No. 476 – Walking Through Holy Week Palm Sunday – March 29, 2026

No. 476 – Walking Through Holy Week Palm Sunday – March 29, 2026 This week is one of the most significant weeks in the Christian calendar. Beginning with Palm Sunday and continuing through Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, we are invited to remember the final days of our Lord Jesus Christ and the great salvation He accomplished for us through His suffering, death, and resurrection. To help us prepare our hearts, I encourage you to read the Scripture passages listed below and reflect on the events of Jesus’ final week. May this be a week of drawing near to Christ as we meditate on His love, His sacrifice, and His victory over sin and death. I also hope you will join us for our Good Friday Service and Easter Sunday Worship. Palm Sunday – March 29 Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:28–40; John 12:12–19) After completing much of His ministry in Galilee and beyond the Jordan, Jesus deliberately set His face toward Jerusalem. In fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah (Zechariah 9:9), He entered the city knowing that suffering and death awaited Him. Riding on a young donkey—a symbol of peace and humility—Jesus openly entered Jerusalem to accomplish the Father's will. The crowds welcomed Him with palm branches and cries of “Hosanna!” (“Save us now!”), hoping for the establishment of an earthly kingdom. Yet while the people celebrated, Jesus alone understood the suffering that lay ahead. Monday – March 30 Jesus Cleanses the Temple (Matthew 21:12–17; Mark 11:15–19; Luke 19:45–48; John 2:13–22) On His way to Jerusalem, Jesus encountered a fig tree full of leaves but without fruit. He cursed the tree as a symbolic warning to Israel: outward appearance without spiritual fruit invites God's judgment. Arriving at the Temple, Jesus found merchants and money changers turning a place of worship into a marketplace. What was meant to be a house of prayer had become a place of profit and corruption. Filled with righteous zeal, Jesus drove out the merchants and rebuked their practices. This is a good day for us to examine our own hearts. Has our love for God become mere religious activity? Are we bearing spiritual fruit, or simply maintaining appearances? Tuesday – March 31 The Greatest Commandment and the Widow’s Offering (Matthew 21:18–26:13; Mark 12:41–44; Luke 21:1–4) When a teacher of the law asked Jesus, “Which commandment is the greatest?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Later, Jesus observed a poor widow placing two small copper coins into the Temple treasury. Though her gift was small in value, it was great in sacrifice. Jesus praised her faith and devotion. God sees not only what we give, but the heart from which we give it. Wednesday – April 1 Mary Anoints Jesus and Judas Chooses Betrayal (Matthew 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9; John 11:45–53) On this day, Mary of Bethany poured costly perfume upon Jesus, expressing extravagant love and devotion. Jesus received her gift as preparation for His burial. At the same time, Judas Iscariot made a very different choice. He went to the chief priests and agreed to betray Jesus in exchange for thirty pieces of silver. One heart worshiped; another heart wandered. Holy Week reminds us that every person must decide how they will respond to Christ. Thursday – April 2 The Last Supper and the Washing of the Disciples’ Feet (Matthew 26:17–30; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:7–20; John 13:1–17:26) Jesus shared the Passover meal with His disciples and instituted what we now observe as the Lord’s Supper. Through the bread and the cup, He taught that His body would be broken and His blood shed for the salvation of the world. That same evening, Jesus humbled Himself by washing His disciples’ feet. The Lord and Master became a servant, leaving us an example of sacrificial love and humble service. As followers of Christ, we are called not only to receive His grace but also to serve others in His name. Good Friday – April 3 The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:45–56; Mark 15:16–41; Luke 23:44–49; John 19:28–30) Early in the morning, Jesus was arrested by the crowd led by Judas. He was taken from one trial to another—before the Jewish council, Pilate, Herod, and back to Pilate again. Though innocent, He was condemned to die. Around mid-morning He was crucified. From noon until three o’clock in the afternoon, darkness covered the land. As He suffered on the cross, Jesus spoke His final words. Later that afternoon, He gave up His spirit. Before sunset, His body was taken down from the cross and laid in a tomb. As we walk with Jesus through this sacred week, may we come to Good Friday with grateful hearts, remembering that He willingly endured the cross because of His great love for us. May the Lord bless you as you reflect on these events throughout the week, and may we gather together on Good Friday and Easter Sunday with renewed faith, gratitude, and hope. Originally published in the April 9, 2017 Palm Sunday bulletin as No. 055, “Walking Through Holy Week.” Dates have been updated for this year.