HOLY WEEK 2016

Brett Provance

Holy Week

Palm Sunday through the evening of Holy Saturday

Commemorates the Passion of Jesus Christ Latin passio; cognate to Greek pathos

Maundy Thursday Traceable to the fourth century Emphasis in the Gospel of John on Thursday of

Holy Week: Foot washing and the New Commandment to

love one another (Latin mandatum; John 13:4-5, 34), from which we get “Maundy”

Emphasis of the Synoptic Gospels on Thursday of Holy Week: The Lord’s Supper established

Thus, Communion (Eucharist) is often celebrated this day

Greek eucharistia = “thanksgiving”: verb equivalent at 1 Corinthians 11:24: “And when he had given thanks . . . ”; cf. Mark 14:23

Good Friday

The atoning death of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world (John 1:29, 36)

Christ is the Paschal (Passover) Lamb (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:7; Mark 14:12; Revelation 5:6) Passover (Pesach), celebrated by people of the

Jewish faith

Good Friday among Christians is recognized by fasting

Holy Saturday

No events until the night = Christ in the tomb

The Paschal Vigil

Begins Saturday night vigil = night watch

Ancient set of rituals (from the 2nd century), now rediscovered in the Western Church

Concludes with the Baptism of Christian initiates And their first Communion

Easter Sunday

The morning Jesus rose from the dead (Mark 16; Matthew 28; Luke 24; John 20; 1 Corinthians 15:5-6)

Part of the Gospel message: Romans 1:3-4; 6:9; Acts 2:23-24; 4:33; 10:39-41; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

All this encapsulated in The Apostles’ Creed Based on the baptismal creed of the ancient Roman Christians Latin credo = “I believe”

The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of

heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, Our

Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, And born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into Hell (Greek Hades). The third day He rose again from the dead, Ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of

God the Father Almighty. From there He shall come to judge the living and the

dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, The holy catholic [= “universal”] church, The communion of saints, The forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen.