Holy Week
Holy Week is the most significant and sacred week in the Christian calendar that invites Christians to walk with Jesus through His suffering, to marvel at His sacrifice, and to rejoice in His victory. It’s a week that draws believers into the heart of the gospel story and reminds us just how much God loves us.
While Holy Week is part of Lent, it is also distinct in its focus and significance. Lent is the 40-day period of preparation for Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending with Holy Saturday. Holy Week is the final week of Lent and leads directly into Easter Sunday. While Lent as a whole emphasizes repentance, fasting, and spiritual discipline, Holy Week specifically commemorates the events of Jesus’ final days, His suffering, death, and resurrection.
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, where Jesus enters Jerusalem to shouts of “Hosanna!”—a moment of triumph, yet marked by humility as He rides on a donkey.
Then comes Maundy Thursday, where Jesus shares the Last Supper with His disciples, giving us the gift of Holy Communion and demonstrating servant-hearted love by washing their feet. It’s a picture of radical humility and grace.
Good Friday is the darkest yet most profound day, as Jesus willingly goes to the cross. He suffers, dies, and bears the weight of all sin, declaring, “It is finished.” Through His sacrifice, He opens the way for us to be reconciled to God.
But the story doesn’t end there. On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection! Jesus rises from the dead, conquering sin and death, and offering new life and hope to all who trust in Him.
Holy Week reminds us of the depth of God’s love, the cost of our redemption, and the incredible joy of the resurrection. It’s a journey from suffering to victory, from death to life, and from despair to hope.