This coming Sunday marks the start of what Christians have traditionally called “Holy Week.” Our focus is on the central teaching of Christianity, that God sent His Son into this world to save people from their sin. This week is when the key events that accomplished our salvation took place. Over one quarter of the Gospel accounts – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – describe the events of this week leading up to and including His crucifixion and resurrection.

It starts with Jesus entering Jerusalem to the cries of “Hosanna” and palm branches being laid on the ground before Him. This was the kind of greeting you would expect a king to receive. He had gone to Jerusalem for a reason. It was time for him to be offered as the sacrifice that would pay for the sins of world. The people welcoming Him to town had no idea what was about to transpire.

During this week, Jesus would chase the moneychangers out of the Temple, teach the people about His kingdom and tell many parables. He would talk about the end of the world, but He also told the people how they should live while they are still in this world.

Thursday of Holy Week is known as Maundy Thursday. It commemorates the night when Jesus was celebrating the Passover with His disciples, remembering how God rescued His people from their slavery in Egypt. During this remembering meal, Jesus instituted a new meal of remembrance: The Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion. He said, “This is my body…this is my blood…do this in remembrance of me.” It reminds us of what He was about to do and allows us to share in His payment for our sin.

A little while later, while praying in a garden called Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed by one of His disciples. He was led off to be beaten, ridiculed, tried before Jewish leaders and the Roman authorities, sentenced to death, and led out to be crucified even though He had done nothing wrong and committed no crime. By this time it was Friday. We call it Good Friday. It is Good because Jesus willingly took our place in punishment. It is Good because He let our sins be placed on Him. And He made payment for them all when He offered His perfect life there at Calvary. He declared “It is finished!” and it was. God’s anger over sin was appeased. For Jesus’ sake, we can be forgiven.

But it gets even better. On Sunday morning, He defeated death itself. He rose in triumph and victory, which gives all those who believe in Him the certainty that they, too, will rise. He had made that promise on Thursday:

Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. (John 14:19)

This is what our faith in Jesus is all about: forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation are a gift to you, paid for by what Jesus did in your place. And this offer is open to anyone who will believe that Jesus is your Savior.

May the joy of knowing that Jesus is risen be with all of you!