God has a master plan for the Universe, and it includes you.
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THE FINAL WEEK
Friday is the traditionally accepted day of His crucifixion based on inclusive reckoning—considering any part of a day to be a whole day. Others calculate it as occurring on Thursday, allowing portions of three days and three full nights before His resurrection (Matthew 12:40). Some accept Jesus’ reference to Jonah’s three days in the belly of the whale as literally three solar days calculated sunrise to sunrise, favor Wednesday (Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:40). A scholarly argument can be made for Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.
Dating anything in the first century AD is extremely difficult, as several different calendars (lunar or solar) were in use. Additionally, even the chronology of the events in the last days of Jesus’ earthly life is significantly different in the synoptic gospels and John’s gospel. All four connect Jesus’ death with the Feast of Passover, but they do so in different ways and with differing emphases.
Confusion arises from the ambiguity of the phrase “day of preparation.” Was this day a preparation for the weekly Sabbath as in the synoptic gospels, or preparation for the Feast of Passover as recorded in John’s gospel?
Supporters of a Thursday 14 Nisan crucifixion reason this way: Jesus died and was buried before sunset on the day of preparation for the Passover feast. He was “three days and three nights” in the grave, considered by some to mean three nights (dusk to dawn) and three days (sunrise to dusk). His resurrection coincided with the Feast of First Fruits (Sunday 17 Nisan). The day prior to that was 16 Nisan, a regular Saturday Sabbath (Shabbat). The day before had to be Friday (15 Nisan), the date prescribed for Passover and first day of Unleavened Bread, which is always a feast day.
Friday 15 Nisan was Passover, a Holy Day (a Sabbath on whatever day of the week it occurs). That would make Thursday 14 Nisan a day of preparation for the Friday Sabbath and the day of His crucifixion.
The year of His crucifixion remains in question. No precise timeline of His final days can be constructed using the gospels. Little matter. The certainty of the events should be the focus, not the day or year.
If His crucifixion took place on Thursday, major events can be calculated as falling thus: Six days before the Passover (8 Nisan), Jesus rested in Bethany with Mary and Martha (John 12:1). Saturday (9 Nisan) was a Sabbath until sunset.
Jesus left Bethany after sunrise on Sunday (10 Nisan) and entered Jerusalem, allowing the crowd to acknowledge Him as king (John 12:13). If they crucified Him on Thursday 14 Nisan, the day of preparation for the annual Passover (15 Nisan a Friday), the sequence might have been as follows, based on my reading of the gospels:
Friday 8 Nisan
Jesus came to Bethany to visit Lazarus, Mary and Martha. A dinner was served in His honor and His feet were anointed by Mary (John 12:1-7)
Saturday 9 Nisan, Sabbath/Shabbat
Jesus is approached by Jews in Bethany wishing to see Lazarus. Chief priests plot against Jesus (John 12:9-12)
Sunday 10 Nisan
Jesus proceeds to Jerusalem in the morning (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19). He enters in triumph, hailed as “king.”
Jesus weeps over Jerusalem and curses the Temple, as the priests plot to kill Him (Matthew 21:7-9; Mark 11:8-10; Luke 19:35-48; John 12:12-16)
A Passover Lamb is selected for sacrifice (Exodus 12:3-5) Jesus cleanses the Temple (Matthew 21:12-13; Luke 19:45-48)
Jesus returns to Bethany with the twelve to rest (Mark 11:11)
Monday 11 Nisan
Jesus cleanses the Temple a second time, as the chief priests plot against Him (Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-48)
Jesus teaches at the Temple (Luke 21:37)
He retires to the Mount of Olives to rest (Luke 21:37-38)
Tuesday 12 Nisan
Jesus teaches at the Temple as the chief priests and scribes challenge His authority (Matthew 26:2-5; Mark 11:27-28, 24:1-2; Luke 21:47-48, 22:1-2).
Leaders, scribes, and Pharisees, question Jesus. He states many parables foretelling the destruction of the city (Matthew 21:23; Luke 20:1-14)
Jesus visits the house of Simon (Mark 14:3-9)
He retires to the Mount of Olives to rest (Luke 21:37)
Wednesday 13 Nisan
Jesus teaches in the Temple area (Luke 21:37)
The Sanhedrin plots and Judas agrees to betray Him (Matthew 26:14-16; Luke 22:1-6)
He tells His Disciples He will be crucified “after two days” (Matthew 26:2).
Jesus delivers the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:1-51; Mark 13:1-37)
He retires to the Mount of Olives to rest (Luke 21:37)
Thursday 14 Nisan (including Wednesday evening and night)
Preparations are made for the evening meal and Jesus holds a discourse with His apostles in the upper room (Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:1-2; John 14:1-30)
Jesus initiates the sacramental Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:17-25; Luke 22:15-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)
Jesus and His apostles return to the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39)
He prays in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:26-42; Luke 22:39-46; John 18:1)
Jesus is betrayed, arrested, questioned, and sentenced during the night and early morning (Matthew 26:47-56, 27:11-31; Mark 14:43-52, 15:1-23; Luke 22:47-53, 23:1-26; John 18:2-40) (There were six trials that night, three Jewish (before Annas, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin); three Roman (before Pilate, Herod, and Pilate again)
Judas repents and hangs himself (Matthew 27:3-10)
Jesus is scourged and crucified midmorning (Matthew 27:35-50; Mark 15:24-37; Luke 23:33-46; John 19:11-30)
Darkness falls on the land at the sixth hour (noon) (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44)
At the ninth hour (mid-afternoon) the curtain of the Temple is torn as Jesus dies (Matthew 27:46-53; Mark 15:34-38; Luke 23:45-46)
Christ is removed from the cross and buried before sunset (Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-55; John 19:31-42)
The Passover Lamb is slain by the chief priest (Luke 22:7-13) before sunset
Soldiers ensure the tomb secured (Matthew 27:62-66)
Friday 15 Nisan (Passover Sabbath - A Holy Day)
First Day of Passover, a feast lasting seven days, began at sunset on Thursday.
The sanctified Passover meal with lamb was eaten by the faithful (Exodus 12:8-11)
Saturday 16 Nisan (Shabbat)
The women prepare the spices and observe the Sabbath (Luke 23:56)
Sunday 17 Nisan
Christ is raised in the early morning and the women find the tomb empty (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-9; Luke 24:1-8; John 20:1)
Jews celebrate the Feast of First Fruits (Leviticus 23:11,15)
