Holy Week Family Devotioal

Palm Sunday – the day to remember the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem Set the dining room table with six lit candles representing each day of this week ending with Good Friday.  Put the candles in the shape of a cross with ribbon or a wooden cross lying under them.  (Your family will be extinguishing one candle each night this week until we are in “darkness” on Good Friday.  This is in opposition of lighting the candles during Advent.) Gather the family around the table and read of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem from Matthew 21:1-11.  During dinner spend some time sharing thoughts on how the same people could have been so enthusiastic and convicted in calling Jesus the King on a Sunday only to turn around five days later and shout “Crucify him!”  Point out that it’s not much different from the times that any one of us praise the Lord on Sunday morning in church only to ignore, disobey or deny him just days later. Also talk about Jesus coming on a donkey as a humble, servant leader being a sharp contrast to most modern day leaders in both the secular arena and sadly in some church leadership.  Make the connection that we all need to be more diligent to be like Jesus in this area of service and humility.  End the meal with extinguishing the sixth candle on the cross. Monday – Cleansing the Temple Before gathering everyone at the table for dinner, pre-light five of the candles on the cross. Read Matthew 21:12-17 before sitting down to pray and eat dinner together. During dinner talk about how Jesus wanted God's house to be a house of prayer, not a house of chaos. Talk about what is the proper behavior and attitude that pleases God when we worship Him. What is prayer? Is church the only place where we can pray? Discuss the verses in I Cor 3:16, 6:18, 2 Cor 6:16. Our bodies are a temple, too, because Christ dwells within us. What are some ways that we might treat our bodies that are not pleasing to the Lord? What are some ways that we use our bodies to glorify God? End the meal with extinguishing the fifth candle on the cross. Tuesday – Jesus Anointed at Bethany Before gathering everyone at the table for dinner, pre-light four of the candles on the cross. Read Matthew 26:6-13 before sitting down to pray and eat dinner together. Point out that this story is also told in John 12:1-8. Read John’s account. Explain that Martha and Mary were friends of Jesus. Their brother Lazarus was the man that Jesus raised from the dead. They wanted to give Jesus a special dinner to celebrate and give thanks. The dinner was held at the home of Simon, a leper that Jesus had healed. This was a night for celebration. Lazarus was alive! Simon was healed! What the guests did not realize was that in just a few short days Jesus would die.  During dinner talk about the following points of Mary’s anointing of Jesus. 1) Her offering was sincere and pure in motives. Sometimes our own offerings come from motives that are not so pure. We wish to receive recognition for our beautiful voice or grand piano playing. We get irritated when no one thanks us for teaching faithfully week after week in Sunday School. We want others to notice what we give to the Lord. But Mary's offering was done out of a heart of humility. She uncovered her head. She took the position of a servant. She risked the ridicule of those around her to give to her Savior her very best. What gifts are you able to give to Jesus?  What should be our attitude when we give of our best to the Savior?  2) Her offering was costly Mary took the little box that represented her investment, her dowry, her most prized possession and gave it to Jesus. Sometimes we think we have given the Savior our best, when really it is our least or perhaps our leftovers. We hold back from Him those things that we cherish most. Not only was Mary's gift expensive, but it was costly to her reputation. The disciples all rebuked her for giving her gift to Jesus. Judas said, "This should have been sold and the money given to the poor!" What is the best that you have that you can give to Jesus? What are your reasons for keeping some things from Jesus? Are there opinions of people, criticism or careless comments that may be keeping you from giving your best? Who should we do our best for—the people or for Jesus? When it's done for Him does it matter what others say? End the meal with extinguishing the fourth candle on the cross. Wednesday – Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet Before gathering everyone at the table for dinner, pre-light three of the candles on the cross. Read John 13:1-5 before sitting down to pray and eat dinner together. During dinner, explain that foot washing was not an unusual thing in Bible times. Back then, roads were not paved as they are now. Roads were made of dirt that had been packed down over time. Not only were the roads dusty, but they were dirty from garbage and the waste of animals that traveled there. Without cars, most traveling was done on foot. People did not wear shoes like the shoes we wear today.  Most people wore sandals, and the poorest people had no shoes at all. Therefore, even if someone started out their day being clean, by the evening meal, their feet would be very dirty. No one would want to eat their meal with dirty feet all around. So, the feet of the guests were washed. What was unusual about Jesus’ actions was WHO was doing the washing.  It was so out of place that it made His disciples feel very awkward. Read John 13:6-15 and explain that it was the custom that the lowliest servant would do the very icky job of washing the feet of those who came to eat (1 Samuel 25:41). Everyone in the upper room knew that Jesus was the greatest among them. He was a great Teacher, He performed miracles, and by that time, most of them were convinced He was the Messiah. It would have been unheard of for the most important guest at the table to wash another’s feet. But Jesus had come to teach things that were opposite from the world’s ways. After telling the disciples that they should serve others, He then showed them how. Jesus said that His followers should follow His example. Today, we rarely have the opportunity to wash someone’s feet.  What can you do to serve someone else? Think of at least one way to serve someone this week. Make a habit out of serving others. End the meal with extinguishing the third candle on the cross. Thursday – The Last Supper Before gathering everyone at the table for dinner, pre-light two of the candles on the cross. Read Matthew 26:17-25. Then explain that the “Last Supper” was actually the first day of Passover which is celebrated by Jewish people.  It was the time they set aside to remember and praise God for delivering them from slavery in Egypt. During this Passover Feast, Jesus had his final meal with the disciples and instituted communion.  Communion is a very essential and meaningful part of the life of Christ followers today. Read Matthew 26:26-29 and partake in communion as a family, while praying and thanking God for His sacrifice and free gift of salvation. Serve Unleavened bread: This symbolizes the Bread the Israelites took with them from Egypt. In their haste, they did not have time to let it rise. The bread that Jesus broke at the Last Supper was without yeast or unleavened. Yeast stands for sin. Jesus said the bread represents his body. He was without sin. His body was broken for us. Serve Grape Juice. Jesus said this cup was a sign of his shed blood for us on the cross. Whenever we drink it, we should drink it in remembrance of Him. After communion enjoy feasting with one another as they did at the Last Supper. Share things that you are thankful for and what Jesus’ sacrifice means to you. End meal with extinguishing the second candle on the cross. Friday – Good Friday Before gathering everyone at the table for dinner, light one of the candles on the cross. Read about the crucifixion and death of Jesus in Matthew 27:32-56. Blow out the final candle and drape the black cloth over the cross in the center of the table. Explain that this black cloth will remain there throughout the weekend to remind us of the darkness of those three days (On Easter Sunday morning the black clothed cross is replaced on the table with Easter lilies and bright colors to remind us of the resurrection!)   Give each family member a piece of paper and pencil. Explain that this dinner, unlike the others this week, will be spent in silence. Instruct each person to think about and list their sins (or drawing pictures, for younger ones) on their sheet of paper.  At the end of the meal have everyone fold their paper and place it under the black cloth. Individually and silently, ask each person take time to thank Jesus for dying in our place for the payment of those sins.  After cleaning is done and pajamas are on, gather the family together for the next three hours of remembrance by doing one of the following: 1) Close all the curtains & blinds in the house, turn off the lights, lock the doors and turn off all the phones. Watch the movie “Ben Hur”- a great fictional story that includes a beautiful, moving & powerful depiction of Christ’s death on the cross.  2) Each family member takes time to be in solitude to read your bible, pray, and listen to worship music. Saturday – Making the Connection from Christmas and Easter Read “The Legend of the Three Trees”  by  Catherine McCafferty.  After reading, talk about the hope we have because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. (1 Peter 1:3) Book Review: THE LEGEND OF THE THREE TREES is a classic story that all children should read. There's definite takeaway value here! An olive, oak, and pine tree were all "planted" by different animals. "As each tree grew, it dreamed of what it would become." The olive tree dreamed of being a ornated treasure chest to "hold the greatest treasure in the world." When it was made into a lowly manger knew it would Never hold a treasure. The oak tree wanted to be made into a mighty ship that would carry a king! Yet it became a little fishing boat. So the oak knew too his dream would Never come true. And finally the pine sitting high on the mountain desired to point people to God. But one night a fierce storm came and lightning splintered its trunk and as it came crashing down, so too its dreams. How could it point people to God now? Never! It was made into a piece of scrap wood. As the saying goes, "Never say never." Believe and Wait... A manger, a fishing boat, and a cross...each held the greatest treasure, the mightiest king and all point people to God. "If we follow God's path, we will travel far beyond even our greatest dreams." Sunday – Christ is Risen Remove the black cloth, cross and candles from the table and replace with Easter lilies and a “He is Risen!” banner.  Awake your children from their slumber exclaiming in a hushed tone – “Christ is Risen!” – and que their response – “He is Risen Indeed!”  Gather at the table and read the account of the resurrection in Luke 24:1-12. Continue with whatever traditions your family has for Easter Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.