Ash Wednesday is the first day of lent. It marks the beginning of a time of self-denial and repentance, which ends with the forgiveness of Easter day. On Ash Wednesday, law-breakers and wrongdoers in the town used to walk barefoot to church, to show how sorry they were for their sins. Ashes would be put on their foreheads as a sign of repentance. Roman Catholic churches still keep the custom of Ash Wednesday, and other churches have special services on that day too. Ash is a traditional symbol of penitence (Job 42: 6).
The sign of a cross is sometimes mode on the foreheads of worshippers at the beginning of lent. The ash is made from burning the previous years ‘palm’ crosses.
The Sunday before Easter is called Palm Sunday because the crowds waved palm branches as they followed Jesus’ procession into Jerusalem (Luke 19: 28-44). The crowd spread out their coats and laid out palm branches – the welcome usually given to a King. (Zachariah 9: 9). Jesus was riding on a donkey – traditionally a King who went to battle rode a horse, a King who came in peace rode a donkey. Christian services on Palm Sunday usually end with a procession. Small palm crosses are given to the congregation to remind them of the beginning of Holy Week and what lay ahead for Jesus.
During the Middle Ages Palm Sunday carnivals were led by Bishops riding on real donkeys. In later years carved wooden donkeys were used. Legend says that every donkey carries the sign of the cross. They do have a brown patch in the shape of a cross on their backs which has led to this belief.
The Thursday of Holy Week is called Maundy Thursday. It commemorates the last supper which Jesus had with His disciples. Before He ate this last meal Jesus washed His disciples’ feet (John 13: 2-11). This was the task of the lowest servant. By this act Jesus was showing Himself to be a servant King. Jesus was showing the disciples that they must learn to serve and give themselves in service to others.
They then went on to celebrate the traditional Jewish Passover meal, but Jesus changed it by instructing His followers to break bread and drink wine in memory of His forthcoming death. This is the origin of Holy Communion. “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22: 19). Communion services are usually held on Maundy Thursday to commemorate this event.
From early times there has been ceremonies on Maundy Thursday when Jesus’ action has been copied. Each Maundy Thursday the Pope still washes the feet of twelve priests. In England King James in 1685 was the last to wash the feet of elderly people. Nowadays the monarch attends a service at Westminster Abbey to distribute special coins – ‘Maundy money’.
The Easter weekend begins with Good Friday. In the past it was often called Black Friday because it is the day when God’s Son was crucified. Services held on Good Friday tend to be sombre and more time is spent in prayer and meditation. Although the crucifixion was a sad event it is a central part of the ‘Good News’ – the Christian gospel. Friday is good because it was the final attempt by the powers of evil to overcome the purposes of God (John 3: 16). Churches often join together on Good Friday to walk together behind a person carrying a cross. They describe this as an act of witness that Jesus triumphed over our sin when He died on the cross.
Jesus predicted His own death (Mark 8: 31). He said that He would rise again after three days, but His disciples didn’t understand what He meant. Three days after Jesus’ death, the disciples went to His tomb and found it to be empty. The heavy stone originally across the entrance of the tomb had been rolled away. Jesus was no longer dead, but had come alive again (Matthew 28: 1-9). He spoke to the woman who came to the tomb and later that evening appeared to the disciples. He even ate some food to prove He was not a ghost. This was the most significant event for the Christian church as Jesus had triumphed over sin and death. This event is called the resurrection. The significance of the resurrection show us that death is not the end and if we believe in Jesus we can have eternal life.
Christians celebrate Easter with praise and thanksgiving. Easter services are usually joyful, and many services include Holy Communion to remember His death and resurrection. Churches tend to be decorated and the hymns and worship are very joyful. Eggs are given to symbolise ‘new life’. It has become a custom to give cards and gifts with symbols of spring such as chicks and rabbits. Eggs can be decorated or made of chocolate. Families have special Easter meals and celebrations.
The central theme for Easter is the fact that Jesus died for our sins and is alive. “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.”
