"Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." (John 12:15)
Sunday marked the beginning of Holy Week with Palm Sunday. I hope your church celebrates Holy Week, but if they don't I would like to give you a little information on each special day so that you too can prepare for Christ death and resurrection.
Palm Sunday:
Palm Sunday is the day that we typically celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It is a time when we recognize that the people of the time saw him as a great leader, and actually bowed down before him and praised him for all that he had done (including just raising Lazarus from the dead!) Jesus was at the height of his ministry and he was wildly accepted into Jerusalem. It would only be a few days before he would be scorned and mocked, but today we celebrate his acceptance and power. In most churches that celebrate Palm Sunday palm branches are waved by children as they parade around the sanctuary (these same palms are later burned and the ashes are used for Ash Wednesday the following year).
Holy Monday -Wednesday:
These are the days leading up until Maundy Thursday. There is not much information in the Bible leading up to the time of the "Last Supper." But we know Jesus was in Jerusalem, he gave his disciples instructions on where to meet in the Upper Room, and he was anointed by Mary of Bethany (and he states that she is preparing him for his funeral). Jesus is somber, but the rest of the world is still jubilant, not realizing the Jesus' days are coming to an end on Earth.
Maunday Thursday:
A solemn day, the day of the last supper. We find Jesus in the upper room with his disciples. He reveals that someone will betray him, and that even Peter will deny him three times. He washes his disciples feet, he humbles himself before them, and then they head to the garden to pray. It is at the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus asks him disciples to stay awake just one more hour and pray for him and with him. It is at this garden where he is kissed by Judas, and it is on this night that he is beaten, cast lots against, and every single disciple disowns him. Churches who have a Maundy Thursday service sometimes have a Tenebre service, where they go through each of the scriptures extinguishing a candle with each step of the way to the cross, others have a simple service where they tell the story of the betrayal, and then strip the church of all pageantry, so that the church is bare and naked, just as Jesus was betrayed on the cross. Communion is often served on this night as well, since it was the night that Jesus taught us to remember him through sacrament.
Good Friday:
The day of Jesus' death. Some churches have noon services and others have three hour services counting down to the actually time of death (roughly 3 p.m. in most traditions). This service is very solemn, and it focuses on the Passion. The story of the nails being nailed, the bitter vinegar, and the last breath ... the act of total sacrifice for an undeserving world.
Holy Saturday:
A day of holy rest.
Easter Sunday:
I would like to do a post just on Easter, so be looking for it on Easter morning!
Discussion Starters:
- How will you celebrate Holy Week?
- When you think of the Passion of Christ what feelings or emotions do you have about his death and resurrection?
- Easter is coming, he will be risen, how will you dedicate your life to rise again with him as a new EASTER people?
-- Mary
I found out an interesting thing this week at church: Hanukkah and Palm Sunday are related!
The first Palm Sunday was after the Maccabees drove bad guys out of the Holy Land, and they welcomed the heroes in with palm leaves--then they restored the temple, 8 days of oil, etc...which is where Hanukkah came from. That's one reason why the Jews were so mad when people were honoring Jesus with the same honor. I thought this was so cool--sort of an we're all related thing.
Because of travel and family circumstances, I won't be celebrating Easter at church or with my family. It's going to be a weird holiday, and I'm uncertain how I'll feel about it. I know I'll miss it--I always think Easter is such a beautiful service and a beautiful time to be thankful.
I'm incapable of a short answer.
1. I've never really observed any of the Holy Week traditions before outside of Easter Sunday, but this year we've actually got plans.
On Thursday, we are going to pray our way through the stations of the cross at our Presbyterian church. They've had some artists from the congregation set up their interpretations and they're leaving the doors open so people can come and reflect.
After that we are attending a Holy Thursday service at the local Catholic church to stay true to Graham's roots.
We'll be back at our usual church for Good Friday as well as the service on Sunday.
I'm enjoying making a big deal out of Easter this year (because it is a big deal) rather just having it be a one day event.
2. I don't think I spend enough time really contemplating the death part because it's uncomfortable.
3. The word 'rededication' gives me flashbacks of church camps where tons of teenagers streamed down the aisles to 'get saved' all over again. But I do hope to continue the good habits I've formed during Lent of spending more time in the word, being more involved in church activities, and keeping this blog active for discussion.
To Shannon: That's a very interesting idea, I would like to read more about that. I wonder how many times we step on other religions toes with our rituals.
To Whitney: Holy Week is a big deal, we don't like to think about Christ ACTUALLY dying for our sins, and all that it entails. But, he really did. And it's uncomfortable, and we don't like to make it real, but it happened, and it's important that we acknowledge that sacrifice. When I said "dedicate" I wasn't thinking "rededication" I was thinking more, of How will you move forward, what have we learned from this season of pain and suffering to the season of RESURRECTION? :) Sounds like you have a good plan to do so.
I'm off to my Maundy Thursday service! See you all soon!