Master the Bible: How to Get and Keep the Big Picture of the Bible's Story

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The Church Year, continued

in which Christ revealed himself to the world as the Son of God (Luke 2.32; Matt. 17.1-6; John 12.32).

4. Transfiguration Sunday : “Recalls the Transfiguration of Christ on the last Sunday of Epiphany (which is the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of our lenten journey)” Robert Webber. The glory of Christ manifest in this world – to us and through us . 5. Ash Wednesday : A day of fasting and repentance that reminds us that we are disciples about to begin the journey with Jesus that ends in the cross (Luke 9.51). Ash Wednesday begins the observance of Lent. 6. Lent : A time for reflection on the suffering and death of Jesus . Lent also emphasizes “death to self” so that, like Jesus, we prepare ourselves to obey God no matter what sacrifice it involves. Lenten observance calls for people to fast as a way of affirming this attitude of obedience (Luke 5.35; 1 Cor. 9.27; 2 Tim. 2.4; Heb. 11.1-3).

7. Holy Week 1

a. Palm Sunday : The Sunday before Easter which commemorates the Triumphal Entry of Christ (John 12.12-18).

b. Maundy 2 Thursday : The Thursday before Easter which commemorates the giving of the New Commandment and the Lord’s Supper prior to Christ’s Death (Mark 14.12-26; John 13).

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1 “In the ancient church the three days [of the Paschal Triduum] started on Thursday evening and ended with the great Paschal vigil of Saturday night. These services are called the Paschal Triduum [or, the Three Great Days] . . . They are the most holy, solemn, and serious days of the entire year. For in these days we experience and encounter our own destiny in the destiny of Christ’s ignominious death and burial and in his triumphant resurrection from the dead” (Robert Webber, Ancient Future Time . Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2004, p. 25).

2 From the Latin mandatum novarum which means “new commandment” (John 13.34).