top of page
Search

Passion Week: 5 Day Devotional


Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:


Day 1: The Triumphal Entry

Passion Week Devotional by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!” - Matthew 21:4-9

Devotional: As we begin our journey through Passion Week, we reflect on Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, commemorated by Palm Sunday. According to the Scriptures, as Jesus entered Jerusalem the crowds shouted "Hosanna!" meaning "Lord, save us!" This moment of hope and expectation reminds us of our own need for salvation. Just as the people laid down palm branches, consider what you need to lay down before Christ today. Are there areas of your life where you need to surrender control and trust in God's plan? Reflect on how Jesus' humility in riding a donkey, fulfilling prophecy, demonstrates both His divine nature and His servant heart. How can you emulate Christ's humility in your own life today?


Prayer: Lord, as Jesus humbly entered Jerusalem, help us lay down what holds us back and trust Your plan. Teach us to walk in His humility and follow You with open hearts. Amen.



Day 2: The Last Supper

Passion Week Devotional by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. - John 13:1-5

Devotional: In today's devotional, remember Jesus washing His disciples' feet and instituting the Last Supper. This profound act of service from our Lord challenges us to examine our own hearts. Jesus said, "Love one another as I have loved you." How does Christ's sacrificial love inspire you to serve others? Consider the areas in your life where you struggle to show love or humility. Pray for God to give you the strength to love as Jesus loved, even when it's difficult. Today, look for practical ways to serve someone in your life, remembering that in doing so, you're following Christ's example.


Prayer: Lord, thank You for Jesus’ example of humble love and service. Help me to love others as He loved me, with a heart willing to serve. Teach me to walk in humility each day. Amen.


Day 3: The Crucifixion

Passion Week Devotional by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. was despised, and we did not care.Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all." - Isaiah 53:3-6

Devotional: In a couple of days we will celebrate Good Friday, which may seem like a misnomer when we consider the brutal reality of crucifixion. Yet, it's through this horrific act that God's love shines brightest. Jesus, fully God and fully man, experienced excruciating pain for our sake. Take some time later today to meditate on Philippians 2:5-11. How does Christ's willingness to endure such suffering impact your understanding of God's love? Take time to thank Jesus for His sacrifice and consider how you can live a life that reflects gratitude for this immeasurable gift of grace.


Prayer: Lord, thank You for bearing my pain and choosing the cross out of love for me. In my struggles, help me see Your presence and trust Your purpose. Give me a heart that recognizes You, even in the darkest moments. Amen.


Day 4: The Death and Burial

Passion Week Devotional by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock… Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart,...The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”."-Matthew 27:45, 50-51, 54

Devotional: The day Jesus died must have seemed like the end of all hope for His followers. Yet even in this moment of apparent defeat, God's plan was still unfolding. The temple curtain tearing symbolized our new access to God through Christ's sacrifice. When life feels dark and hopeless, remember that God is still at work, even when we can't see it. The centurion's declaration, "Truly this was the Son of God!" shows how God can reveal Himself even in our darkest hours. Today, reflect on a time when God brought good out of a seemingly hopeless situation in your life. How can this strengthen your faith for current or future challenges?


Prayer: Lord, when life feels dark and uncertain, help me trust that You are still at work. Thank You for making a way to draw near through Jesus’ sacrifice. Strengthen my faith to see Your hope in every situation. Amen.



Day 5: The Resurrection

Passion Week Devotional by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life." - 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

Devotional: On Sunday morning we will celebration the resurrection, which is the cornerstone of our faith. Without it, as Paul says, our faith would be futile. But Christ is risen! This miraculous event validates everything Jesus taught and promised. It offers us the hope of eternal life and the power to live transformed lives now. The women at the tomb were told, "Do not be afraid." How does the reality of the resurrection give you courage to face your fears?


Reflect on areas in your life that need the resurrection power of Christ. Maybe it's a relationship, a habit, or a dream that seems dead. Pray for God to bring new life to these areas, just as He raised Jesus from the dead. Remember, because He lives, we can face tomorrow with hope and confidence in God's unfailing love and power.


Prayer: Lord, thank You for the power of the resurrection that brings hope and new life. Give me the courage to face my fears, knowing You have overcome death. Transform the areas of my life that feel dead, and fill me with the power of Your resurrection. Amen.

Comments

bottom of page