Every year celebrating passion week shows a Christian’s faith in Christ. It begins on Palm Sunday with Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey and the congregation lining the road with palms. Then comes Holy Thursday, when Christ prepared the Lord’s supper. Next comes Good Friday, when Jesus died for the forgiveness of sin, and it ends on Easter Sunday, where we see His resurrection.

Palm Sunday Celebration

Here’s something we both can agree on Christ Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah (Zechariah 9:9). In that Old Testament scripture, he spoke to God’s people about Jesus the Messiah’s arrival.

The Jews lined both sides of the road, welcoming Jesus with joy. They came because of Christ’s unbelievable holy presence. Throughout Christ’s ministry, He performed miracles and spoke on God’s truth with great authority, unlike any they experienced. So, they wanted to express their appreciation for His holiness.

They shouted out:

“Hosanna to the Son of David

‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’

Hosanna in the highest!’

Matthew 21:9

I’m sure you’re with me on this one. God inspired these witnesses to His Son’s omnipotence by sharing the above version of Psalm 118:26. In this Psalm, they ask God to save them and define the meaning of Hosanna. Again, we see another Old Testament prophecy fulfilled. Here we gain wisdom into God’s truth about Jesus as His King.

On this fantastic day, they cheered for Christ. Here we observe how the Jews wanted to bear witness to Jesus. However, not everyone attending this significant event wanted to honor Christ. No, the Pharisees were among them and wanted Him to rebuke His Disciples (Luke 9:39), but Jesus responded with the truth about the Pharisee’s fate (Luke 9:40).

But by Good Friday, many called for His crucifixion (Matthew 27:22). Yes, most of those who praised Him wanted to see Him die. They went from exhilaration to hatred with murderous intentions (John 8:40-45). Jesus understood their wickedness and, just before His death, asked God to forgive them (Luke 23:34).

Indeed, Palm Sunday celebrates God’s new covenant with humanity by showing us His beloved son, who He appointed as the only way to heaven (John 14:6). Our Father brought Jesus into Jerusalem to display His incomprehensible plan to sacrifice Christ and resurrect Him from the dead.   

Holy Thursday  

On the Thursday before Easter, we celebrate the Lord’s supper. It reminds us of Jesus’s preparation for His death. He wanted to spend time with His Disciples and share with the holy communion.

One of the events on this momentous day is Jesus washing His Disciple’s feet. Back in those days, this tradition of washing feet expressed an act of loving service. It’s here where Christ shows an example of selflessness. He carried out this action to teach His Apostles a lesson of humility (John 13:1-17).

In John’s Gospel, he recorded how Christ shared with the Jews about holy communion. It shocked them because Jesus used His body and blood as examples (John 6:41-59). Many of those who heard these words turned away and stopped following Him (John 6:60-71). Christ would revisit this with His Disciple during the Lord’s Supper.

I think you agree with me when I say the Lord’s Supper shows us how God wants us to celebrate in Jesus’s deity. First, Christ took bread, broke it, and gave each of them a piece. Then Jesus discloses this bread as His body that He will give up for salvation (Luke 22:19). Next, He raised the cup and explained the reason for shedding His blood (Luke 22:20). In both of these revelations, Jesus commanded them to do this in remembrance of Him.

Another essential part of the Lord’s Supper is Christ uncovered His betrayer. God needed to show us who turned Jesus over to the Sanhedrin. When our Lord discussed this matter with His Disciples, Peter asked who would carry out this unwise action (John 13:18-25). So, the Messiah using bread and dipping it, passed it to Judas Iscariot (John 13:26-27). But the other eleven didn’t understand (John 13:28-30).

As shown above, these are a few references to what took place on Holy Thursday. John’s Gospel ends with this:

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

John 21:25

Good Friday

Considering Christ’s death as good might be surprising. But in reality, it goes beyond well. Indeed, it’s exceptional because God shows the world a supernatural love where He sacrifices His Son for humanity’s salvation (Mark 10:45).

Before Christ’s crucifixion, he faced the Jewish high priest and the Roman judge Pontius Pilate.

In His trial with the Sanhedrin, He stood before the high priest. This leader asked about Christ’s ministry. Jesus responded by telling them to find the answer through questioning people who witnessed His teachings (John 18:20-21). But the mood from the Jewish council didn’t like what He said, and one of them used an act of physical aggression (John 18:22).

Then the Jewish authority turned Jesus over to Pilate. Pontius Pilate had misgivings about crucifying Christ. He wanted no part in killing Jesus. Pilate’s wife insisted he free Him (Matthew 27:19). However, God prevented this from happening because His salvation plan included Christ’s death.

When Pilate granted the Jews their passion to murder Jesus, he turned Him over to his execution division. Here we see the torture Christ endured at the hands of the Roman army. They inflicted physical pain by flogging, whipping, and striking Him with clubs. Besides mocking Him, they made a crown out of thorns and forced it on His head.

Christ hung on the cross shedding His blood and waiting to die. He spoke to God (Matthew 27:45-46). Then before He took His last breath said, “it is finished” (John 19:28-30). God’s new covenant with humanity emerged (Matthew 26:28).

See how huge Christ’s sacrifice means to God?

When I think about Jesus’s death, it brings tears to my eyes, and my conscious cries out with remorse. I’m grateful God brought me into His kingdom and showed me His love. And in Christ’s bloodshed, I thank the Lord for His mercy and forgiveness.

Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday, our sorrow from Christ’s death switches to overwhelming joy. This change of emotions isn’t by accident but designed by God to celebrate Jesus’s resurrection. From Christ’s rising from the dead, we understand the Lord’s incredible gift of salvation. For the resurrection of Jesus promises us our resurrection with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:14).

They buried Jesus in Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb (Mark 15:46-47). And three days later, Mary Magdalene visited Christ’s burial site and saw it was empty. She wept and didn’t know what had happened to Jesus’s body. But to her surprise, two angels told her the exceptional news, and for her to tell the disciples Christ is risen and alive (John 20:11-18).

When Jesus showed Himself to the disciples and displayed the physical wounds caused by the crucifixion, they were joyful (John 20:19-20, 24-29). Then Christ anointed them with the Holy Spirit (John 20:21-22). Now equipped with the Spirit of truth (John 14:25-26), they spread Jesus’s Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20).

Here’s something we both can agree on the resurrection of Jesus is God’s following through with His promise to redeem us (2 Peter 3:9). Yes, Christ’s rising from the dead, and our faith in this Biblical truth secures our eternal life. Remember when God saved us, He placed in Christ and anointed us with Holy Spirit. For this reason, the Lord keeps us in His kingdom.

Our acceptance of Christ’s resurrection brings us restoration, and God awards us a place in heaven. What a way to end passion week!

As shown above, passion week packs itself with astonishing truth. Indeed, it shows us how much God and Christ love faithful believers. I thank God for His holiness and the gift of salvation.

What are your thoughts on Passion Week?