Some one recently asked me if I could pull together a complete Biblical picture of the events of Holy week in the life of Jesus. This is a snap shot for each of the days that will represent this week. My prayer is that you might use these as a process in your spiritual journey.
Sunday –
· Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19: 29-44; John 12:12-19);
· Second Cleansing of the Temple (Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11: 15-19; Luke 19: 45-48);
· Cursing the Fig Tree (Matthew 21:18-19; Mark 11: 12- 14)
· Fig tree withers (Matthew 21:20-22; Mark 11: 20-26)
· Christ’s Authority is Challenged (Matthew 21: 23-27; Mark 11: 27-33; Luke 20: 1-8)
23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”
24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 25 The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.”
And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
· Parables
o Two Sons (Matthew 21: 28-32)
o Wicked Tenants of the vineyard (Matthew 21: 33-46; Mark 12: 1-12; Luke 20: 9-19)
o Guests at a wedding feast (Matthew 22: 1-14)
· Questions asked
o Paying taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22: 15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20: 20-26)
Monday –
· Questions asked
o About the Resurrection (Matthew 22: 23-33; Mark 12:18-27; Luke 20: 27-38)
o About the Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22: 34-40; Mark 12: 28-34; Luke 20:39-40)
35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
o Jesus asks about ancestry ( Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:41-44)
· Woes upon Scribes & Pharisees (Matthew 23: 1-39; Mark 12: 38-40; Luke 20: 45-47)
· Widow’s Mite (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4)
Tuesday –
· Discourse on the signs of the Time (Matthew 24: 1-51; Mark 13: 1-37; Luke 21: 5-38)
· Parable of Ten Virgins (Matthew 25: 1-13)
· Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
· Separation (Matthew 25:31-46)
· Plot to Kill Christ unfolds (Matthew 26:1-5; Mark 14: 1-2: Luke 22: 1-22)
1 It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”
Wednesday –
· Jesus is Anointed (Matthew 26: 6-13, Mark 14:3-9)
3 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head.
4 Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. 5 “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.
6 But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? 7 You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”
· Judas agrees to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6
· Gentiles Seek Christ (John 12:20-36)
· Jews reject Christ (John 12:37-50)
Thursday (Day before the Crucifixion – Passover day)
· Preparation for the Passover (Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22: 7-13)
· Jesus Washes the disciples’ feet (John 13:1-20)
· The Betrayer is identified (Matthew 26: 20-25; Mark 14: 17-21; John 13:21-35)
· Establishment of the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-23)
· Dispute over who is the greatest among disciples (Luke 22: 24-30)
24 Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. 25 Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. 27 Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.
28 “You have stayed with me in my time of trial. 29 And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right 30 to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
· Peter’s denial is foretold (Matthew 26:31-35; Mark 14: 27-31; Luke 22:31-38; John 13:36-38)
· Farewell Discourses
o Jesus, the Way to heaven (John 14:1-15)
o Promise of the Holy Spirit (John 14: 16-31)
o Vine and the Branches (John 15:1-17)
o Warning of persecution (John 15: 18-27; John 16: 1- 4)
o Jesus Comforts his disciples (John 16:5-33)
· Farewell Prayer for his own (John 17: 1-26)
· Jesus prayers at Gethsemane (Matthew 26:30-46; Mark 14:26-42; Luke 22: 39-46)
· Jesus is betrayed and arrested, Heals ear (Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-53; John 18:2-11)
· Jesus is examined by Annas, The High Priest (John 18:12-23
Friday (Crucifixion day & Preparation day for Passover) –
· Jesus, tried and condemned, is mocked (Matthew 26: 57-68; Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:54-65; John 18:24)
· Peter denies the Lord three times (Matthew 26:58-75; Mark 14:54-72; Luke 22: 55-62; John 18:15-27)
· Jesus Condemned by the Sanhedrin (Matthew 27: 1-2; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71)
· Remorse and Suicide of Judas (Matthew 27:3-10)
· Jesus before Pilate – first time 6AM (Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18 28-38)
· Jesus before Herod Antipas (Luke 23:6-12)
· Jesus before Pilate – second time release of Barabbas (Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23: 13-25; John 18: 39-40)
· Conclusion of trial – mocking and final condemnation (Matthew 27:27-31; Mark 15: 16-19; John 19: 1-16)
· Jesus’ walk to Golgotha (Matthew 27:32-34; Mark 15:20-23; Luke 23:26-32; John 19: 17)
· First three hours on the Cross 9 am – 12 noon (Matthew 27:35-44; Mark 15:24-43; John 19: 18-27)
· Second three hours on the Cross 12 noon – 3 PM (Matthew 27: 45-37; Luke 23: 44-37
44 By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. 46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
47 When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.” 48 And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. 49 But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.
· Extraordinary Events – Vail torn and the dead raised (Matthew 27:51-56; Mark 15:38-41; Luke 23:47-49)
· Burial of Jesus Body (Matthew 27: 57-61; Mark 15: 42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)
Saturday (Sabbath day- day after crucifixion) –
· Watch the sepulcher and sealing of stone (Matthew 27: 62-66)
62 The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. 63 They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ 64 So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”
65 Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” 66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.
SUNDAY – Resurrection Day!!
· Women visit the tomb (Matthew 26:1; Mark 16:1)
· Stone Rolled away (Matthew 28: 2-4)
· Message of the Angel (Matthew 28:5-8; Mark 16:2-8; Luke 24: 1-7; John 20:1)
2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.
· Report to apostles – Peter and John Return to tomb (Luke 24:9-12; John 20:2-10)
· Christ appears to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-18)
· Christ Appears to other women (Matthew 28:9-10)
· Guard reports to Jewish rulers ( Matthew 28:11-15)
· Emmaus road conversation (Mark 16:12-32)
· Two disciples give report (Luke 24:33-35)
· Christ appears to amazed disciples (Mark 16:14; Luke 24; 36-43; John 20: 19-25)
