Holy Week: Day 6 – The Crucifixion, Day 7 – The Silent Tomb, Day 8 – The Resurrection – April 3, 2026

(Song: “The Day Love Was Crucified” by SoulLift Music)

 Day 6 — Friday: The Crucifixion (Good Friday)

 Key Scriptures:

• Matthew 27

• Mark 15

• Luke 23

• John 19

Events:

• Jesus is tried before Pilate.

• He is scourged and mocked.

• Crucified at Golgotha.

• Darkness covers the land.

• Jesus dies.

Key Words of Jesus:

• “Father forgive them.”

• “It is finished.”

Key Points:

1. Jesus became the sacrifice for sin.
2. The veil in the temple was torn.

Theological Truth

The cross accomplished:

• Atonement

• Redemption

• Reconciliation with God

Message for Today:

• Salvation is costly.

• Grace is not cheap.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is the crucifixion central to the Christian faith?

1. What does Jesus mean when He says, “It is finished”?
2. Why was the temple veil tearing significant?
3. What does the cross reveal about both God’s justice and God’s love?

Application: How should the reality of the cross shape the way we live today?

Day 7 — Saturday: The Silent Tomb

Key Scriptures: Matthew 27:62–66

62 The next day, on the Sabbath,[a] the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. 

63 They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ 

64 So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”

65 Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” 

66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.

Events:

• Jesus lies in the tomb.

• Roman guards are posted.

Message for Today:

Sometimes God appears silent.

But God is still working even in the silence.

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you think the disciples felt during the time Jesus was in the tomb?

1. Why does God sometimes allow seasons of silence or uncertainty?
2. How should believers maintain faith when God seems quiet?

Day 8 — Sunday: The Resurrection

Key Scriptures:

• Matthew 28

• Mark 16

• Luke 24

• John 20

Events:

• The stone is rolled away.

• The tomb is empty.

• Angels announce: “He is not here, He is risen.”

Key Points:

1. The resurrection proves Jesus is Lord.
2. Death has been defeated.
3. The gospel message begins to spread.

Message for Today

Because Christ lives:

• Sin is conquered

• Death is defeated

• Hope is eternal

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is the resurrection essential to Christianity?
2. What does the resurrection prove about Jesus?
3. How does the resurrection change the believer’s view of death?
4. What responsibility do believers have after hearing the resurrection message?

Application: How does the Resurrection give hope in our everyday struggles?

Major Themes Christians Should Take from Holy Week

1. God Keeps His Promises

Every step fulfilled prophecy.

2. True Faith Is More Than Emotion

Palm Sunday crowds praised Him but later rejected Him.

3. Jesus Chose the Cross

The crucifixion was not an accident — it was God’s plan for redemption.

4. Resurrection Changes Everything

Christianity stands or falls on the resurrection.

Paul wrote: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” (1 Corinthians 15:14)

Powerful Closing Point

Holy Week shows the full journey of salvation:

            Praise → Betrayal → Sacrifice → Resurrection → Victory

 The message of the week is this: The cross shows God’s love, and the empty tomb proves God’s power.

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A Powerful Closing Illustration

The Darkest Friday and the Brightest Sunday

Imagine standing in Jerusalem on Friday afternoon. The sky turns dark.

The crowds that shouted “Hosanna!” earlier in the week now shout “Crucify Him!”

The disciples scatter. The Messiah is nailed to a cross. The earth shakes.

            To everyone watching, it looks like evil has won.

Hope is buried in a tomb.

            For three days the world seems silent.

But what no one could see was that God was still working behind the stone.

 The cross was not the end of the story.

            Early Sunday morning, the stone is rolled away.

            The grave is empty.

 And the greatest reversal in history takes place:

• Death becomes life

• Defeat becomes victory

• A cross becomes a symbol of salvation

What looked like the worst day in history became the greatest moment of redemption.

The Lesson for Us

 Sometimes our lives feel like Friday or Saturday:

• prayers unanswered

• hope buried

• silence from heaven

But the message of Holy Week is this:

Sunday is coming.

God often does His greatest work when everything looks los

Final Question:

Ask the class to reflect quietly on this: If Jesus endured the cross and conquered the grave for us, how should we respond to Him today?

 Possible responses:

• Repentance

• Surrender

• deeper faith

• renewed commitment to follow Christ