What is Holy Week?
As we anticipate the very special week leading up to Easter, I thought it might be helpful to remind you of the events that took place during the week of Easter that led to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we consider what many call “holy week," I invite you to set aside time to reflect on the gift of Jesus during those very important days.
Day 1: The Triumphal Entry
On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem while crowds celebrated by waving palm branches, declaring, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” The word Hosanna is a cry for help – it means, “Save us!” The triumphal entry was an emotional time, fulfilling multiple prophesies. Jesus knew very soon some of these same people would no longer be crying praises, but would be crying “crucify him," because many religious leaders were so angry and jealous of Him that they were ready to end His life.
What is God asking you to surrender to Him? You can read more about this day in Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19.
Day 2: Justice in the Temple
On Monday, Jesus took time to condemn a fig tree for not bearing fruit. It seems like a strange thing to include in such a special week, but it served as a warning for His followers against hypocritical and fruitless faith. Jesus also picked a fight in the temple with those who were taking advantage of religious pilgrims. Jesus condemns their injustice, and for forgetting what the temple was intended for by overturning their tables and by declaring His authority. “‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” (Matt 21:13 ESV)
Where does God want you to put your faith into practice this week? Is He asking you to do something big? You can read more about this day in Mark 11:15–19.
Day 3: Jesus preaches on the Mount of Olives
On Tuesday, Jesus went up to the Mount of Olives, just outside of the city, and He delivered a powerful sermon describing and warning about many events that will take place in the future. The religious leaders were increasingly intimidated by the popularity of Jesus, and probably on this day, they negotiated the price for Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples of Jesus, who accepted a bribe to betray Jesus.
You can read more about this day in Matthew 21:23–24:51.
Day 4: Holy Wednesday
On Wednesday, the Jewish city of Jerusalem was busy celebrating the Passover, a special week set aside to honor the deliverance of the Israelites from the hands of Egypt. Jesus anticipates that He will be killed on Passover, taking the place as the sacrificial lamb, “who takes away the sins of the world.” It is awesome to see the intentionality of God’s rescue plan for mankind...the perfect lamb of God.
Is there a story about God’s work in your life that He is asking you to tell? If so, please consider joining us this Sunday after the services in Room 5, where you can hear about a special way you can share your story on Easter (click for more details). You can read more about Jesus being the lamb of God in John 1:29, Isaiah 53:7, 1 Peter 1:19, and Rev 5:6.
Day 5: Passover/Maundy Thursday
On Thursday, Jesus and His disciples shared the Passover dinner together. At this meal known today as a Seder dinner, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, showing them His humble love for them. During the dinner, He invited His faithful disciples to participate in the Lord’s table (or communion) after His death, burial, and resurrection to remember Him and celebrate the work that He was about to do. After the “last supper,” the group went to the garden of Gethsemane, where Judas betrays Him and hands Him over to the Jewish leaders. He is arrested and taken to the High Priest for trial.
How does God want us to remember the work of the cross this week? You can read more about this day of preparation and betrayal in John 13:1-38.
Day 6: Good Friday
On Friday morning, Jesus went to trial at the hands of those who would try to silence Him by death. Amazingly, Jesus did not defend Himself. Instead, He calls Himself the Son of God. This stirs up the religious leaders who press for Jesus to be put to death in one of the worst ways imaginable, by crucifixion. During His death on the cross, Jesus was mocked, abandoned, forced to wear a crown of thorns, and made to carry His cross through the city and up the mountain called Calvary. There, our sinless savior was brutally nailed to the cross alongside two criminals, one of whom accepted Jesus as His savior on the cross.
On that last day of the Passover festival, Jesus breathed His last breath, declaring, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!” On this day, Jesus, the perfect man, atoned for the sins of imperfect men and women like you and me. “...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 ESV) That evening, after confirming that Jesus was dead, two men took the body and placed it in a tomb and rolled a large stone over it.
You can read more about this crucial day in Luke 22:63-23:56.
Day 7: Holy Saturday
Silence, death, separation, and fear are all words that could describe this day. As Jesus' body was securely kept in a cave by a stone and guards, many of His followers were dealing with the tragedy of the cross. Many wondered how His death would impact their life and many scattered, but some remembered the claim of Jesus that He would be raised again on the third day.
In times of waiting, how do you trust God to keep His promises? You can read more about this day in Matthew 27:62-66.
Day 8: Easter Sunday
On resurrection Sunday, we see the triumphant culmination of the entire week and the most important event of the Christian faith. Early Sunday morning, several women go to the tomb and find the stone rolled away and an angel who announces, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay!” (Matthew 28:5b-6 ESV)
Jesus rose on the third day after His death, and He revealed Himself to many, fulfilling prophecies found throughout the Old Testament. In conquering sin and death, He offered forgiveness and redemption for our lives and our world. On Easter Sunday, we take time together to celebrate the fact that Jesus rose from the grave, proving Himself victorious over death. He is risen indeed! You can read more about the resurrection in John 20:1-23.
I hope to see you at our services on Good Friday and Easter Sunday!
Expectantly,
Shawn
