“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”

– 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Holy Week is the most sacred week in the liturgical year. It begins with the commemoration of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and concludes with Christ’s rest in death on Holy Saturday. Holy Week leads up to Easter Sunday, when we honor Jesus’ resurrection. Join us during Holy Week, April 2nd-8th, and Easter Sunday on April 9th as we reflect on the incredible work of Jesus Christ, our Savior!

Holy Week Timeline

Palm Sunday – The Triumphal Entry

Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered outside the city and waved palm branches (a symbol of victory) to greet Him. Just five days later, these same people would call for Jesus to be crucified.

“So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” – John 12:13

Holy Monday – Cleansing the Temple

The most notable activity of Holy Monday is when Jesus entered and cleansed the Temple. This was a loud and violent event conducted by the Lord in response to the misuse of the Temple, which was meant to be a place where God dwelled with His people.

“And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.” – Mark 11:15

Holy Tuesday – The Parable of the Tenants

Days leading up to his crucifixion, Christ shares a parable (Mark 12:1-12) to reveal the heart of those that his Father had given the Word. Time and time again, the nation of Israel and the nation’s leaders were disobedient and rejected what God had said in leading the nation of Israel. Now the very Son of God, the Messiah, that had been prophesied about was being rejected by these leaders. In the midst of this rejection throughout the nation of Israel, the parable revealed that there were still ones that sought to be obedient to God, and they would inherit the Kingdom of God.

“Have you not read this Scripture: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” – Mark 12:10

Silent Wednesday

As we reconstruct the timeline of Holy Week from the Gospels, we find no explicit record of Jesus’ activities on Wednesday. Not only do the Gospels not record any activity of Jesus on Wednesday of Holy Week, we are also not offered any explanation as to why nothing is recorded. We are left with more questions than answers about this day in history, but this provides an opportunity to simply focus on who Jesus is, rather than what He did on this particular day.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” – Psalm 46:10

Maundy Thursday – The Lord’s Supper

On Maundy Thursday (“maundy” being a shortened form of the Latin word mandatum, which means “command”), Jesus celebrated His final Passover with His disciples. At this meal, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples in an extraordinary act of humility, commanding them to do the same for each other. 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” – John 13:34

Good Friday – The Crucifixion

Good Friday marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We remember this day as Jesus willingly suffered and died as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of all people. This was the darkest day in history, and yet we refer to it as good because it marked the dramatic culmination of God’s plan to save his people from their sins.

“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” – Matthew 27:51

Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday is a day for reflection on the victorious work of Christ that included his death on the cross, burial in the tomb of Joseph or Arimathea, and his descent to the place of the dead where he proclaimed the Lord’s salvation that would be realized in his resurrection. He experienced death as a human; however, his experience did not end with death’s dominion. Never again need we be subject to lifelong slavery through fear of a defeated enemy.

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” – Hebrews 2:14-15

Easter Sunday

Three days after His crucifixion, death, and burial, Jesus rose from the grave. By this, He conquered death and redeemed His people from sin. He ascended into heaven with the promise that He would return again soon. Thus, we rejoice, we hope, we adore, we obey, we await our risen Savior, Jesus Christ.

^“He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” – Matthew 28:6

“For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.”

– Romans 6:7-9