The week before Palm Sunday, Jesus was in Bethany, a small village two miles east of Jerusalem. He was there to visit his close friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with an expensive oil – a sign of deep reverence and respect – and Jesus used the opportunity to teach His disciples an important lesson.
He also went to the Temple in Jerusalem on Tuesday—the same day that people welcomed Him into the city as He entered on a donkey. He was adamant about teaching and disapproving of the commercialism of the Temple and devoted His time to teaching the Pharisees and the people about the coming kingdom of God.
On Wednesday, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and spent the whole night in prayer, preparing for the events of the following week. He also prepared Himself mentally and spiritually for the battle He knew was ahead of Him.
He spent time with the disciples, telling them teaching which comforted, encouraged and challenged them. During this time Jesus ensured that His disciples knew their roles, and He reminded and prepared them for the coming days.
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What were the days of the week called in biblical times?
In Biblical times, the days of the week were referred to by the names of the seven principal celestial bodies (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn) that were used to track the passage of time.
Sunday was the day of the Sun, Monday was the day of the Moon, Tuesday was the day of Mars, Wednesday was the day of Mercury, Thursday was the day of Jupiter, Friday was the day of Venus, and Saturday was the day of Saturn.
In order to orient themselves in time, the ancient Hebrews also named the days of the week according to the phrase ” On the First Day, the second day and the Third Day…”1 with the corresponding day of the week being called the Second Day, the Third Day, the Fourth Day and so on.
The Jewish calendar week consisted of six days of work and one day of rest, referred to as Shabbat or Sabbath, which honored the seventh day of Creation and the Covenant given to the Israelites.
In modern times, the days of the week are referred to by the Latin Roman names— Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Overall, the days of the week were referred to by the names of the seven principal celestial bodies that were used to track the passage of time in biblical times. In Jewish tradition, the six days of work were followed by the seventh day of rest, Shabbat.
In modern times, the days of the week are referred to by Latin Roman names.
What are the 3 most important days during Holy Week?
The three most important days during Holy Week are Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Maundy Thursday marks the end of Lent and commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus shared his last meal with the disciples. It is a reminder of his act of service to others, and marks the beginning of his journey to the cross.
Good Friday is observed as a day of sorrow and repentance. It marks the day when Jesus was crucified on the cross and is a reminder of the great sacrifice that he made. On this day, many churches hold special services to commemorate Jesus’ death.
Finally, Easter Sunday marks the resurrection of Jesus, when he rose from the dead and celebrated his victory over death. This day is seen as a celebration of the power of Jesus and his resurrection, and is usually a joyful occasion.
It marks the end of Holy Week and the beginning of the Easter season.
What are the 7 Holy Days in the Bible?
The seven holy days in the Bible are the festivals which the Children of Israel were commanded to observe by God. These festivals often have both historical and spiritual significance, and represent significant milestones in the nation’s history and faith.
1. Passover (Pesach): a seven-day celebration of the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It is observed by abstaining from leavened foods and instead eating food (mainly matzah) that has had no contact with yeast.
2. Shavuot (Feast of Weeks): a high holiday which marks the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai fifty days after the Exodus from Egypt. It is traditionally celebrated by eating dairy foods.
3. Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets): it marks the Jewish New Year and is a two-day celebration of the judgement of God, particularly His grace and mercy.
4. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement): it is a 25-hour fast for the purpose of repentance and self-reflection. It is considered the most holy day in the Jewish calendar.
5. Sukkot (Feast of Booths): this seven-day festival commemorates the forty-year wanderings of the Children of Israel in the desert. People build temporary huts or booths in which to celebrate, commemorating the dwellings of the ancient Israelites.
6. Purim: a festival of joy and deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to destroy them in the 5th century BCE.
7. Hanukkah: an eight-day holiday that celebrates the Maccabees’ successful struggle against the Greeks, and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.
What celebrations are done during Holy Week *?
Holy Week is a time for Christians to recall, celebrate and commemorate the events leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection which took place during the final week of his life. During Holy Week, there are several celebrations that are part of the tradition in many denominations.
Maundy Thursday is the day that Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples before his arrest and eventual crucifixion. This event is often commemorated with a special service that features readings, prayers, a Holy Communion and sometimes a dramatic reenactment of the Last Supper.
This day is also often marked with a foot washing ceremony, a practice Jesus enacted in order to serve as a model of servant leadership.
Good Friday is the day that Jesus was crucified, and it is traditionally observed with fasting and prayers. In many churches, a special service is held on Good Friday involving contemplation on the death and sacrifice Jesus made for us.
Holy Saturday is the day Christians begin to prepare for Easter Sunday and is usually a day of solemn preparation. Churches often hold vigil services on Holy Saturday, which is the Easter Vigil, the first service of Easter which includes a baptism ceremony and a great Litany of Scripture readings and prayers.
Finally, Easter Sunday is the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection and His victory over death, and it is marked with special services and festive meals that honor the occasion. Easter celebrations may include a sunrise service, an Easter egg hunt, and special Easter meals and desserts.
What was Jesus doing on Saturday of Holy Week?
On Saturday of Holy Week, Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane with his disciples, praying. He asked them to stay awake and keep watch while he prayed, but all fell asleep due to their overwhelming sorrow and exhaustion.
After praying and consulting with God, Jesus came back to his disciples, only to find that they had fallen asleep again. He asked them a second time to stay awake and keep watch, eventually leaving them and returning later to find that they had still failed to keep awake.
Disturbed and discouraged that even his closest friends were unable to stay with him as he faced his greatest trial, he left them and prayed a third time, once again consulting with God before returning to his disciples for the third and final time to tell them that the hour had come for him to be betrayed.
Jesus then went to the Mount of Olives to be arrested and put on trial by his enemies.
Was Palm Sunday a week before the crucifixion?
Yes, Palm Sunday was a week before the crucifixion of Jesus. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Holy Week leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus. It generally falls one week prior to Easter Sunday and is typically celebrated in most Christian churches.
The day typically begins with a ceremony in which the priest carries a cross or palm branches through the streets of the town as processional music plays. This celebration commemorates Jesus entering Jerusalem in his “Triumphal Entry” as people waved palm branches and celebrated his arrival.
This celebration then leads into Holy Week and culminates with Good Friday, which is the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, and the following Easter Sunday which marks the resurrection of Jesus.
