Easter Week

Seven days through Jesus' final week — from Palm Sunday to the empty tomb.

The most important week in history unfolded over seven days — from a King riding into Jerusalem on a donkey to a stone rolled away from an empty tomb. Walk through Holy Week with your family, day by day, and meet the Jesus who came to lay down His life, and to take it up again.

1. Day 1

   Palm Sunday — The Triumphal Entry

   Matthew 21:1-11

   Jesus entered Jerusalem as a King — but not on a war horse. He rode a humble donkey, just as the prophets had foretold. The crowds shouted “Hosanna!” and spread their coats and palm branches on the road before Him. Jesus is a different kind of King: one who comes in gentleness and peace, to save His people rather than to conquer by force.

   Talk about it

   • Why do you think Jesus chose a donkey instead of a war horse?
   • What kind of King is Jesus?
   • “Hosanna” means “save us!” — how does Jesus save us?

   Memory verse · Matthew 21:9

   “The multitudes who went in front of him, and those who followed, kept shouting, “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!””

2. Day 2

   Monday — Cleansing the Temple

   Matthew 21:12-17

   The day after His entry, Jesus went to the temple and was grieved to find it turned into a marketplace where the poor were cheated. He drove out the money-changers, saying, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” Jesus cares deeply that worship be real and that people be treated justly. His passion for His Father's honor was strong.

   Talk about it

   • Why was Jesus upset at the temple?
   • What does this show us about how seriously God takes worship?
   • How can we keep our worship real, and not just for show?

   Memory verse · Matthew 21:13

   “He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers!””

3. Day 3

   Tuesday — The Greatest Commandment

   Matthew 22:34-40

   As His enemies tried to trap Him with questions, Jesus gave the heart of it all: love God with everything you are, and love your neighbor as yourself. “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Everything God asks of us flows from love — first up to Him, and then out to the people around us.

   Talk about it

   • What are the two greatest commandments?
   • How are loving God and loving people connected?
   • Who is a “neighbor” you could love this week?

   Memory verse · Matthew 22:37

   “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”

4. Day 4

   Wednesday — Anointing at Bethany

   Matthew 26:6-13

   A woman poured expensive perfume on Jesus to honor Him, and some called it a waste. But Jesus received it as a beautiful act of love that prepared Him for His burial. While others were plotting against Him, she gave her very best in worship. Jesus said her act would be remembered wherever the gospel is told — and here we are, remembering it.

   Talk about it

   • Why did some call her gift a waste? Why did Jesus call it beautiful?
   • What does it mean to give Jesus our “best”?
   • What is one way you could honor Jesus generously?

   Memory verse · Matthew 26:13

   “Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her.””

5. Day 5

   Thursday — The Last Supper

   Matthew 26:17-30

   On Thursday night, Jesus shared a final meal with His disciples. He took bread and a cup and gave them new meaning: “This is my body... this is my blood of the covenant, poured out for the forgiveness of sins.” Jesus was telling them exactly why He had come — to give His life so that we could be forgiven. Christians still share this meal to remember Him.

   Talk about it

   • What did the bread and the cup stand for?
   • Why did Jesus say His blood was poured out “for the forgiveness of sins”?
   • Jesus knew what was coming and went anyway — for us. How does that make you feel?

   Memory verse · Matthew 26:28

   “for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.”

6. Day 6

   Good Friday — The Crucifixion

   Matthew 27:32-56

   On Friday, Jesus was nailed to a cross. The sinless Son of God took the punishment we deserved, dying in our place. As He died, the sky went dark and the temple curtain tore in two from top to bottom — the way to God thrown open. It was the darkest day, and yet we call it “Good Friday,” because what looked like defeat was love winning our salvation.

   Talk about it

   • Why do we call the day Jesus died “Good” Friday?
   • What does it mean that Jesus died “in our place”?
   • The curtain to God's presence tore open — what does that tell us about what Jesus did?

   Memory verse · Matthew 27:54

   “Now the centurion, and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God.””

7. Day 7

   Easter Sunday — The Resurrection

   Matthew 28:1-10

   On Sunday morning the women came to the tomb and found the stone rolled away. An angel said, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” Jesus was alive! The resurrection is the heart of our hope: it proves Jesus is the Son of God, that His death paid for sin in full, and that everyone who trusts Him will live forever. Death did not win. Jesus did. He is risen!

   Talk about it

   • What did the angel tell the women at the tomb?
   • Why is the resurrection such good news — what does it prove?
   • How does knowing Jesus is alive change the way we live today?

   Memory verse · Matthew 28:6

   “He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.”

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (public domain). Devotions and reflection questions © Genesis Labs.