Week 7: Holy Week (April 3-8)

Scripture: John 12:3-8

"Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

1. What does Mary’s act of anointing Jesus’ feet show about her priorities? How do you think you would have felt if you had been in the room at that moment?
2. What high-priority items in your life do you need to “lay down at the feet of Jesus" as we approach Easter Sunday?

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-10 

"Though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ."

1. Paul is referring to his ethnic background and personal holiness as insufficient means of boasting. What are the things in your life in which you regularly find yourself boasting?
2. Reread verse 8. Now, thinking of your answers to question 1, in what ways is “knowing Christ Jesus” surpassing the worth compared to those things?

Scripture: John 12:27-32

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

1. In the face of the greatest suffering the world would ever know, Jesus’ request is- “Father, glorify your name.” Take a moment in silent prayer to ask God to glorify His name through your day today. What would that look like? What might need to change in your plan for today?
2. Even though we still struggle with sin today, we know that Jesus has defeated the enemy. Ask God to show you how you can live today in the victory that Jesus has won for you.

Scripture: John 13:34-35

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

1. Jesus tells us to love others “just as” He has loved us. Take a moment to reflect on God’s love for you.
2. Jesus says that our love for one another is how people will know that we are his disciples. How can you love your family in Christ today?

Scripture: John 19:16b-30

"So they took Jesus, 17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."

1. So many times, we want to trade the agony of Good Friday for the bliss of Easter. This is not a bad impulse by any means, but as a result, we often miss the gravity and weight of the cross. Take a few moments to reread the passage slowly and prayerfully.
2. The moment Jesus breathed his last, the sins of his people were forgiven. Your record of wrongs was erased forever. Take a few minutes to thank Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins.

Scripture: John 19:38-42

"After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there."

1. Look again at verse 41. Where was the tomb located? What does the image of a garden bring up in your mind? How does this relate to what Jesus has done?
2. Thank you for joining us for 40 Days of Prayer. We hope your heart has been moved as we’ve prayed the Scriptures together over the Lenten season. Now, take a few moments to thank God that the story of our faith didn’t end on that Saturday 2,000 years ago. Sunday morning was coming...