Holy Week

Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday

The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that was marked by the crowds who were in Jerusalem for Passover waving palm branches and proclaiming him as the messianic king.

Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday

The institution of the Eucharist or Communion at the Passover meal (Last Supper), the betrayal by Judas and and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while the disciples fell asleep.

Good Friday

The church commemorates Jesus’ arrest (base on Jewish customs of counting days from sundown to sundown it was already Friday), his trial, crucifixion and suffering, death, and burial. Thus Jesus, our Passover lamb, was sacrificed for our sins on Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7), and His blood protects us from the angel of death. Jesus died on the cross and was buried before sunset. So Friday was first day that Jesus lay in the tomb.

Holy Saturday

The seventh day of the week, the day Jesus rested in the tomb. In the first three Gospel accounts this was the Jewish Sabbath, which provided appropriate symbolism of the seventh day rest.