Week: Holy Week
As usual, each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Lord Jesus, as we journey through Holy Week together, we remember that You chose to suffer and die because of Your great love for us. We also remember that You rose from the dead, and that You’re alive today. We look forward to meeting with You in new ways this week.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Max
Revelation 1:18
[Jesus said] I am the One who lives; I was dead, but look, I am alive forever and ever!
Revelation 1:18a (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today we’re REFLECTING on what happened after Pontius Pilate agreed to give Jesus over to be killed.
Read by Max
Mark 15:16-20
The soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s palace… and called all the other soldiers together. They put a purple robe on Jesus and used thorny branches to make a crown for his head. They began to call out to him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ The soldiers beat Jesus on the head many times with a stick. They spit on him and made fun of him by bowing on their knees and worshiping him. After they finished, the soldiers took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him out of the palace to be crucified.
Mark 15:16-20 (NCV)
Jesus was beaten and bullied by the Roman soldiers. They used sticks and their fists to beat Him, and they used their words to mock Him and make fun of Him. Then they jammed a crown of thorny branches onto His head, not realising that they were crowning a true king – Jesus, the King of all kings.
We’ve probably all seen or even experienced bullying – maybe at school, at work, or somewhere else. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Why do we think some people bully others?
And now let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Lord Jesus, we pray for those who are being bullied in some way – especially those that we know. We ASK You to comfort and strengthen them, and we ASK You to rescue them too. If there’s something that we can do to help them, please give us the courage to do it.
When Jesus died, He died for everyone – including those who had hurt, wounded and even killed Him.
Lord Jesus, we also pray for those who are doing the bullying – those who are using their fists or their words to hurt others. We ASK You to rescue them too. We pray that you would heal their hurts and that they would learn to love others instead of hurting them.
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
Mark 15:16-20
The soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s palace… and called all the other soldiers together. They put a purple robe on Jesus and used thorny branches to make a crown for his head. They began to call out to him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ The soldiers beat Jesus on the head many times with a stick. They spit on him and made fun of him by bowing on their knees and worshiping him. After they finished, the soldiers took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him out of the palace to be crucified.
Mark 15:16-20 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Jesus, we say YES, You are the King of everyone, everywhere, for all time. And You are our King too.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Revelation 1:18
[Jesus said] I am the One who lives; I was dead, but look, I am alive forever and ever!
Revelation 1:18a (NCV)
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Joy lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and her dog. She works for Bridgetown Church where she leads kids as they grow, learn, and have lots of fun. Joy loves gardening, summer camp, eating ice cream, and reading her favourite books, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Max is 9 years old and lives in Melbourne, Australia with his older brother and mum and dad. He often rides his bike to school and enjoys being creative by drawing or building with Lego. Max is also learning how to play the electric guitar and loves turning it up loud!
