Let's walk through Holy week together! Starting on Palm Sunday and ending with Easter - follow Jesus’ journey through scripture and pictures from my (Mary) 2015 Israel trip! I hope this helps prepare your heart for the Easter week and scripture turns from black & white to color.
March 25 - Palm Sunday
Jesus rode from Bethany on a donkey into the city of Jerusalem while the crowds yelled Hosanna, meaning SAVE and laid out palm branches in his path.
Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
-Mark 11:9
View from Bethany of Jerusalem where Jesus began his journey into the holy city.
March 26 - Holy Monday
Jesus cleared the temple upon His arrival into Jerusalem. He was upset because the merchants were taking advantage of the poor.
And as he taught them, he said, Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of robbers.
-Mark 11:17
March 27 - Holy Tuesday
On this day, the temple leaders challenged Jesus. Questioning him - what commandment was the most important of all?!
Jesus answered "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."
-Mark 12:29-31
March 28 - Silent Wednesday
Though the Bible doesn't speak of what the Lord did on this day, many speculate that after two tiring days in Jerusalem, Jesus spent the day resting with his disciples in Bethany.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away
-Mark 13:31
March 29 - Maundy Thursday
Upper Room - The Last Supper
This is the night before Jesus' death, the night of the Last Supper - a Passover meal Jesus shared with His disciples. Jesus broke bread and offered wine - He used these objects to represent His body and blood on the cross. Jesus death on the cross was the final sacrifice for our sins, and His blood sealed the new agreement between God and us. Now all of us can come to God through Jesus, in full confidence that God will hear us and save us from our sins.
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.
-Mark 14:22-24
The Upper Room where the Last Supper was held.
Garden of Gethsemane after dinner
Jesus and His disciples walked to the Garden of Gethsemane after dinner. Jesus become very troubled about what was to come - He went off and prayed if it was possible for this hour to pass Him by.
Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.
-Mark 14:36
Watching on as Lysa Terkeurst teaches in the Garden of Gethsemane - a garden full of beautiful olive trees.
March 30 - Good Friday
Via Dolorosa
On Good Friday, Pilate led a mock trial which resulted in Jesus death sentence: Crucifixion on a cross.
Via Dolorosa is a narrow street in Jerusalem - the route Jesus took to the cross.
Modern Day Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem.
Crucifixion
The greatest love story ever written - the death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for US!
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
-Mark 15:37
It is Finished
-John 19:30
Burial
Jesus was taken down from the cross and laid on a stone before his body was prepared for burial. He was then placed in a tomb sealed with a stone since it was the Sabbath.
So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
-Mark 15:46
The Stone of Atonement - where Jesus body was laid after being removed from the cross.
March 31 - Holy Saturday
It is the Jewish Sabbath and we wait for Sunday.
April 1 - Resurrection Sunday
Early Sunday morning they went to the tomb and discovered the large stone which was covering the tomb rolled away. When an angel appeared announcing that Jesus had risen from the dead - just as He said He would! The resurrection of Jesus means God has accepted the Savior’s sacrifice and we are now forgiven of all sins. If Jesus is still in the grave, we are still in our sins and separated from a relationship with God. But because He rose - we can live forgiven and free!
Standing at the entrance of the empty tomb.
He has risen! He is not here.
-Mark 16:6
