Jesus and the disciples observe the last Passover, waiting in Gethsemane to be arrested, two trials condemn Jesus, the Romans agree to kill Christ, the Lord is beaten, crucified and dies, burial in a rich man's tomb, the Lord is resurrected and appears to his disciples, tomb soldiers are bribed to lie.
Primary scriptures: Matthew 21:1 - 46, 22:1 - 46, 23:1 - 39, 24:1 - 51, 25:1 - 46, 26:1 - 75, 27:1 - 66, 28:1 - 15, Mark 11:1 - 33, 12:1 - 44, 13:1 - 37, 14:1 - 72, 15:1 - 47, 16:1 - 11, Luke 19:29 - 48, 20:1 - 47, 21:1 - 38, 22:1 - 71, 23:1 - 56, 24:1 - 12, John 12:1 - 50, 13:1 - 38, 14:1 - 31, 15:1 - 27, 16:1 - 33, 17:1 - 26, 18:1 - 40, 19:1 - 42, 20:1 - 18, Acts 1:15 - 19, 1Corinthians 11:23 - 29.
March 29th
(Wednesday) 30 A.D.
(Nisan 7, Hebrew Year 3790)
Jesus Travels to Bethany
The last days in the life of Jesus begin near sunset. His trip to Lazarus' house in Bethany began in Jericho, which is 17 miles (27.3 kilometers) away. In the early evening, after arriving in the home, he has supper (John 12:1 - 2).
Lazarus' sister Mary, after supper, anoints Jesus' feet with very expensive ointment. Judas (who carries the group's money bag) complains that what was spent on ointment could have been used to help the poor. The real reason Judas complained to Jesus was that he was a thief who wanted more money to steal (John 12:3 - 11).
March 30
(Thursday, Nisan 8)
Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Jesus, in the morning, travels from Lazarus' house in Bethany to Bethphage, which is a Sabbath day's journey (1,000 yards or .91 kilometers) away from Jerusalem. He then mounts a colt for his triumphal entry into the city. The gathering crowd, as he travels, begins to praise him and God (Mark 11:9 - 10). They also place their clothes and cut palm tree branches on the road in front of him.
The Pharisees (religious leaders) hear the crowd's praises and ask Jesus to tell them to shut up! He replies that if they did not cry out praises the stones would (Matthew 21:1 - 11, Mark 11:1 - 10, Luke 19:29 - 40, John 12:12 - 19)!
. . . all the multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and to praise God with a loud voice for all the works of power that they had seen, saying, "Blessed be the King, Who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to Him, "Master, rebuke Your disciples."
But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out." (Luke 19:37 - 40).
Nearing Jerusalem Jesus begins to cry over the city. He is heard saying that, because the city did not accept him as Savior, it would soon be destroyed (Luke 19:41 - 44). He goes to the temple and returns in the evening to Bethany (Mark 11:11). He teaches daily in the temple (Luke 19:47 - 48).
March 31
(Friday, Nisan 9)
Throwing Out the Thieves!
Jesus, as he travels during the morning back to Jerusalem, becomes hungry. He spots a fig tree and goes to it hoping to find figs. Finding only leaves he says to the tree "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again" (Mark 11:14). He arrives at the temple and casts out the money changers and dove sellers, saying the following.
It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves' (Luke 19:46).
Money changers, notorious for being corrupt, exchanged currency for the Temple's half-shekel coin needed to pay the yearly temple tribute. Those who were poor bought doves and used them to make a temple offering.
Children begin to shout "Hosanna to the Son of David!" (Matthew 21:15) while Jesus heals at the temple. The chief priests and scribes, hearing the children, make themselves quite angry and tell him to make them stop. He corrects them by stating the children are fulfilling prophecy (Matthew 21:12 - 16, Mark 11:12 - 17, Luke 19:45 - 48). He returns to Bethany for the night (Matthew 21:17, Mark 11:19).
April 1
(Saturday, Nisan 10)
God Speaks from Heaven
In the morning, while traveling to Jerusalem, the disciples notice that the cursed fig tree is dried up (Matthew 21:19 - 22, Mark 11:20 - 26). Some Hellenist Jews, in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast, ask Philip if they can see him. When told of the request Jesus states his time has come to be glorified (John 12:20 - 27). He asks God the Father to glorify His (the Father's) name.
A thunderous voice from heaven states God had, and will again, glorify His name (John 12:28 - 30). He states that now is the judgment of the world and that the prince of this world (Satan) will be cast out (John 12:31 - 36). He leaves the city again and hides himself for the remainder of the Sabbath (John 12:36).
April 2
(Sunday, Nisan 11)
Prophecies, Preparation for Death
In the morning, at Jerusalem's temple, the chief priests, scribes and elders, for the final time, confront and challenge Jesus' authority (Matthew 21:23 - 24:2, Mark 11:27 - 13:2, Luke 20:1 - 21:4). The confrontation lasts from morning to late afternoon.
Late in the afternoon Jesus and the disciples start to leave the temple area for the Mount of Olives. As they exit, he reveals that Jerusalem's temple will soon be destroyed (Matthew 24:1 - 2, Mark 13:1 - 2, Luke 21:5 - 6). On the Mount of Olives he prophesies about the events to occur just before his second coming to earth and the completion of the age (Matthew 24:3 - 26:2, Mark 13:3 - 7, Luke 21:7 - 38).
Near evening, the disciples are told that the Passover is after two days (Matthew 26:2, Mark 14:1). The chief priests, scribes, elders, etc. of the Great Sanhedrin, who hate him, meet at the palace of Caiaphas the high priest. They meet to discuss how to have him killed "by trickery" (Matthew 26:5). Jesus travels to Bethany and stays at Simon the Leper's house.
While Christ is eating a woman comes in and anoints his head with very expensive ointment. Some of the disciples roundly criticize the woman for buying such costly ointment instead of using the money to help the poor. He, however, first chides the disciples for being overly critical then states the woman was anointing him for his burial (Matthew 26:6 - 13, Mark 14:3 - 9).
April 3
(Monday, Nisan 12)
Arranging a Betrayal
Judas betrays Christ to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14 - 16, Mark 14:10 - 11, Luke 22:3 - 6).
April 4
(Tuesday, Nisan 13 - 14)
The Last Passover
The disciples prepare for the Passover (Matthew 26:17 - 19, Mark 14:12 - 16, Luke 22:7 - 13). At sunset, at the start of Nisan 14, they observe the last Passover Jesus will partake of (Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, John 13).
Jesus institutes the New Testament foot washing ceremony that he commands all those who follow him practice every time they commemorate his death on Passover (John 13:2 - 17).
Jesus then dips the "sop" and gives it to Judas, immediately after which Satan the devil possesses him. The "sop" was a sign to John that it was Judas who would betray him (Matthew 26:21 - 25, Mark 14:18 - 21, Luke 22:21 - 23, John 13:18 - 26).
Jesus institutes the taking of a small piece of unleavened bread during the Christian Passover which represents his broken body. He lastly institutes the taking of a small amount of wine during the service will represents his blood freely shed to make the New Covenant possible (Matthew 26:26 - 29, Mark 14:22 - 25, Luke 22:17 - 20, 1Corinthians 11:23 - 29).
Amazingly, on this incredible night, the disciples begin to fight amongst themselves as to who would be the greatest in God's Kingdom! Jesus informs them, in no uncertain terms, that any hierarchy of power or control will not be tolerated. His believers must serve others, as he has, with selfless humility (Luke 22:24 - 28).
The kings of the nations lord over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But it shall not be this way among you . . . For who is greater, the one who is sitting at the table, or the one who is serving? Is not the one who sits at the table? But I am among you as One Who is serving (Luke 22:25 - 27).
Jesus then gives his disciples a new commandment and informs Peter he will deny him three times. After some final instructions to his disciples he verifies they have two swords so that the scriptures are fulfilled (Matthew 26:31 - 35, Mark 14:27 - 31, John 13:33 - 38, 14:1 - 31, Luke 22:31 - 38).
They sing a hymn, after the service is completed, and walk to the Mount of Olives to await Jesus' arrest (Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26).
Waiting to be Arrested
At roughly 9 p.m., while walking to the Garden of Gethsemane (at the foot of the Mount of Olives), Jesus tells the disciples he is the True Vine (John 15:1 - 27). He offers his final words of encouragement (John 16:1 - 31) and again states that the disciples will leave him (John 16:32 - 33).
Jesus and his disciples arrive at the Garden of Gethsemane, where Peter, James and John are designated to stand watch while Christ prays for three hours. His disciples, though asked to stay awake while he prays, quickly fall asleep. Although he initially prays that the "cup" of suffering and death awaiting him be taken away, the Lord ultimately accepts whatever the Father wills (Matthew 26: 36 - 44, Mark 14:32 - 40, Luke 22:39 - 46, John 17).
April 5
(Wednesday, Nisan 14)
Arrest and First Trial
After midnight, when (according to the Roman calendar we use today) it becomes Wednesday, Judas arrives in the Garden of Gethsemane accompanied by armed officers and other men provided by the religious leaders. Judas, as a signal of which person to arrest, gives Jesus a kiss (Matthew 26:45 - 49, Mark 14:41 - 45, Luke 22:47 - 48, John 18:1 - 8).
The High Priest, at approximately 2 a.m., questions Jesus about His disciples and teachings but does not receive an answer. Frustrated, he adjures him by the living God to state whether or not he is the true Son of God (Matthew 26:62 - 63). The answer he receives so angers him that he tears his clothes and cries out that Christ has committed blasphemy.
Deserving of Death
The High Priest then immediately asks the council for a verdict, to which they unanimously shout that the death penalty should be carried out (Matthew 26:59 - 68, Mark 14:55 - 65, Luke 22:63 - 65). Peter then denies him three times (Matthew 26:69 - 75, Mark 14:66 - 72, Luke 22:56 - 62, John 18:17, 25 - 27).
A Second Trial
At approximately 5 to 6 a.m., because Jewish law demanded two sessions of the Sanhedrin hear and try a defendant, a second trial of Jesus was held around 5 a.m. This second trial, however, seems little more than a "rubber stamp" or automatic approval of the first trial's decision. He is bound and sent to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Prefect of Judea, for punishment around 6 a.m. (Matthew 27:1 - 2, Mark 15:1, Luke 22:66 - 23:1, John 18:28).
Judas Iscariot, at sunrise, repents of betraying Christ but still hangs himself. The Chief Priests decide to buy a potter's field with thirty pieces of silver Judas gave back to them (Matthew 27:3 - 10, Acts 1:15 - 19).
Jesus Before the Romans
At approximately 7 a.m., instead of blasphemy, the Jewish leaders bring Jesus to Pontius Pilate under the charge of treason against Rome. They do this in order to improve their chances of the Romans putting him to death.
While Pilate questions Jesus (Matthew 27:11 - 14, Mark 15:2 - 5, Luke 23:2 - 4, John 18:29 - 30) he discovers he is from Galilee and sends him to Herod Antipas (Tetrarch of Galilee and son of Herod the Great) for judgment. Herod questions him but receives no answers. Herod and his soldiers mock him, put a splendid robe on him, and send him back to Pilate (Luke 23:5 - 12).
Pontius Pilate, at roughly 8 a.m., tells the Jewish religious leaders that he and Herod Antipas find Jesus innocent. Although he wishes to release him (Luke 23:13 - 15, John 18:31 - 38), he relies on a tradition that frees one prisoner before the Feast in the hope that the people of Jerusalem will choose to set Christ free.
The people, however, stirred up by the Jewish leaders who hate Jesus, cry out that they want Barabbas (a convicted murderer) freed and the Lord killed (Matthew 27:15 - 23, Mark 15:6 - 14, Luke 23:16 - 23, John 18:39 - 40).
Pilate, while listening to the response of the crowd, receives a message from his wife stating she had a troubling dream that warned Jesus should be left alone as he was a righteous man (Matthew 27:19).
Pilate, noticing the Jerusalem crowd before him is ready to riot, washes his hands to symbolize he is guiltless of Jesus' blood (Matthew 27:24 - 25). He then releases Barabbas and has Jesus severely beaten and scourged (Matthew 27:26 - 31, Mark 15:15 - 20, Luke 23:24 - 25, John 19:1 - 5). The continuing pressure from the Jewish religious leaders, as well as the crowd, forces his hand and he has the Lord crucified (John 19:6 - 15).
Taken to Golgotha
The soldiers take Jesus to Golgotha, also known as Calvary and the Place of the Skull, to be crucified. Along the route they force Simon of Cyrene to carry his cross (Matthew 27:32 - 33, Mark 15:21 - 22, Luke 23:26 - 31, John 19:16 - 17).
Tortured in Public
Jesus, from 9 a.m. to noon, is nailed to the cross. He is crucified along with two thieves (Matthew 27:38, Mark 15:27 - 28, Luke 23:32 - 33, John 19:18). He is given wine (vinegar) mixed with gall to drink while on the cross which he refuses (Matthew 27:34, Mark 15:23). Roman soldiers also cast lots for his clothes.
Pontius Pilate has the charge against him written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin and put on Jesus' cross. Near the end of his life Christ asks God the Father to forgive those that are killing him (Matthew 27:35 - 36, Mark 15:24 - 25, Luke 23:34, John 19:23 - 24).
Mocked and Watched
Some in the crowd, where Christ is crucified, stare at him in amazement. Others such as Roman soldiers, members of the Sanhedrin (chief priests, scribes, elders) and even the two thieves also being crucified, mock him.
Family and friends, at a distance, watch Jesus suffer on the cross. These include his mother Mary, her sister, Mary Magdalene and the apostle John (Matthew 27:39 - 45, 55 - 56, Mark 15:29 - 33, 40 - 41, Luke 23:35 - 44, 48 - 49).
John Given Care of Mary
Darkness covers the entire land from noon to 3 p.m. Jesus tells his mother, Mary, to now consider the apostle John her son and tells John to take care of his mother Mary (John 19:25 - 27).
Jesus Dies
At 3 p.m. Jesus Christ, the Savior of man, is forsaken by God and cries out with a loud voice: "Eli Eli, lama sabachthani?" Some in the crowd think he is calling out to the prophet Elijah (Matthew 27:46 - 47, Mark 15:34 - 35). He accepts vinegar (sour wine) to wet his lips. A spear is thrust into his side and He cries out with a loud voice "It is Finished!" His last words are, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit."
The Jews, desiring the death of those crucified before the High Holy Day starts (around 6 pm), asks Pilate to break their legs. Pilate agrees. The legs of those crucified with Jesus are broken, but his are not since he is already dead (John 19:31 - 37).
Buried in Rich Man's Tomb
Pilate, just before sunset, allows Joseph of Arimathea, a rich member of the Sanhedrin, to take the body of Jesus. Joseph and Nicodemus wrap his body in fine linen with a mixture of myrrh and aloes and bury him in the brand new tomb Joseph had made for himself (Matthew 27:57 - 61, Mark 15:42 - 47, Luke 23:50 - 55, John 19:38 - 42). At sunset the First Day of Unleavened Bread, a high Holy Day where no work is allowed, begins.
April 6
(Thursday, Nisan 15)
Troops Guard the Tomb
The Chief Priests, along with the Pharisees, visit Pontius Pilate out of fear that Jesus' disciples will secretly steal his body then claim he has risen from the dead. The religious leaders request that Pilate use his troops to have the tomb secured. Pilate, however, gives them permission to use their own guard for the task. The garden tomb is made secure, the stone at the entrance of the tomb is sealed, and a guard is placed near it (Matthew 27:62 - 66). At sunset the holy day ends.
April 7
(Friday, Nisan 16)
Buying Spices
Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome buy and prepare spices for the body of Jesus. They also prepare to rest on the weekly Bible Sabbath which begins at sunset (Mark 16:1, Luke 23:56).
April 8
(Saturday, Nisan 17)
Resurrected from the Dead!
Late in the afternoon of the weekly Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the "other Mary" check on where Jesus is buried (Mark 16:1). Then, just before sunset, he is RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD after spending precisely three whole days and three whole nights (72 hours), from sunset Wednesday to sunset Saturday, in the tomb!
April 9
(Sunday, Nisan 18)
An Empty Tomb
Mary Magdalene and other women, early in the morning, go to Jesus' tomb with the spices they had prepared for his body. When the women arrive, they see the large stone that blocked entrance into the tomb moved away and an angel sitting on top of it. The angel then tells the women to enter the tomb.
The women, in the tomb, see a young man clothed in a white robe. He is sitting on the right side of where Jesus was laid. The man shows them that the body is gone. He tells the women to inform the disciples, especially Peter, that Jesus is alive.
The First Appearance
Mary Magdalene runs to tell Peter and John what has happened. Peter and John run to the tomb and see his linen cloths lying inside the tomb in one place and the cloth put over his head neatly folded and placed by itself (Matthew 28:2 - 8, Mark 16:2 - 8, Luke 24:1 - 12, John 20:1 - 10).
Mary Magdalene, who had seven demons cast out of her, is the first human to see Jesus alive after his resurrection. He tells Mary not to touch him as he has not yet ascended to God the Father (Mark 16:9 - 11, John 20:11 - 18).
Bribed to Lie
Sometime during the day some Roman soldiers, who guarded the tomb of Jesus, go to the chief priests and report all that had happened. The priests meet with the elders to decide what to do next. They decide to bribe the soldiers with a large sum of money to have them tell an incredibly absurd story as to what happened to the body (Matthew 28:11 - 15).