Holy Week Events

"As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem." - John 9:51-53

Holy Week is the last week of lent and is celebrated by Catholics and Protestant Churches. This is the week when we follow Jesus from Palm Sunday, the Sunday of the Passion, to his death on Good Friday in preparation for his rising from the dead on Easter Sunday.

Palm Sunday is the first day of the week. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt, accompanied by his disciples. The crowds covered the streets with their cloaks and waved palm branches, shouting and singing, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." On Monday, Jesus chased the money-changers out of the temple. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Jesus preached and taught in Jerusalem.

On Thursday, Jesus teaches and sends his disciples to set up a time to celebrate passover with the 12 disciples. Upon arrival in the upper room, Jesus washes their feet and teaches them to serve is to be the greatest in His kingdom. After washing their feet, Jesus and His disciples celebrate the Feast of Passover. Jesus institutes the first Communion service with bread and wine. After the meal, Jesus and his disciples went to Gethsemane to pray, where he was arrested by the Temple guard and taken to an illegal night session of the Jewish court.

On Friday, Jesus was taken into Roman courts and transferred back Jewish courts and back to Roman courts. Eventually, Pontius Pilate ordered Jesus to be crucified on a cross on a hill named Golgotha...it looked like the shape of a skull. He hung on the cross for about six hours and died there.

On Saturday, Jesus rested in the tomb while his disciples observed the Sabbath.

Then on Sunday, Jesus defeats death and comes back to life. Two women went to tomb. In route, they meet an angel and the angel asked them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" They find Jesus alive and for the next weeks Jesus is witnessed alive by over 500 witnesses.

Today, the kingdom of God has been fulfilled in your hearing. As he set his face toward Jerusalem, obeying the will of God, we turn and we follow. We turn our face toward Him and follow His direction....and the world is changed and we are changed forever.
(For more information click Holy Week)

Celebrating Easter with You - Don