grayscale photo of a graveyard

Holy Saturday: Jesus in the Tomb

Some 2,000+ years ago, Jesus follower's could be found “holding their breath” and wrestling with deep issues of faith. They had just seen their Lord and promised deliverer be murdered, and they had not yet seen Him risen, and while Old Testament prophecies had spoken of this, given their previous expectations of what they thought fulfillment of the promises would look like, they were likely not all aware of what they could expect the next day. As far as they could tell with their physical eyes, He had failed them and left the world with unfulfilled promises to be their Savior.

traditional jewish matzo

Maundy Thursday: The Last Supper

At my church, we celebrate the Passover together during Holy Week, remembering Jesus' Last Supper. The Passover was a celebration of God’s faithfulness to the Israelites, and God’s faithful promises were ultimately fulfilled through Christ! The Last Supper is especially significant because, when celebrating the Passover with His disciples, Jesus used the elements of bread and wine to symbolize something greater: his body and blood. The Last Supper was the first communion!

multiple roman silver coins showing different roman emperors

Holy Wednesday: Judas Chooses to Betray Jesus

On Wednesday, we remember how Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. He negotiated with the Sanhedrin, the rabbinical court of ancient Israel, to turn Jesus over to them. How could one of Jesus's closest friends betray him? He had traveled with him, followed his footsteps, sat under his teachings, stayed up late talking in the night. Could he really turn his back on him like this?

green and brown plants near terrain

Holy Tuesday: Jesus’ Final Teachings

Later in the day, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse, a prophetic description of Jerusalem’s destruction and the end of the age. He doesn't hold any punches. This is some intense stuff. He reveals His Second Coming and the Final Judgment through a series of parables.

beige concrete buildings on high ground

Holy Monday: Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Monday dawns, and Jesus begins His week by entering the temple to heal and teach, but what He finds there is unsavory to say the least. People are buying and selling, money changers are collecting (and probably swindling…that’s an assumption, but probably a safe one). Bottom line the temple is being used to turn a quick profit rather than to turn hearts’ to worship.

Just as Hectic This Holy Week

I keep seeing these social media posts that talk about resting and spending more time with loved ones and spending time “being”. While this may be an opportunity for some, it can’t be generalized to everyone. Health care workers are working insane hours, as well as employees at restaurants trying to adapt to take out and grocery stores using safe practices. For me as a senior in college, this time of life has not proven to be slower.