Holy week, day by day, lived according to the Bible

Holy Monday: Jesus in the temple and the cursed fig tree
The next morning, Jesus returned with his disciples to Jerusalem. Along the way he cursed a fig tree for not bearing fruit. Some scholars believe that this fig tree curse symbolized God's judgment on the spiritually dead religious leaders of Israel.

Others believe the analogy reached with all believers, explaining that true faith is more than mere outward religiosity; true and living faith must bear spiritual fruit in a person's life. When Jesus appeared in the temple, he discovered the courts full of corrupt money changers. He overturned their tables and cleared the temple, saying, "The scriptures declare, 'My temple will be a house of prayer,' but you have made it into a den of thieves" (Luke 19:46). On Monday evening, Jesus again stayed in Bethany, probably at the home of his friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. The biblical account of Holy Monday is found in Matthew 21: 12-22, Mark 11: 15-19, Luke 19: 45-48 and John 2: 13-17.

The passion of Christ lived according to the Bible

Holy Tuesday: Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives
On Tuesday morning, Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem. At the Temple, Jewish religious leaders were infuriated with Jesus for establishing himself as a spiritual authority. They set up an ambush with the intent of putting him under arrest. But Jesus escaped their traps and declared severe judgments to them, saying: “Blind guides! … For you are like whitewashed tombs - beautiful on the outside but filled within with bones of the dead and all manner of impurities. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness ... Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell? "(Matthew 23: 24-33)

Later that day, Jesus left Jerusalem and went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives, which dominates the city. There Jesus delivered the Discourse of Olivet, a broad revelation about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world. He speaks, as usual, in parables, using symbolic language about the events of the end times, including his second coming and the final judgment. The Bible indicates that on this day Judas Iscariot agreed with the Sanhedrin, the rabbinical court of ancient Israel, to betray Jesus (Matthew 26: 14-16). The biblical account of Holy Tuesday and the Discourse of Olivet is found in Matthew 21:23; 24:51, Mark 11:20; 13:37, Luke 20: 1; 21:36 and John 12: 20-38.

Holy Wednesday
Although the Scriptures do not state what the Lord did on Holy Wednesday, theologians believe that after two days in Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples used this day to rest in Bethany in anticipation of the Passover.

Easter triduum: death and resurrection of Jesus

Holy Thursday: Easter and Last Supper
On Thursday of Holy Week, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as they prepared to participate in the Passover. By doing this humble act of service, Jesus showed by example how his followers should love one another. Today, many churches follow footwashing commemorations as part of their Holy Thursday worship services. Then, Jesus granted the feast of the Passover, also known as the Last Supper, with his disciples, stating: “I have longed to eat this Passover with you before suffering. Because I tell you that I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God ”. (Luke 22: 15-16)

As the Lamb of God, Jesus was fulfilling the purpose of the Passover by giving his body to break and his blood to be shed as a sacrifice, saving us from sin and death. During this Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, or Communion, teaching his disciples to continually recognize his sacrifice by sharing the bread and wine. “And he took bread, and after giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,“ This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me. "And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying," This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. " (Luke 22: 19-20)

After the meal, Jesus and the disciples left the Upper Room and went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in anguish to God the Father. The book of Luke states that "his sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground" (Luke 22:44,). In the late night of 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 entire council had met to make claims against Jesus. Early in the morning, at the beginning of Jesus' trial, Peter denied knowing his Master three times before the rooster sang. The biblical account of Holy Thursday is found in Matthew 26: 17-75, Mark 14: 12-72, Luke 22: 7-62 and John 13: 1-38.

Good Friday: trial, crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus
According to the Bible, Judas Iscariot, the disciple who had betrayed Jesus, was overcome with guilt and hanged himself early Friday morning. Jesus suffered the shame of false accusations, reproaches, mockery, lashes and abandonment. After several illegal trials, he was sentenced to death by crucifixion, one of the most painful and shameful practices of capital punishment known at the time. Before Christ was taken away, the soldiers pierced him with a crown of thorns, while mocking him as "King of the Jews". Then Jesus carried his crucifixion cross to Calvary where he was again mocked and vilified as Roman soldiers nailed him to the wooden cross.

Jesus made seven final remarks from the cross. His first words were: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing". (Luke 23:34 ESV). His last words were: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" (Luke 23:46 ESV) On Friday night Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea had taken the body of Jesus from the cross and placed it in a tomb. The biblical account of Good Friday is found in Matthew 27: 1-62, Mark 15: 1-47, Luke 22:63; 23:56 and John 18:28; 19:37.

Holy Saturday, God's silence

Holy Saturday: Christ in the tomb
The body of Jesus lay in his tomb, where he was guarded by Roman soldiers during the Sabbath day, the Sabbath. At the end of Holy Saturday, Christ's body was ceremonially treated for burial with spices purchased by Nicodemus: “Nicodemus, who had previously gone to Jesus at night, also came carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloe, weighing about seventy-five lb. Then they took the body of Jesus and tied it in linen cloths with spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews “. (John 19: 39-40, ESV)

Nicodemus, like Joseph of Arimathea, was a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish court that had denounced Jesus Christ to death. For a time, both men had lived as unknown followers of Jesus, frightened of making a public declaration of faith because of their prominent positions in the Jewish community. Likewise, they were both truly affected by Christ's death. They bravely came out of hiding, endangering their prestige and their lives by recognizing that Jesus was, in fact, the long-awaited Messiah. Together they took care of Jesus' body and prepared it for burial.

While His physical body lay in the tomb, Jesus Christ paid the penalty for sin by offering the perfect and spotless sacrifice. He conquered death, both spiritually and physically, by ensuring our eternal salvation: “Knowing that you have been redeemed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ , like that of a lamb without spot or blemish ”. (1 Peter 1: 18-19)