The Christmas season proclaims to us "The Word became flesh and dwelt for awhile among us." Here those Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled. A virgin gives birth to a son, and his name is Immanuel ("God with us"). We see God "born of a woman, born under the Law, that he might redeem those under the Law."
At Epiphany we see the wise men as they search for Jesus. We see that the salvation promised by God was not for the Jews alone, but for the whole world. Also at Epiphany we see the boy Jesus in the temple, the early miracles as Jesus displays his divinity, Jesus baptized by John, not because he needed to be cleansed from sin, but so that "the Law would be fulfilled." at Epiphany we see Satan make a futile attempt to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. Finally, with Peter, James, and John, we witness the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ just before he goes into Jerusalem to be crucified.
The Easter season begins with the forty days of Lent. If you actually accounted the days from Ash Wednesday to Easter, you actually come up with forty-six. Historically the church has observed Sunday as a weekly commemoration of Easter (Easter was that important to the early Christians). Thus the Sundays during this time are not considered part of Lent. As such they are called "Sundays in Lent."
With two themes, passion and celebration, played out during this period, the mid-week Lenten service was born. Thus on Sundays the focus is on Christ's life and miracles on earth awhile the mid-week services focus on the passion and suffering of our Lord during Holy Week.
Holy Week itself is the high point of the Church Year. Palm Sunday observes Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Maundy Thursday observes the institution (or mandate) of the lord's Supper. Good Friday, awhile it may not seem so good, is good because Jesus successfully completes his perfect life here on earth and his death provides the payment God demanded for our sins-the blood of a righteous man. When Jesus utters "It is finished," we can be sure that all sins are paid for and we stand righteous in God's eyes because of the blood of his son shed on Calvary's cross.
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