As Christ’s
ministry came to a close, He made a decision to go back to the city.
His apostles knew that going back was a death sentence for him and
possibly for them. The apostle who becomes known for doubting what he
should have had faith in, “Doubting Thomas”, convinces the group
that it is worth it to go with Christ and die with him than to not go
at all, “Let us also go that we may die with him.” Christ’s
apostles were almost prepared to head up his church when he was gone.
Much happened the last week of Christ’s mortal ministry.
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Day 1
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Day 2
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Day 3
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Day 4
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Day 5
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Day 6
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Day 7 (Sabbath)
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Day of the Resurrection
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Jesus rode through the city gates on
a donkey.
Those who knew him shouted
“Hosanna”.
Jesus went to the temple and took note of what he saw there,
then retired for the night.
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Jesus went back to the temple and drove the money changers from
the outer courtyard, in effect challenging the Jewish leadership.
“My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made
it a den of thieves.
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The priests of the temple found
Jesus and questioned him about his authority to do the things he
did the day before. Jesus publicly denounces them and condemns
them. They begin to plan how to bring about Jesus’s death until
one of Jesus’s own apostles offers to betray him. Jesus begins
teaching only his apostles.
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This day is spent outside the city. Jesus knew of the plot and
of what his apostle had done. Other than that, not much is said
about this day.
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A house is privately prepared for
Christ and his apostles to commemorate the Passover. This is his
Last Supper. Jesus introduces a new ordinance, the sacrament, the
prophesied that one of them in that room would betray him. Jesus
took the 11 apostles still at dinner with him to the garden of
gethsemane, and then took Peter, James, and John right outside
where he would pray, to wait for him. He proceeded to pray and
suffer for the sins of the world.
Jesus was betrayed by Judas that night.
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Jesus was brought to an illegal trial (the night before) and
charged with blasphemy and sedition against the state. The leaders
of the Jews were trying to discredit him before the Jews and then
incite the crowd to order his execution. Jesus was crucified and
“gave up his spirit”. Jesus’s body was removed from the
cross and buried in a sealed tomb by two disciples.
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Jesus’s body remained in the tomb while, in spirit, he
ministered to the realm of departed spirits.
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This is the day the word “gospel”, “good news”. Jesus
Christ emerged from the tomb, alive, and appeared before Mary and
was seen again by many. Christ was resurrected providing a way for
us to be one day too.
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