What is Holy Week?

We call this week, before Easter each year, Holy Week, because it  is the most important week of the Christian year.

During this week Christians recall the events leading up to Jesus’ death by crucifixion and, according to our faith, his Resurrection.

Which are the 5 most important days during Holy Week?

Palm Sunday – Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, then he spends the night in Bethany.

Holy Wednesday – this is a silent day, Jesus makes preparations for his death and so we too should enter into the darkness. There is no record about this day in the Gospels, but much activity as Jesus prepares for Last Supper and as Judas and Sanhedrin prepare for Jesus’ arrest. He remains in Bethany throughout the day, stays night there.

Maundy Thursday – the day of  the Last Supper. .Peter and John sent to make preparation for Passover meal, after sunset, Jesus eats a meal with the twelve disciples, he  washes the disciples feet and gives a new commandment that we should love one another as he has loved us. During the meal Judas departs. The Lord’s Supper is instituted as Jesus commands us to share the bread and wine ‘in Remembrance of him’. Jesus and the twelve go to the Garden of Gethsemane; where Jesus prays in agony. Here follows the betrayal by Judas; and the arrest by the Jewish Sanhedrin, the Religious Court police.

Jesus is taken to the house of High Priest as Sanhedrin is convened, where Peter betrays Jesus.

Good Friday – Jesus’ agony on the cross., after he has been tried by the High Priest and the Sanhedrin  by night, when  Peter denies Jesus a three times and Jesus looks upon him. then Jesus is taken to Romans to be tried before Pontius Pilate and King Herod. Jesus is scourged; the people of the city cry “Crucify Him and Jesus is finally turned over to be crucified. He is mocked by the Roman soldiers who give him a crown of thorns. Judas hangs himself, Jesus bears His cross to gate on north of city and is crucified around 9 am. At about 3 pm the temple veil is torn, Jesus’ side pierced and Jesus’ body is taken down from the cross and he is buried by sundown.

Holy Saturday—it is the Sabbath and at the request of the Jewish leadership, Pilate grants a guard and sets a seal on the tomb of Jesus, meanwhile the women  friends of  Jesus prepare spices with which they intend to embalm his body the next day, the first day of the week.