Together, with the “disciple Jesus loved,”
we will travel through Holy Week.
Jennifer stole my heart when filming “The Jesus Who Surprises” in Georgia last February. Jennifer was living near the church in subsidized housing. She came to the free monthly suppers the church offered and then heard about the pilot study for my upcoming book. She came, and Jesus met her.
Her one minute testimony (put together by Tim Mahoney) pierces my heart.
Click here:
https://vimeo.com/329015500
Walking with Jesus through Holy Week has the power to flood us with the depth of His love. Christianity is organic, in that the power comes not from us, but from Him, from abiding in the True Vine. (John 15:5)
Let’s press into this journey to the cross together, and expect to experience His love and power.
Palm Sunday
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
2. Can you identify with Jennifer’s testimony in any way? If so, how?
Throughout this week you will see the divided reaction to Jesus culminating. Before we look at Palm Sunday, I want to take a brief look at what happened the day before when Mary of Bethany, whose brother had just been raised from the dead, causes a stir by pouring perfume worth two years wages on Jesus.
3. Read John 12:1-8
A. Summarize what happened in verses 1-7.
B. Why do you think Mary did this?
C. Do you see any parallel with Jennifer? If so, what?
4. Read John 12:9-11
A. What was the reaction of the chief priests and why?
B. Think about an area where you struggle with sin. Now think about how this struggle could be overcome if you would truly believe a promise of God.
Monday: The Heart Has Its Reasons
There is much depth to this quote, and speculation about what Pascal meant, but most agree he definitely was saying that we often believe in God with the heart before we believe with our minds. That makes sense, since as Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you…” (John 15:16) He has been wooing us from the very beginning of our lives. As children He woos us through nature, through wonder, before we begin to consider with our minds. I love how Lauren Winner put it in reflecting on the signs of His existence and love were there long before she put it all together:
Surely any idiot should have been able to see from the second chapter that it was Miss Scarlett in the conservatory with the rope.
In this song by Andrew Peterson, he looks back to his childhood, and sees how he was wooed. After watching and listening, comment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dtBVvMmHnY
5. What stands out to you from the above and why?
6. When you look back at your life, how do you see Jesus wooing you? (Give Him thanks!)
Returning to Pascal, this also helps me understand why without God removing the veil and wooing us, we wouldn’t believe, for we are not capable of it. First, we were like dead men, and dead men cannot do anything. God had to breath life into us.
It is also true that we have, in our sinfulness, a resistance to belief. After all, He asks us to give Him our whole lives, and if we do not trust Him, we want to hold on to the reins. If the heart does not want to believe, despite overwhelming evidence, it can influence the mind to distort the evidence. That is what I see in the chief priests when Lazarus was raised from the dead. Jesus was such a threat to them, that they were blind to the evidence right in front of their eyes. That is also what I see in the lives of some I dearly love.
Palm Sunday is interesting because many in the crowd that praised Him would turn and curse Him at the crucifixion. On Palm Sunday they saw Him as a King who would overcome their enemies and benefit them. Their hearts influenced their minds. They wanted to believe.
But on the following Good Friday, many changed their minds. This wasn’t the kind of king they wanted and those Hosannas turned to mockery. Again, their hearts influenced their heads.
7. Pray for your own heart and the hearts of those you love, that God might woo this week.
Tuesday: Your King is Coming Seated on a Donkey’s Colt
8. Read John 12:12-19
A. Palm branches, Darrel Bock points out, were symbols of nationalistic hope. The call “Hosanna” means “save please.” From what did they want to be saved?
B. This is not the horse of a victorious warrior that Jesus will ride at the second coming. How does Jesus riding a donkey serve as a metaphor for the kind of King He would be at this first coming?
C. When did they understand why Jesus rode a donkey according to John 12:16? What pieces do you think fell into place then?
9. Read John 12:20-33
A. Compare John 7:30 with John 12:23. What does this teach you?
B. Meditate on John 12:23-33 and share anything that becomes radioactive and why.
Wednesday: Do As I Have Done To You
Darrell Bock points out two significant points to John 13. First, there is Jesus intention: to show His own how deeply He loves them. Second, there is a cosmic battle.
10. Read John 13:1-5
A. How does John descript Jesus knowledge and intent in verse 1?
B. How do you see the cosmic battle in verse 2?
C. Put together verse 3 with the “so he got up and…” of verse 4. What do you see?
11. Read John 13:6-17
A. How does Peter respond and why?
B. What does Jesus tell him, and what is His meaning?
C. What is Jesus saying to each of us in verse 15?
D. How might you apply this specifically to your life and the people in your path this week?
Thursday: The High Priestly Prayer
May we understand the depth of Christ’s love for us through His prayer for us, and then, His sacrifice for us. Take off your shoes, for you are on holy ground.
12. Read carefully Jesus prayer for you in John 17:20-26
A. What is the first thing Jesus asks and why, according to verses 20-21?
B. How could better live the above out in your life circumstances?
C. Look carefully at the end of verse 23. What do you see?
D. What does Jesus want for us according to verse 24?
E. What else stands out to you from this prayer and why?
Good Friday: I Am He
Tim Keller does such a powerful presentation of John 18. Please listen and share your notes and comments.
13. What stands out to you from the above and why?
14. Read John 19 and share anything that becomes radioactive and why.
Saturday:
15. What will you remember from this week? How might you apply it?
116 comments
10. Read John 13:1-5
A. How does John descript Jesus knowledge and intent in verse 1? Jesus knew what was going to happen and he intended to love his own till the end.
B. How do you see the cosmic battle in verse 2? Satan was in Judas already
C. Put together verse 3 with the “so he got up and…” of verse 4. What do you see? This was Jesus farewell action. We just moved and with each friend we had a farewell action, a small event that brought closure and a pledge of continued friendship despite the geographic hindrance. With some this was merely a hug. With others we gave a small token that was symbolic. Jesus knew he was leaving and was pledging Himself so that they would remember His love.
Wednesday
10. Read John 13:1-5
A. How does John descript Jesus knowledge and intent in verse one?
He knew His time had come, He was leaving this world to return to His Father. He greatly loved those who were His in the world, was going to show them how much and would continue to for eternity.
B. How do you see the cosmic battle in verse two?
The devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus when it was time for supper.
C. Put together verse three with the “so He got up and…” of verse 4. What do you see?
I see Jesus going from the knowledge He had, to putting it into action. The Father had given Him authority over everything and He uses that authority to show His love through a servants heart/attitude. Not thinking of Himself but of His disciples.
11. Read John 13:6-17
A. How does Peter respond and why?
He questions if Jesus is going to wash his feet. I wonder if Peter wanted to show up the other disciples who had already had their feet washed, a false humility or perhaps offended by who was washing his feet! That’s the job of the lowliest servant of the house! Peter tells Jesus that He will never wash his feet…it seems to me that Peter wants to be in control of the situation. He then goes from telling Jesus no, to “wash my hands and head.” He’s still trying to control the situation.
B. What does Jesus tell him and what is his meaning?
Jesus told him that unless He washes him, he won’t belong to Him. It’s interesting to me that Judas Iscariot had his feet washed but didn’t belong to Jesus. It wasn’t about dirty feet but about an unclean heart. Jesus is teaching Peter a valuable lesson in what it means to be great in His kingdom…learn to a be servant of all. Trust in Me Peter!
C. What is Jesus saying to each of us in verse 15?
Follow My example in loving others through serving them.
D. How might you apply this specifically to your life and the people in your path this week?
Quit making excuses and put myself out there to be used by God. Asking Him to prepare me for what to say and to whom…seeing others as more important than myself.
Thursday
12. Read carefully Jesus prayer for you and John 17:20-26.
A. What is the first thing Jesus asks and why, according to versus 20-21?
He’s praying not only for the disciples but all who will ever believe in Him through their message, asking that they will be one as He and the Father are one and may they be in Us so that the world will believe You sent Me.
B. How could you better live the above out in your life circumstances?
By being in unity with God in my personal walk and with other believers helps the world believe that the Father sent the Son.
C. Look carefully at the end of verse 23. What do you see?
How important it is for believers to be in unity, as this not only helps the world to believe that the Father sent the Son, but also that they are loved just as the Father loved His Son.
D. What does Jesus want for us according to verse 24?
To be with Him where He is, so they can see all the glory the Father gave His Son, because He loved Him even before the world began.
E. What else stands out to you from this prayer and why?
That Jesus not only prayed this for His disciples but for all believers! It is a pattern we should follow as well.
So good:
Jesus not only prayed this for His disciples but for all believers! It is a pattern we should follow as well.
12. Read carefully Jesus prayer for you in John 17:20-26
A. What is the first thing Jesus asks and why,according to verses 20-21?
He prays that we would all be one; we in Him as He is in the Father. He asks this so the world will believe that He was sent by the Father.
B. How could better live the above out in your life circumstances?
I think I could live out the “idea” of Christ better so that others “see” Him in me.
C. Look carefully at the end of verse 23. What do you see?
Love.
12. D. What does Jesus want for us according to verse 24?
He wants us to be with Him so we can see the glory of God.
E. What else stands out to you from this prayer and why?
That Jesus want us to know that God loved Him before the world was formed.
12. Read carefully Jesus’ prayer for you in John 17:20-26. A. What is the first thing Jesus asks and why, according to verses 20-21? Jesus asks that “all of them” – His disciples, and all who will believe in Him through their message, may be ONE, so that people would believe the message of the gospel. B. How could you better live the above out in your life circumstances? This is tough, because the most close, intimate relationship I’m supposed to have on earth, the one with my husband, is marked by disunity! We are not “one” spiritually. We are often at odds with each other over how we each see things. I thought of this very thing just yesterday, thinking about how much of the time our conversations quickly disintegrate because I start to get angry over his opinions, or I just stop talking. Am I prideful? I’m not the good, submissive wife who just smiles pleasantly and says, “Whatever you say, honey.” I am not putting all of the blame on him; I think I’ve gotten into a pattern of reacting negatively to him. My daughter once said to me that she’ll never marry a man who gets verbally abusive with her, like he does with me. But, it wasn’t like that when we were dating and first got married. And I stand my ground with him and won’t back down when he talks to me like that. I really don’t know what the answer is. I get it that I am to not stir up dissension with other believers because that discredits the gospel. C. Look carefully at the end of verse 23. What do you see? The love that God has for us is just like the love He has for His Son. D. What does Jesus want for us according to verse 24? He wants us to be with Him forever, and to see Him in all His glory. E. What else stands out to you from this prayer and why? I never really noticed before that the “all of them” in verse 21 is Jesus’ disciples, like John, Peter, and Matthew, and us……Dee, Susan, Lucy, Laura, etc….. He wants all of us to be one. I never thought about the fact that my brothers and sisters in the faith are people like the early disciples and followers of Jesus.
SUSAN: dear sister, I feel your pain & frustration & disunity in your marriage. We share that experience & bond. I pray that your husband’s heart will be softened to you & to the Lord. Only the Holy Spirit can do it! Nothing is too hard for our God.
I wanted to share an Easter poem I wrote, with all of you.
“Easter Poem”
Oh sea of daffodils
Lift up your glorious heads
And wave Hosannas to the King.
Oh may He come & enter in!
He is the King of Kings,
Heaven’s precious Son
Come to give us Life evermore.
Let the bells ring out that
There is Freedom in His reign!
May the Lord truly bless & fill you all with JOY this Easter!
Lovely poem, Jenny.
Jenny, I love your poem! I’ll bet that you’re a “closet writer” and that you have a journal filled with more poems, too! Have a wonderful Easter!
Susan, I think you are “truthing in love,” one translation of walking in love and truth. You are holding to the truth yet loving. I know sometimes you fail, but I also know you repent for that, and I think you have the right plan. How hard to be married to a verbally abusive man and I’m so glad your daughter sees it.
Susan, your trial is difficult and one I have observed in my own parents’ lives. You did not ask for input but I feel compelled to assure you to not take on guilt for not always saying, “whatever you say honey…” I do not know the answer to the hardship but I know there is value in aggressive kindness. Slow but steady. As my mother always says (and now I), “One day at a time.” Praying for you.
14. John 19:30 speaks to me because Jesus didn’t die of a broken heart or blood loss or suffocation. He wasn’t killed. He gave up His Spirit. He said earlier that no man would take His life from Him, that He would lay it down. He said He had authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. The cross is where He laid it down.
Amen, Mary! Just watched a PBS special that the man from Downton Abbey moderated — much good, but he said he wanted to answer the question on why Jesus was killed. You are right, He gave up His life purposely.
11. Read John 13:6-17
A. How does Peter respond and why? He resists the Lord’s service. He refused to let Christ be “lowered” to the point of washing feet. That was considered a job for only the lowly of the lowly, I suspect. He was manifesting his persistent belief that different people had different worth. He was going to exalt the Lord by respecting Him enough to not allow Him to be reduced to servitude. It was also considered a dirty job which in that culture and religion had more significant than just being nasty. But Christ could not be defiled, He purified defiled things.
B. What does Jesus tell him, and what is His meaning? Jesus responds by telling Peter if Peter does not allow Christ to serve Him then Peter can have no part of Him. We can do nothing apart from Christ, our pride has no place in the Gospel. Christ is glorified because of who He is and what He has done, not because we have put Him in position but because the position belongs to Him.
C. What is Jesus saying to each of us in verse 15? We, too, need to serve, regardless of position in society. He gave the example so that we could follow – is the the only time He says this? I think so. If it is then how much more important!
D. How might you apply this spiritually to your life and the people in your path this week? To love others regardless of what is required. Any resistance I have is almost always selfish. Fear of approval is the biggest culprit followed by comfort … God has beauty and good in the death of those in the path of obedience and service. I serve alongside Christ! How exciting when put in that perspective!
12. Read carefully Jesus prayer for you in John 17:20-26
A. What is the first thing Jesus asks and why, according to verses 20-21? He asks that we would all “be one,” the Father and the Son in us “so that” the world may believe.
B. How could you better live the above out in your life circumstances? To humbly serve, defeating any pride I may feel for what I have accomplished, or said, or what I believe, or what I haven’t done…. all Christians have the same Spirit and we are all called “so that the world may believe.” To work towards this is the noble calling.
C. Look carefully at the end of verse 23. What do you see? That our unity will communicate God’s love for those in the world.
D. What does Jesus want for us according to verse 24? I think this is talking about us being able to see Christ in His perfect glory in heave. He wants us to be with Him in heaven for eternity.
E. What else stands out to you from this prayer and why? I am intrigued that Christ prayed for us. Much within His prayer is amazing (He does not pray for us to be safe or have comfortable lives) but the fact that He prays for us…. prayer is a mystery to me, especially in the context of God’s will and omnipotence, but it is exemplified throughout scripture as an important element of our spiritual battle and the fact that Christ, the ultimate weapon for Good used prayer is amazing to me. He wouldn’t have prayed if it wasn’t beneficial somehow!
So good, Jill:
I am intrigued that Christ prayed for us. Much within His prayer is amazing (He does not pray for us to be safe or have comfortable lives)
I love, love, love this!
Update: thank you to any who prayed for me. We have made it to Montana. We need to find a house, schools, church, and jobs now. I have an interview on Monday that will likely turn into a job offer. (I am a nurse so I can usually find something.) but I need wisdom to know if this is truly what the Lord wants for us! I am applying for another non-nursing job and my husband has also applied. Thank you all for any prayers!
Jill-I missed seeing that you were moving! Praying for you and yours as you transition.
Jill — may the Lord guide you each step! Where in Montana?
What faith! That’s awesome Jill! Are you from that area and are “going home?” Prayers for your family 🙏🙏🙏
12. Read carefully Jesus prayer for you in John 17:20-26
A. What is the first thing Jesus asks and why, according to verses 20-21?
For unity among believers so that others would also believe that God sent Jesus into the world.
B. How could better live the above out in your life circumstances?
I am to love my brothers and sisters and to be united with them. I should accept them and pray for them. And when we have differences of opinions, I will trust God to reveal His truth to us. To not sweat the small stuff.
C. Look carefully at the end of verse 23. What do you see?
The love of God for Jesus is the same love that He gives to us as His children. I John 3: 1 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
That we can be with Jesus and see His glory-that will be Heaven!
E. What else stands out to you from this prayer and why?
v. 22 That Jesus has given His glory to us. Oh, joy! Oh what love to undeserving souls.
Good Friday: I Am He
Tim Keller does such a powerful presentation of John 18. Please listen and share your notes and comments.
13. What stands out to you from the above and why?
The greatest claim, the greatest problem and the greatest mission/solution.
I agree, Dee. This was a very powerful presentation. How can one refute the claims of Jesus and in His presence not lose footing? And how can I not accept His offer of salvation?
Take me, said Jesus. Substitution for me. Thank you, Jesus.
14. Read John 19 and share anything that becomes radioactive and why.
Everything happened according to prophecy. Jesus was resolute in His mission and no mockery, insult, or the excruciating pain He suffered deterred Him from it. And if it were not for Good Friday, there is no reason for hope for Resurrection Sunday.
Saturday:
15. What will you remember from this week? How might you apply it?
To live in service for others just as Jesus did especially the people I don’t like
To live in gratitude for what Jesus has done by giving thanks daily.
To be about the Father’s business and share the most important thing- the gospel.
13. What stands out to you from the above and why?
Keller is, as usual, SO Keller! What a wonderful sermon that basically makes the “Case for Christ.” I think the thing that stands out to me is the idea that the entire legion of Roman soldiers fell down when Jesus says, “I Am.” He then compares this to other places in the Bible where people cannot stand in the presence of God. It is something I have missed in reading this passage prior to now. So interesting!
I loved that too, Laura.