Holiest of Weeks
OK - here we go... Holy Week is the most sacred time in the Christian calendar. This week begins with Palm Sunday (last weeks blog), and ends on Easter Sunday, celebrating Jesus' victory over sin and death.
Throughout Holy Week, I want to reflect on each day by adding more to this blog post. I want to give you some details of what was going on in the city and with Jesus and the disciples. From Jesus cleansing the temple, to His betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection, every moment reveals God’s grace and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
Hold on - it will be an adventure!
New here? Read the scripture first in the CMC App. To get there, Click Bible icon at the Bottom, then click Plan. After reading the NT and OT verses for the day, come back here for discussion.
Throughout Holy Week, I want to reflect on each day by adding more to this blog post. I want to give you some details of what was going on in the city and with Jesus and the disciples. From Jesus cleansing the temple, to His betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection, every moment reveals God’s grace and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
Hold on - it will be an adventure!
New here? Read the scripture first in the CMC App. To get there, Click Bible icon at the Bottom, then click Plan. After reading the NT and OT verses for the day, come back here for discussion.
Monday – Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Key Scripture: Luke 19:45-46
Parallel OT Scripture: Isaiah 56:7
I hope the Sunday Sermon or even the Bulletin yesterday gave you some context for geography and political tension. Today is now Monday of Holy Week.
The city will be packed with people. Passover is a few days away, and Jewish pilgrims from all over the Roman Empire have come to the city to celebrate. Jerusalem is buzzing with life—streets are crowded, families are reconnecting, and the temple is at the center of it all.
The temple wasn’t just a building; it was THE place for worship, sacrifice, and connection with God. It was enormous— imagine 35 acres of courtyards, colonnades, and holy spaces. Herod the Great had expanded and beautified it. The Temple was one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world. But by Jesus’ time, something had gone terribly wrong.
Instead of being a “house of prayer,” the temple had become a marketplace. Here’s how it worked: pilgrims would come to the temple to offer sacrifices, but many couldn’t bring animals with them on the long journey. So, merchants set up shop in the temple courts, selling animals for sacrifice—at inflated prices, of course. And if you wanted to pay the temple tax, you had to use temple currency, which meant exchanging your coins for a hefty fee. It was a racket, and the religious leaders were in on it.
Jesus walks into this chaos, He knows what he will find but I’m sure His heart breaks. This was supposed to be a sacred space, but greed and corruption had taken over. So, what does He do? He flips tables.
“It is written,” He says, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” (Luke 19:46)
It’s a bold move, and it sends a message: worship is not for sale. Jesus isn’t just flipping tables—He’s flipping the entire system. He’s calling out hypocrisy, greed, and the way people had turned something holy into something hollow.
But remember those nervous Sanhedrin leaders and Pharisees. They can’t have any ruckus with Pilate now in town. So they have to figure out a way to get rid of Jesus once and for all!
A Little History Lesson
By the way, this wasn’t the first time the temple needed cleansing. Hundreds of years earlier, the prophet Isaiah had warned about this kind of corruption. That’s why Jesus quotes Isaiah 56:7: “For my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
The temple was supposed to be a beacon of hope for ALL people, not just a select few. Its very location—the top of Mount Moriah—was meant to remind people of God’s faithfulness, stretching back to Abraham and Isaac. But instead of being a place where people encountered God, it had become just another place where the rich exploited the poor.
Reflection
So, let’s bring it home for today. If Jesus came into your house what would He find? I mean, what tables might Jesus want to flip in your life?
Maybe it’s the table of busyness, where you’ve let your schedule crowd out your time with Him.
Maybe it’s the table of pride, where you’ve been trying to control everything instead of surrendering it to God.
Whatever it is, don’t be afraid to let Him clean house.
Because here’s the good news: when Jesus cleanses the temple, it’s not about punishment—it’s about restoration. He’s making space for something better.
Key Scripture: Luke 19:45-46
Parallel OT Scripture: Isaiah 56:7
I hope the Sunday Sermon or even the Bulletin yesterday gave you some context for geography and political tension. Today is now Monday of Holy Week.
The city will be packed with people. Passover is a few days away, and Jewish pilgrims from all over the Roman Empire have come to the city to celebrate. Jerusalem is buzzing with life—streets are crowded, families are reconnecting, and the temple is at the center of it all.
The temple wasn’t just a building; it was THE place for worship, sacrifice, and connection with God. It was enormous— imagine 35 acres of courtyards, colonnades, and holy spaces. Herod the Great had expanded and beautified it. The Temple was one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world. But by Jesus’ time, something had gone terribly wrong.
Instead of being a “house of prayer,” the temple had become a marketplace. Here’s how it worked: pilgrims would come to the temple to offer sacrifices, but many couldn’t bring animals with them on the long journey. So, merchants set up shop in the temple courts, selling animals for sacrifice—at inflated prices, of course. And if you wanted to pay the temple tax, you had to use temple currency, which meant exchanging your coins for a hefty fee. It was a racket, and the religious leaders were in on it.
Jesus walks into this chaos, He knows what he will find but I’m sure His heart breaks. This was supposed to be a sacred space, but greed and corruption had taken over. So, what does He do? He flips tables.
“It is written,” He says, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” (Luke 19:46)
It’s a bold move, and it sends a message: worship is not for sale. Jesus isn’t just flipping tables—He’s flipping the entire system. He’s calling out hypocrisy, greed, and the way people had turned something holy into something hollow.
But remember those nervous Sanhedrin leaders and Pharisees. They can’t have any ruckus with Pilate now in town. So they have to figure out a way to get rid of Jesus once and for all!
A Little History Lesson
By the way, this wasn’t the first time the temple needed cleansing. Hundreds of years earlier, the prophet Isaiah had warned about this kind of corruption. That’s why Jesus quotes Isaiah 56:7: “For my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
The temple was supposed to be a beacon of hope for ALL people, not just a select few. Its very location—the top of Mount Moriah—was meant to remind people of God’s faithfulness, stretching back to Abraham and Isaac. But instead of being a place where people encountered God, it had become just another place where the rich exploited the poor.
Reflection
So, let’s bring it home for today. If Jesus came into your house what would He find? I mean, what tables might Jesus want to flip in your life?
Maybe it’s the table of busyness, where you’ve let your schedule crowd out your time with Him.
Maybe it’s the table of pride, where you’ve been trying to control everything instead of surrendering it to God.
Whatever it is, don’t be afraid to let Him clean house.
Because here’s the good news: when Jesus cleanses the temple, it’s not about punishment—it’s about restoration. He’s making space for something better.
Tuesday – Jesus Confronts the Critics
Key Scripture: Luke 20:1-8
Parallel OT Scripture: Psalm 118:22-23
OK, it’s Tuesday of Holy Week, and Jerusalem is still buzzing. Pilgrims are pouring into the city, and the temple courts are packed. This is where Jesus spends most of His day, teaching, debating, and ruffling a few feathers.
The temple courts were like a public square. It was a massive open space with colonnades around the edges. Besides worship, this was also where people gathered to discuss theology, politics, and everything in between. And on this particular Tuesday, all eyes are on Jesus.
But first, a little about Jerusalem’s leaders
The chief priests were part of the Sadducees, a wealthy, elite group who controlled the temple. They weren’t just religious leaders—they were political power players. They had everything to lose if Jesus’ message took hold.
The scribes and elders, on the other hand, were more aligned with the Pharisees. They were experts in the law, people who prided themselves on knowing every rule and tradition. But in their obsession with rules, they missed the heart of God’s message.
The chief priests, scribes, and elders aren’t thrilled about Jesus stealing their spotlight, and they’re determined to put Him in His place. They are also worried that, with His popularity comes a growing descension against Herod, and then unruly mobs - and then upset Romans. In their eyes, it was a lose, lose, lose situation for them. So, they march up to Him and ask: “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things. Who gave you this authority?” (Luke 20:2)
Let’s be clear—they’re not asking because they want to learn. They’re asking because they want to trap Him. If Jesus says His authority comes from God, they’ll accuse Him of blasphemy. If He says it’s His own authority, they’ll discredit Him as a fraud.
But Jesus doesn’t take the bait. Instead, He flips the question back on them and asks about John the Baptist’s authority. They’re stuck. If they say John was sent by God, they’ll expose their own hypocrisy. If they deny John, the crowd will turn on them. So, they hem and haw and finally say, “We don’t know.”
Jesus responds with an ancient mic drop: “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
The Cornerstone
This moment ties back to Psalm 118: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” The religious leaders rejected Jesus, but their rejection didn’t change who He was. He IS the cornerstone—the foundation of everything God is building.
So here’s the question: What about you?
Reflection
Are there areas where you’ve resisted Jesus’ authority? Maybe it’s that voice in your heart saying, “Who gave you the right to tell me what to do?”
Here’s the truth: Jesus doesn’t need your permission to be Lord—He already is. The question is, will you let Him take His rightful place as the cornerstone of your life?
Key Scripture: Luke 20:1-8
Parallel OT Scripture: Psalm 118:22-23
OK, it’s Tuesday of Holy Week, and Jerusalem is still buzzing. Pilgrims are pouring into the city, and the temple courts are packed. This is where Jesus spends most of His day, teaching, debating, and ruffling a few feathers.
The temple courts were like a public square. It was a massive open space with colonnades around the edges. Besides worship, this was also where people gathered to discuss theology, politics, and everything in between. And on this particular Tuesday, all eyes are on Jesus.
But first, a little about Jerusalem’s leaders
The chief priests were part of the Sadducees, a wealthy, elite group who controlled the temple. They weren’t just religious leaders—they were political power players. They had everything to lose if Jesus’ message took hold.
The scribes and elders, on the other hand, were more aligned with the Pharisees. They were experts in the law, people who prided themselves on knowing every rule and tradition. But in their obsession with rules, they missed the heart of God’s message.
The chief priests, scribes, and elders aren’t thrilled about Jesus stealing their spotlight, and they’re determined to put Him in His place. They are also worried that, with His popularity comes a growing descension against Herod, and then unruly mobs - and then upset Romans. In their eyes, it was a lose, lose, lose situation for them. So, they march up to Him and ask: “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things. Who gave you this authority?” (Luke 20:2)
Let’s be clear—they’re not asking because they want to learn. They’re asking because they want to trap Him. If Jesus says His authority comes from God, they’ll accuse Him of blasphemy. If He says it’s His own authority, they’ll discredit Him as a fraud.
But Jesus doesn’t take the bait. Instead, He flips the question back on them and asks about John the Baptist’s authority. They’re stuck. If they say John was sent by God, they’ll expose their own hypocrisy. If they deny John, the crowd will turn on them. So, they hem and haw and finally say, “We don’t know.”
Jesus responds with an ancient mic drop: “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
The Cornerstone
This moment ties back to Psalm 118: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” The religious leaders rejected Jesus, but their rejection didn’t change who He was. He IS the cornerstone—the foundation of everything God is building.
So here’s the question: What about you?
Reflection
Are there areas where you’ve resisted Jesus’ authority? Maybe it’s that voice in your heart saying, “Who gave you the right to tell me what to do?”
Here’s the truth: Jesus doesn’t need your permission to be Lord—He already is. The question is, will you let Him take His rightful place as the cornerstone of your life?
Wednesday – The Plot to Betray Jesus
Key Scripture: Luke 22:1-6
Parallel OT Scripture: Zechariah 11:12-13
Key Scripture: Luke 22:1-6
Parallel OT Scripture: Zechariah 11:12-13
Thursday – The Last Supper
Key Scripture: Luke 22:14-20
Parallel OT Scripture: Exodus 12:21-23
Key Scripture: Luke 22:14-20
Parallel OT Scripture: Exodus 12:21-23
Friday – The Crucifixion
Key Scripture: Luke 23:44-49
Parallel OT Scripture: Isaiah 53:5
Key Scripture: Luke 23:44-49
Parallel OT Scripture: Isaiah 53:5
Saturday – The Silence of the Tomb
Key Scripture: Luke 23:55-56
Parallel OT Scripture: Psalm 16:9-10
Key Scripture: Luke 23:55-56
Parallel OT Scripture: Psalm 16:9-10
Day 7: He Has Risen!!
Key Scripture: Luke 24:1-6
Parallel OT Scripture: Hosea 6:2
Key Scripture: Luke 24:1-6
Parallel OT Scripture: Hosea 6:2
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