Holy Week represents the final, sacred week of Lent in Christianity, beginning on Palm Sunday and ending before Easter morning. This year, it runs from March 29 (Palm Sunday) to April 4 (Holy Saturday), marking the passion, death, and burial of Jesus before the resurrection. It is my experience most regular worshippers remember Palm Sunday and celebrate Easter but overlook the other days of Holy Week. In this blog I want to challenge you to remember what Jesus did each day. According to the Gospel of Matthew, this is what happened during Jesus’ last week prior to his crucifixion.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem to celebrate his final Passover. He was not alone. Biblical scholars tell us more than 2.5 million people were in Jerusalem on that day and on the lips of everyone was Jesus. He rode a donkey to tell everyone he was the king of peace. Most missed the point. Most wanted something from Jesus. Some wanted to see Jesus because he was trending. He was a celebrity and some were preoccupied with celebrities. Famous for being a healer, some wanted a healing from Jesus. Either they or a loved one was sick, and Jesus was their only hope to be healthy. Some longed-for Jesus for political reasons. They had grown tired of Roman rule and believed Jesus was the perfect person to lead a political revolution. The palm branches spread on the ground and waved in the air were political acts. They yelled political slogans. That is what their ancestors had done in previous generations. A small minority must have understood Jesus’ entrance was part of God’s plan of salvation. (Matthew 21:1-11)
On Holy Monday, Jesus did two significant things. First, he cleansed the Temple. The orthodox leadership of the day had turned the Temple into a place of profit, selling various animals for sacrifice. As the contemporary church is a place for prayer, the Temple was a place of prayer too, not profit. Second, he cursed the fig tree. It was the only thing Jesus ever cursed. Like the bald eagle symbolizes America, the fig tree symbolized Israel. The cursing of the fig tree was an act of judgement upon Israel. God was doing something new. At the end of the day, Jesus traveled to Bethany. (Matthew 21:12-22)
On Holy Tuesday, Jesus returned to the Temple and was confronted by the Chief Priests and the Elders, who questioned his authority. Jesus responded by telling the Parable of the Two Sons, the Parable of the Wicked Servant, and the Parable of the Wedding Banquet. The orthodox leaders responded by trying to trap Jesus by asking him questions about paying taxes to Ceasar, the resurrection, and the greatest commandment. Near the end of the day, Jesus left the Temple and taught the disciples about the destruction of the Temple, the signs of the end times, and his future return. We call that collection of teachings The Olivet Discourse. (Matthew 21-25)
On Holy Wednesday, Jesus was anointed in Bethany to prepare him for death, and he was betrayed by one of his own, Judas Iscariot, for thirty pieces of silver. For this reason, some call this day Spy Wednesday. There are several theories about why Judas Iscariot did it. Some say he did it because he had grown tired of being an outsider. He was the only non-Galilean of the twelve. Some say he did it to force Jesus’s hand. He never dreamed Jesus wouldn’t fight back. Some say he did because he was greedy. We don’t really know why he did it, but he did it. In the end, Judas Iscariot regretted his betrayal and committed suicide. Once Judas Iscariot agreed to betray Jesus, his enemies created a scheme to arrest and kill Jesus. (Matthew 26:13-16)
On Holy Thursday, Maundy Thursday, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, showing true servant leadership. Then, they observed the Seder. It was a meal with a message. Everything they ate and drank symbolized how God liberated their people, the Jews, years earlier. After all, they were God’s chosen people. During the meal, Jesus changed the scripted words and created a new memorial we call holy communion. The bread was his body, and the wine was his blood. After the meal was completed, Jesus comforted the disciples and went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. It is while he is in the garden that he was arrested. (Matthew 26:17-50)
On Holy Friday, Good Friday, Jesus had two trials. The first trial was in front of his own people, the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish legislative and judicial council in ancient Israel. It was a “kangaroo” court. Jesus never had a chance. He was found guilty of blasphemy. They wanted to execute Jesus, but they lacked the legal authority. For this reason, they sent him to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate (15 BC-35 AD). He knew Jesus was an innocent man, but he feared the mob. Trying to find a way out of his awkward situation, he used an old tradition of releasing a prisoner during Passover. He hoped the people would choose Jesus, but they choose the notorious criminal Barabas (10 BC-62 AD) instead. Jesus’ fate was sealed. He ordered Jesus to be executed. First, Jesus was whipped. Then, Jesus was mocked and forced to wear a crown of thorns. Finally, Jesus was nailed to a cross. Crucifixion was a Roman form of execution. It was made public to detour future criminals. He hung between two common criminals. For a crucifixion, his death came quickly – six hours. His lifeless body was treated with lavish expensive spices purchased by Nicodemus, before being placed in a new tomb, provided by a wealthy man named Joseph of Arimathea. Both Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were secret disciples of Jesus who were members of the Sanhedrin. Both disagreed with their verdict. It was a hard day for those who loved Jesus. They grieved, because Jesus was dead and their dreams were gone. Many still struggle today with the death of Jesus. (Matthew 27)
Some call Holy Saturday Silent Saturday, Black Saturday or Easter Eve. There is nothing to remember about that day, because Jesus was dead. His heart was still and his lungs were flat. There were no brain waves. His loved ones must have been numb because it all ended so quickly. Each one must have asked the question “why?”
There are fifty-two weeks each year. Each week is important and not one should be wasted. However, Holy Week is different. It is the week that changed our world forever. No one has ever influenced the world like Jesus. Annually, I take a few minutes each day of Holy Week and remember what Jesus did on that day. I consider it my spiritual pilgrimage. I encourage you to do the same thing this year. It will enhance your Easter and quicken your spirit. The 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis (1936-2025) said, “Holy Week is a privileged time when we are called to draw near to Jesus.” May God bless you during this sacred week.
Russ Adams 