The Wonder of Walking through Holy Week with Jesus
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- Updated Feb 01, 2024
Holy Week – the last week of Lent before Easter – is a wonderful opportunity to connect with Jesus in ways that inspire us with awe. During Holy Week, we can trace Jesus’ steps through the last week of his earthly life and discover how Jesus brought the light of hope into a dark world. Every day of Holy Week presents something significant to learn about Jesus as the world’s Savior. As we celebrate each day of Holy Week, we can let the details of Jesus’ activities then shape our prayer and meditation. That will lead us through both sorrow and joy. By the end of the week, when we reach Easter, we’ll have fresh insights into the wonder of Jesus’ redemptive work and stronger relationships with him. So, let’s start the journey!
Palm Sunday – The Triumphal Entry
As we begin our journey through Holy Week, we step alongside the crowds, welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem with palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna!” which is both a form of praise and a prayer for salvation. This triumphant entry, however, features layers of meaning beyond a simple celebration. In Matthew 21:1-9, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-44, and John 12:12-19, we see a prophecy from Zechariah 9:9 fulfilled as Jesus rides into the city on a donkey with her baby beside them: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The wonder of Palm Sunday lies in recognizing Jesus not as a conquering king in worldly terms (who would ride in on a majestic horse like a stallion) but as the loving Prince of Peace, entering the city with humble donkeys. Even in the jubilation of Palm Sunday, there is a subtle yet powerful proclamation of Jesus as the Light of the World. In John 12:46, Jesus reveals: “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” The triumphal entry into Jerusalem highlights the arrival of the Light that dispels the darkness in our fallen world.
Monday of Holy Week – Cleansing the Temple
Our journey with Jesus takes us to the temple on Monday. In Matthew 21:12, we witness Jesus overturning the tables of the moneychangers and driving out those who were corrupting the purpose of that sacred place by buying and selling there. With righteous zeal, Jesus declares in Matthew 21:13: “‘It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” The story continues as Jesus proceeds to heal people at the temple after he has cleansed it. Jesus’ actions on that day represent his call to authentic worship and a pure heart, challenging us to examine our hearts as we navigate Holy Week. In the act of cleansing the temple, Jesus reveals himself as the Light that exposes sin and purifies, empowering people to grow in holiness. Just as he purged the physical temple, Jesus illuminates our souls, urging us to embrace genuine worship. In John 8:12, Jesus declares: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” On this day, we can invite Jesus to shine his light into our lives, revealing what we need to change in order to grow closer to him.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/wynnter
Tuesday of Holy Week – Teachings and Parables
Tuesday is marked by a series of teachings and parables that Jesus delivers. In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus summarizes the essence of God’s law: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” As we reflect on Jesus’ teachings on Tuesday, we see what’s most important from God’s perspective, which is choosing love. In the teachings and parables of Tuesday, Jesus continues to illuminate the path of holiness for us. He becomes the guiding Light, directing our hearts toward love and compassion. In John 12:35, Jesus encourages us: “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.” The way we can best discover the wonder of God’s work in our lives is through love, since everything God does is done in love. The Bible tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8 and 1 John 4:16), so we can understand that love is at the core of who God is. As we reflect on Jesus’ words from this day, we can renew our commitment to living with love, such as practicing intentional kindness and helping people in need.
Wednesday of Holy Week – The Plot Against Jesus and Anointing
Wednesday brings us to a pivotal moment in the Bible’s Holy Week narrative, where the religious leaders plot against Jesus. In Matthew 26:3-4, we learn: “Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.” When we ponder Jesus’ opposition, we can see how Jesus can help us when we confront the darkness of betrayal and conspiracy in our lives. Jesus calls us to love our enemies, but he doesn’t expect us to do so in our strength. Jesus will empower us to overcome opposition with love. We only need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us in challenging situations like these. During Wednesday evening, Jesus goes to dinner in Bethany and Mary anoints him with perfume to honor him and express her love (Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, and John 12:1-8). That anointing foreshadows Jesus’ burial to come. Mary had faith that Jesus was indeed who he said he was: the Son of God. Even in the middle of the dark plot against him, Jesus remains the unwavering Light. John 1:4-5, assures us when it describes Jesus as the world’s light: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Physically, light dispels darkness. We can see that by simply entering a dark room and then turning on a light – even a tiny light, like a candle flame. Spiritually, Jesus’ light dispels all darkness, since his power is much greater than evil. On this day, we can be confident that the Light of the World continues to shine, undeterred by any type of darkness in our world.
Photo Credit: ©Thinkstock/RomoloTavani
Maundy Thursday – The Last Supper and the Mandate of Love
On Maundy Thursday, we gather at the table with Jesus as he institutes the sacrament of communion. Matthew 26:26-28 explains the profound significance of this sacrament: “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” The wonder of Maundy Thursday lies in the sacramental act and the mandate of love that Jesus gives, commanding his disciples to love one another as he has loved them. In the intimacy of the Last Supper, Jesus embodies sacrificial love, becoming a beacon of light for the disciples as they are about to face the darkness of Good Friday, the next day. As we ponder the wonder of Maundy Thursday, we’re inspired to respond to the exhortation in Ephesians 5:1-2: “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Good Friday – The Darkness of the Cross
On Good Friday, the journey takes a somber turn as we stand at the foot of the cross, witnessing the Crucifixion of Jesus. Matthew 27:45 tells us that while Jesus hung on the cross, bearing the tremendous weight of our sins: “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.” We find the Light of the World willingly stepping into the darkest depths of human suffering. As Jesus hangs on the cross, the darkness seems overwhelming. But when Jesus finishes his mission to save the world, his Light overcomes the darkness of sin. Hope becomes a reality for all people throughout history, since Jesus has made a way for everyone to connect with our perfect God. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross becomes the ultimate manifestation of the Light triumphing over even the darkest forces in our world. On this day, we know that our mourning will turn to celebrating, because Easter is on the way.
Holy Saturday – The Silence of Waiting
Holy Saturday invites us into the sacred silence of waiting with hope. As we reflect on how Jesus’ body rests in the tomb before his Resurrection, we can be inspired with awe and gratitude as we consider how Jesus helps us deal with grief and every other type of challenging circumstances in our lives. The wonder of Holy Saturday lies in the quiet hope that even in the stillness, God is at work, fulfilling the promises spoken through the prophets. Even in the silence of Holy Saturday, Jesus’ light continues to shine, giving us hope. While we wait, we have the confidence of knowing that Jesus will fulfill good purposes – both in our lives, and in our world. Psalm 27:1 assures us: “The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” Holy Saturday inspires us to overcome fear with hope.
Easter Sunday – The Triumph of Resurrection
The wonder of Holy Week reaches its zenith on Easter Sunday as we stand before the empty tomb. In Matthew 28:5-6, an angel declares to a woman outside Jesus’ grave: “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Jesus, the Light of the World, has completely overcome the darkness of sin and death, offering all people the radiant hope of new life. In John 11:25-26, Jesus says: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” On this wonderful day, we can respond to Jesus’ question by affirming that we do believe!
In conclusion, walking through Holy Week with Jesus is a powerful journey that leads us to wonder with every step. We encounter the multifaceted wonder of our Savior in many ways: through Jesus entering Jerusalem, the temple cleansing, Jesus’ teachings on love, the plot against Jesus and his anointing, the Last Supper and communion, the Crucifixion, waiting with hope, and celebrating the Resurrection. Our wondrous experiences with Jesus during Holy Week can inspire us to trust him. When we encounter dark situations, we can rely on Jesus – the Light of the World – to give us the hope and help we need.
To continue reading this series on the wonder of Lent and Easter, click here.
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