After two years of being unable to witness the celebration of Holy Week in Jerusalem, we thank the Lord that are able, once again, to welcome Christians from around the world to celebrate and commemorate the momentous and world-changing events of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus in the city where it took place.
The Holy Week in Jerusalem began with Palm Sunday, which this year took place on April 10. Once again, the “Palm Sunday Road” was full of Christians from around the world singing praises and waving palm fronds just as it was 2000 years ago when Jesus made his triumphant entrance into the city of Jerusalem riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey, as predicted in Zechariah 9:9 and fulfilled in Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19. You can follow in his steps down the “Palm Sunday Road” from the Mount of Olives into the Old City of Jerusalem.
Maundy Thursday commemorates the event when Jesus humbled himself and took upon himself the task of the lowest servant by washing the feet of the disciples, giving the command, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14). The Garden of Gethsemane is the place where Christ prayed the night of his betrayal (Mark 14:32-50) and in the Church of All Nations, also known as the Church of the Agony there is a section of bedrock where Jesus is believed to have prayed before his arrest. In the garden there are some very old Olive Trees some of which are believed to have been there 2000 years ago.
Good Friday gives you the opportunity to walk along the Via Dolorosa, stopping at the 14 Stations of the Cross, 5 of which are within the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The Via Dolorosa is believed to be the route Jesus had to take from the Place of Judgement before Pontius Pilate to the place of his crucifixion at Golgotha. A procession takes place every Friday at 3pm starting from the Church of the Flagellation to the Holy Sepulcher.
To end Holy week in Jerusalem, on Resurrection Sunday, pilgrims and visitors have the opportunity to start the day with an English sunrise service at the Garden Tomb, the site outside the walls of the city which many believe is the actual place of his burial and resurrection. On the door of the tomb it is written “He is not here, for He is risen”. Whether the Holy Sepulcher or the Garden Tomb is the actual site is not so important. What is important is that He died so that we might be redeemed and that He rose again on the third day and now sits at the right hand of God making intercession for us. He is alive and is coming back to take us to be where He is. Hallelujah!
Even if you are not able to celebrate Holy Week in Jerusalem, we hope you will take part in celebrating the wonder of God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection, wherever you are!
If you are interested in celebrating Holy Week in Jerusalem in 2023, please contact us to begin your risk-free proposal and reservation!
He is Risen!
