Holy Week begins with the celebration of Palm Sunday. In the ancient world, palms were used in public processions as a symbol of victory and peace. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, He is greeted by the crowds, who wave their palm branches and sing ‘Hosanna’ (Hebrew for ‘save us’). Jesus is welcomed as a king, yet the days that follow will reveal that this is no ordinary king, for His steed is a colt, and His throne is a cross.
Wednesday of Holy Week is traditionally known as Spy Wednesday, for it is thought to have been on this day that Judas went to the chief priests and agreed to serve as their informant. After this, Judas ‘sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of the multitude’ (Luke 22:6). Yet this was no simple task, since Jesus spent the daylight hours in the temple, where large crowds were continually present. At night, Jesus would retire to the nearby village of Bethany (see Matt 21:17; Mark 11:11, 19; Luke 21:37).
