EVENTS OF HOLY WEEK
The events of the Holy Week or Passion Week mark the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Holy Week encapsulates the Sovereignty of God’s prophetic, irrefutable words of promise. Moreover, the majestic power of Almighty God was demonstrated through the passionate life, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the true and living God of creation.
SUNDAY – (PALM SUNDAY) Jesus’ triumphal entry into the City of Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-11).
MONDAY – Jesus cleanses the temple in Jerusalem (Mark 11:15-19).
TUESDAY – The Sanhedrin council questions Jesus’ authority (Luke 20:1-8); Jesus foretells His Second Coming (Mark 13:24-27); Mary anoints the feet of Jesus (John 12:2-8); Judas Iscariot conspires to betray Jesus (Luke 22:3-6).
THURSDAY – Jesus partakes of His final Passover meal with His disciples (Mark 14:12-21); Institutes the Holy Lord’s Supper (Mark: 14:22-25); Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-42).
FRIDAY – Jesus betrayal by Judas and arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:43-46); Judas commits suicide, after Jesus is arrested (Matthew 27:3-5).
FROM JUDGMENT HALL TO JUDGMENT HALL
- First trial before Annas, high priest; questioned and sent to Caiaphas (John 18:12-13);
- Second trial before Caiaphas, high priest and the Sanhedrin Council, by whom Jesus was [condemned but not sentenced]; then beaten, mocked and humiliated (Mark 14:53-65);
- Peter denies Jesus, three times (Mark 14:66-72);
- Third trial before Pontius Pilate, the governor [no fault found]; sent to Herod. (Matthew 27:1,2; Mark 15:1-14);
- Fourth trial before Herod [no fault found]. Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate (Luke 23:6-12). Neither of them found fault or reason for Him to be put to death.
- Pontius Pilate, however, gave final sentence, yielding to the cries of the people to “crucify Him!” After Jesus had been beaten and scourged, by his soldiers, he delivered Him to be crucified. Pilates soldiers led him into the praetorium, stripped off His clothing, put a purple robe on Him and a reed in His right hand. Then they twisted a crown with one-inch thorns and put it on His head and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Struck Him with the reed and spat on Him, mocked Him, took off the purple robe, put on His own clothes and led Him out up the Via Dolorosa to crucify Him. Being weakened by the scourging, Simon of Cyrene was compelled by Roman soldiers to help Him carry His cross up to Golgotha Hill (Calvary). There, they nailed His hands and his feet to the cross and crucified Him. While He hung there bleeding and dying, they divided His garments, casting lots for them and mocked Him (Matthew 27:11-50). After all things pertaining to His earthly life had been fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘”I thirst’. So, they filled a sponge with sour wine and once He received it, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head He gave up His spirit…” (John 19:28-30) According to Jewish laws, the bodies of those executed were to be removed before sunset. To avoid breaking the law, they would break the legs of those executed to speed up the process of dying, so that the bodies could be removed. When they came to Jesus, He was already dead, so there was no need to break His legs. Therefore, one of the soldiers pierced Him in His side and blood and water came out. “These things were done that that Scripture should be fulfilled (John 19:31-37)
ON THAT “GOOD FRIDAY”
He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst?” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So, when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (John 19:28-30)
Jesus’ burial in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:31-42).
RESURRECTION SUNDAY – Jesus is raised from the dead [as promised, three days after His death] on the First Day of the Week (John 2:19-21; 20:1-10;).
AFTER THE RESURRECTION
JESUS APPEARED TO HIS DISCIPLES (John 20:11-21:14).
HIS ASCENSION TO HEAVEN AND PROMISE TO RETURN (Luke 24: 49-51; Acts 1:9-11 — “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”(v.11)