Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday and concludes on Easter Sunday. This week is a celebration of the last week of our Lord and Savior’s life on this earth. Within this week Jesus set the example of how to live the two great commandments of loving God and loving your neighbor.
There are five events that I’m going to cover to show how Jesus set this example for us. They are:
- The washing of the Apostle’s feet
- The institution of the Sacrament
- The Atonement performed in the Garden of Gethsemane
- The Crucifixion
- The Resurrection
The Washing of the Apostle’s Feet
During the Last Supper, “[Jesus] riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter” (John 13: 4-7).
There are many ways that we can show that we love our neighbor. Jesus chose this moment, during this last intimate gathering of His Apostles, to perform a service that seemed beneath Him. How much love did Christ have for His Apostles that He was willing to abase himself and wash the dirt from their feet? Peter felt that this was an act beneath the Lord’s dignity and originally refused to let Christ do this. I’m sure Peter did not need this act to know how much Jesus loved Him.
I wonder if I would be willing to perform such an act of service. I’ll admit that I get a little squeamish when asked to serve others in such an intimate way. I have learned to overcome that feeling as I understand what that service will mean to those receiving it. The Savior’s example has helped me to know that even when the service makes me feel uncomfortable, it is a way in which I can love my neighbor.
The Institution of the Sacrament
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26: 26-28).
You may be thinking, how does this show Christ’s example of living the two great commandments? One, the institution of the sacrament is an ordinance in which members of Christ’s church partake. This ordinance sets up a way weekly for us to remember His sacrifice and to thank God for the gift of His Son. Christ showed His love of God by giving us another way to glorify the Father’s plan.
Two, the sacrament shows the love of Christ to each one of us. It lets us remember Him and reflect on our behaviors of the past week. It reminds us of His sacrifice that lets us overcome physical and spiritual death. Through this ordinance, Christ’s love for each of us is shown.
The Sacrament has also helped me to reflect on my previous week and whether or not I have shown my love of God and my fellow man. Sometimes, I’m doing well, others, not so much. However, I can start again after taking the sacrament and improve. I can be better during the next week.
The Atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane
“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26: 36-39).
The above shows us the example we should follow when coming to God with a problem, question, or whatever. We should seek to know, understand, and follow God’s will. He knows what’s best for us and also knows what we can do. Christ asked if the cup he was asked to drink could be taken away. However, He did not demand that it be taken away. He was willing to subject Himself to the will of the Father and complete the task given to Him.
This is not easy for us as mortal beings. We are not inclined to turn ourselves over to someone else’s will. It’s difficult to not want to do things “our way”. Learning to trust in God and have faith in Him helps us to align our will with Him. Christ showed us it can be done, and the toughest task ever given to an earthly being was accomplished because of His love of the Father.
In performing the Atonement, Jesus also showed His love for each of us. He became the one who suffered for our faults, mistakes, and errors. As a parent, there have been times I wished I could do that for my children. I do not have that capacity. Christ did. He willingly suffered because of His love for us.
The Crucifixion
Jesus knew that He would have to die a mortal death to overcome it by the power of the resurrection. From the time He was taken in the Garden of Gethsemane until His death on the cross, Jesus showed His love of God by willingly submitting himself to the humiliations of the Jews and the Romans. His last words were “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost” (Luke 23:46).
The Crucifixion also showed Jesus’s love of His neighbor. While He was on the cross, there were two others crucified at the same time. “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:39-43).
Even through all His suffering, He showed love to His neighbor by assuring Him that they would see each other in Paradise. Am I that loving of my neighbors when I’m in the midst of suffering? Could I comfort someone even though I was in great pain? Usually, I’m not in a good mood when I’m suffering. I tend to snap at others when in these situations. I’m trying to be better, and I’m grateful that Christ has set the example to follow.
The Resurrection
The culmination of Holy Week happened on Sunday when Jesus overcame physical death and was resurrected. This was always part of God’s plan for all of His children. Here again, Jesus shows His love for us by breaking the bonds of death and offering the free gift of resurrection to all who have come to this earth and received a body.
The words proclaimed by the angels at the empty tomb have brought peace to so many around the world. “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24:5-6). How much hope and comfort have these words given to all those who have lost a loved one? The Savior said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
Not only did He lay down His life for us, He took it up again! That love of neighbor has no equal. Could I give my life for my friends? I would like to think so. I hope it never comes to it. It did come to it for Jesus, and He willingly did so.
Conclusion
Holy Week gives us the greatest examples of living the two great commandments. Through the events of the week, Jesus Christ was our perfect example of loving God and loving our neighbor. The example set is a guideline for us in all that we should do.
Whether By Mine Own Voice 
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