Key Events in the Scripture – Matthew 21-27
Countdown to the Resurrection and the holy week are referred to as the events leading to the preparation by Jesus, entering of the city, His crucifixion, and His resurrection. We hope this will help shed some light on the days leading up to this great event and allow you to pause and think on the event as you believe it would have unfolded. The pause can be a time of reflection and a time of gratitude to the one that gave everything so you could have everything through Him. Each year you can follow along and remember.
Sunday – 7 Days before Resurrection (Map 3)
Palm Sunday – Matthew 21: 1-11
Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem riding on a donkey as the scripture foretold the Messiah would. (Zechariah 9:9). As he entered the city, people laid palm branches and their cloaks for him to cross over. They sang and shouted to him saying “Hosanna” and “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Today, palm branches are used in ceremonies and then burned the next year on Ash Wednesday to mark the forehead of believers. The King has Arrived!
Monday – 6 Days before Resurrection (Map 4)
Clearing of the Temple – Matthew 21: 12-46
After Jesus entered the city, He visited the temple. When He entered, He found that vendors and money changers had setup benches inside the temple. This was considered a desecration of the temple which was a house of prayer. Jesus also demonstrated His pure faith by cursing a fig tree which did not provide Him with fruit. You must be sure to keep your own temple clean (your heart and mind) which can be done with faith that Jesus is the Son of God and lived so you can follow His example.
Tuesday – 5 Days before Resurrection (Map 6)
Confrontation of the Jewish Leaders – Matthew 23-25
Jesus faces off with the Jewish leaders as they were hypocrites. Jesus made it very clear that the Jewish leaders were very good at preaching the laws of Moses but were very bad at following them themselves. As His observations continued, He spoke as if the leaders were playing a part in a show vs leading the people of the time. Jesus proceeds to tell them that to be truly exalted, they must be humble.
Wednesday – 4 Days before Resurrection
Bribery of Judas – Matthew 26: 14-16
Judas was convinced to betray Jesus with a bribe and his intentions are called out in the Passover Meal, now known as the Last Supper. Judas worked with the chief priests to bargain a money trade for Jesus. After the meal, Judas left with the knowledge of where Jesus would be so he could be betrayed. In John 17:12, Jesus talks about only losing one disciple who is doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
Thursday – 3 Days before Resurrection (Map 7)
Celebration of Passover – The Last Supper – Matthew 26: 17-75
Tonight is the giving of the new covenant with the world from the bread being the Body of Christ and the wine being His Blood in the first Communion. Also on this day is the last lesson of humility where Jesus humbles himself to wash the feet of His Disciples. Judas betrayed Jesus this night, Jesus is taken, and from that moment on, He is in custody until his Crucifixion. Many of the Disciples scatter as does the sheep when the shepherd is away. Peter watches for Jesus from the shadows and tries to blend in to the crowds but is challenged. During the night, Peter denies knowing Jesus three times and just as Jesus foretold, the rooster crowed. Peter was devastated but was later reinstated by Jesus after His resurrection.
Friday – 2 Days before Resurrection (Map 12)
Good Friday – Day of Jesus Christ’s Crucifixion – Matthew 27
Today is the trial, Jesus was flogged, and then handed over to be crucified. Jesus was mocked by the Roman guards and disgraced. He was then helped to carry His cross to the place that he would be crucified. At Golgotha, he was nailed to the cross and He hung there until he was dead. When He gave up the Spirit, the earth shook, tombs broke open, and the curtain in the temple tore from top to bottom. Also, many holy people who had previously died were raised to life. Good Friday is only called good Friday because it lead to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus was laid to rest in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea (Map 13). With the sabbath approaching fast, the burial could not be finished completely.
Saturday – 1 Day before Resurrection (Jewish Sabbath) (Map 13)
Holy Saturday – Romans Guard the Tomb – Matthew 27: 62-66
On this day, the Roman guards watch the tomb of Jesus at the request of the chief priests who believed that the followers of Jesus would come and take His body and claim He rose from the dead. They sealed the tomb and left guards.
Sunday – Day of the Resurrection (First day of week) (Map 13)
Easter Sunday – He Has Risen – Matthew 28
Early in the morning on this day, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, went to the tomb to complete the burial of Jesus by anointing the body. When they arrived, there was a violent earth quake and an Angle come from the Heavens and rolled the stone away from in front of the tomb. The Angle told the Mary’s that Jesus had risen as He said He would. As they were returning, they met Jesus (Map 14) who told them to tell the Disciples to go to Galilee where He would meet them. As for the soldiers guarding the tomb, they were told by the chief priests to say, and paid to lie, that the Disciples came and took the body during the night. Jesus met the Disciples in Galilee and told them He would be with them until the end of the age.
