Maundy Thursday
6-11pm- Jesus and his twelve disciples have what is called "the last supper." Jesus washes the feet of His disciples and tells them to do the same (where the word 'Maundy' comes from). He breaks bread and shares wine thus initiating what is called "the Lord's Supper" (also called Communion or the Eucharist). Judas, the betrayer leaves early. Jesus gives the disciples a number of final remarks and direction (which you can read in John 14-16). Then Jesus prays for His disciples in what we now refer to as the High Priestly Prayer which can be read in John 17.
Good Friday
12am-1am- When finished, the disciples and Jesus leave Jerusalem, cross the Kidron valley, and gather in the garden at Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives for prayer. Jesus encourages them to pray that they may not enter into temptation then withdraws from them to pray privately. Jesus prays fervently realizing that his arrest and imminent crucifixion are at hand. His time of prayer is so intense that an angel comes from heaven to strengthen him and he still sweats drops of blood. His disciples, on the other hand, are tired and keep falling asleep. (Luke 22:39-46)
1am-1:30am- Judas, the betrayer, leads a small band of soldiers and temple servants to the garden where he knows Jesus will probably be. As Jesus is waking his disciples, Judas finds them and kisses Jesus, the pre-determined signal, to those with him, identifying Jesus. Peter draws a sword and cuts off the ear of a servant before being rebuked by Jesus who heals and replaces the man's ear. (Luke 22:47-53)
2am-3am- Jesus is bound and taken to Annas, the High Priests' father-in-law, and then to Caiaphas', the High Priest, house who questions him about his teachings in an illegal, 'unofficial' trial together with many of the now assembled Sanhedrin. Meanwhile, Peter, following at a distance, denies knowing Jesus just as Jesus had predicted. As Jesus responds to Caiaphas, one of the officers standing next to him strikes Jesus with his hand (the first recorded physical abuse). (John 18:12-27)
4am-5am- Jesus is taken from the home of Caiaphas to the Roman governor's (Pilate) home. Pilate comes out to the Jews who do not enter his home because he is a Gentile and they wish to remain ceremonial clean for the Passover. The Jews are asking Pilate to sentence him to death as they cannot fulfill this without Roman consent. The Roman governor takes Jesus inside and questions Jesus asking about whether he is a king and his famous question: 'What is truth?' Eventually he brings Jesus back out to the growing mob of Jewish leaders and people acknowledging that he found no guilt in Jesus. Trying to appease the crowd he offers to let one prisoner go free: Jesus or a insurrectionist, murderer, and thief named Barabbas. The crowd cries out for Barabbas' freedom. (John 18:28-40)
4:30am- Judas, the betrayer, in remorse commits suicide. (Matthew 27:3-10)
5:30am-6:30am- When Pilate realizes that Jesus is from the region called Galilee he sends him to Herod, the Roman appointed King of Galilee. Herod questions Jesus, but Jesus does not respond as the chief priests and the scribes hurl accusations. To appease the growing mob, Herod and his soldiers join in the mockery and dress Jesus in 'splendid' clothing in mockery of him. Historically, Herod and Pilate become close friends following this day. (Luke 23:6-12)
7am-8am- Jesus is sent back to Pilate who vows to the angry mobs that he will punish Jesus and then release him. Pilates' wife sends word to her husband to not bother "that righteous man" (Jesus) because she has had a dream about him (Matt 27:19). The crowd again calls for the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus and now begin insisting on the crucifixion of Jesus. Pilate tries to reason with the rabid crowd only to succumb to the pressure of the mob and agrees to release Barabbas and crucify Jesus.
8am-9:30am- The Roman soldiers flog Jesus, fashion a crown of thorns and put it on Jesus' head while they mockingly 'worship' him and hit him with their fists. (John 19:1-2) The abuse continues as they strike him with a flexible wood staff (a reed) on the head and spit. Then they strip off the purple robe and put his own clothes back on him. (Mark 15:16-20)
9:30am-10:30am- The soldiers force Jesus to carry his cross out of Jerusalem and up the hill to the place of public executions: Golgotha, which means 'place of the skull' (the Latin word for Golgotha is Calvary). Jesus, after all the physical abuse, sheer exhaustion, and sweating blood is unable to carry the cross the whole way so the soldiers compel a passerby, named Simon who was from Cyrene to carry Jesus' cross the rest of the way. (Mark 15:21-23)
10:30am-11am- When they arrive they nail Jesus (through his hands and feet) to a wooden cross and then stand it up in the air so all can see him. They give him some cheap vinegar wine which he initially refuses even though he says that he is thirsty. (Mark 15:21-23) Pilate has a sign made that reads "Jesus of Nazareth: The King of the Jews" in Aramaic, Latin, & Greek. The soldiers divide his clothing among themselves and cast lots for his seamless tunic. (John 19:17-24)
11am-11:30am- Jesus' mother, Mary, his aunt, Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Clopas, and the disciple John stand by the cross of Jesus. Jesus basically tells John to take care of his mother. (John 19:25-27)
Noon-3pm- Darkness covers the land. There is no sunlight. The earth shakes. Rocks split open.
3pm- Jesus says: "It is finished" and "Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit." Jesus bows his head and dies. The curtain in the temple between the holy place and the most holy place was torn in two from top to bottom.. As Jesus dies a Roman centurion overseeing the crucifixion says: "Certainly this man was innocent" and "Truly this man was the Son of God!" At the same time the bodies of many of the saints who had died were raised and came out of their tombs and came into Jerusalem and showed themselves to many people. (Matthew 27:51-54, Mark 15:38-39, Luke 23:46-48, John 19:30)
3pm-3:30pm- The two people crucified on either side of Jesus have their legs broke to speed up the process of death, but Jesus' side is pierced (John 19:31-37)
3:30pm-5:30pm- Joseph of Arimathea, who had been secretly following Jesus to this point, asks Pilate for permission to take the body of Jesus. He prepares Him for burial and places Jesus' body in a tomb that was in the garden near the place of Jesus' crucifixion. (John 19:38-42)
Sunset. The Great Sabbath begins. Jesus, the Savior of the World has died.
It's Saturday, but Sunday is coming!
**Most times are approximations & estimates.**
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