Experience Jesus Christ’s Greater Love For You. Experience Holy Week.
During the last week of Jesus Christ’s life, often referred to as Holy Week, Jesus shared some of the most powerful teachings about love in all of scripture. While we can’t be sure exactly what Jesus did on each day of Holy Week, we can take time each day this week to find ways to feel His love—a greater love than any other—and share that love with others. Expand each activity below for daily learning experiences.
Palm Sunday
Day 1: “With all thy heart …” (Matthew 22:37)
When Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem, a crowd of believers welcomed Him with palm leaves. Crowds like these were common wherever He went during His time in the city. Jesus Christ used one such moment to share a powerful truth about love. In Matthew 22, He was asked which commandment was the most important. His answer is found in verses 37–40.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Jesus Christ showed us that love is the ultimate motivator for living a good and happy life. If we first seek to love God and Jesus Christ, everything else God asks us to do will be easier, including the commandment to love others.
Invitation: Pray for Greater Love
Spend time today welcoming the Savior into your heart by prayerfully asking God to increase your love for Him and for your neighbor. Seek to know how much you are loved by God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Offer quiet time to Him without distraction, even if it’s just five minutes. Let God show you how much He and His Son love you and, by extension, how much They love all of Their children.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- What did you feel as you prayed to know how your Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ feel about you?
- What does this feeling motivate you to do for others?
Palm Sunday
Day 1: “With all thy heart …” (Matthew 22:37)
When Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem, a crowd of believers welcomed Him with palm leaves. Crowds like these were common wherever He went during His time in the city. Jesus Christ used one such moment to share a powerful truth about love. In Matthew 22, He was asked which commandment was the most important. His answer is found in verses 37–40.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Jesus Christ showed us that love is the ultimate motivator for living a good and happy life. If we first seek to love God and Jesus Christ, everything else God asks us to do will be easier, including the commandment to love others.
Invitation: Pray for Greater Love
Spend time today welcoming the Savior into your heart by prayerfully asking God to increase your love for Him and for your neighbor. Seek to know how much you are loved by God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Offer quiet time to Him without distraction, even if it’s just five minutes. Let God show you how much He and His Son love you and, by extension, how much They love all of Their children.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- What did you feel as you prayed to know how your Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ feel about you?
- What does this feeling motivate you to do for others?
Monday
Day 2: “He healed them” (Matthew 21:14)
In the last week of His earthly life, the Lord took the time to clear the temple of money changers, restoring it to its most sacred and holy purpose as a “house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13)—a place where men and women may commune with God. After this cleansing, when the temple was again a sacred, holy space, Jesus Christ healed the lame and the blind in the temple.
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
We learn two important lessons from this day of Holy Week: first, that we show love for God by honoring sacred spaces—this includes our hearts, our minds, and our homes—and keeping them clean from sin and corruption as much as we can; second, that God wants to heal us and to help us become true disciples of His Son, especially when we are weighed down by the burdens we have as imperfect people living in an imperfect world.
Invitation: Open Your Heart to Greater Love
What is something you could do this week to prepare to receive the Savior’s healing? Is there something in your physical space that needs to be removed, changed, or cleaned up? Is there something in your heart or your mind that needs to change? The Lord invites us on this day and every day to come to Him, ask for forgiveness, repent, and be healed.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- What came to your mind as you thought about some small or large changes in your life that, if made, could prepare you to receive the Lord’s healing?
- What is one step you can take today toward having more holy and sacred space in your life?
Monday
Day 2: “He healed them” (Matthew 21:14)
In the last week of His earthly life, the Lord took the time to clear the temple of money changers, restoring it to its most sacred and holy purpose as a “house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13)—a place where men and women may commune with God. After this cleansing, when the temple was again a sacred, holy space, Jesus Christ healed the lame and the blind in the temple.
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
We learn two important lessons from this day of Holy Week: first, that we show love for God by honoring sacred spaces—this includes our hearts, our minds, and our homes—and keeping them clean from sin and corruption as much as we can; second, that God wants to heal us and to help us become true disciples of His Son, especially when we are weighed down by the burdens we have as imperfect people living in an imperfect world.
Invitation: Open Your Heart to Greater Love
What is something you could do this week to prepare to receive the Savior’s healing? Is there something in your physical space that needs to be removed, changed, or cleaned up? Is there something in your heart or your mind that needs to change? The Lord invites us on this day and every day to come to Him, ask for forgiveness, repent, and be healed.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- What came to your mind as you thought about some small or large changes in your life that, if made, could prepare you to receive the Lord’s healing?
- What is one step you can take today toward having more holy and sacred space in your life?
Tuesday
Day 3: “Ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40)
Jesus Christ spent His final days in Jerusalem expressing love for others, but He also taught us how we can best express our love for Him. In Matthew 25, He shares an unforgettable parable with His disciples about the King (Jesus Christ, the Son of Man) speaking to His servants at His Second Coming. In Jesus’s story, the King tells His followers:
For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
In these verses, we learn that our love for God is often best expressed through our actions and that when we show love to others in need, Jesus is aware of our efforts. Our actions of love for others will directly lead us to the joy and peace we seek from Jesus Christ.
Invitation: Serve with Greater Love
Show your love for someone in one of the ways Jesus taught in Matthew 25. What could you do today to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, or reach out to someone who may feel lonely or isolated? It can be something big or something small. If you’re not sure how to share your love, you can pray for guidance. God wants to help you show love to others.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- Describe what you chose to do to follow the Savior’s invitation to serve with greater love.
- How could more regularly serving with greater love bless your life and the lives of other people you love?
Tuesday
Day 3: “Ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40)
Jesus Christ spent His final days in Jerusalem expressing love for others, but He also taught us how we can best express our love for Him. In Matthew 25, He shares an unforgettable parable with His disciples about the King (Jesus Christ, the Son of Man) speaking to His servants at His Second Coming. In Jesus’s story, the King tells His followers:
For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
In these verses, we learn that our love for God is often best expressed through our actions and that when we show love to others in need, Jesus is aware of our efforts. Our actions of love for others will directly lead us to the joy and peace we seek from Jesus Christ.
Invitation: Serve with Greater Love
Show your love for someone in one of the ways Jesus taught in Matthew 25. What could you do today to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, or reach out to someone who may feel lonely or isolated? It can be something big or something small. If you’re not sure how to share your love, you can pray for guidance. God wants to help you show love to others.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- Describe what you chose to do to follow the Savior’s invitation to serve with greater love.
- How could more regularly serving with greater love bless your life and the lives of other people you love?
Wednesday
Day 4: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35)
During the last week of His mortal ministry, the Savior spent time in the town of Bethany. We don’t know much about what He did on that specific day, but it is often suggested that He rested during this time. A short time before Holy Week, Jesus had visited Bethany to see His friends Mary and Martha. They were mourning the loss of their brother Lazarus, and seeing their grief clearly affected Jesus. About this event, we read one of the shortest and yet most poignant passages in the New Testament. In John 11:35–36 it says:
Jesus wept.
Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
Before Jesus Christ performed any miracle in Bethany, those around Him were moved by His love. Then, foreshadowing the great gift that His Resurrection would soon be to us all, Jesus Christ miraculously raised Lazarus from the dead. Because of that miracle, many people in Bethany and beyond believed in His divinity.
Invitation: Believe in Greater Love
How have you experienced the greater love of our Savior? Today, take some time to rest, remember, and record at least one moment when you have felt or seen God’s miraculous hand in your life. You can record it in writing, video, or audio—whatever feels most comfortable to you. Think about ways that this moment with His Divine love has shaped your belief in and your understanding of God and His Son Jesus Christ. You may choose to share this experience with someone close to you.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- What do belief and faith look like in your life right now?
- If you shared your experience with someone else, how did you feel after you shared it?
Wednesday
Day 4: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35)
During the last week of His mortal ministry, the Savior spent time in the town of Bethany. We don’t know much about what He did on that specific day, but it is often suggested that He rested during this time. A short time before Holy Week, Jesus had visited Bethany to see His friends Mary and Martha. They were mourning the loss of their brother Lazarus, and seeing their grief clearly affected Jesus. About this event, we read one of the shortest and yet most poignant passages in the New Testament. In John 11:35–36 it says:
Jesus wept.
Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
Before Jesus Christ performed any miracle in Bethany, those around Him were moved by His love. Then, foreshadowing the great gift that His Resurrection would soon be to us all, Jesus Christ miraculously raised Lazarus from the dead. Because of that miracle, many people in Bethany and beyond believed in His divinity.
Invitation: Believe in Greater Love
How have you experienced the greater love of our Savior? Today, take some time to rest, remember, and record at least one moment when you have felt or seen God’s miraculous hand in your life. You can record it in writing, video, or audio—whatever feels most comfortable to you. Think about ways that this moment with His Divine love has shaped your belief in and your understanding of God and His Son Jesus Christ. You may choose to share this experience with someone close to you.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- What do belief and faith look like in your life right now?
- If you shared your experience with someone else, how did you feel after you shared it?
Thursday
Day 5: “Greater love hath no man than this …” (John 15:13)
On Thursday, Jesus Christ gathered with His Apostles to honor the Passover. During what we now call the Last Supper, Jesus Christ told His friends how much He loved them. His words hinted at the painful events that would come in the next hours, when He would suffer for the sins of the world in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary. But Christ also gave His Apostles reassurance that though much darkness lay ahead, it would soon be eclipsed by a beautiful gift of love. In John 15, Christ says:
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
After this night, Jesus Christ would soon lay down His life for His friends—and for us. No one would blame Him if He had thought only of His own pain this night, but instead He used His last hours to gather, teach, prepare, and comfort those he loved, including all of us.
Invitation: Speak with Greater Love
How can you remember the love Jesus showed as He gathered with those closest to Him? Think of some ways that you could follow Jesus’s example to express love for your friends and family today, either in person or from a distance. If you’re not sure who to focus your love on, you could pray to be guided to someone who needs exactly what you have to offer. Honor the greater love of Jesus Christ by putting your love for those around you at the center of this day.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- As you think about people in your life you could express love to, what names stand out in your mind?
- Is expressing love for those around you easy or difficult for you? What helped you to complete this invitation?
- If this were your last night alive, what would you want your friends and family to know about your belief in Jesus Christ?
Thursday
Day 5: “Greater love hath no man than this …” (John 15:13)
On Thursday, Jesus Christ gathered with His Apostles to honor the Passover. During what we now call the Last Supper, Jesus Christ told His friends how much He loved them. His words hinted at the painful events that would come in the next hours, when He would suffer for the sins of the world in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary. But Christ also gave His Apostles reassurance that though much darkness lay ahead, it would soon be eclipsed by a beautiful gift of love. In John 15, Christ says:
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
After this night, Jesus Christ would soon lay down His life for His friends—and for us. No one would blame Him if He had thought only of His own pain this night, but instead He used His last hours to gather, teach, prepare, and comfort those he loved, including all of us.
Invitation: Speak with Greater Love
How can you remember the love Jesus showed as He gathered with those closest to Him? Think of some ways that you could follow Jesus’s example to express love for your friends and family today, either in person or from a distance. If you’re not sure who to focus your love on, you could pray to be guided to someone who needs exactly what you have to offer. Honor the greater love of Jesus Christ by putting your love for those around you at the center of this day.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- As you think about people in your life you could express love to, what names stand out in your mind?
- Is expressing love for those around you easy or difficult for you? What helped you to complete this invitation?
- If this were your last night alive, what would you want your friends and family to know about your belief in Jesus Christ?
Friday
Day 6: “Forgive them …” (Luke 23:34)
On Friday, Jesus was put on trial, condemned, beaten, and crucified by those who hated Him. But on the cross, Jesus showed that His compassion was so much bigger than their cruelty. In Luke 23:34, Jesus speaks from the cross, addressing His Father on behalf of those who were wrongly crucifying Him.
Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
At a time when it would have been easy to return hate for hate, Jesus Christ taught us how to show greater love through this incredible act of forgiveness. Throughout His ministry, the Lord was consistent in His teachings about our responsibility as disciples to let go of past hurt and allow His love, His mercy, and His perfect judgment to guide our lives and the lives of those who have wronged us. He was also consistent in teaching us that when we choose to forgive, we will be forgiven of our own wrongdoings and missteps. When we choose forgiveness, He offers His ultimate peace and healing.
Invitation: Forgive and Find Greater Love
To honor the Savior’s sacrifice for you and to allow His love to be more present in your life, you can try to put an old grudge or resentment to rest this Easter season. It may not happen immediately, but with the help of the Lord, peace and restitution will come.
It is also important to remember that offering your forgiveness doesn’t take away the consequences of a person’s actions; for example, your forgiveness does not require you to put yourself back in harmful situations. Forgiveness is about letting go of bitterness, anger, resentment, and thoughts of revenge as you allow the Lord to heal you. You could also study the scriptures to learn more about how forgiveness can bless your life.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- What is something you learned about the blessings of forgiveness from this experience that you didn’t know or feel before?
- How does your practice of forgiveness help you to understand and know Jesus Christ better?
Friday
Day 6: “Forgive them …” (Luke 23:34)
On Friday, Jesus was put on trial, condemned, beaten, and crucified by those who hated Him. But on the cross, Jesus showed that His compassion was so much bigger than their cruelty. In Luke 23:34, Jesus speaks from the cross, addressing His Father on behalf of those who were wrongly crucifying Him.
Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
At a time when it would have been easy to return hate for hate, Jesus Christ taught us how to show greater love through this incredible act of forgiveness. Throughout His ministry, the Lord was consistent in His teachings about our responsibility as disciples to let go of past hurt and allow His love, His mercy, and His perfect judgment to guide our lives and the lives of those who have wronged us. He was also consistent in teaching us that when we choose to forgive, we will be forgiven of our own wrongdoings and missteps. When we choose forgiveness, He offers His ultimate peace and healing.
Invitation: Forgive and Find Greater Love
To honor the Savior’s sacrifice for you and to allow His love to be more present in your life, you can try to put an old grudge or resentment to rest this Easter season. It may not happen immediately, but with the help of the Lord, peace and restitution will come.
It is also important to remember that offering your forgiveness doesn’t take away the consequences of a person’s actions; for example, your forgiveness does not require you to put yourself back in harmful situations. Forgiveness is about letting go of bitterness, anger, resentment, and thoughts of revenge as you allow the Lord to heal you. You could also study the scriptures to learn more about how forgiveness can bless your life.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- What is something you learned about the blessings of forgiveness from this experience that you didn’t know or feel before?
- How does your practice of forgiveness help you to understand and know Jesus Christ better?
Saturday
Day 7: “Peace I leave with you” (John 14:27)
On the Saturday after Jesus was crucified, His disciples faced their grief for the loss of their great friend and Master. But earlier, He had told them that He would not leave them comfortless. In John 14:26-27, Jesus says:
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
When life is hard, the comfort and peace we can find through the Holy Ghost can help us feel God’s love, no matter how difficult our circumstances may be. Because of this gift, we can feel hope instead of fear for ourselves and others. Even when there is no peace on earth, there is always peace in Christ.
Invitation: Find Peace Through His Greater Love
We can often feel the peace of the Holy Ghost as we listen to sacred music or watch uplifting videos about the Savior. Watch a video of the Easter story. Listen to some sacred music about Easter (we recommend this beautiful playlist from the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and others), and pay close attention to the thoughts and feelings that come to your mind and heart about the Savior and His love for you. Consider sharing your favorite Easter song on social media or with a friend.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- What feelings and thoughts did you notice as you listened to music or watched videos about the Savior and His sacrifice for you?
- Is there anything in your life that might be keeping you from feeling the peace that Jesus Christ has promised to all who come to Him with faithful hearts?
- What small thing can you do to invite more of Jesus Christ’s peace into your life?
Saturday
Day 7: “Peace I leave with you” (John 14:27)
On the Saturday after Jesus was crucified, His disciples faced their grief for the loss of their great friend and Master. But earlier, He had told them that He would not leave them comfortless. In John 14:26-27, Jesus says:
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
When life is hard, the comfort and peace we can find through the Holy Ghost can help us feel God’s love, no matter how difficult our circumstances may be. Because of this gift, we can feel hope instead of fear for ourselves and others. Even when there is no peace on earth, there is always peace in Christ.
Invitation: Find Peace Through His Greater Love
We can often feel the peace of the Holy Ghost as we listen to sacred music or watch uplifting videos about the Savior. Watch a video of the Easter story. Listen to some sacred music about Easter (we recommend this beautiful playlist from the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and others), and pay close attention to the thoughts and feelings that come to your mind and heart about the Savior and His love for you. Consider sharing your favorite Easter song on social media or with a friend.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- What feelings and thoughts did you notice as you listened to music or watched videos about the Savior and His sacrifice for you?
- Is there anything in your life that might be keeping you from feeling the peace that Jesus Christ has promised to all who come to Him with faithful hearts?
- What small thing can you do to invite more of Jesus Christ’s peace into your life?
Sunday
Day 8: “Mary …” (John 20:16)
When Mary Magdalene went to the tomb on Sunday morning to look after Jesus’s body, one word took her from the depths of sorrow to the realization that hope lives. That one word was her name, spoken by the resurrected Son of God.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Mary didn’t realize that Jesus Christ was right in front of her until she heard Him say her name, but that one word was the beginning of a beautiful celebration of the miracle of the Savior’s Resurrection. Like Mary, those of us who seek Jesus Christ can discover that He knows us by name and that we are invited to see and know Him and His glory. Because of His sacrifice, we can return to live with Him again and all people will be resurrected. Truly, there has never been a greater love.
Invitation: Celebrate Greater Love
Easter is a time of joy for those who believe in Jesus Christ! Today, seek the Lord as Mary did by going to a place where He can be found. Celebrate the gift of His Atonement and His everlasting Resurrection at an Easter church service. Sing songs of His redeeming love, and feel the Spirit testify that God and His Son, Jesus Christ, know you personally.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- What part of Easter Sunday services brought you the most joy this year?
- What unexpected things did you learn as you studied about Jesus Christ this Easter Holy Week?
- What Easter traditions are you looking forward to beginning or continuing next year?
Sunday
Day 8: “Mary …” (John 20:16)
When Mary Magdalene went to the tomb on Sunday morning to look after Jesus’s body, one word took her from the depths of sorrow to the realization that hope lives. That one word was her name, spoken by the resurrected Son of God.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Mary didn’t realize that Jesus Christ was right in front of her until she heard Him say her name, but that one word was the beginning of a beautiful celebration of the miracle of the Savior’s Resurrection. Like Mary, those of us who seek Jesus Christ can discover that He knows us by name and that we are invited to see and know Him and His glory. Because of His sacrifice, we can return to live with Him again and all people will be resurrected. Truly, there has never been a greater love.
Invitation: Celebrate Greater Love
Easter is a time of joy for those who believe in Jesus Christ! Today, seek the Lord as Mary did by going to a place where He can be found. Celebrate the gift of His Atonement and His everlasting Resurrection at an Easter church service. Sing songs of His redeeming love, and feel the Spirit testify that God and His Son, Jesus Christ, know you personally.
Reflection Journal Prompt:
- What part of Easter Sunday services brought you the most joy this year?
- What unexpected things did you learn as you studied about Jesus Christ this Easter Holy Week?
- What Easter traditions are you looking forward to beginning or continuing next year?
Come to Church With Us This Easter
Join us to remember the greatest morning in history as we worship Jesus Christ through a joyous Easter Sunday Worship Service.
There’s More—Christ Came to the Americas
After Jesus was resurrected in Jerusalem, He appeared to believers in the ancient Americas. This is the central event recorded in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. There, the people felt the prints of the nails in His hands and feet and the wound in His side and worshipped Him as the prophesied Savior. Just as He did during His ministry in the Middle East, He taught them about baptism, repentance, and forgiveness. Jesus Christ healed and blessed the people and organized His Church.
You can read the full account in the Book of Mormon of Jesus Christ’s visit to the Americas here: 3 Nephi 11–28.
Interested in More Easter Study Resources?
Find additional study suggestions and scriptures about Holy Week.