✝️ The Death and Resurrection of Jesus (Week 4 – 🌿Hosanna in the Highest🌿)
Welcome back to the 4th and final week of 🌿Hosanna in the Highest🌿 !
It’s NOT too late to join us! This week will be the BEST week!
This week leads us straight to the heart of the gospel.
As we reflect on the cross and celebrate the resurrection, may our hearts overflow with gratitude, hope, and renewed praise—Hosanna in the Highest!
So even if you missed the first few weeks – this is the week you want to join us! So jump right in where we are and JOIN us!
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Week 4 – The Death and Resurrection Jesus
📌 This is the week where everything changes—where sorrow turns to victory, and death gives way to life. We will walk through the powerful and sacred events surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus as recorded in the book of Matthew.
✝️ These passages invite us to sit in the weight of the cross and celebrate in the joy of the empty tomb.
Here’s what we’ll meditate on this week:
- Jesus on Trial – The innocent Son of God is falsely accused and condemned by religious leaders (Matthew 26:66-27:1–2, 11–14).
- Jesus Handed Over to Pilate – The crowd chooses Barabbas, and Pilate delivers Jesus to be crucified (Matthew 27:1–26).
- Jesus Remains Silent – In the face of lies and accusations, Jesus says little, fulfilling prophecy and showing quiet strength (Matthew 27:12–14).
- Jesus Is Mocked – Soldiers place a crown of thorns on His head, spit on Him, and mock Him as King (Matthew 27:27–31).
- The Death of Jesus – Darkness covers the land, the curtain is torn, and Jesus breathes His last (Matthew 27:32–56).
- The Guard at the Tomb – Religious leaders secure the tomb, but no stone can hold back the plan of God (Matthew 27:62–66).
- He Is Risen! – The angel announces the greatest news in history: “He is not here, for He has risen, as He said” (Matthew 28:1–10).
This Week’s Bible Reading Plan:
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This week’s Reflection & Discussion Questions
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Day 1
These verses are so heart-breaking to read. They hit Jesus and spit on Him and de- clared him “worthy of death.” The hate, anger and pride within these men is hard to wrap my mind around. But what’s even harder for me to wrap my mind around is the fact that Jesus was both fully man and fully God. He had the power to stop it and yet he chose to remain silent and willingly endure the pain of these religious leaders mocking and striking him. Why? Because of his love for you and me.
I am reminded that we all have sin in our hearts and that we all are in need of a Savior, whether we recognize it or not. These men would eventually see the power of God when Jesus rose from the grave. But this was all a part of God’s plan. He had to endure all of this and go to the cross, so that we could be reconciled to God.
These men were the religious rulers and still felt no shame in beating and mock- ing Jesus. Even as believers, there are times when our lives deny the power of God; sometimes through our lack of faith or out of a fear of standing up for our beliefs.
Has there been an opportunity recently when you should have stood up for Christ, but didn’t. How do you feel your actions could have been a denial of Jesus in that moment?
Day 2
It is important to recognize that it was the religious leaders of the day, not the Roman political leaders, who plotted and planned how to have Jesus executed. It was the very people who taught the Torah, who knew the Law and Prophets more perfectly than anyone else. What they could not see was that while they thought they were executing a heretic, they were actually fulfilling the very Law they knew so well!
There are people who may know the Bible well, can quote a lot of Bible verses and recite all the major Bible stories, and yet not know the Lord. They may practice church traditions and never miss a Sunday of church, but they are still far from the Lord. They may follow all the rules and look good on the outside, but they do not have a relationship with Jesus.
Being religious and having a genuine and personal relationship with Jesus are dif- ferent. While going to church and studying God’s word is important, it does not save you. Saving faith transforms your heart and brings you into a right relationship with God through the forgiveness of your sins.
Do you consider yourself religious? God wants us to know Him, not just about Him. How well do you know God? In what ways do you need to deepen your rela- tionship with God?
Day 3
Do you sometimes wonder what would’ve happened if Jesus had answered Pilate? He could have spoken up and given an answer that would have changed everything, right? But He didn’t.
Most of us tend to speak up when we are wrongfully accused but Jesus knew what needed to happen. His silence was strength. He was trusting in the Lord’s plan. He was fulfilling prophecy (Isaiah 53:7).
There are times when we may think that God is silent or that He is not working at all. But through Jesus’ silence, God’s plan of redemption was being fulfilled.
Has there been a time in your life, when you were crying out to God and He was silent? Did his silence cause you to think He wasn’t working in your life? Looking back, how can you see that God was still working, even in his silence?
Day 4
Jesus’ followers must have felt very confused as Jesus was led away to be executed. How could He be their Messiah—their sent one? How could He be their victorious king? Jesus, the Savior of the world, was beaten, bloody, and being led away to his ex- ecution like a common criminal. How could He save the world now? But what seemed hopeless to them was all part of God’s plan for reconciliation with God.
The soldiers mocked Jesus. They mocked Him by draping a scarlet robe over his beaten body. They mocked Him by putting a crown of thorns onto his head. They mocked Him by putting a reed in his right hand like it was a scepter and then they mocked Him by pretending to worship Him saying “Hail! King of the Jews!” And if all of that was not terrible enough, then they spit on Him and struck Him.
Oh, what a price that was paid for our sins! Jesus remained silent. He could have stopped them, but He went all the way to the cross out of his love for you and me. What a deep deep love He has for us that He would lay down his life in such a sacri- ficial way.
How can you honor Jesus today as the King of your life? Spend time in prayer today thanking Him for enduring the pain of the cross for your salvation.
Day 5
Darkness covered the land. As Jesus bore the weight of our sin that separates us from God, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Then He yielded up his spirit and died.
Just when it seemed that God was silent and all hope was lost, the first rumblings of God’s eternal plan was heard as the curtain in the temple was miraculously torn from top to bottom, opening up the Holy of Holies for the very first time. Nature joined in as the earth shook and the rocks were split.
The Son of God did what no human could ever do! He paid for all our sin on the cross and conquered death, hell, and the grave. Even the Roman centurion recog- nized, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”
This moment in history changes everything!
Simply stand in awe of this gift today. We now have the hope of new life both here on earth and in heaven. How has Christ’s sacrifice on the cross changed your life?
Day 6
The chief priests and Pharisees were scared. They remembered Jesus’ claim to rise on the third day and so they went to great lengths to secure the tomb. They rolled a large stone in front the entrance, sealed it and then put soldiers beside the tomb to prevent anyone from entering. But no human effort—no matter how strong, could stop the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Though the religious leaders called Jesus an imposter, their actions proved that deep down, they feared His words might be true. They tried to secure the tomb, but a sealed tomb and a guarded entrance could not keep Jesus in the grave! Nothing can stop God’s plan from being fulfilled!
Our God is in control. Nothing man tries to do can stop Him. Even when things seem impossible, our God is greater. His promises are sure. We can fully trust in Him! Are you facing an obstacle today that feels impossible? Is fear or doubt creeping in? How does remembering the power of our God grow your confidence in Him today?
Day 7
He is risen! Those are the words that the women who went to the grave to mourn and tend to Jesus’ body heard. As the earth shook, an angel appeared and rolled back the stone. The soldiers were suddenly gripped with fear, but the women were told to not be afraid, Jesus was alive! Don’t miss the next phrase, “just as He said.”
That’s our God! He is faithful. What He says He will do—He will do.
From the humble manger in Bethlehem to the triumphant cries of “Hosanna” on Palm Sunday, to the cross and the empty grave, Jesus’ journey was one of love, sac- rifice, and redemption. Every step He took was intentional, fulfilling the promises of God and paving the way for our salvation. The cross, where He bore the weight of our sin, and the empty tomb, where death was forever defeated, testify to His unending power and grace.
As we reflect on Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, let us hold fast to the hope that Jesus brings—hope that transforms mourning into joy, fear into faith, and death into eternal life. Let us declare, with hearts full of gratitude and worship, “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
How does the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus inspire you to live each day with hope and purpose, proclaiming ‘Hosanna in the highest’ through your words and actions?
This Week’s Verses of the Day:
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Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
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🙌 I can’t wait to see how God reveals himself personally to each of us, as we prepare our hearts to celebrate Easter and find rest for our souls as we lift our voices in praise—Hosanna in the Highest!
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Keep walking with the King,
COURTNEY
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