Let’s be honest: Holy Week is a rollercoaster. One minute you’re waving palm branches, the next you’re staring at a tomb. But here’s the thing—this story isn’t about tidy endings. It’s about God showing up in the mess, the fear, and the “Wait, what just happened?!” moments.
Palm Sunday (April 13)
Theme: Jesus Needs Our Help
Scripture: Luke 19:28-40
Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey. Not a warhorse. Not a Tesla. A donkey. And here’s the kicker: He needs the disciples to fetch it. No explanation. Just, “The Lord needs it.”
Why it matters:
Sometimes faith is less about understanding and more about showing up with what you’ve got—even if it’s a donkey, a half-baked prayer, or a shaky “Hosanna!”
Try This:
Text someone: “I’m bringing you tacos tomorrow. No questions asked.” Channel that donkey energy.
Maundy Thursday (April 17)
Theme: To Love and Be Loved
Scripture: John 13:1-17
Jesus washes feet. Not just the Instagrammable ones. The calloused, dusty, “Ew, toes?!” ones. Then he says: “Love like this. No exceptions.”
Why it matters:
Love isn’t a feeling. It’s scrubbing your enemy’s floors. It’s staying when everyone else leaves.
Your Story Here
*When did someone love you *unconditionally—not because you deserved it, but because they chose to? (Maybe it was a parent, a stranger, a pet who licked your tears.)
Good Friday (April 18)
Theme: Protection
Scripture: John 18:1–19:42
Jesus dies. No angels swoop in. No last-minute plot twist. Just a mother weeping, soldiers gambling, and a friend denying he ever knew him.
Why it matters:
God doesn’t spare us from pain. God joins us in it. The cross is God’s way of saying, “I’m here. Even here.”
Try This:
Light a candle in the dark. Let it remind you: The light isn’t afraid of shadows.
Holy Saturday (April 19)
Theme: New Life
Scripture: Matthew 27:57-66
The tomb is sealed. The disciples are hiding. The world holds its breath.
Why it matters:
Waiting isn’t passive. It’s the soil where hope roots. What feels like an ending might just be a seed.
Your Story Here
What’s “dead” in your life right now? A dream? A relationship? A part of yourself? Write it down. Then add: “But God…”
Easter Sunday (April 20)
Theme: Rejoice!
Scripture: John 20:1-18
Mary goes to the tomb expecting a corpse. She finds a gardener. (Sound familiar?) Then he says her name—“Mary”—and the world cracks open.
Why it matters:
Resurrection isn’t a magic trick. It’s God’s promise that nothing—not death, failure, or your worst mistake—gets the last word.
Try This:
Bake a loaf of bread. Share it. Let the smell of yeast and warmth shout, “Death loses. Every. Time.”
A Prayer for the Week:
“God, we’re terrible at waiting and worse at trusting. But you meet us in donkey rides, dirty feet, and silent Saturdays. Turn our fear into wonder. Turn our tombs into gardens. Turn our *‘Why?’* into ‘Wow.’ Amen.
Bottom Line:
Holy Week isn’t a script. It’s an invitation to walk the chaos with the God who’s in the chaos. So come—cry, doubt, dance, eat tacos. Whatever you do, don’t skip the ending.
Copyright notice: Adapted by Travis Wilson from “All We Need: The Basics” © 2024 Barn Geese Worship. Used by permission.