Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Luke 23:46
Today we celebrate an historical Sunday. Palm Sunday marks for us the beginning of the last week of life Jesus Christ had on this earth. When we think about preparation and the things that must be worked in us, that must be worked out of us so that the will of God can be worked through us, we must understand that the only place this can happen is in a personal wilderness that leads us all ultimately to our own personal cross. There are no shortcuts on this path of “death to self” but it does hold at the end the promise of “resurrection life”.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Phillipians that he wanted to engage in the sufferings of Christ so he could know Christ’s resurrection power. I recently read, “If we don’t want to engage in suffering it is because we don’t want to quit sinning” referring to 1 Peter 4:1. That is a powerful thought.
The four Gospels devote a great amount of space to this very important week in the life of Christ. 28% of Matthew, 35% of Mark, 16% of Luke and 43% of John is written in the time frame of this last week in the life of Christ here on earth. I thought we would all benefit from taking a look at the following (taken from jesus.org) and allowing it to shape our hearts this week.
Sunday
• Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem
• Spends the night in Bethany
• Matthew 21:1;Mark 11:1;Luke 19:29;John 12:12
Monday
• Leaves Bethany
• Curses the fig tree on the way into the city
• Weeps over Jerusalem
• Cleanses the temple for the second time in His ministry
• Late in day, looks into the Temple, then leaves the city
• Spends the night in Bethany
• Matthew 21:12. Mark 11:22. Luke 19:45
Tuesday
• Leaves Bethany
• Finds the fig tree withered; teaches on faith
• Possesses the temple and its precincts; confounds and pronounces woes upon His enemies
• Leaves city; Olivet Discourse on way back to Bethany
• Judas bargains with Sanhedrin to betray Jesus
• Spends the night in Bethany
• Matthew 21:20. Mark 11:20. Luke 20:36. John 12:20
Wednesday
Silent Day
• No record in the Gospels, but much activity as Jesus prepares for Last Supper and as Judas and the Sanhedrin prepare for Jesus' arrest
• Remains in Bethany throughout the day, stays night there
Thursday
• Peter and John sent to make preparation for Passover meal
• After sunset, eats meal with the twelve; washes disciples; Judas departs
• Lord's Supper instituted
• To Garden of Gethsemane; Jesus' agony
• Betrayal by Judas; arrest by Sanhedrin
• To house of High Priest as Sanhedrin is convened; Peter betrays Jesus
• Matthew 26:1. Mark 14:1. Luke 22:1
Friday
The Trials of Jesus Christ
• First trial, before Annas [night time hours]; Annas is looking for an accusation, biding time till Sanhedrin is gathered at High Priestly villa
• Second [and primary] trial before Sanhedrin, Jesus is condemned, misused
• Third trial, immediately at dawn [meanwhile, Peter denies Jesus a third time; Jesus looks upon him]; the condemnation repeated, then Jesus taken to Romans
• Fourth trial before Pilate [till "beginning at Galilee"]
• Fifth trial before Herod [looks for miracle]
• 6th trial before Pilate
◦ Jesus is scourged; the city cries, "Crucify Him or we will tell Rome!"
◦ Jesus is finally turned over to be crucified
◦ Jesus mocked (Roman soldiers); crown of thorns
◦ Judas hangs himself
◦ Jesus bears His cross to gate on north of city and is crucified around 9 am
The Death of the God-Man
About 3 pm; veil torn, rocks rent; some graves opened and people rise [to mortality] and go into the city
• Jesus' side pierced
• Passover lambs slain in temple
• Jesus buried by sundown
Matthew 26:1. Mark 14:53. Luke 22:54. John 18:13
Saturday
April 15
• At the request of the Jewish leadership, Pilate grants a guard and sets a seal on the tomb of Jesus
Sunday
April 16
Jesus Christ rises from the dead (before dawn) and makes five appearances on the day of His rising:
1 To Mary Magdalene [given a message to the disciples]
2 To the other women who come to the tomb [intending to complete the burial preparation of His body]
3 To two disciples on the Road to Emmaus
4 To Simon Peter [nowhere recorded, but alluded to in Luke 24:33 and 1 Corinthians 1:5]
5 To the astonished disciples [Thomas is absent]