What is Holy Week?
Whether you’re new to the faith or you’ve been here a long time, sometimes it’s good to grasp exactly what Holy Week is and ways that you could honor God on these days.
In honor of Resurrection Sunday, as a reminder of what Jesus did for us on the cross, and as a way to spread the gospel to others, we are releasing a limited edition Easter box that can be found here.
This is the gospel. The good news, and we believe that everyone should hear it!
Palm Sunday:
Palm Sunday starts the week of the chain reaction that will end with Jesus sacrificing His life on the cross for our sins. Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, riding in on a donkey, fulfilling scripture. It is said that people shouted Hosanna while waving palm leaves and laying out their clothes so that Jesus could enter the city.
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:6-9 NIV)
Holy Monday:
On this day, Jesus enters the temple and drives out those who are defiling the Lord’s house by selling things. This is a symbol of how Jesus rejects the commercialization and corruption of the temple, which was intended to be a house of prayer. He also curses a fig tree, showing that it’s not enough to have a nice appearance, but it’s more about having an inner righteousness.
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13“It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” (Matthew 21:12-13 NIV)
Holy Tuesday:
On Tuesday, Jesus takes more time to give parables to the public. Per usual, He is condemning the religious people and explaining what the true Kingdom of God is. He also discusses the end times on the Mount of Olives to His disciples
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matthew 24:42-44 NIV)
Holy Wednesday:
Jesus continues teaching the masses, the religious leaders are scheming on how to kill Jesus. Judas agrees to betray Jesus for silver.
2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. (Luke 22:2-6 NIV).
Maundy Thursday:
Preparations have now begun for Passover, Jesus and the 12 disciples have the last supper, and Jesus washes their feet. Jesus tells the disciples that He is about to die and that one of the disciples will betray Him. Judas leaves and finds the guards to arrest Jesus. Jesus is arrested and condemned to death by crucifixion
22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”
23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.(Mark 14:22-26 NIV)
Good Friday:
The religious leaders demand that Jesus be put to death. Jesus carries His cross, is nailed to the cross, and He dies. His body is taken down and placed in a tomb.
25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.
37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”(Mark 15:25-26, 37-39 NIV)
Holy Saturday:
Guards are placed// at the entrance of the tomb, and the Sabbath is observed.
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. (Luke 23:55-56 NIV)
Resurrection/Easter Sunday:
Mary Magdalene visits Jesus’ tomb to find HE WAS NOT THERE! She found an angel sitting by the tomb where she is told Jesus is not there and He has RISEN!
2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. (Mark 16:2-6 NIV)
During this Holy Week, take time to reflect on what Jesus’ death means for you and for the world. Dive into the gospel, immerse yourself in the story, and open your heart to hear from God. Above all, thank Him for choosing you.
-We Love you ef fam 💙
*Images depicted are from The Chosen
*This is a school project and not affiliated with Elevated Faith