Next week is Holy Week. This is the most important week in the church calendar. Christianity is based upon the events that occur during this week, and we should mourn and celebrate at the same time.

The week begins with Palm Sunday, which celebrates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The Jewish people welcomed him, waving palm branches, laying their clothes on the ground before the donkey he rode on, and yelling “Hosanna in the highest!” The waving of palm branches was associated with victory and triumph. It is our victory over death that we are celebrating. The laying of their clothes on the ground was done for a victorious warrior or conqueror. The people thought that Jesus was coming to overthrow Roman rule, but He is our victorious warrior who overcomes death. Hosanna was a prayer: “Save us!” It became a praise for anticipated deliverance. We sing Hosanna because Jesus has delivered us from sin. Understanding this helps me take my worship to a deeper level.

The next significant event is Maundy Thursday. This was the night Jesus washed His disciples’ feet and shared with them the Passover meal, which is called the Last Supper and is communion to us. During the night, He gave His disciples a new commandment to love one another. The word Maundy comes from the Latin root meaning commandment or mandate. This was also the night that He was betrayed, mocked, and scorned.

Good Friday is the day that Jesus was condemned, crucified, died, and was buried. He had to be buried before sunset because it was against Jewish law for a person to hang on a tree overnight, and the next day, was the Jewish Sabbath. Why is it called Good Friday? There are various reasons given, but they all center around Jesus, the unblemished lamb, sacrificing His life to take our sins upon Himself as the final sacrifice that frees us from our sin and death. God’s love for us through this action is good.

Black Saturday or Holy Saturday is the day that Jesus’ body rested in the tomb guarded by Roman soldiers. This day is often a day of fasting and prayer vigils in preparation for the Lord’s Day or Sunday.

Resurrection Sunday is the culmination of Holy Week. At sunrise the Son rose victorious over death, leaving an empty tomb. We will live with God for eternity because of the events of Holy Week. We need to make this an important part of our lives and celebrate what God has done for us.