Jesus Final Week Timeline
As we approach Passover this season, how do we prepare to observe it? One of the ways we need to prepare ourselves by asking this question, can we recount the basic story of Jesus and His disciples leading to His arrest, trial, execution and resurrection?
I would like for us to do this is by looking at the final week before the Passover what Jesus and the disciples went through. A review of this time and only looking at the highlights.
Printed copy of the map of Jerusalem, and print the chart what happens on each day, look at the distance and how far Jesus and the party had to go and how much time would it take for us to walk the distance that Jesus went.
John 11:54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.
Jesus goes to Bethany from Ephraim
Nisan 9 (Friday)
6 Days before Jews Passover,
John 12:1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.
Martha served supper for Jesus
John 12:2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.
Mary anointed Jesus with oil
John 12:3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Priests plan to kill Lazarus
John 12:10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also,
Nisan 10 (Saturday – Sabbath) 5 Days before Jews Passover
The people wanted to see Jesus at Jerusalem
John 12:12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
Jesus weeps over Jerusalem
Luke 19:41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,
Disciples bring donkey to Jesus
Matthew 21:1-2 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, (2) saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.
Jesus triumphant entrance into Jerusalem as the lamb
Matthew 21:7-9 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. (8) And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. (9) Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!”
Jesus observes the Temple and returns to Bethany
Mark 11:11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. {what did Jesus see and fixit next day}
2 mile journey to Jerusalem from Bethany, where Jesus stays each night
John 11:18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away,
Nisan 11 (Sunday) 4 Days before Jews Passover
Early in the morning, leaving Bethany to go to Jerusalem
Matthew 21:18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry.
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree on way into Jerusalem
Matthew 21:19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Luke 19:45 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it,
Jesus began teaching in the Temple
Luke 19:47-48 And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, (48) and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.
Returns to Bethany from Jerusalem
Mark 11:19 When evening had come, He went out of the city.
Nisan 12 (Monday), 3 days before Jews Passover
Leaves Bethany, Finds the fig tree withered
Mark 11:20-21 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. (21) And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”
Satan enters Judas
Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.
Judas bargains with Sanhedrin to betray Jesus
Luke 22:4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.
Judas betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver
Matthew 26:15-16 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. (16) So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.
Spends the night in Bethany
Nisan 13 (Tuesday) 2 days before the Jews Passover
Jews plan to kill Jesus
Matthew 26:2-5 “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” (3) Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, (4) and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. (5) But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
Matthew 26:6-7 And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, (7) a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.
Jesus sent disciples to prepare for the Passover service
Luke 22:8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”
The disciples found the upper room and prepared the Passover
Luke 22:12-13 Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.” (13) So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
Nisan 14 – Night Part (Wednesday)
Jesus wash disciples’ feet as an example we are to do, after sunset
John 13:4-5 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. (5) After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
The start of the Jesus’ New Testament Passover, at sunset {? 7-8 pm}
Luke 22:14-15 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. (15) Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
The start of the Bread and Wine Service for New Testament Church
Luke 22:19-20 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (20) Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
After Passover, Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives at night {? 9-10 pm}
Luke 22:39 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.
Jesus prayed for 3 hours, {? 10 pm – 1 am}
Matthew 26:44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus by Judas and Jewish Leadership {? 1 am}
Luke 22:47-48 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. (48) But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Nisan 14 – Day Part (Wednesday)
The Trials of Jesus Christ
Jewish Trials:
- Before Annas John 18:12-14 Nighttime {? 2 am}
- Before Caiaphas John 18:19-24 4 hours
- Before the Sanhedrin Matthew 27:1, 2 Before {? 6 am}
Roman Trials:
- Before Pilate John 18:28-38 {? 6 am}
- Before Herod Luke 23:6-11 {? 7 am}
- Before Pilate John 18:39 – 19:16 {? 8 am}
Jesus was beaten, mocked, crucified and sentence to death {? 8:15}
Matthew 27:26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
8:30 ? am – Jesus is led away to the Cross, mocked
Matthew 27:31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.
9 am – Jesus is on the cross, crucified, divided Jesus clothes.
Mark 15:24-25 And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take. (25) Now it was the third hour {9 am}, and they crucified Him.
11 am – Jesus speaks to Mary and John {?}
John 19:26-27 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” (27) Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
Noon – the 6th hour, darkness covers the land until 9th hour, Jesus died
Mark 15:33 Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
3 pm – 9th Hour Jesus cried out, gave up His spirit
Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”
3 pm – Jesus gives up His Spirit
John 19:30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
3 pm – Jesus’ side is pierced with a spear
John 19:33-34 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. (34) But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
3 pm – Temple veil was torn, sun was darkened, earth quaked
Luke 23:45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
Matthew 27:51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
After 4 pm or so – Jesus is taken down, buried and laid in the tomb
Mark 15:42-43 Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, (43) Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
Luke 23:53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.
Judas hangs himself, probably morning time
Matthew 27:5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
The Scriptures gives us 3 specific, different time periods for this day.
Jesus was put on the cross with nails at 9 am, Noon – darkness over the land for 3 hours, 3 pm Jesus gives up His Spirit, dies
Nisan 15 High Sabbath Day: 1 Day after burial
Jesus is placed in the tomb {buried} before sunset
The disciples rested on the High Sabbath Day
Luke 23:56 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
Nisan 16 – Friday: 2 days after burial
Women bought spices to complete the burial preparation
Mark 16:1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.
Pilate grants Jews a guard at the tomb of Jesus
Matthew 27:65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.“
Nisan 17 – Sabbath (weekly)
Luke 23:56 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
Matthew 27:63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will be raised.’
Nisan 18 – Sunday
Stone has been removed from the tomb while dark
John 20:1 Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
Mary sees Jesus and talk with Him
John 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
Jesus ascension to the Father
John 20:17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ “
Mary Magdalene gives a message to the disciples
John 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples that same day, evening
John 20:19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
Jesus breathe on the disciples, received the Holy Spirit {all of them}
John 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
The Ascension of Jesus after 40 days from resurrection
Acts 1:3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Acts 1:9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Finally, the Apostle John concluded the final week with his testimony about Jesus and what happen.
John 21:24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
John 21:25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.