and significance. He prepares the disciples for his death and institutes the Lord’s Supper. Following the meal, they sing a hymn and depart for the Garden of Gethsemane where he spends time in solitary and agonizing prayer.
Scriptures: Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-23; John 13:1-30.

Good Friday
Following his betrayal, arrest, desertion by the disciples, false trials, condemnation, beating and mockery, Jesus is forced to carry his own cross to Golgotha where he is crucified.
Scriptures: Matthew 27:1-66; Mark 15:1-47; Luke 22:66-23:56; John 18:28-19:37

Saturday
Jesus body is placed in the tomb on Friday night where it lies throughout this day. All work is stopped in honor of the Sabbath. We recommend that if possible everyone take a purposeful Sabbath break from their regular routines. Take an hour or more and spend it in solitude and silence. Go for a walk; shut the door to your room – anything that provides quiet space to be alone with your thoughts. Consider the silence and solitude of a tomb as you reflect on the death of your savior.

Easter Sunday (Resurrection Day)
The Father raises the Son from the dead sometime early Sunday morning, possibly before dawn. I doing so, He fulfills the Old Testament typology of the Firstfruits. Through His death believers are justified, that is, the perfect righteousness of the Son is attached to sinners, and through His resurrection we can be assured that the sacrifice of the Lamb of God was accepted by a Holy God, and therefore, our resurrection is certain.
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:23; Matthew 28: 1-3

We pray that this information will be beneficial to you!

Let us pray...

Please, Lord, guide my mind with your truth. Strengthen my life by the example of Jesus. Help me to be with Jesus in this week as he demonstrates again his total love for me. He died so that I would no longer be separated from you. Help me to feel how close you are and to live in union with you. Amen

Bless you,

The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry