We celebrate Easter because it is a part of the redemptive plan of mankind. It is cause for celebration because the rising of Jesus proves to man that He is the Son of God.
23 March 2024 – Cross Making
10h00 – 12h00
24 March 2024 – Palm Sunday
Eucharist 08h30
25 March 2024
Prayer – 18h00
26 March 2024
Prayer – 18h00
27 March 2024 – Passover Meal
18h00
28 March 2024 – Maunday Thursday
Service 18h00
29 March 2024 – Good Friday
Family Service 10h00 – 11h00
29 March 2024 – Good Friday Vigil
12h00 – 15h00
30 March 2024 – Church Preparation
10h00 – 12h30
31 March 2024 Easter Sunday
Service of Light 05h30
31 March 2024 Easter Sunday
Service 08h30
The Significance of Holy (Passion) Week
See also: What is the passion of Christ?
Palm Sunday – Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem
On the Sunday before his death and knowing that he would lay down his life for our sins, Jesus humbly made a triumphal entry into Jerusalem astride a young donkey and fulfilled an ancient prophecy in Zechariah 9:9
Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
We don’t know exactly what and when many things happened during the early part of Holy Week however several events are referred to in scripture that likely took place during the lead up to the Triduum.
Maundy Thursday – The Feast of Passover (The Last Supper)
During Thursday, Jesus sends Peter and John ahead to the Upper Room in Jerusalem to make the preparations for the Passover Feast. That evening after sunset, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as they prepared to share in the Passover. By performing this humble act of service, Jesus demonstrated by example how believers should love one another.
Jesus shares the feast of Passover saying “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:15-16)
As the Lamb of God, Jesus was about to fulfill the meaning of Passover by giving his body to be broken and his blood to be shed in sacrifice, freeing us from sin and death. During this Last Supper, Jesus established the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, instructing his followers to continually remember his sacrifice by sharing in the elements of bread and wine.
Later, Jesus and the disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in agony to God the Father. Luke’s Gospel says that “his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44).
Late that evening in Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed with a kiss by Judas Iscariot and arrested by the Sanhedrin. He was taken to the home of Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the whole council had gathered to begin making their case against Jesus.
Good Friday
Good Friday is the most difficult day of Holy Week. Christ’s journey turned treacherous and acutely painful in these final hours leading to his death. According to Scripture, Judas Iscariot, the disciple who had betrayed Jesus, was overcome with remorse and hanged himself early Friday morning.
Meanwhile, before the third hour (9 a.m.), Jesus endured the shame of false accusations, condemnation, mockery, beatings, and abandonment. After multiple unlawful trials, he was sentenced to death by crucifixion, one of the most horrible and disgraceful methods of capital punishment known at the time. Before Christ was led away, soldiers spit on him, tormented and mocked him, and pierced him with a crown of thorns. Then Jesus carried his own cross to Calvary where, again, he was mocked and insulted as Roman soldiers nailed him to the wooden cross.
Jesus spoke seven final statements from the cross. His first words were, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34). His last words were, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46).
Then, about the ninth hour (3 p.m.), Jesus breathed his last breath and died.
Easter Sunday?
What Is Easter Sunday?
Next to the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Easter Sunday is the most important holiday in Christendom. Easter Sunday is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was crucified and rose three days later. The day that He rose is called Easter Sunday. In the Bible, there is a reference to Easter in Acts 12:4. Here Peter is arrested and there is mention that after Easter, he would be brought forth to the people. So, we know that is a day that was celebrated as Easter. The day and the date that we celebrate Easter was determined in the 7th century. Easter is celebrated “on the Sunday following the 14th day of the calendar moon. This comes on or after the vernal equinox fixed for March 21.”
Why Do We Celebrate Easter Sunday?
We celebrate Easter because it is a part of the redemptive plan of mankind. It is cause for celebration because the rising of Jesus proves to man that He is the Son of God. The power of the Holy Ghost caused Jesus to rise, and the Comforter or Holy Ghost is now here to assist us.
So, we take confidence because we have the same power working in us that raised Jesus from the dead.
Since Jesus was crucified, He became the sacrificial Lamb for mankind. That is why we can plead the blood to the devil whenever we are in trouble, sick, or in need of rescue. The enemy is afraid of the blood because he knows it is the blood of Christ and the only way mankind can avoid hell. The crucifixion is significant because God sent His Son as a ransom for our sins. The enemy is quite familiar with the Son of God who is a part of the Trinity. The devil was once in Heaven until he was kicked out.
In the book of Luke, God sent Gabriel to Nazareth in Galilee to announce Jesus’ birth to Mary (Luke 1:27-33). The birth of the Savior was foretold in Isaiah 7:14. “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Easter Sunday
Where Can We Find the Story of Easter in the Bible?
In the Bible, the story of Easter is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We can start with Him being betrayed by one of His disciples. In Matthew 26:2. The Lord said, “Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.” The story of Easter began long before the actual crucifixion of Jesus. He came to earth with the crucifixion in mind.
Acknowledgements:
(1) The Anglican Prayer Book, (2) Wikipedia, (3) Learn Religions.com, (4) anglicansonline.org