Month: April 2014

Why is the week before Easter (better described as Resurrection Day) called Holy Week? In our so-called post-modern society where few people, including supposed Christians, know anything about Jesus Christ and the faith that worships Him (called Christianity), now is as good a time as any to explain this.

In order to explain Holy Week, however, we must first define the word holy. Essentially, it means something or someone set apart for a specific purpose and use. In the broadest sense, we could say that a woman’s fine china is holy because it is reserved for the most formal and/or special of dining occasions, but would that really be accurate? Actually, no, it wouldn’t, unless she used her fine china only for the service of God, because the truest meaning and use of the word holy is actually reserved for the pure worship of God. Therefore, in the truest sense, it is someone or something reserved for the service and worship of God (see Webster’s definition for further clarification). Of course, since other religions besides Christianity call their priests, instructional books, and other worship utensils holy, we are faced with the question of whether something can really be holy in the truest sense if it is devoted to the service and worship of anyone/anything other than the One True God. I want to go on the record right now and say that it can’t.

There are only two religions in the entire world that worship the same One True God, albeit with different understandings of Him, and those two religions are Judaism and Christianity. From the Christian perspective, because the Jews as a people have rejected Jesus as their Messiah (though more Jews are embracing Jesus as their Messiah every day), they worship God with a misunderstanding. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:1-2 NKJV). Therefore, based on the New Testament Scriptures and specifically on the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans in chapters nine, ten, and eleven, only those on the earth (whether Jew or Gentile) who understand, acknowledge, and accept that Jesus is the human incarnation of the One True God, that He entered the world as a sinless human being, lived His entire life as a sinless human, died as a perfect, sinless sacrifice in the place of all sinful humanity to atone for our sins, and resurrected to rule forever as King of kings and Lord of lords will be permitted to spend eternity with Him in the New Jerusalem, which is actually the New Heaven come down to the New Earth (see Revelation chapters 21 and 22). If Jesus did not really die on the cross for the sins of the world and if He did not really rise from the dead to rule over His Kingdom forever, then Christianity is an empty, meaningless, and hopeless faith.

So, what’s so holy about Holy Week? Well, because Holy Week focuses on the final week of Jesus’ life before His crucifixion and resurrection, it is a week unlike any other in the year. As wonderful as Christmas is (which is supposed to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ), it would be a meaningless celebration if there was no death and resurrection of Christ, for that is the holy purpose for which Jesus was born into the world (see John 18:37). Therefore, Holy Week is intended to be a time of both reflection upon Christ’s suffering and sacrifice and introspection upon our own relationship with Him (or lack thereof).

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday in commemoration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem where He was hailed as the King of the Jews by many of the Jewish populace, the people of Israel for whom He initially came. However, the chief priests and other religious leaders of that day rejected Jesus and His purpose of bringing reconciliation between God and His people, and they manipulated the judicial process to have Him executed by crucifixion, which ultimately fulfilled God’s Plan of Salvation not only for Israel but for the whole world. This is why Jesus prayed from the cross, “. . . Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. . . .” (Luke 23:34 KJV). The Apostle Paul further clarified this when he wrote, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7-8 NKJV; emphasis added).

Again, I ask, “What’s so holy about Holy Week?” It is the remembrance of the most momentous event in world history, an event so momentous, in fact, that it changed the whole world. If Jesus had not died for the sins of all humanity and rose again from the dead, the entire universe would be without hope of ever being saved. As important as it is to believe that Jesus died for sinful humanity, however, it is equally as important to believe that Jesus rose from the dead. As the Apostle Paul also wrote, “. . . if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”(1 Corinthians 15:17 NKJV). Therefore, belief in Jesus’ deity, death, burial, and resurrection are all essential tenants of the Christian faith and for the salvation of one’s eternal soul, because belief in Jesus’ resurrection is inexplicable apart from His death on the cross, and Jesus’ death on the cross is useless without His resurrection and empty tomb. This is why Holy Week is so holy!

Do you have a relationship with Jesus the Christ (Messiah)? If not, Holy Week is an excellent occasion to initiate that relationship. It’s as simple and easy as accepting what Jesus did on the cross for you, turning away from your sins, and praying for Him to forgive you and become your Lord and Savior. If you’ve been a nominal (i.e., mostly uncommitted) believer in Jesus until now, Holy Week is an excellent occasion to develop and further deepen your relationship with Him. Remember that if you do not have a genuine relationship with Jesus (defined as one in which you truly believe He is God Who did all the Bible says He did and Who has a claim upon your soul and life), then you cannot be saved. Whether you are a Jew or Gentile, accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior now and make this year’s Holy Week a truly holy week. If you’re still considering God’s proposition, however, I strongly encourage you to get my forthcoming book The Salvation of the LORD. It’s due out in late-spring or summer 2014, and it goes into great detail about what spiritual salvation is, why it’s necessary, how you can obtain it, and how you can know you’ve obtained it. Subscribe to or follow this blog to receive the announcement of its release.

If you make the commitment to accept Christ and become one of His disciples, will you also please leave a comment below letting me (and the whole world) know about your decision? I want to rejoice over and celebrate that joyous event with you! Happy Resurrection Day!