Blog My Soul

The week before Easter is called Holy Week and culminates the preparation time of Lent. During these days, we focus on the events of Jesus’ life from His entrance into Jerusalem until His glorious resurrection from the dead. Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week, commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:9). Because the complete account of the Lord’s Passion from Matthew, Mark, or Luke is often read, this Sunday is also called the Sunday of the Passion.

This week begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Holy Saturday.

On Maundy Thursday, the Church gives thanks to Jesus for the institution of the Lord’s Supper. The Maundy Thursday service closes with the stripping of the altar while Psalm 22-a prophecy of the crucifixion-is read or sung. This reminds us of how our Lord stripped to the waist to wash His disciples’ feet-and how He was stripped and beaten before His crucifixion.

Good Friday is the most solemn of all days in the Christian Church, yet a note of joy remains, as the title of the day indicates. On Good Friday, as we remember that on account of our sin the Lord was crucified and died, we give joyful thanks to God that all sin and God’s wrath over sin falls on Jesus and not on us, and that by His grace we receive the benefit of this most sacrificial act.

Related posts:

1. A Prayer for Wednesday of Holy Week 2010 Lord Jesus, gracious Savior, I come to You in this sacred week to ponder upon Your great and wondrous love;...
2. A Prayer for Tuesday of Holy Week 2010 Lord Jesus, compassionate Savior, plead for me in the hour of trial. You know my weaknesses and shortcomings; I cannot...
3. Holy Week 2010 The week before Easter is called Holy Week and culminates the preparation time of Lent. During these days, we focus...
4. A Prayer for Wednesday of Holy Week O Christ, give me strength and grace to crucify my sinful desires and dedicate myself anew to You, who has...
5. A Prayer for Tuesday of Holy Week Pray for me, gracious Redeemer, lest I deny You. O Lord, You know that I have promised to be faithful...

Tags: Church Year, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Holy Thursday, Holy Week, Liturgy, Lutheran Service Book, Palm Sunday, Passion, Sermon, Worship

This entry was posted on Monday, March 30th, 2009 at 9:30 am and is filed under Christian Church Year. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.