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A Message from the Rector
Starting this weekend through Easter Day, Christians throughout the world follow the sacred drama of Holy Week. Each day of Holy Week has special significance. It’s important for all of us to know and follow this drama to fully understand and appreciate what happened that week. I encourage you to follow along with the steps of Jesus from Palm Sunday through Easter Day, exploring the major events that occurred on each day. Our Easter celebration will be far more meaningful if we walk the way of Jesus through the events of Holy Week.
Day 1: Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday
On the Sunday before His death, Jesus began His trip to Jerusalem, knowing that soon He would lay down His life for the world. Nearing the village of Bethphage, Jesus instructed the disciples to untie a donkey and bring it to Him. Then Jesus sat on the young donkey and slowly, humbly, made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus' triumphal entry is recorded in Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19.
Day 2: Jesus Clears the Temple on Monday
The following morning, Jesus returned with His disciples to Jerusalem. Along the way, He cursed a fig tree because it had failed to bear fruit. Some scholars believe this cursing of the fig tree represented God's judgment on the spiritually dead religious leaders of Israel. Others think the symbolism extended to all believers, demonstrating that genuine faith is more than outward religiosity; true, living faith must bear spiritual fruit in a person's life.
When Jesus arrived at the Temple, He found the courts full of corrupt money changers. He overturned their tables and cleared the Temple, saying, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves" (Luke 19:46). Monday's events are recorded in Matthew 21:12–22, Mark 11:15–19, Luke 19:45-48, and John 2:13-17.
Day 3: Jesus Goes to the Mount of Olives on Tuesday
On Tuesday morning, Jesus and His disciples returned to Jerusalem. On their way, they passed the withered fig tree, and Jesus spoke to His companions about the importance of faith.
Later that afternoon, Jesus left the city and went with His disciples to the Mount of Olives, which overlooks Jerusalem. Here, Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse, an elaborate prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age. He speaks, as usual, in parables, using symbolic language, including the final judgment at the end of time.
After a tiring day of confrontation and warnings about the future, Jesus and His disciples again returned to Bethany to stay the night. The events of Tuesday and the Olivet Discourse are recorded in Matthew 21:23–24:51, Mark 11:20–13:37, Luke 20:1–21:36, and John 12:20–38.
Day 4: Holy Wednesday (sometimes known as “Spy Wednesday”)
The Bible indicates that this was the day Judas Iscariot negotiated with the Sanhedrin, the rabbinical court of ancient Israel, to spy and betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14-16). This is why this day is sometimes called “Spy Wednesday.”
Day 5: Passover and Last Supper on Maundy Thursday
Holy Week takes a somber turn on Maundy (Mandate) Thursday.
From Bethany, Jesus sent Peter and John ahead of Him to the Upper Room in Jerusalem to prepare for the Passover Feast. That evening after sunset, Jesus washed His disciples' feet as they prepared to share in the Passover. By performing this humble act of service, Jesus demonstrated by example how His disciples should serve the world. Today, many churches practice foot-washing ceremonies as a part of their Maundy Thursday services.
During this Last Supper, Jesus established Holy Communion, instructing His followers to continually remember His sacrifice by sharing in the bread and wine in everlasting remembrance of Him. (Luke 22:19-20).
Later, Jesus and His disciples left the Upper Room and went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in agony to the Father. Luke's Gospel says, "his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:44).
Late that evening in Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed with a kiss by Judas Iscariot and arrested by the Sanhedrin. He was taken to the home of Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the whole council of the Sanhedrin had gathered to begin making their case against Jesus.
In the overnight hours, as Jesus' trial was getting underway, Peter denied knowing his Master three times before the rooster crowed. Thursday's events are recorded in Matthew 26:17–75, Mark 14:12-72, Luke 22:7-62, and John 13:1-38.
Day 6: Trial, Crucifixion, Death, and Burial on Good Friday
Good Friday is the most difficult day of Holy Week. Christ's journey turned treacherous and acutely painful in these final hours leading to His death.
According to Scripture, Judas Iscariot, the disciple who had betrayed Jesus, was overcome with remorse and hanged himself early Friday morning.
Meanwhile, before the third hour (9 a.m.), Jesus endured the shame of false accusations, condemnation, mockery, beatings, and abandonment. After multiple unlawful trials, He was sentenced to death by crucifixion, one of the most horrible and disgraceful methods of execution known at the time.
Before Christ was led away, soldiers spit on Him, tormented and mocked Jim, and pierced Him with a crown of thorns. Then Jesus carried his own cross with the help of Simon of Cyrene to Calvary, and was again mocked and insulted as Roman soldiers nailed Him to the wooden cross.
Jesus spoke seven statements from the cross. His first words were, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34). His last words were, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46)
Then, about the ninth hour (3 p.m.), Jesus breathed his last breath and died.
By 6 p.m. Friday evening, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body down from the cross and laid it in a tomb. Friday's events are recorded in Matthew 27:1-62, Mark 15:1-47, Luke 22:63-23:56, and John 18:28-19:37.
Day 7: Saturday in the Tomb
Jesus' body lay in the tomb, where it was guarded by Roman soldiers throughout the day on Saturday, which was the Jewish Sabbath. When the Sabbath ended at 6 p.m., Christ's body was ceremonially treated for burial with spices purchased by Nicodemus. The Roman soldiers continues their guard over Jesus' tomb overnight. Saturday's events are recorded in Matthew 27:62-66, Mark 16:1, Luke 23:56, and John 19:40.
Day 8: Resurrection Sunday: Easter Day
We now reach the culmination of Holy Week. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event of the Christian faith. The actual moment of resurrection is not recorded in the Bible. We can only speculate what happened overnight from this statement in Matthew 28:2-3 “Suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightening and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.”
Before sunrise on Easter Day, several women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Salome, and Mary the mother of James) went to the tomb and discovered that the large stone covering the entrance had been rolled away. An angel announced: "Don't be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen." (Matthew 28:5-6)
On the day of his resurrection, Jesus Christ made at least five appearances. Mark’s Gospel says the first person to see him alive was Mary Magdalene. Jesus also appeared to Peter, to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and later that day to all of the disciples except Thomas, while they were gathered in a house for prayer. Easter Day’s events are recorded in Matthew 28:1-13, Mark 16:1-14, Luke 24:1-49, and John 20:1-23.
Walking with Jesus through each day of Holy Week we can feel our love for Jesus grow even stronger knowing what He did for us.
Father Robert Harvey
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