I've written a simple Bible reading plan for us for Easter week, one a day through to Easter Sunday. This is how to use them:
1. Read the bible passages (there will be one New Testament passage (or two short ones) and a Psalm).
The plan isn't to trace the whole of Easter week in the gospels but to see Jesus through the lens of Psalm 113-118 (the songs sung at the Passover meal).
Try to spot connections and fulfillments of the Psalms' themes or promises in Jesus' last week, death and resurrection.
2. Let those reflections fuel prayers
Or maybe there will be a verse that leaps out for you? Chew it over and pray it in.
3. Then, either immediately or at a convenient point in the day, listen to the song, following the lyrics.
Again, I have chosen these because of connections they have with the passages.
I hope and pray these will encourage us and engage our hearts and minds as we freshly consider Christ this Easter week.
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?â€
18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’†19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.â€
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?â€
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.â€
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?â€
Jesus answered, “You have said so.â€
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.â€
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.â€
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.â€
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
“His love endures forever.â€
4 Let those who fear the Lord say:
“His love endures forever.â€
5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.
6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humans.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my defence;
he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!â€
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.
25 Lord, save us!
Lord, grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
27 The Lord is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me,for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.â€
33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.â€
34 “Truly I tell you,†Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.â€
35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.†And all the other disciples said the same.
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.†37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.â€
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.â€
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?†he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.â€
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.â€
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!â€
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.†49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!†and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.â€
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,†Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?â€
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.†Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom
Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom
Who can ascend the hill of the Lord?
The one who utters no untrue word
Whose hands are clean, whose heart is pure
Who can ascend that hill?
There is none righteous, no not one
We are prodigal daughters and wayward sons
We don't know the half of the hurt we've done
The countless we have killed
Our priests are cheats, our prophets are liars
We know what the law requires
But we pile our sins up higher and higher
Who can ascend that hill?
And I am a sheep who has gone astray
I have turned aside to my own way
Have mercy on me, Son of David
Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom
Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom
Now hear the voice of the Word made man
The spotless sacrificial Lamb
"A body You gave me, here I am
I have come to do Your will"
And no one takes my life, you see
I lay it down now willingly
And I will draw all men to me
When I ascend that hill
On Sunday You came as a King
On Monday washed the temple clean
On Tuesday You told of what will be
On Wednesday You waited patiently
On Thursday You said it is time
I'll drink this cup 'cause it is mine
On Friday, Lord, You poured the wine
Like a thief on the cross, as He hung there dying
For crimes, there were no use denying
While the righteous Judge hung right beside him
How could I not recognize You?
How could I not recognize You?
How could I not recognize... my Lord?
My Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom
Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom
Just days ago the sky was stone
The trees were standing stripped to the bone
You could hear creation groan
But I write these words on an April day
And the earth is drinking the early rain
The hills remember green again
And we've heard this story all our lives
Still, we feel the pain of the crucified
And the end still comes as a surprise
But before the breath there in the tomb
Before our joy sprang from the womb
You saw a day that's coming soon
When the Son will stand on the mount again
With an army of angels at His command
And the earth will split like the hull of a seed
Wherever Jesus plants His feet
And up from the earth, the dead will rise
Like spring trees robed in petals of white
Singing the song of the radiant bride
And we will always be, always be, always be with the Lord
We will always be, always be, always be with the Lord
We will always... (we will always be, always be)
Be with Jesus (always be with the Lord)
My Lord, remember me (we will always be, always be)
When You come into Your kingdom (always be with the Lord)
Lord, remember me (we will always be, always be)
When You come into Your kingdom (always be with the Lord)
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