What Is Holy Week?: Tracing the Steps of Our Savior

What is Holy Week? Growing up, we didn’t celebrate things like Lent or Maundy Thursday, so Holy Week was a hazy concept. Then later on, I joined a denomination that followed the liturgical calendar more closely. Suddenly, a whole range of celebrations popped up in the bulletin month after month, and I grew curious about their meanings.

So what exactly is Holy Week, and why do these days hold such deep significance? What can retracing Jesus’ steps during His last week on earth teach us about living a life more like His?

What Days Are Part of Holy Week?

Holy Week marks the culmination of Lent, guiding us through Jesus’ final steps toward the cross and resurrection. Here’s what each day represents:

• Palm Sunday – Jesus enters Jerusalem, greeted by cheers and palm branches (John 12:12-19), fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy (Zechariah 9:9).
• Holy Monday – Jesus makes a bold statement about reverence for His Father’s house by cleansing the temple (Matthew 21:12).
• Holy Tuesday – He teaches His disciples, delivering a profound sermon on the Mount of Olives (Luke 21:5-36).
• Holy Wednesday – After years of ministry with Jesus, Judas agrees to betray Him (Luke 22:21-22).
• Maundy Thursday – Jesus shares the Passover meal with His disciples and humbly washes their feet (John 13:1-17).
• Good Friday – Jesus is crucified, an unjust end that fulfilled His role as the sinless sacrifice (Matthew 27:11-61).
• Holy Saturday – This is a day of silent reflection as Jesus lies in the tomb (Matthew 27:62-66).

Then, on Resurrection Sunday, Jesus rose from the grave, conquering sin and death. This fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and confirmed His role as the true Passover lamb (John 1:29).

Exploring Maundy Thursday: The Commandment to Love

Every day in Holy Week has a profound lesson to teach us about how to live and what to value. Maundy Thursday, however, holds a special place in Holy Week. “Maundy” comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning “command” or “mandate.” So what did Jesus command us to do?

We are to love one another – just as Jesus did when He washed the disciples’ feet at the last supper. That’s the commandment that Jesus wanted all those who came after to remember:

“Love one another; as I have loved you… By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  – John 13:34-35

This commandment calls us to emulate Jesus’ humility and service. It also reminds us of His journey toward the cross.

What Makes Good Friday “Good”?

This is another question that often arises about Holy Week: How can a day marked by such betrayal and suffering be considered “good”? The simple answer is that Good Friday represents the fulfillment of God’s plan for our salvation. That makes it very good! Jesus, the “author and finisher of our faith,” endured the cross, focusing on the joy of what was to come (Hebrews 12:2). His death atones for our sin, offering us the promise of redemption and eternal life.

Stillness, Renewal & the Scarlet Thread of Redemption

Ultimately, Holy Week takes us from the triumph of Palm Sunday through the tragedy of Good Friday, then back to triumph with the resurrection. Each event during this week ties back to Old Testament prophecies. They showcase Jesus as central to God’s redemptive plan.

This week encourages us to pause and reflect on the full measure of love and sacrifice Jesus lived out during His ministry – especially in that final week. It’s a time to deeply connect with the ongoing theme of salvation – a scarlet thread woven through the entirety of Scripture.

From Genesis to Revelation, God’s plan to save humanity unfolds like a scarlet thread. This thread links key events throughout the Bible. Each step Jesus took during Holy Week was part of this divine pattern. Every act of love. Every fulfilled prophecy. Every moment of suffering. It was all part of the journey leading to the ultimate triumph of the cross and resurrection. Jesus’ sacrifice was far from an isolated event. It was the critical chapter in the ongoing redemptive story that began in Eden and will be completed when He returns.

Then Jesus Conquered Sin and Death …

On Resurrection Sunday, Jesus rose, conquering sin and death. From His humble entry into Jerusalem to His victorious resurrection, Jesus fulfilled centuries of prophecies and promises. Each moment was another stitch in the scarlet thread that unites all of Scripture. As we reflect on Holy Week, we are reminded of its deep importance. It is not simply a historical event or a block on the calendar. It is a transformative experience that offers us deep insights into our own faith journey today.

Holy Week invites us to walk alongside Jesus through His trials and triumphs. It calls us to enter more deeply into the depths of His love and the power of His sacrifice. It’s a week that challenges us, comforts us, and compels us to live more fully in the light of His grace. As we step into each day of Holy Week, we walk alongside Jesus. We take in the lessons of faith, hope, and love that He demonstrated so perfectly, drawing us closer to the heart of God.