Jesus' last week on earth was a busy week. It is known as Holy Week or Passion Week because it involves the suffering of Jesus leading up to him going to the cross on Good Friday and being resurrected from the dead on Easter Sunday. The week starts on Palm Sunday, April 9, and ends on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017.
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is the last Sunday before Easter Sunday. It is called "Palm Sunday" because when Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on a colt, he was greeted warmly by a crowd who covered the streets ahead of him with their cloaks and waved palm branches.
According to Matthew 21:1-11, the crowd sang "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
People lining the streets and waving their palms for Jesus was similar to the practice of acknowledging heroes on our streets today with ticker-tape parades.
Monday
According to Matthew 21:12-17, Jesus cleared the temple in Jerusalem. He turned over the tables and told those selling in the temple that it was a house of prayer but they were making it a den of robbers. Also on Monday, Jesus cursed the barren fig tree because it had leaves for no fruit.
Tuesday
Jesus Christ taught in Jerusalem from early morning until late at night. This was the final teaching of the earthly Jesus.
During his teachings, Jesus told all the parables listed in the Gospel of Matthew. That evening, Jesus relaxed in Bethany with a woman with an alabaster box. It was a foreshadow of Jesus' burial when she opened her box and poured the expensive perfume on his feet.
Wednesday
This day is known as "Spy Wednesday" because this was the day the disciple Judas Iscariot plotted against Jesus.
He betrayed Jesus and let the soldiers know where to find him.
Thursday
Maundy is a Latin word for mandatum which means commandment. Jesus had his Last Supper with his disciples, but he instituted the Lord's Supper until he returns. Jesus also washed the disciples' feet on this day. Then Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and was later arrested.
Good Friday
Good Friday was a long day for Jesus. He went to a trial and was sentenced to death. While on the cross, Jesus spoke seven short sentences. Ministers preach homilies based on those expressions at Good Friday Services at their churches. After Jesus died at 3 p.m., his body was taken down and placed in a borrowed tomb that belonged to Joseph of Arimathaea, according to Luke 23:50-53.
Saturday
This was the day between Jesus' death on the cross and the day he was resurrected. On this day, the high priests and the Pharisees received permission from Pilate to seal the tomb and assign guards to watch it. Jesus made his descent with his soul to set the captives free in Hades. Some people don't want to believe that Jesus descended into Hell, but it is recorded in Ephesians 4.8 that he did.
Resurrection Sunday
Some people call the last day of Holy Week Resurrection Sunday or Easter. This was the third day from Jesus' death to his resurrection. In order for it to be three days, one must count part of each day as a whole day. For instance, Friday was the first day, Saturday was the second day, and Sunday was considered the third day.
Easter Sunday concludes Holy Week. Christians celebrate this as a sacred day because it is the day when Jesus rose from the dead just as he said he would.
