HOLY WEEK

Holy week, from Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to his death and resurrection, is by far the greatest week in history. Jesus, the Lamb of God, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, chose to be crucified in Jerusalem at the Passover festival. He became our Passover Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. The Old Testament points to Jesus, the Messiah, God’s Anointed One. The New Testament tells his story and calls us to respond in faith to his gift of salvation and eternal life.

Key Passages

Holy Week: the last week of the earthly life of Jesus may be summarized this way as a general guide. The different Gospels record different events, each one telling the Gospel, the good news, in their own way. So this arrangement is an estimate of the sequence of the momentous developments in Holy Week.

Holy Week

This summary follows the outline in Mark’s Gospel:

Selections from The Lion of Judah (4) The Death of Jesus & Holy Week

Palm Sunday – Day of Demonstration

Mark 11:1-11 (Zech 9:9) – Jesus enters Jerusalem

Monday – Day of Authority

Mark 11:12-19 – fig tree, temple cleansed

Tuesday – Day of Conflict

Mark 11:20 – 13:36 – debates with leaders

Wednesday – Day of Preparation

Mark 14:1-11 – anointed at Bethany

Thursday – Day of Farewell

Mark 14:12-42 – last supper

Good Friday – Day of Crucifixion

Mark 14:43 – 15:47 – trials and death

Saturday – Day of Sabbath

Mark 15:46-47 – tomb sealed

Easter Sunday – Day of Resurrection

Mark 16:1-18 – resurrection appearances

Good Friday – Day of Crucifixion

It is accomplished

Seven Statements on the Cross

Father forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43).
Woman, behold your son: behold your mother (John 19:26-27).
My God, My God, why have you forsaken me, (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34).
I thirst (John 19:28).
It is finished (John 19:30).
Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46; see Psalm 31:5).

This summary uses NKJV. The Mounce translation (www.biblegateway.com) of John 19:30 is ‘It is accomplished.’ Traditionally, these seven statements are called words of

Forgiveness,
Salvation,
Relationship,
Abandonment,
Distress,
Triumph, and
Reunion.

Further Resource -available as Blog, eBook – READ SAMPLE, and Paperback.

Christian Passover Service

This order of service for Passover is an attempt to be as true as possible to the historic one Jesus had with his disciples. The present day Passover as celebrated by millions of Jews is in the same order, and contains everything in this service (except for references to what Jesus did with it) as well as many additions that have been made, particularly since the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.