by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Christian theology embraces Jesus’ death as a ransom that was paid to bring back to God the many who belong to him. Many perceive Jesus as a loving savior, but his acts of resistance are often missed.
So during Holy Week, the redeemed pause to reflect — as best they can — on the days leading to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. His death brought resurrection, a new life offered to all who believe. But even though most folks have heard of Holy Week, there are also many who aren’t sure about its meaning and purpose.
What Is Holy Week?
Holy Week is the observance of the seven days of Jesus’ life leading up to Resurrection Sunday, or Easter. Older preachers would often say, “Without the crucifixion, you can’t fully appreciate the resurrection,” which makes sense because new life would be empty without entering into the death that demanded it.
The late Rev. Dr. Gardner C. Taylor (often called the “Dean of American Preaching”) said, “The cross speaks clearer than any words — of pain and love, of sorrow and redemption, of death that leads to life.”
Though the backdrop of a horrific scene, “the cross was not a symbol of defeat — it was a revolutionary act of divine love,” said Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. “On Good Friday, love took the weight of the world’s hate and turned it into hope.”
President and senior lecturer of Repairers of the Breach, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, said, “The crucifixion was the empire’s verdict, but resurrection was God’s response. Good Friday says injustice will not have the last word.”
Holy Week and Jesus’ Spirit of Resistance
The starting place for Holy Week is Palm Sunday, when Jesus took his triumphal ride into Jerusalem — all while the people proclaimed him king with their hallelujahs, implored him for salvation with their hosannas, and a few days later, demanded his execution.
The ride itself also has a political face, and comes from a place of resistance
“Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was not a sweet Sunday School parade — it was a protest march, a counter-procession against imperial power,” said the father of Black Liberation Theology, Dr. James H. Cone. “He rode a donkey, not a warhorse, to show that the kingdom of God confronts the violence of the empire with humility and peace.”
Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, Episcopal priest and canon theologian at Washington National Cathedral, agreed with the resistance theme. “Jesus riding into Jerusalem was a disruption of the empire. It was a direct challenge to Roman power and a call to God’s justice in the face of oppression.”
Modern Church Resistance During Holy Week
Faith leaders around the country have found ways to enter into that same spirit of resistance. Three shining examples can be found in Chicago, Dallas, and Houston.
Chicago: In Chicago, Salem and Progressive Baptist church members, following Palm Sunday worship services, marched through surrounding neighborhoods to announce their alliance with the person and good news of Jesus, with the invitation to come onboard.
Dallas: Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, focuses its social justice ministry on food, economic, gender, civic engagement, environmental, and missional causes. The community is gathering on April 14 to strategize around protecting Medicaid and SNAP from expected cuts.
Houston: In Houston, Texas, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church is hosting Bullseye Black Market on Good Friday and Saturday for the people who committed to withholding their dollars from Target for the 40 days of Lent. They will have the opportunity to spend those dollars with Black-owned businesses in the Greater Houston area.
What Happens During Holy Week: Day by Day
The gospels detail Jesus’ journey during his last week on earth.
Monday: On Monday, Jesus is storied to have cleansed the temple, according to the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. He chased the merchandisers away and declared the space to be a house of prayer, rather than the den of thieves they’d created.
Tuesday: On Tuesday, Jesus is found teaching, actually embroiled in debate as priests and elders questioned his authority to do so. More than a few parables ensued; among them the story of two sons (Matthew 21:28-32) and the wicked vinedressers (Matthew 21:33-46)
Wednesday: This is the day Judas contracted with the chief priests to identify Jesus so they could seize him and proceed with their plan to destroy him and his message. In an alternate spirit, it is also the day
Thursday: Traditional services begin on Maundy Thursday, the day Jesus ate his last meal on earth with a promise to feast with them anew in the heavenly kingdom. It is at this meal that he gives the mandate (hence Maundy) or commandment to prove their discipleship by loving each other. He declared that love to be the only way the world would know them to be authentic. And to demonstrate such a strange, earth-shattering love, he dons a towel around his hips and proceeds to wash their feet. The washing of feet in biblical days is an article all to itself.
Friday: The crucifixion on Good Friday is the climax when Jesus actually experiences the worst form of capital punishment available in those days. He is nailed to a cross and lifted between two likewise punished thieves for all the world to see.
Saturday: This day represents the vigil as disciples hid themselves, at the same time trying to find out what was happening. Would Jesus really return? Was it even possible considering what he’d endured on the cross? Would they be arrested for having been part of his team? Would they be accused of having hidden his body?
Sunday: Early Sunday morning, Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of God’s Holy Spirit, hence the name Resurrection Sunday. Resurrection Sunday, or Easter Sunday, is the reason Christians are Christians and the joy of the day is not fully realized without the suffering of the preceding days.
What Happens at Church During Holy Week?
Many churches spend the week in prayer or in revival services. More formal services are held on Thursday with worship, foot washing and communion to commemorate the last supper.
In more liturgical worship spaces, following Maundy Thursday services, the altars are stripped and all signs of joy are removed from the sanctuary to create the most austere setting for the next day.
Friday’s service is traditionally the preaching of the seven last words of Jesus from the cross by seven different preachers. The service is planned to last the entire three hours Jesus was on the cross and is sometimes followed with some sort of community meal or fish fry.
Saturday is considered a day of quiet in observation and meditation. Sanctuaries are also decorated on Saturday to prepare for the most brilliant setting for Resurrection Sunday. Everything is white and bright and inviting, especially for those who’ve experienced the stripped altars from the day before.
How Do People Observe Holy Week?
Individuals — whether members of a house of worship or not — can observe Holy Week in various ways that focus on Jesus’ journey:
- Prayer, particularly prayer walks
- Fasting
- Reading sacred texts
- Creating poetry, music, art, drama, or journal entries
- Practicing spiritual disciplines like volunteering, donating, meditation, or silence
And there’s always room for random acts of kindness.
Source: Seattle Medium
