Saturday: The Sabbath (April 4, AD 33) Matt 27:62-66 Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath, the day of rest where people refrained from work. As Luke writes, “On the Sabbath, they rested according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56). Nevertheless, the Jewish authorities prevail upon Pontius Pilate to post guards at Jesus’ tomb, afraid that His followers… Read More

Good Friday: Betrayal, Arrest, Trials, Crucifixion (April 3, AD 33) Matt 26:47-27:61; Mark 14:43-15:47; Luke 22:47-23:56; John 18-19 The familiar events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion ensue. He is betrayed by Judas, arrested by the authorities, tried by the Jewish Sanhedrin and brought to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who alone can ratify a death sentence. He… Read More

Maundy Thursday: Passover Preparations (April 2, AD 33) Matt 26:17-46; Mark 14:12-42; Luke 22:14-46; John 13-17 Thursday builds to a crescendo as Jesus and His followers make preparations to celebrate the Passover, one of the main reasons why they came to Jerusalem in the first place. John, in particular, gives a moving account of Jesus’… Read More

Wednesday: The Plot Against Jesus (April 1, AD 33) Matt 26:1-5; Mark 14:1-2; Luke 21:37-22:2 Sunday had seen the Triumphal Entry, Monday the Temple cleansing, and Tuesday a series of controversies with the Jewish authorities and teachers of the law. By contrast, Wednesday is a rather quiet day—as it turns out, the quiet before the… Read More

Tuesday: The Lesson of the Fig Tree, Temple Controversies (March 31, AD 33) Matt 21:20-25:46; Mark 11:20-13:37; Luke 20:1-21:36 On the following day, Jesus and His disciples pass by the fig tree Jesus had cursed the previous day. When Jesus’ followers notice that the tree had withered, Jesus challenges them to have faith in God;… Read More