In the Christian faith, the week leading up to Easter Sunday is known as “Holy Week.” Holy Week is a time when Christians reflect on what happened leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross and what that means for their life.
What happened during Holy Week?
Although Holy Week consists of seven key moments that are found in the canonical Gospels in the New Testament, I’ll focus briefly on three:
Palm Sunday — Jesus enters Jerusalem
Monday — Jesus clears the Temple
Maundy Thursday — Passover and the Last Supper
Justice in Holy Week
Although Jesus claimed to be the Messiah (savior) and “King of the Jews,” he entered Jerusalem on a donkey at a time when most kings chose the more magnificent horse. The donkey connected Jesus to the common people in Jerusalem, who used donkeys for agriculture and labor, and also indicated that Jesus wanted to pursue peace, not war, as a leader.
Perhaps one of the most infamous moments in the Bible is when, in a moment of righteous anger, Jesus flipped tables in the Temple courts. Jesus did this because, at the time, people came from all over the (known) world to make sacrifices and worship at this temple. Money changers set up tables in the Temple courts and would take advantage of foreigners, overcharging and exploiting them. This created barriers for worship, which went against everything Jesus taught.
Jesus flipping tables in the Temple demonstrates that all people deserve equal access to resources, regardless of their status.
Everyone deserves compassion
Perhaps the most compelling part of Holy Week for me is when Jesus shares his last meal with his disciples, including Judas Iscariot, who turned him over to Roman authorities to be crucified. After the meal, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples. At that time, foot washing was undertaken by the lowest of servants. Jesus’ humility reminds us that we should strive to serve those around us, regardless of their position.
“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” – John 13:15
Live it out
Whether you practice a religion or not, I encourage you to find a way this week to reach out to those around you in love and humility. Let me know how you plan to do this in the comments or on Twitter @lizbierlymedia!