The week that leads up to Easter is likewise filled with just such a mixture. Holy Week, after all, brings us to the Holy City that we enter with our Lord as we walk with Him in our thoughts from the gate of Palm Sunday to the upper room to the cross and death and then to the empty tomb in all its glory on Easter morning. Yet in some ways we are merely tourists. How often have we passed through and seen only the great events? So much of our Lord is revealed to us in His humble walk between Palm Sunday and Easter. This Holy Week spend some time with the Lord as He makes His Way our way.

Sunday, March 20: Read Luke 19:29-44 and see the gates of Jerusalem opened wide to receive Jesus of Nazareth. From the mouths of children His praises are shouted amid waving palm branches. See our Lord entering into the Holy City atop a colt, the foal of a donkey. He weeps at a distance. He foresees that dreadful day when not one stone would be left on another. Now go on with Him into the less well known places.

Monday: Read Matthew 21:12-19 and see Jesus curse the fig tree, cleanse the Temple and heal people there.

Tuesday: Read Matthew 21:19-23:39 and hear Jesus explain the withered fig tree, hear Him teach with parables and confound those who sought to trap Him with clever words. Read Mark 12:41-44 and hear about the widow’s mite. And read John 12:20-50 and hear what Jesus says about unbelief.

Wednesday: The Scriptures do not tell us what happened on Wednesday, but there are some things that we ran out of time for on Tuesday. Read Matthew 24:1-25:46. Hear Jesus speak about the end of Jerusalem and the end of the world. He also continued to speak in parables and to teach about the Judgment Day. Take the side trip and see the ugly part of town as Judas and the rulers conspire.

Maundy Thursday: Read John 13:1-18:27. Go to church and hear how much our Lord loves us and how He promises us His Holy Spirit. Hear Jesus’ very words that made His last supper the first Lord’s Supper for His followers. Jesus promises to be truly present in His Supper. Then watch in sorrow as He is arrested under false pretense.

Good Friday: Read Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Psalm 22 and Luke 23:1-56. Again head to church and see the Lord on the cross, paying for the sins of the whole world and suffering the agony of eternal death. The cross marks the center of the Holy City.

Saturday: Read Matthew 27:62-66. On this day all would seem quiet. What a good day to spend quietly in prayer. Prepare yourself, for Jesus is returning tomorrow from death. At the beginning of the week you saw Him enter with earthly glory, now wait patiently and watch as He exits the tomb with heavenly glory.

Sunday: Read John 20:1-21:25. He lives. The whole week is filled now with the light of life. God has transformed the ugliest places of Jerusalem into the very gates of heaven. Are we not glad now that we made the trip with our Savior?

Phillip Lepak is an ELS home mission pastor living in Oswego, Illinois.