Holy Week is one of the two most celebrated weeks in the Christian calendar, along with the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas. Each year that I have been sharing the TGIF message, there can be no better message than that provided by the Bible regarding these two most important annual celebrations in the Christian calendar. So I share again my Easter message from previous years for your preparation for Holy Week.
The Triumphal Entry
Matthew 21:1-10 – When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them on immediately.” 4 Now this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled: 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, 7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their cloaks on them; and He sat on the cloaks. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 9 Now the crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!”
10 When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”
This is one of the two most special and important times in the annual Christian calendar that will begin this Sunday and last through the following Sunday. Palm Sunday, also called Passion Sunday, is the first day of Holy Week, commemorating Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. In addition to the scripture provided above from the Gospel of Matthew, similar descriptions are also available in the other Gospels, see Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19 as they each provide a unique perspective on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
Consider also reading Luke’s account because he has a somewhat different perspective from the other Gospel authors as a Gentile and without close ties to a disciple of Jesus. Luke might be considered to be the original “investigative journalist” who provides interesting additional information in his accounts throughout the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts which he also authored. If you are really motivated, consider reading all 4 offerings to grasp every noted detail provided. I offer the same suggestion for the additional readings below.
This next week is then followed by Jesus’ arrest on Holy Thursday, his crucifixion on Good Friday, and consummated by His being raised from the dead on Easter. In preparation for Jesus’ crucifixion and our Good Friday service at Covenant at 5 PM on March 29, consider reading Matthew 27:27-66, Mark 15:16-47, Luke 23:26-56, and John 19:17-42.
Then, in preparation for Easter Sunday, consider reading Matthew 28:1-15, Mark 16:1-13, Luke 24:1-43, and John 20:1-25.
Jesus traveled to Jerusalem knowing that this journey would end in his sacrificial death on the cross for the sins of all mankind. He also knew that His crucifixion was not the end, but the beginning of a new life for all those who believe in Him and the Father, and have received the Holy Spirit.
Let us each choose to make this celebration of Holy Week a very special time in our life, to focus on God’s Word which speaks to us so clearly and completely about these special events in our world history.
I will not send out a message next week, because there is nothing else for me to say about Holy Week. I just pray for each of you that this will be a very blessed week in each of your lives!
Amen