Thinking Biblically About Holy Week

Holy Week is holy not by our works, but by Christ’s finished work. Reflect biblically on what truly makes this week holy.

Holy Week is generally understood as a time for people to reflect on their relationship with God, to remind themselves of doing good and being good to others, being grateful for all their blessings, and perhaps doing some soul searching in-case there is anything in their lives worth addressing.

However, while the above are of course healthy efforts, there is one big problem with all of it; all these activities are centered around man. Sadly, this misses the crux of Holy Week sorely.

Holy Week is not holy because at this time people reflect on, focus on, do, and behave in a “holy” manner. Holy Week is holy because it is, in history, during these days, that the truly and only Holy One would accomplish His holy purpose for which He went down from heaven into the world, that would result in the positional holiness of all who would believe in Him for salvation.

1. No man is able or capable of being holy on their own

While men may end up performing deeds that are in and of themselves good, none of these are ever done in a truly holy manner because, unless one is in Christ, all that compels them to speak, do, and act are their self-interests.

Romans 3:10-12: as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; 12 All have turned aside, together they have become worthless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.”

2. Only God is truly holy

Only God is sinless, perfect, righteous, and sovereign over all things, yet completely without sin.

Matthew 5:48: “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

This is a BIG problem! Our Creator God is thrice holy, and while His original design for man and woman was in His image, because of sin, this has been corrupted, and now, all people are in sin and are in a state of rebellion against the Creator God and the consequence of this is eternal condemnation.

Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. God the Father sent the only worthy sacrifice—Jesus Christ

God the Father, being rich in mercy and compassion, would send God the Son into the world, living a perfect and sinless life, the spotless lamb, the only worthy sacrifice, to ultimately appease the wrath of God against all who reject the Triune-God through His life, death and sacrifice on the cross, His resurrection and His ascension.

John 3:16-18: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God…”

This is GOOD news! Despite man’s rebellion in sin against his Creator God, God still sovereignly chooses to provide a way for man to be saved through Christ Jesus. So, how can man “avail” of this good news in Christ Jesus?

Ephesians 2:8-10: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

For man to be forgiven of his sins, it can only be by the grace of Christ Jesus, as we repent of our sins to Him, and it is only in believing in Christ Jesus alone as our Lord and Savior that anyone can be saved.

In Holy Week, there are plenty of activities that are done and can be done that somehow help us focus on God or show our reverence for God. Are any of these activities pleasing to God?

Well, John 14:6 says: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.

If the things we do aim to please God the Father, but John 14:6 says no one comes to the Father but through Christ, then it is clear that the primary way to please God the Father is by believing in Christ Jesus for our salvation. Unless this condition is satisfied, to believe in Christ Jesus, none of our deeds would be worth anything to God.

Galatians 2:16: nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

4. What happens once a man truly believes in Christ Jesus?

Ephesians 1:4-10: even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Not only are man’s sins, past, present, and future forgiven, but he is guaranteed holiness positionally and progressing holiness conditionally, in Christ, by Christ, and for Christ!

This is why this week is holy!

The biblical events that would take place in the coming days would have the truly Holy One be a sacrifice for all and that all who would believe in Him would receive the imputed holiness of God so that in the eyes of a Holy God, the once sinners in rebellion, would now be seen as holy and righteous, because of the holiness and righteousness of Christ and His perfect work on the cross for His children.

Holy Week is not holy because of the “holy things” that are done during these days. There are no “holy days" or “holy activities.” But for all who believe in Christ Jesus, whatever they do, that abides in the words of Christ, is holy, righteous, and pleasing to His sight!

Jude 24: Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,

Have a blessed Holy Week, everyone!