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.
At the end of His trial, Jesus was taken to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, for judgement. The religious leaders wanted Pilate to sentence Jesus to death, but Pilate wasn’t sure what to do. Today we’re REFLECTING on Pilate’s decision.
Read by Max
Mark 15:12-15
Then Pilate asked the crowd again, ‘So what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?’
They shouted, ‘Crucify him!’
Pilate asked, ‘Why? What wrong has he done?’
But they shouted even louder, ‘Crucify him!’
Pilate wanted to please the crowd… after having Jesus beaten with whips, he handed Jesus over to the soldiers to be crucified.
Mark 15:12-15 (NCV)
In Matthew’s version of this story, it says that Pontius Pilate’s wife had a dream about Jesus, after which she sent him a message saying, ‘…don’t do anything to that man, because he is innocent…’ (Matthew 27:19, NCV). If Pilate had listened to his wife, things might have been very different – but Pilate chose to listen to the crowds instead. He wanted to be popular with the people, so he agreed to have Jesus killed.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Who do we ask for help or advice when we have difficult decisions to make?
Sometimes we too want people to like us, so we give in to the pressure to do or say things that we know aren’t right.
Holy Spirit, we need Your help. We ASK You to guide us and give us the strength to say and do the right things, even if they’re not popular.
Part of Pilate’s job was to judge others and maintain the law. Let’s pray for those whose job it is to serve us by maintaining the law in some way – police officers, judges, juries, lawyers and many others.
Holy Spirit, we ASK You to guide them too. Give them compassion, give them wisdom, and give them the courage to make the right decisions.
If we know someone in one of these jobs, let’s let them know that we’ve prayed for them today.
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 15:12-15
Then Pilate asked the crowd again, ‘So what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?’
They shouted, ‘Crucify him!’
Pilate asked, ‘Why? What wrong has he done?’
But they shouted even louder, ‘Crucify him!’
Pilate wanted to please the crowd… after having Jesus beaten with whips, he handed Jesus over to the soldiers to be crucified.
Mark 15:12-15 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Father God, the Bible says that one day You will judge the whole world (Psalm 96:13). But You’re not selfish and scared, like Pilate was. You’re loving and merciful, and so we say YES to You being the judge of our lives.
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!
