Holy Week Timeline
The week of Jesus’ crucifixion is called “Passion Week,” after the Greek verb pascho, meaning “to suffer.” It began with his triumphal, popularly acclaimed entry into Jerusalem, and it culminated in his atoning death on the cross, his burial, and his resurrection. Today, the Church around the world celebrates those crucial days, now called “Holy Week.” Its sequence of observances outlines the events of this central event in the Bible:
Timeline of Passion Week
LOCATION: Bethany, the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem
The Roman road climbed steeply to the crest of the Mount of Olives, affording spectacular views of the Desert of Judea to the east and of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley to the west.
1. FRIDAY: Arrival in Bethany
John 12:1
Jesus arrived in Bethany six days before the Passover to spend some time with his friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Here Mary anointed his feet with costly perfume as an act of humility. This tender expression indicated Mary’s devotion to Jesus and her willingness to serve him.
2. SATURDAY: Sabbath—Day of Rest
Nothing is mentioned in the Gospels. The Lord likely spent the Sabbath day in traditional fashion with his friends.
3. SUNDAY: The “Triumphal” Entry
Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:28–44; John 12:12–19
On the first day of the week Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling an ancient prophecy (Zechariah 9:9). The crowd welcomed him with the words of Psalm 118:25–26, thus ascribing to him a Messianic title as the agent of the Lord, the coming King of Israel.
4. MONDAY: Clearing of the Temple
Matthew 21:12–17; Mark 11:15–18; Luke 19:45–48
Jesus returned to the temple and found the court of the Gentiles full of traders and money changers making a large profit. Jesus drove them out and overturned their benches and tables.
5. TUESDAY: Day of Controversy and Parables
Matthew 21:23—24:51; Mark 11:27—13:37; Luke 20:1—21:36
In Jerusalem, Jesus evaded the traps set by the priests.
Tuesday afternoon, on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem, Jesus taught in parables and warned the people against the Pharisees. He predicted the destruction of Herod’s great temple and told his disciples about future events, including his own return.
6. WEDNESDAY: Day of Rest
Although the Gospels do not mention this day, the counting of the days (Mark 14:1; John 12:1) seems to indicate that there was another day about which the Gospels record nothing.
7. THURSDAY: Passover, Last Supper
Matthew 26:17–30; Mark 14:12–26; Luke 22:7–23
In an upper room Jesus prepared both himself and his disciples for his death. He gave the Passover meal a new meaning. The loaf of bread and cup of wine represented his body soon to be sacrificed and his blood soon to be shed. And so he instituted the “Lord’s Supper.” After singing a hymn they went to Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in agony, knowing what lay ahead for him.
8. FRIDAY: Crucifixion
Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 22:66—23:56; John 18:28—19:37
Following betrayal, arrest, desertion, false trials, denial, condemnation, beatings and mockery, Jesus was required to carry his cross to “the place of the skull” (Matthew 27:33), where he was crucified with two other prisoners.
9. FRIDAY: In the tomb
Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb before 6:00 p.m. Friday evening, when the Sabbath began and all work stopped, and it lay in the tomb throughout the Sabbath.
10. SUNDAY: Resurrection
Matthew 28:1–10; Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–49; John 20
Early in the morning, women went to the tomb and found that the stone closing the tomb’s entrance had been rolled back. An angel told them Jesus was alive and gave them a message. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene in the garden, to Peter, to two disciples on the road to Emmaus and later that day to all the disciples but Thomas.
Prophesy is Fulfilled
Many of Christ’s Passion Week actions and experiences fulfilled Scripture:
• He rode on a young colt in humility (Matthew 21:1–5; Zechariah 9:9)
• He cleansed and judged the temple (Matthew 21:12–13; Malachi 3:1–3
• He faced accusations with silence (Matthew 26:63; Isaiah 53:7)
• He was scorned and mocked in his suffering (Matthew 27:39–44; Psalm 22:6–8) and
• He died among the wicked and was buried in the grave of a rich man (Matthew 27:57–60; Isaiah 53:9).
The prophet Isaiah foretold Jesus’ suffering in detail, describing the Lord as a sacrificial lamb (Isaiah 52:13—53:12). Jesus himself explained that his death was his purpose in coming to earth (Matthew 20:28) calling his followers to “take up their own cross daily” in sacrificial service (Luke 9:23). After his death, the apostles echoed this call when they commended the “crucified life” to their hearers (Galatians 2:20).
From the time of his final entry into Jerusalem, the Lord Jesus faced fierce opposition, physical torture and suffering, which led to his death. His choice of this path can only be explained by his love for the Father, his desire to obey his will, and his love for the lost sheep he came to find. He was determined to die a substitutionary death for our deliverance. This is the path he chose as he rode into Jerusalem.
Drawn from study notes in the NIV Study Bible and NIV Storyline Bible.
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Praised be the Lord!!! To our king and Messiah! Father thank you for sacrificial death on the cross on my behalf thank you for opening heaven for me and reconciled the world with the Father. Your sacrifice was the greatest demonstration of love!
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I believe more every day that God’s will and purpose for redemption of His children had been planned before the existence of eternity. It reveals the great love of the Father and Son. It is simply hard for our minds to understand true love. All the praise and glory to God through His son Christ Jesus. Amen
Thank you for this wonderful historical account of Christs’ activities throughout Holy Week.
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I thank God He sent His son to die for me and the world. Praise Jesus! I Love Him. Amen
Thank you Lord Jesus for dying for my sins at the cross of calvary. Your love (agape) is the greatest love of all.
Thank you to our Creator who sent His only begotten son Christ Jesus to save the world of sin. Who died on the cross for our sins, was resurrected on the third day and sits at the right hand of the Father. Where He goes to prepare a place for those who love Him. I love our Lord and Savior in Christ Jesus mighty name, Amen.
The Holy one of God Almighty and His only begotten son lay his life for me to be forgiven !!! True demonstration of love unheard of in the history of mankind. Praise be God Almighty, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen and Amen Hallelujah in the highest!!!!!!
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Thank you for explaining the Holy week clearly for us
Thank you so much for taking the time to explain what is The Holy Week. Praised be our Lord Jesus.
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This holiday and this holy week shall never be forgotten in Christian history. The search for Jesus to be crucified and the resurrection can be a turning point to redemption.
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The best way to live is by studying and sharing the word of God.