Friday Evening--Six days before the Passover, Mary (sister of Lazarus)
anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfume (John 12:2-11).
Saturday. Jesus keeps the Sabbath in the traditional fashion with His friends.
PALM Sunday. The Triumphal Entry ( Mt. 21; Mk. 11; Lk. 19; Jn. 12). Jesus rides triumphantly into Jerusalem on a donkey fulfilling an ancient
prophecy (Zech. 9:9). The people welcome Him with "Hosanna" and the
words of Psalm 118:25-26. Jesus, at this moment is officially presenting Himself to the nation as the
Messiah. This date according to the Jewish calendar, was Nisan 10, the
day pilgrims presented their paschal lambs for examination.
Monday. Cleansing of the Temple (Mt.21; Mk.11; Lk.19).
On this day Jesus returns to Jerusalem (He spends each night in Bethany). On
the way He curses the fig-tree, a highly symbolic act. He then enters the
Temple and chases out the corrupt money-changers. This shows His Messianic
authority (My Father's House) and fulfills another prophecy that implies the
Messiah will appear there suddenly and take possession of it. (See Mal. 3:1).
They then return to Bethany. On the way home they see the withered fig-tree.
Tuesday. The Day of Controversy and Teaching in Parables.
On this day Jesus personally confronts the authorities and defends His claims
to be the Messiah. The occasion for their questions was His violent action the
previous day. Mark's gospel gives the most detailed account (Mk. 11:27-
13:37). The day ends with Jesus pronouncing a curse on the city and
announcing that the Kingdom will be taken away from the nation (explains the
significance of the cursed fig-tree). See Matt. 23. On the return to Bethany the
Disciples are loaded with questions. Jesus stops at the Mount of Olives
overlooking the temple, and gives the Olivet Discourse. See Matt. 24,25;
Lk.21:5ff. The Olivet Discourse is a detailed prophecy largely about the
coming destruction Jerusalem and the temple due to the rejection of Jesus as
Messiah by the Jewish authorities.
Wednesday. The Silent Day.
After an exhausting day of controversy, Jesus more than likely spends this day
resting and visiting with His intimate friends.
Thursday. Day of Preparation and Passover in the Evening.
On this day (and perhaps on the previous day) preparation is made for the
Passover. Judas may have also utilized this time for his betrayal (Matt.
26:1-5; 14-16; 17-19).
The Passover is celebrated on Thursday evening (Friday by Jewish
reckoning) in an upper room. Tradition has it that it was owned by Mark's
parents. At the end of the Jewish feast, Jesus institutes the Last Supper
(Matt. 14:12-26; Lk. 22:17-23).
The Last Supper is followed by the Upper Room Discourse (Jn. 13-17).
Sometime in the evening, after the Passover, Jesus and His disciples leave
the Upper Room and go to Gethsemane, a place near the Mt. of Olives
where it was a custom for Jesus to Pray (Matt. 26:36-460).
While in the Garden, Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested by the temple
guards (Jn. 18:2-12).
The Trials begin. Before dawn Jesus is tried twice before Annas and then
Caiaphas. Everything about these trials is illegal.
Friday. Trials, Crucifixion, Death, and Burial.
Jesus' third trial is held early in the morning before the Sanhedrin. The
first three trials were before the religious authorities where He is found
guilty. Jesus is then taken before Pilate (the fourth trial) where He is found
innocent. He is subsequently taken to Herod who also finds Him innocent
(the fifth), and then back to Pilate who again finds Him innocent (the
sixth) but relents under pressure, perhaps fearing an uprising.. He notes
on the sign on the cross that His crime was being the King of the Jews. He
probably did this to avoid trouble with Rome (No king but Caesar).
About 9:00 AM. Jesus is crucified on a hill called The Skull outside the
city. While we cannot know for certain it is likely that this is the site
where God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Issac. At noon, the sky
becomes dark, either due to supernatural darkness or because of an eclipse.
In either case, the darkness is highly symbolic of the Father turning His
back on the one He had earlier called My beloved son. During that time
the Savior experienced hell for us. Hell is to be utterly forsaken by God.
At 3:00 PM Jesus utters the most important words to believers when he
cries with a loud voice: It is finished. The phrase literally means Paid in
full The spotless Son of God became sin for us! Isa. 53:5,6. Jesus gives
up His life and fulfills the typology of the Passover Lamb at exactly the
time the lambs were being slaughtered in the Temple. The veil is rent in
the Temple (Mk. 15:38). Jesus was on the cross 6 hours.
Jesus is laid in Joseph's tomb before the Sabbath began at sunset, or
around 6:00 PM.
Saturday. Jesus' body lies in the tomb. After 6:00 PM the Sabbath is over and
His body is treated with spices ( Mk. 16:1).
now... we wait for SUNDAY!!
