As with many Christians around the globe and across the centuries, Sunridge invites you to participate in the observance of Holy Week, centered around passages, coinciding reflections, and activities to align ourselves with Jesus’ final week toward the cross and empty tomb. This year, as we’ve been studying through the Gospel of Mark in our main service, our daily readings come from Mark’s gospel, combining standard Holy Week practices with revised elements from previous years.
Holy Week Activities
Click on the link to see the activity for the day:
SUNDAY (3/24): Palm Sunday
Jesus arrives to cheering crowds in Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-10)
Palm Sunday is traditionally understood and celebrated as a day of triumph, yet it both symbolizes and foreshadows tragic betrayal. This paradox is highlighted by the crowds that jubilantly welcome Jesus into Jerusalem with palm branches and chants of “Hosanna!” only to turn against him days later with cries of “Crucify him!” This narrative trajectory invites us to reflect on the complexities of human nature while considering the depth of Jesus’ sacrifice on behalf of all.
Because our study through Mark needed to accelerate so that we would conclude with Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, when you attend service today, know that our teaching will place Jesus in events that are further along in his final week. Accordingly, we invite you to begin this Holy Week by personally reading through Mark 11:1-10 and reflecting on the following Palm Sunday themes and questions:
On human nature: Consider the crowd’s polarized desires within a week, from “Hosanna!” to “Crucify him!” coupled with the disciples’ commitment to follow and then sudden scattering. How do these reflect the complexities of our competing desires and actions, as well as human faithfulness and rejection of God? Where can you identify moments in your life where your enthusiasm for following Jesus has wavered or changed?
On Jesus’ kingship, entry, and sacrifice: Jesus’ triumphal entry was a climactic moment of misunderstood kingship, with many expecting a political savior and national deliverance. Reflect on your own expectations of Jesus. What does Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem symbolize for you personally? How do you reconcile the image of Jesus as a king with his impending sacrifice on the cross? How does this impact your understanding of power, sacrifice, and Jesus’ common reversals of human expectations?
MONDAY (3/25): Holy Monday
Jesus ignites the fury of the religious elite while the crowds remain in awe (Mark 11:15-18)
As Jesus enters the temple, angrily flipping tables and casting out those who have commercialized this sacred space, he redeploys the words of the prophet Jeremiah. It is a condemnation for how they have disfigured the temple into a ‘den of robbers,’ far removed from its intended purpose: ‘a house of prayer for all the nations’ (Jer. 7:11). On Holy Monday, we encourage you to begin by reading Mark 11:15-18. Then, in symbolic representation of Jesus’ temple clearing, we can participate in acts of spring cleaning and purging as an outward expression of the internal, sanctifying work that the Holy Spirit invites us into. Here are some options:
1) Clean a room or section of your home.
2) Partner with a friend or family member for a long-overdue housecleaning project or purge.
3) Select a nearby park or area in the community to pick up trash from.
In whatever context, continue with the heart of examination set forward on Palm Sunday while taking time to reflect on what you read with the following themes and questions:
On personal cleansing: As Jesus cleansed the temple to restore its purpose as a place of prayer and worship, contemplate areas of your life that need his renewal and cleansing. What practices, habits, or attitudes might distract from your calling to be a place where his presence dwells?
On setting aside time and space: Jesus emphasized the temple’s purpose as a house of prayer for all nations. With a life that can get overburdened with stressors and worries, how do you make room in your heart and schedule to communicate with God through prayer? Furthermore, reflect on your prayers—are they mindful of others beyond your immediate context, even the global community? Consider praying specifically for countries, people groups, or friends in foreign places facing crisis, oppression, or hardship.
TUESDAY (3/26): Holy Tuesday
Jesus calls attention to a poor widow (Mark 12:41-44)
In contrast to the dramatic events surrounding his entrance into Jerusalem, as well as the grandeur of the temple, Holy Tuesday preserves a starkly different scene – a poor widow and her unassuming gift in the middle of the Passover festivities. Here, singled out by Jesus to his nearby disciples as she continues in otherwise obscurity, he notes that the wealthy donors who give out of their abundance pale compared to what this widow has just done. The placement of her two coins – worth less than a penny – not only demonstrates a greater act of sacrifice and even greater trust in God; it is a more significant gift because of those things. After reading Mark 12:41-44, here are potential responses:
1) Consider a way to sacrificially give (monetarily) that no one can trace to you, testing the limits of our desire for recognition and our anxieties (or greed) about finances (and security).
2) Reach out to someone and express how their generosity or quiet but faithful dependence on God has impacted you.
3) Reach out or spend time in prayer for someone you know who has grieved the loss of a spouse, remembering God’s care for the widow in this gospel narrative.
In reflection of our reading or your participation in any of those activities, you can also consider the following:
On trust in God’s provision: The widow’s giving was a profound statement of trust in God’s provision. Journal, consider, or share about a time when you actively trusted God with your finances. How did God provide for you in that situation? What did you learn from the experience?
On sacrificial generosity: Ask God to cultivate in you a heart like the widow’s—willing to give sacrificially and trust God with all you have. What gets in the way, or what do you struggle most to relinquish control over? How would you benefit if you made steps toward following the widow’s example?
WEDNESDAY (3/27): Holy Wednesday
Jesus’ betrayers plot against him, but a memorable act of devotion takes centerstage (Mark 14:1-11)
Holy Wednesday, also known as Spy Wednesday, magnifies the widening gap between the betrayal Jesus will face and the unconditional love he will freely give. Traditional Holy Week expressions on Wednesday accordingly introduce the observance of Tenebrae, a progressive extinguishing of candles and corresponding Scriptures to represent Christ, the Light of the World, being seemingly overcome by darkness. (Our Good Friday service is patterned accordingly, which you will see later this week.)
As we continue through Mark’s account, though the bleakness of betrayal against Jesus intensifies, we read of an act that momentarily pierces the dark and provides a glimmer of hope. A woman’s sacrificial and costly anointing of Jesus is described by him as a prefiguring of his burial. Most importantly, he notes that her actions will be shared worldwide alongside the good news of what he promised would happen after his darkest hour – his resurrection. The juxtaposition of surrounding betrayal and this woman’s act of worship invites us to remember that Jesus not only demonstrates God’s love through his commitment to endure but that he is worthy of praise and devotion because of this. That the woman did all this before his resurrection makes the scene even more remarkable. After reading Mark 14:1-11, continue through Holy Week by considering the following activities:
1) Take a facedown posture of prayer in a quiet space of your house. Use this as a time of worship and confession, approaching God’s throne of grace with an acknowledgment of your shortcomings while ultimately expressing gratitude for Christ’s complete forgiveness.
2) Choose to perform an act of sacrificial love or service that, like the woman, is ultimately in response to who Jesus is and what he has done. Whatever you do, do so without seeking recognition or expectation of return.
Here are additional themes and questions to reflect on during this day:
On Jesus’ commitment: Considering the unconditional love Jesus demonstrates, even as he faces betrayal and death, how does this influence your response to him and others? How can you practically live out this determined and reconciling love within your community and relationships?
On seeing the light through the darkness: As you contemplate the darkness that seems to overcome Jesus in the events leading to his crucifixion, where do you see glimmers of hope and light? How does this anticipation of resurrection influence your journey through darker times?
THURSDAY (3/28): Maundy Thursday
Jesus shares a final meal with his disciples before he is betrayed (Mark 14:12-26)
On the eve of Jesus’ public betrayal and arrest, he is prompted by his disciples and spends time with them for a final meal, the traditional Jewish Passover. This meal commemorates God’s divine intervention that led to the Israelites’ historic exodus from Egypt. However, in Mark’s brief account, the mood of the evening is disturbed by Jesus addressing that there is a betrayer in their midst. After an uncomfortable and odd discussion amongst themselves about who this might be, Jesus takes things even further by isolating the common elements of the meal – bread and wine – to mark an unforgettable and symbolic connection to himself. For a more traditional Thursday experience, however, we encourage you to read Mark 14:12-26 but then consider the extended details of Jesus’ last supper in John’s Gospel, explained below.
Maundy Thursday’s name, rooted in chapters 13-17 of John’s Gospel, comes from a Latin word that means “commandment.” This is directly tied to Jesus’ commandment for the disciples to love one another, highlighted by a wild reversal of expectations as he takes on the duties of a household slave to wash their feet.
Tonight’s first of two activities converge on these things and are some of our most powerful exercises of the week:
1) Gather with friends, housemates, your growth group, family, or any combination for a meal. (This year, our worship and tech team would like to invite you to join us on the Sunridge courtyard for steps 3 and 4. If you’re interested, you can just show up by 6:15 pm or email Jed at jmanimtim@sunridgechurch.org ahead of time. You’re also free to stay for worship rehearsal at 7 pm if you’d like a jump start on singing along with us!)
2) Before your meal, read Mark’s account in chapter 14:12-26.
3) Take a moment to participate in communion, using bread/crackers and juice/wine.
4) After dinner, read John 13 and follow Jesus’ humbling model to take turns washing one another’s feet.
If any of the above sounds awkward or uncomfortable, it certainly can be. In our experience, however, this has often been the highlight of Holy Week. Last year, our middle school students took turns washing one another’s feet a few Sundays before Easter. Others in growth groups participated on Maundy Thursday in their own homes. Finally, our Sunridge worship team has participated in this tradition for our Thursday night evening Easter rehearsal for the last three years, constituting some of our most memorable times together. As shared earlier, we’d love it if you chose to join us this year.
Supplies you’ll need:
– Basin or bowls of water
– Hand towels, towels, or even paper towels (2 per person)
A simple way to do this:
– Let people know ahead of time that you’ll be doing a foot-washing
– Wash your hands and grab your supplies (bowls of water and towels)
– Sit on chairs in a circle
– Read John 13 and read the remaining instructions below
– One person begins by taking a bowl of water and two towels to someone in the circle (you can do this in any order, but it’s easy to go from right to left or vice versa)
– In a kneeling position, dip one towel in the water, take the other person’s feet, and wipe/wash them with the wet towel
– Take the other towel to dry the person’s feet
– After this has concluded, the person whose feet were washed goes to the next person with their own set of hand towels and repeats the process
Here’s our second activity:
Immediately after the meal, Jesus and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Even though Jesus specifically asked the disciples to keep watch and remain with Him, they all fell asleep before an hour passed.
As we have done in previous years, we will form a prayer vigil from 7 pm until 7 am, with hour-long time slots for you to take. Simply select a time by signing up below, and then dedicate that time from the comfort of your home. The goal of this time is to spend an hour in an experience of remembering and waiting, an act that parallels the task Jesus asked his disciples to do. After you sign up for the slot in which you commit to keeping watch with Jesus and praying, use the “Keeping Watch w/ Jesus Links Instructions” below for updated ideas and material to use during your time. Feel free to email the person who is following your time slot to let them know that you are passing the guard.
Click the links below:
Keeping Watch with Jesus Prayer Vigil Sign-Up:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bKjXt8OHAUmNmEe73IBQSwCyhv2tCaXmksjd2ZJzdlM/edit?usp=sharing
Keeping Watch with Jesus Instructions and Material:
FRIDAY (3/29): Good Friday
Jesus is abandoned to suffer as he cries out from the cross(Mark 15:1-39)
For Good Friday observance at Sunridge, our goal is to make room to remember Christ as he endures the suffering of the cross. First, continue in our gospel readings with Mark 15:1-39. Then, consider these invitations:
1) View our unique Stations of the Cross experience, a reflective prayer walk that traces the final events leading up to Jesus’ death. For the third year in a row, artists from our congregation have submitted pieces accompanied by corresponding passages of Scripture that chart Jesus’ journey from the Garden of Gethsemane onward. While it is most traditional to do the Stations of the Cross between noon and 3 pm (the hours that Jesus was on the cross before he died), our visuals will be available before and after our Good Friday service.
2) Join us for our Good Friday service, which will take place at 6:30 pm inside the worship center. Our service will follow the Tenebrae-inspired format we’ve utilized for the last three years: an interweaving of Scripture and worship, marked by a progressive extinguishing of lights.
3) After the conclusion of our service, we will continue to recognize the loss of Christ, the light of the world.
To further engage our senses with these reminders until Sunday morning, we encourage you to fast from all sweets (including fruit and artificial sweeteners) and all forms of artificial light between Friday night and our Sunday morning services. While incredibly challenging, the latter options provide us with the final opportunities to intensify our sense and experience of loss and lack.
Here are concurrent themes and questions to reflect on:
On Jesus’ final cries recorded in Mark: In our Stations of the Cross art walk, one of our artists from children’s ministry notes Jesus crying out from the cross, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ When you see and hear these words, what emotions or thoughts arise in you? How do the vivid descriptions of Jesus’ suffering (whether in the art walk of Mark 15:1-39) impact your understanding of his sacrifice?
On experiencing loss: Fasting from sweets and artificial light is a physical and tangible way to remember the loss of Christ. How does participating in this fast make the experience of Good Friday and this Holy Week more personal for you? What insights or reflections does this practice bring about?
SATURDAY (3/30): Silent Saturday
Jesus remains in the tomb while the disciples hide away in shock
Despite Jesus’ forewarnings, which we read three times in Mark’s Gospel, it appears there is no way for them to make sense of the last 48 hours. They watched him betrayed and arrested just past midnight of Thursday evening, hours after their Passover meal, only to watch an escalation of beatings, mockings, and a corrupted judicial process declared him “crowned” in advance of a public execution. The brutal and humiliating Roman crucifixion was not only reserved for the worst of criminals, but for the traditional Jewish mind, the wood of the cross would have evoked the sentiment of Jesus being cursed by God.
And now, on Saturday, the central portion of the Jewish Sabbath—a day of consecrated rest from work and many typical daily activities—the disciples hide away in shock. On one hand, they certainly grieve the loss of their rabbi, friend, brother, and greatest hope for deliverance. Yet, on the other hand, it is imaginable that they are simultaneously grappling with questions about whether or not they had been fooled and betrayed by a man who turned out to be like every failed deliverer before him. Given what the disciples must have been feeling, embodied by the silence and rest traditionally observed on the eve of Easter, here are options for observance:
1) Go about this day contemplatively and solemnly, looking for opportunities to consider what life would be like without the hope of Christ.
2) Continue fasting from sweets and the usage of artificial light, in addition to abstaining from typical pleasures or sources of comfort.
Here are additional themes and questions to reflect on during this day:
On the experience of loss and absence: While it’s difficult to imagine the loss the disciples experienced, we have our own version of feeling absence because we have yet to experience or know Jesus face-to-face. In what ways have you struggled with doubt or feeling separated from Christ?
On the entirety of this week: Perhaps this is your first year participating in Holy Week activities. Maybe elements or the entirety of this week have been a part of your Christian practice for many years. Regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, how are you impacted this year?
SUNDAY (3/31): Easter Sunday
Jesus rises from the dead (Mark 16:1-8)
After a whole week of readings, opportunities for reflection, and Holy Week activities—many of which have leaned into feelings of discomfort—we encourage you to:
1) Read through Mark 16:1-8.
2) Invite a friend, family member, neighbor, or co-worker to an Easter service with you.
3) Join us on Sunday, March 31, at our 8:30 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. service, where we will finally celebrate that Jesus is risen!
4) Stay with us after the 10 am service for coffee, donut holes, an Easter egg hunt, and an opportunity to connect with others in our church family.
Here are final themes and questions to reflect on:
On Jesus’ conquering of sin and death: While the cross was a demonstration of God’s sacrificial love and his reconciling act of forgiveness, Christ’s resurrection from the dead demonstrates God’s power over sin and death. How does the hope of resurrection impact you, something we are promised to receive in Christ?
On life with Christ beyond the Easter season: For as many Easters that you have celebrated, the invitation to participate in Holy Week provides opportunities to intentionally and purposefully reengage. After this Easter, what are ways that you can continue to seek after Jesus more purposefully?