As we approach Holy week and think upon the events that took place on the run up to Jesus dying and rising from the dead. Here are some verses we can mediate on this week that coincide with the events of each day.
A Meditative Scripture for Palm Sunday
Holy week begins on Palm Sunday. Here we see Jesus arrive in Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives to shouts of “Hosanna!” The people lay palm leaves on the ground, and cloaks, and Jesus parades through the scene on a donkey as king (John 12, Matthew 21, Luke 19). It would not be long before those shouts of Hosanna are turned into shouts of Crucify him when they realise that He is not going to do what they thought He would. He would save them, but not by overthrowing Roman rule, but by overthrowing the weight of sin. Its interesting how often we can get annoyed at God for not saving us as we thought He would.
Maybe today, with that in mind, we could meditate on the words of Isaiah 55:8-9:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
In doing so, we remind ourselves that God is omniscient, all-powerful, all-knowing, and He knows best. His ways are higher, and His ways are better than ours. This week, let's start the week by reminding ourselves that God knows best. We must lay down our will like the Jews did their cloaks and cry our Hosanna to the one we can trust above all else because everything that God does is good.
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A Meditative Scripture for Holy Monday
Holy Monday is the day of the week in which Jesus goes to the temple and sees the marketplace that the people had turned into. Jesus’ heart is grieved, and as a result, he makes a whip and he turns the tables. He chases out those who came to sell and trade. He opens the cages, releasing the animals, and He declares: "It is written that the Lord said, 'My house will be called a house where people from all nations can pray.' (Mark 11, Luke 19, John 2).
This house, this temple, was the place the Jews were to come and to meet with God, a Holy place. It was not a place that should be treated with contempt and be turned into a shopping centre or market place. Sacrifices and prayers, worship and honour should have filled these halls.
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations." - Isaiah 42:1
So, we remind ourselves today that even when things happen that are against God, we can stand in the truth that Jesus will bring justice to the nations. That we can trust Him to be firm, true and honourable in all His ways.
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A Meditative Scripture for Holy Tuesday
On the Tuesday following the cleansing of the temple and Palm Sunday, Jesus went up the Mount of Olives, at the foot of which is the Garden of Gethsemane. This mount holds biblical history. It was the place where King David fled from Absalom, where King Saul worshipped idols, and where Ezekiel and Zechariah Prophesied. And it is here that Jesus goes to pray one last time before He is arrested in the garden. Later in Acts 11, we will see this same mount named the place of Jesus' Ascension, and one day, Jesus will return to the same spot (Zechariah 14:14).
This place holds memories of some of the scriptures' most powerful and life-changing moments, but it reminds us that Jesus is the same and one day, He will return to bring justice to the earth. Just as Matthew in chapter 24 declares:
“Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Today, we remind ourselves that this mount on which Jesus prayed will one day be the place of the second coming. As true as Jesus died and rose again, He will return for His bride, of which I pray you are one.
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A Meditative Scripture for 'Spy' Wednesday
This is the night of the week in which Judas, a friend of Jesus, betrays Him. He plots with the leaders to betray Jesus with a single kiss and is bribed with 30 pieces of silver. While Jesus knew how he would die, I still believe this would have hurt deeply. Have you ever been betrayed? It stings even more so from those who are supposed to love us.
John 13:34 is a verse we will meditate on today, it reads:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
It will be at the last supper that Jesus reminds us to love each other. It is a profound act to love someone who has betrayed us, and yet it is the cry of the Father to love the sinner, to love those who persecute you, and to pray for them. Today, as we prepare for Easter, let's meditate on how we can love others well.
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A Meditative Scripture for Maundy Thursday
The day of the last supper. Jesus was having the Passover with his disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem. He spends time with them, teaching and sharing knowledge with them, knowing the time left was short; He would soon be crucified. He leaves with them a feast like no other. He reminds them to take this cup and to take this bread and eat and drink in remembrance of me. This became what we know as Communion or the Eucharist.
It is here that Jesus also washes his disciples’ feet, taking on the role of servant. Today, we will meditate on the verse found in Galatians 5:13:
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
As we meditate today let’s remind ourselves that our freedom in Christ is not for boasting or indulging ourselves but rather it leaves us free to humbly and lovingly serve others. Who else can we serve well this Easter?
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A Meditative Scripture for Good Friday
The day we now call 'Good Friday' is a somber remembrance of the day Jesus was tried and sentenced to death on the cross. On this day, Jesus was taken to Golgotha, and he died in our place for our sins. He became the sinless sacrifice the Old Testament writers foretold, and he was the perfect once-and-for-all sacrifice for the sins of humanity. This act made a way for us to enter into a relationship with God. On Good Friday, Jesus welcomed a sinner being crucified next to him into heaven. Before he died, he asked his friend John to look after his mother. He cried from the cross, “It is Finished.” The work he came to do was finished at that moment. He defeated death and sin and opened the door to heaven.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8
Today, lets remind ourselves that we have access to Heaven and to relationship with God because we were loved. We were loved so much that Jesus demonstrated this love to us in a lavish and shocking way, coming to die for us even while we were still sinners. What a grace and a mercy we have been shown!
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A Meditative Scripture for Holy (Silent) Saturday
The day after Jesus' crucifixion, the world seemed dark and silent. The disciples were in mourning, and Jesus was in the grave. His tomb has been closed, sealed, and guarded. His disciples were grieving and confused. How could they have given up so much for three whole years, only to witness that their Rabbi and teacher was suddenly gone? No one believed Sunday would come and a new day would arise. Today was the day of sitting in emotions and feeling destitute.
Yet, in the spiritual realm, so much was taking place. Jesus was reclaiming what was His, and the devil was learning quickly who not to mess with. It was when it seemed silent that most was being done.
Even in grief and turmoil, we will find that Jesus is always busy completing His good works.
Today, let’s focus on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18;
“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Whatever you face today, if you feel like you are in Silent Saturday in your circumstances, know that Jesus is not dead; He is alive, and He is working all things for good. Fix your eyes, friend, on what is unseen, and let faith rise!
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A Meditative Scripture for Resurrection (Easter) Sunday
Jesus rose from the grave, which we now celebrate as Resurrection, or Easter Sunday, a powerful moment that would change the course of humanity forever. Jesus not only died sacrificially in our place for our sins but also rose from the grave; hallelujah! Resurrection Sunday!!
Friends who came to anoint the body of their friend and their son would be met by an empty tomb. Confused and excited, they run to tell the others.
Today's meditative verses are found in Mark 16:6:
‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him’”
Friend, I don’t know what your week or year has held, but I know this: Jesus is alive; he is our living, Holy Priest who mediates on our behalf before God the Father. Whatever it is you are rejoicing in, mourning in, grieving, confused over, devastated by, or triumphing in, know that the Holy Saviour, Jesus, wants to be involved in it all. Why not welcome Him in again this Easter, rededicate your soul and your life to His works and His will, and offer Him your life as a sacrifice to His ways? Then watch as you see what God will do in you. For our Savior is not dead; He is Alive forevermore, and one day, we will see Him in Glory!
I hope you have a beautiful Easter, celebrating your sins forgiven and your relationship with God the Father.
If you do not know Jesus, maybe this Easter could be the best time to be introduced.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/RomoloTavani
Originally published Tuesday, 08 April 2025.