Jesus’ last week: A guide to prayer

We’ve arrived at Holy Week, ushered in yesterday on Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. As I outline in my book, The Living Cross, one way to approach Holy Week is to consider each day what Jesus experienced, being conscious throughout the day of the unfolding events. I compiled the following based on what I found in Michael J. Wilkins, The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew (Zondervan, 2004), pp. 
709–10.

Saturday (8 April)

• Evening celebration; Mary anoints Jesus (John 12:2–8)

Palm Sunday (9 April)

• Entry into Jerusalem, with the crowds bearing palm branches (Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–10, John 12:12–18)
• Visit to the temple (Mark 11:11)
• Return to Bethany (Matthew 21:17; Mark 11:11)

Monday (10 April)

• Cursing the fig tree while going to Jerusalem (Matthew 21:18–22)
• Clearing the temple (Mark 11:15–17)
• Return to Bethany (Mark 11:19)

Tuesday (11 April)

• Reaction to the cursing of the fig tree while going back to Jerusalem (Mark 11:20–21)
• Debates with the religious leaders in Jerusalem and teaching in the temple (Matthew 21:23—23:39; Mark 11:27—12:44)
• Talk about future times on the Mount of Olives as they return to Bethany (Matthew 24:1—25:46; Mark 13:1–37)

Wednesday (12 April)

• Jesus and the disciples remain in Bethany
• Judas returns to Jerusalem to plan for his betrayal of Jesus (Matthew 
26:14–16; Mark 14:10–11)

Thursday (13 April)

• Preparations for Passover (Matthew 26:17–19; Mark 14:12–16)
• Passover meal and Last Supper (Matthew 26:20–35; Mark 14:17–26)
• Farewell discourse with his disciples (John 13—17)
• Praying in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36–46; Mark 
14:32–42)

Good Friday (14 April)

• Perhaps in the very early hours, betrayal by Judas and arrest (Matthew 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–52)
• Jewish trial—three phases: appearing before Annas (John 18:13–24), before Caiaphas and part of the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57–75; Mark 14:53–65), and before the fully assembled Sanhedrin (Matthew 27:1–2; Mark 15:1)
• Roman trial—three phases: appearing before Pilate (Matthew 27:2–14; Mark 15:2–5), Herod Antipas (Luke 23:6–12) and Pilate again (Matthew 27:15–26; Mark 15:6–15)
• Crucifixion (Matthew 27:27–66; Mark 15:16–39)

Holy Saturday (15 April)

• (Waiting.)

Resurrection Sunday (16 April)

• Witnesses to the resurrection (Matthew 28:1–8; Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–12)
• Resurrection appearances (Matthew 28:9–20; Luke 24:13–52; John 20—21)