7 Symbols of Holy Week Explained in the Scripture

1. Palm Branches

Palm branches hold significant symbolism during Holy Week, particularly on Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The Gospels recount how crowds welcomed Jesus by spreading their cloaks and palm branches on the road as he rode into the city on a donkey. This event fulfills the prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9, which states, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Using palm branches to welcome Jesus symbolizes his kingship and the people’s recognition of him as the Messiah. Palm branches were a traditional symbol of victory and triumph in Jewish culture, often used during religious festivals and celebrations. In the Old Testament, palm branches were used in various religious ceremonies, including the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:40) and the Feast of Booths (Nehemiah 8:15).

Moreover, palm branches were seen as symbols of prosperity, peace, and righteousness, representing God’s provision and protection. By welcoming Jesus with palm branches, the crowds expressed their hope and expectation of a messianic king who would bring liberation and salvation.

In contemporary Christian tradition, palm branches on Palm Sunday still symbolize the victory of Jesus over sin and death, as well as the anticipation of his second coming as the triumphant king.

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2. Bread and Wine

Bread and wine become profound symbols during Holy Week, particularly in the context of the Last Supper, where Jesus redefined them. These elements were central to the Passover meal, commemorating the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt. In the Old Testament, unleavened bread and wine were essential components of the Passover feast, symbolizing the haste of Israel’s departure and the lamb’s blood used to mark their doorposts.

During the Last Supper, as Jesus gathered with his disciples to celebrate Passover, he transformed the traditional elements of bread and wine, infusing them with new meaning. Taking the bread, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24). Similarly, he took the cup of wine, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:25).

In redefining the bread and wine, Jesus inaugurated the sacrament of communion, establishing a New Covenant between God and humanity through his sacrificial death. By partaking in communion, believers not only remember Jesus’ sacrifice. We also express our need for the spiritual sustenance offered through his body and blood. It serves as a tangible expression of the unity and fellowship shared among believers as members of the body of Christ.

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3. The Cross

The cross is central to the Easter narrative and Holy Week. While the cross is often associated with suffering and death, it also embodies the central message of Christianity: redemption and salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice.

The Old Testament refers to dying on a tree, found in Deuteronomy 21:22-23, which states, “If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse.” According to this passage, a person hung on a pole or tree was guilty of a divine curse.

The connection between the Old Testament reference to dying on a tree and Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross is important. Jesus, as the Son of God, willingly took upon himself the curse of sin and death, becoming a sacrifice for humanity’s redemption. In Galatians 3:13, it is written, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’”

By enduring death on the cross, Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament and became the ultimate atoning sacrifice for sin. Once a symbol of shame and punishment, the cross was transformed into a symbol of hope and salvation for all who believed in him.

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4. Purple Robe

During Holy Week, the purple robe symbolizes the mockery and humiliation inflicted upon Jesus by Roman soldiers before his crucifixion.

“The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted a crown of thorns together and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ Again and again, they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.” (Mark 15:16-20)

The whole process of crucifixion was meant to denigrate the criminal and become an example of fear for others. The purple robe symbolized royalty and authority, typically worn by Roman officials and dignitaries. By placing it on Jesus, the soldiers intended to mock his claim to kingship and ridicule his followers’ belief in his messianic identity. Despite the soldiers’ intentions, their actions unwittingly fulfilled the prophecy of Jesus’ suffering and humiliation. The purple robe, once a symbol of earthly majesty, became a testament to Jesus’ willingness to endure shame and suffering for the sake of humanity’s redemption.

During Holy Week, the purple robe invites believers to reflect on the significance of Jesus’ suffering and to contemplate the true meaning of his kingship as the suffering servant who came to give his life for the salvation of all.

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5. Crown of Thorns

Even more than the purple robe, the crown of thorns has become a poignant symbol during Holy Week.

“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’” (Matthew 27:29)

Along with the continued mockery of the purple robe, the crown of thorns made by the Roman soldiers mocked Jesus’ claim to kingship. The Messiah was both a king like David and a high priest like Aaron (or Melchizedek). The messianic prophecies in Isaiah prophesied his eternal and transcendent authority (Isaiah 9:6). Like a king, he deserved a crown, the greatest of all, and our genuine worship. Yet, these Romans mocked him instead.

The crown of thorns was a painful reminder of the consequences of sin. Like being executed on a pole or tree, the Bible associated thorns with the curse placed upon the earth after Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:17-18). Despite the Roman soldiers’ intention to strip Jesus of any dignity or authority, they gave a symbol of how Jesus took upon himself the sin of the whole world and the curse, subjecting all of Creation to futility and death.

The crown of thorns reminds us today how we are free from the curse upon repentance unto the person Christ who bore corruption and punishment for us.

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6. Empty Tomb

The empty tomb stands as a symbol and the ultimate testimony of the culmination of Holy Week: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Matthew recounts the discovery of the empty tomb by Mary Magdalene and the other Mary.

“But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.’” (Matthew 28:5-6)

This moment marks the final victory over sin and death by Jesus, fulfilling numerous prophecies from the Old Testament regarding the resurrection of the Messiah. One such prophecy is found in Psalm 16:10: “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” This passage is often interpreted as a reference to the Messiah, indicating that he would not remain in the grave but would be raised to life.

The prophet Isaiah also foretold the Messiah in Isaiah 53:10-11, stating, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.”

During Holy Week, the empty tomb invites believers to reflect on the significance of Jesus’ victory over death and to rejoice in the hope of eternal life made possible through his resurrection.

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7. Lamb of God

The symbol of the Lamb of God holds profound significance during Holy Week, particularly in connection to the Passover and the Book of Revelation. In the Old Testament, the Passover lamb was a central element of the Israelites commemorating their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. According to Exodus 12, the lamb’s blood marked the doorposts of the Israelites’ homes, protecting them from the angel of death and leading to their liberation.

In the New Testament, Jesus is often called the Lamb of God. In John 1:29, John the Baptist declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John connects Jesus to the imagery of the Passover lamb and atoning sacrifice. Just as the Passover lamb was sacrificed for the salvation of the Israelites, Jesus willingly offered himself as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. His death on the cross fulfilled the symbolism of the Passover lamb, providing redemption and deliverance for all who believe in him.

The Revelation also refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God. Jesus is depicted as a victorious lamb who conquers evil and establishes his reign. “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12)

During Holy Week, the symbol of the Lamb of God invites us to reflect on the profound significance of Jesus’ sacrifice and to embrace the promise of redemption and eternal life found in him.

What Do These Holy Week Symbols Teach Us Today?

As we’ve seen, these symbols carry deep and significant meaning for all people, especially followers of Jesus who have placed their faith in him for salvation and eternal life. Words are important, but images are often artistic ways to tell stories, too.

Choosing to incorporate these images helps to remind ourselves and others of this amazing event, which is both historical and timeless, and eternal. This year, during Holy Week, let us allow God to use these symbols and images to make us more thankful and expressive in telling the greatest story ever told.

Peace.

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