Easter is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar. As an example of how significant this day is, the second-century church began to split over Easter’s date, the essential issue being whether to stick with the Hebrew calendar (Passover) or follow the Latin calendar.
While most people don’t argue over the date for Easter anymore, Christian churches around the world celebrate the work of Christ through his death and resurrection, the foundation of our salvation and new birth by the Spirit. The four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) also find the cross and resurrection central to the whole story. While they include Jesus’ miracles, teachings, and whole earthly ministry, the cross and empty tomb become the epic climax to the story.
Yet the gospel writers don’t skip ahead to the cross. They detail many stories and events in the week leading up to the cross—Jesus’ teaching, actions, and how he fulfilled many Old Testament scriptures during that time. These accounts have incredible depth and character, from betrayal to sorrow and important declarations about the new covenant. Over the years, many churches began to celebrate the whole week leading up to and including the cross and resurrection as Holy Week.
Why Do Christians Celebrate Holy Week?
Holy Week is the final week of Lent and is considered the most sacred time in the Christian calendar. The week starts on Palm Sunday and ends on Resurrection Sunday. Christians celebrate Holy Week to remember the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, with each day marking a key moment. Holy Week invites believers to walk with Christ through the chronological events of the week, sharing in his sufferings, and rejoicing in his ultimate victory over sin and death.
Holy Week developed gradually as the early Church sought to remember and honor the final days of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Many of the first “Christians” were Jewish, and they continued to celebrate the Hebrew feasts. Since the death and resurrection happened at the end of Passover, the first-century church likely commemorated what we call Easter during that week. However, by the end of the first century, the Church was more Gentile than Jewish. By the second and third centuries, churches celebrated a more focused observation of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.
Over time, instead of Passover week, the largely non-Jewish Church expanded the celebration to a full week of events, each focusing on a key moment in Christ’s Passion. By the fourth century, after Constantine legalized Christianity (ending much persecution), Holy Week became a more formal liturgical week. Pilgrims to Jerusalem helped influence some of these traditions by reenacting Jesus’ final days at holy sites. This shaped how churches across the Roman Empire observed Holy Week. Each day of the week, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, developed their liturgies, prayers, and Scripture readings. Today, churches worldwide, from Roman Catholic and Orthodox to Protestant, observe Holy Week in different ways.
Holy Week liturgy served important purposes. Before a few centuries ago, most people couldn’t read, so each local church would tell the stories of Holy Week, leading the congregation through a narrative deep with meaning and symbolism. The week doesn’t only help Christians celebrate what happened a couple thousand years ago, it reminds us of the preeminently important saving work of Christ for today. Jesus is alive and well today, and he calls believers to live the principles of faith in every day and age. Telling such stories during Holy Week, people find themselves within them. These narratives challenge each believer to examine his or her heart in comparison to Christ, Judas, Peter, Mary, and all the biblical figures in the Holy Week narrative.
What Is the Significance of Each Day of Holy Week?
Palm Sunday – Jesus Enters Jerusalem
Palm Sunday starts Holy Week. On this day, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the crowds greeted him with palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna,” worshipping him as the promised Messiah. Palm Sunday fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, revealing Jesus as the humble King. The crowd’s worship of Jesus sets up the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders. The people expected a political king and savior, but Jesus came to bring peace through sacrifice.
Lord Jesus, I praise you as the true King. Help me lay down anything that competes with your rule in my heart. Teach me to follow you with faith, not just emotional or temporary excitement. Amen.
Monday – Jesus Clears the Temple
On Monday, Jesus entered the Temple and drove out the merchants and moneychangers, people buying and selling in a place of worship. Jesus removed them with zeal, calling the Temple his Father’s house and a “house of prayer” they had turned into a “den of robbers.” This moment revealed Jesus’ authority as king and priest, his Sonship, and his passion for the purpose of worship. He further opposed corruption and greed in God’s house. In this, Christ further challenged the religious system.
Read Matthew 21:12-17.
Father, purify my heart and remove anything selfish or greedy within me. May my worship honor you in truth and Spirit. Give me the boldness to stand for real worship and righteousness. Amen.
Tuesday – Jesus Teaches and Confronts Hypocrisy
On Tuesday, with the Temple now cleansed, Jesus spent the day teaching in the Temple, in the outer court where all people were welcome (Jew, Gentile, male, female, disabled, clean and unclean). He answered questions and warned against hypocrisy. His parables further and openly challenged the Jewish religious leaders. He revealed the coming judgment, but he also offered hope through faith, repentance, and obedience. His teachings have become central to understanding the Kingdom of God and discipleship.
Read Matthew 23:1-39.
Jesus, give me the ears to hear your words and a heart to truly listen and obey. Remove hypocrisy from my life and reveal to me more about your Kingdom and future return. Amen.
Wednesday – A Quiet Plot and Costly Love
Often called “Spy Wednesday,” this day remembers Judas Iscariot’s choice to betray Jesus in his meeting with the Jewish Council. Wednesday includes another beautiful account where a woman anointed Jesus with expensive perfume and her tears, showing deep love and emotion. These two narratives contrast the ways people respond to Jesus—either complete devotion or utter betrayal. Judas traded his master for money, while the woman paid a year’s worth of money to honor him. Christians must learn to be like the woman.
Read Matthew 26:6-16.
Heavenly Father, keep my heart from pride and self-seeking. Teach me to clearly and fully devote my whole life to you, treating you as my treasure. Let my love for you be extravagant, bold, and humble. Amen.
Thursday – The Last Supper and Betrayal
On Maundy Thursday, Jesus gathered with his disciples like a family for the Passover meal. He washed their feet, taught them about serving each other, and initiated the Lord’s Supper or Communion, revealing the bread and wine as his body and blood, signs of the new covenant he brought. Judas fully betrayed him that night. Thursday calls us to observe Communion and servant, humble leadership as the Kingdom model.
Read Luke 22:7-23.
Jesus, thank you for giving yourself for me. Teach me the value of serving others like you did, with humility and compassion. As I choose to remember your sacrifice, strengthen my heart to follow you. Amen.
Friday – The Crucifixion
Good Friday commemorates Jesus’ suffering at the hands of Rome, his crucifixion, and death on the cross. Jesus endured trials, mocking, and beatings before being nailed to a cross outside Jerusalem, where he died for the sins of the world. Jesus bore the wrath of God and took the place of every believer who receives him. His blood paid for sin, and his death opened the way to be reconciled to the Father through the Son. It is both a day of sorrow and celebration, when Jesus beat sin and death.
Read John 19:16-30.
Lord Jesus Christ, you bore my shame and carried my guilt. Thank you for dying in my place. Teach me to take up my cross, letting your love move me to live for you and serve others. Amen.
Saturday – The Silence of the Tomb
Holy Saturday commemorates the day Jesus’ body lay in the tomb. The disciples experienced waiting, silence, and grief. All seemed lost. This day invites us to sit in the same quiet and stillness, trusting in God’s timing. Even when we can’t see him working, he’s not absent. While we endure pain and sorrows now, Sunday morning is coming.
Read Matthew 27:57-66.
Father God, in the silence and sorrow, help me trust you and your redemption. When I feel lost or afraid, remind me how you are still at work, even when I feel in the dark. Teach me to hope in the coming light of you. Amen.
Sunday – The Resurrection
Easter Sunday rejoices in Jesus's resurrection from the dead. Early in the morning, women went to the tomb and found it empty. The risen Christ appeared in bodily form to his disciples in several ways, proving he rose from the dead. This is the foundation of Christian hope. Jesus conquered the dead, proved his divinity, and secured eternal life for all who would repent and believe. Because he lives, we live forever with intimacy and purpose.
Read Matthew 28:1-10.
Risen Christ, you have defeated death and brought me life everlasting with you the Father. Fill me with joy in the resurrection. Let me walk in your power and share the good news with boldness. Amen.
How Do Christian Denominations Celebrate Holy Week?
Roman Catholics observe Holy Week with time-tested liturgies and traditions. Palm Sunday has a procession with palms to remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. On Holy or Maundy Thursday, Catholic churches hold the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, including the washing of feet and stripping the altar. Good Friday includes the Veneration of the Cross and a reading of the biblical Passion. Holy Saturday ends with the Easter Vigil, a service celebrating Christ’s resurrection. This vigil includes more readings, candles, baptisms, and communion.
Eastern Orthodox churches have a similar liturgy, but they use the Julian calendar. Therefore, their Holy Week might fall on different days. The Orthodox traditions include longer and reflective gatherings. On Holy Thursday, they celebrate the Mystical Supper, and the next day, Friday, they lament Jesus’ death with a symbolic burial. The Paschal Vigil on Saturday (much like the Catholic) will joyfully proclaim “Christ is risen!” during a midnight procession.
Protestants have a wide variety of traditions. Lutherans, Anglicans, and many Methodists will observe the traditional days with special gatherings like Tenebrae (a service of shadows) on Good Friday. Many hold Maundy Thursday services with Communion, since this is when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. Several churches celebrate Easter with a sunrise service. Evangelical churches may not go through the days but place a bigger focus on Good Friday and Easter Sunday with sermons and worship aligning with the death and resurrection.
Despite these differences, all Christians who observe Holy Week do so in honor of Jesus’ Passion. They celebrate Christ’s work of forgiveness on the cross, the freedom and new life from the resurrection. Since the Church has spread across the world, with cultures making the traditions their own, the observances take on new life and expression. But we all celebrate the same reality of Christ our Savior.
How Do We Let Holy Week Help Us Celebrate Easter?
While we may be far more literate today, stories continue to invite us into the life of Jesus and to walk in faith today. Observing Holy Week leads us into the gift of Easter by helping us walk step-by-step through the final days of Jesus’ earthly life. Each day helps us deepen our understanding of his love, suffering, sacrifice, and victory. Like the gospel writers intended, this leads us into the epic victory on Easter Sunday and the salvation we enjoy every day in Christ.
Holy Week works as a symbol for how we are to live today. Through the Spirit, the Bible calls us to walk with Jesus, as true disciples do. As we walk through Jesus in Holy Week, we should reflect on how we walk with him now, moment by moment. The stories reveal ways to recognize our own faith walk. We should reject religion for profit, be a house of prayer, show our complete and utter devotion, refuse to betray Jesus for material or personal gain, live in remembrance of his body and blood, and look ahead to his return and future Kingdom. We learn how to wait in the still and dark moments, having a secure hope since we follow the one who is the resurrection. In Christ, what is dead doesn’t stay dead. God transforms suffering for his name into ultimate victory.
Through Holy Week, we don’t rush into Easter. Instead, we journey with Christ and experience the full story, the one of two thousand years ago and our own today. This journey prepares us to truly appreciate the gift of Easter, new life in Christ, with thankfulness, hope, and joy.
Peace.
Read More about Holy Week:
A Timeline Of The Passion Week
What Is Spy Wednesday During Holy Week?
What Is the Significance of the 30 Pieces of Silver?
What Is the Significance of Holy Monday?
What Are the Seven Sayings of Jesus from the Cross?
Why Did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree?
What Happened Jesus Holy Tuesday?
What Is the Significance of The Religious Service Tenebrae?
What is Holy Week? The Biblical Events Leading to Easter
What Can We Learn from Jesus' Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane?
Holy Week Bible Verses
Why Did the Crowds Yell "Crucify Him" and turn on Jesus?
Why Is Holy Week So Significant For Christians?
Things Christians Should Know About Holy Week
Holy Week Reflections from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday
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