Holy Week: Jesus' Last Week on Earth

Christians recognize Holy Week, also known as Passion Week, as the last week Jesus spent on earth before His death, burial, and resurrection. That was a busy week for Jesus because every day was filled a lot of activities.

This year Holy Week is from Palm Sunday on March 25 to Easter Sunday on April 1, 2018.

The last Sunday before Easter Sunday is called "Palm Sunday" because Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on a colt and was followed by a very large crowd who waved palm branches. This was to fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9.

According to Matthew 21:1-11, some in the crowd ran ahead and put their cloaks at the feet of Jesus. Most of them in the crowd sang "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

On the next day following the Palm Sunday event, Jesus drove the money changers out the temple for making it a den of thieves instead of a house of prayer, according to Matthew 21:12-17.

Also, Jesus was hungry, but when He passed a fig tree He cursed it because it was barren with no figs even though it was full of leaves, according to Matthew 21:18-22.

Tuesday was a very busy day for Jesus. He taught from sun up until late at night. It was His final teaching as the earthly Jesus. He taught the parables found in the Gospel of Matthew.

That evening He relaxed at a house in Bethany where a woman opened her alabaster box of expensive perfume and anointed His feet. It was a foreshadow of Jesus being anointed for burial.

This day is known as "Spy Wednesday" because the disciple Judas Iscariot plotted against Jesus. He betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and let the soldiers know where to find him.

This day is known as Maundy Thursday. The Latin word mandatum means commandment. On this particular day, Jesus had his Last Supper with his disciples and washed their feet.

Later that night, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and was arrested by soldiers.

Jesus was on trial and sentenced to die on Friday. It has come to be known as Good Friday by Christians.

Jesus died at 3 p.m. on the cross between two thieves. His body was taken down and buried in a tomb that belonged to Joseph of Arimathaea, according to Luke 23:50-53.

Pilate gave permission to seal the tomb and assign guards to watch it.

Saturday was the day between Jesus' death on the cross and the day He was resurrected. Many Christians don't talk too much about that day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Jesus made His descent with his soul to set the captives free in Hades, according to Ephesians 4:8 and the Apostles' Creed.

Some people have begun to call Easter Sunday Resurrection Day. It is the last day of Holy Week and the day Jesus rose from the dead just like He said He would, according to all four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.