Today starts the Christian Holy Week in which believers commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Local Christians in Warren County are making plans to celebrate.
Beginning on Palm Sunday and climaxing on Easter, Holy Week is a significant time for Christians. Believers have been celebrating Holy Week for centuries. Traditionally, the week is observed thusly:
- Palm Sunday commemorates Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem
- Holy Monday remembers some of the final teaching moments in Jesus’ ministry
- Holy Tuesday sees Christ predict His own death
- Spy Wednesday notes the plans of Judas to betray Christ
- Maundy Thursday commemorates the institution of Communion
- Good Friday remembers the death of Christ Jesus
- Holy Saturday acknowledges Christ’s burial
- Resurrection Sunday celebrates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus
Doug DeFord, the senior pastor of Alathea Baptist Church, considers the importance of Good Friday and Easter compared to the more commercialized Christmas. He said,
The three most significant Christian holidays [Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter] are so vitally important to the Christian faith, and yet any one of them, without the others, would be insignificant. Clearly, in order to accomplish God the Father’s redemptive plan, Jesus had to come to earth in human flesh. The Divine Son was born of the virgin, Mary, just as the prophets had foretold. But had He been born without fulfilling His destiny, the Cross, there would be no forgiveness of sins.
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Alathea Baptist Church in Des Moines is among many local churches in Warren County hosting special Good Friday services. Pastor DeFord states,
That Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of mankind through His crucifixion is both tragic and an amazing display of grace! It was tragic because the sinless Son of God was crucified unjustly. It was an amazing display of grace because salvation is a gift offered to us through faith in His death on our behalf and by no merit of our own. What a wonderful event we will be celebrating once again this Good Friday!
This year, Easter Sunday is on April 20th. That day is generally considered the holiest Christian holiday as it celebrates Christ’s resurrection from the dead. DeFord notes the central significance of this event,
Then, on Sunday, we will celebrate the Resurrection! This event proves that God the Father was satisfied with the sacrifice made by His Son, Jesus. It also assures us that Jesus secured the victory over sin and death and that a future resurrection awaits all those who place their faith in Jesus.
Holy Week has been a source of comfort and inspiration for centuries. And this week, many around Warren County will take place in that tradition. Christians believe that faith in the events of Holy Week can be truly life changing.
Pastor Doug DeFord says, “I sincerely hope that all those who are reading these words have turned from sin and are trusting in Jesus, the central figure in each of these holidays!”
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