Greater Friendship Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Derrick L. Miles, Pastor
A Theological Treatise of Passion Week
Passion Week – What is it?
Passion Week (also called Holy Week) takes place between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday (Resurrection Sunday). Why is it called “Passion Week”? This name represents the passion with which Jesus willingly went to the cross. He did this to pay for your sins—the sins of all of His people. To study the biblical accounts of Passion Week, read the following chapters: Matthew 21-27; Mark 11-15; Luke 19-23; and John 12-19.
Day One: Sunday. __________________________________________________________ (Mt. 21; Mk. 11; Lk. 19; Jn. 12).
1. Jesus rides triumphantly into Jerusalem on a donkey fulfilling an ancient
prophecy (Zech. 9:9). The people welcome Him with "Hosanna" and the
words of Psalm 118:25-26.
2. Jesus, at this moment is officially presenting Himself to the nation as the
Messiah. This date according to the Jewish calendar, was Nisan 10, the
day pilgrims presented their paschal lambs for examination.
Day Two: Monday. _______________________________________________________ (Mt.21; Mk.11; Lk.19).
On this day Jesus returns to Jerusalem (He spends each night in Bethany). On
the way He curses the fig-tree, a highly symbolic act. He then enters the
Temple and chases out the corrupt money-changers. This shows His Messianic
authority (My Father's House) and fulfills another prophecy that implies the
Messiah will appear there suddenly and take possession of it. (See Mal. 3:1).
They then return to Bethany. On the way home they see the withered fig-tree. Mary Anoints Jesus feet. John 12:2-8. Judas makes a deal to betray Jesus. Luke 22:3-6
Day Three: Tuesday.____________________________________________________________
On this day Jesus personally confronts the authorities and defends His claims
to be the Messiah. The occasion for their questions was His violent action the
previous day. Mark's gospel gives the most detailed account (Mk. 11:27-
13:37). The day ends with Jesus pronouncing a curse on the city and
announcing that the Kingdom will be taken away from the nation (explains the
significance of the cursed fig-tree). See Matt. 23. On the return to Bethany the
Disciples are loaded with questions. Jesus stops at the Mount of Olives
overlooking the temple, and gives the Olivet Discourse. See Matt. 24,25;
Lk.21:5ff. The Olivet Discourse is a detailed prophecy largely about the
coming destruction Jerusalem and the temple due to the rejection of Jesus as
Messiah by the Jewish authorities.
Day Four: Wednesday. __________________________________________________________
After an exhausting day of controversy, Jesus more than likely spends this day
resting and visiting with His intimate friends. This is the day that Judas finishes his deal of betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. (Matt.26:1-5; 14-16; 17-19).This day is also called Spy Wednesday
Day Five: Thursday. ___________________________________________________________
1. On this day (and perhaps on the previous day) preparation is made for the
Passover. Jesus washes His disciples feet. John 13:1-5
2. The Passover is celebrated on Thursday evening in an upper room. Tradition has it that it was owned by Mark's parents. At the end of the Jewish feast, Jesus institutes the Last Supper
(Matt. 14:12-26; Lk. 22:17-23).
3. The Last Supper is followed by the Upper Room Discourse (Jn. 13-17).
The Last Supper, which took place hours before the Lord’s crucifixion—was a Seder (Passover observance). Previously, the feast’s symbols had only pointed back to the Hebrews’ redemption from Egypt. But that Thursday night, Jesus revealed the messianic significance of two symbols: bread and wine.
In a Seder, a cloth bag with separate compartments holds three sheets of matzoh, or unleavened bread. The middle matzoh is removed and split. One half is broken and distributed; the other is wrapped in a napkin, hidden, and bought back after it is found.
Breaking the bread, Jesus said, “Take, eat; this is My body” (Matthew 26:26). In Scripture, leaven symbolizes sin, so bread without yeast represents holy God. In the divided bag, matzohs are unified yet distinct—a picture of the Trinity. The middle bread signifies the Son, who left His Father’s side to dwell among us (Galatians 4:4) and was broken for mankind (Isaiah 53:5), wrapped in a burial cloth (Matthew 27:59), hidden in a tomb (v. 60), and resurrected (28:6). Our redemption was, indeed, costly (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Wine, the other symbol Jesus highlighted, is poured four times at a Seder. Scholars believe it is the third cup—known as the cup of redemption—that He called “My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:27–28).
When speaking about Jesus, follow His example of meeting people where they are in their understanding and then leading them to deeper awareness. And as you next take Communion, look back on what Christ did for you, look forward to His return, and remember He is our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7).
4. Sometime in the evening, after the Passover, Jesus and His disciples leave
the Upper Room and go to Gethsemane, a place near the Mt. of Olives
where it was a custom for Jesus to Pray (Matt. 26:36-460).
5. While in the Garden, Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested by the temple
guards (Jn. 18:2-12).
6. The Trials begin. Before dawn Jesus is tried twice before Annas and then
Caiaphas. Everything about these trials is illegal.
Day Six: Friday. _______________________________________________________________
1. Jesus' third trial is held early in the morning before the Sanhedrin. The
first three trials were before the religious authorities where He is found
guilty.
2. Jesus is then taken before Pilate (the fourth trial) where He is found
innocent. He is subsequently taken to Herod who also finds Him innocent
(the fifth), and then back to Pilate who again finds Him innocent (the
sixth) but relents under pressure, perhaps fearing an uprising.. He notes
on the sign on the cross that His crime was being the King of the Jews. He
probably did this to avoid trouble with Rome (No king but Caesar).
3. About 9:00 AM. Jesus is crucified under a hill called The Skull outside the
city. (Matthew 27:39) While we cannot know for certain it is likely that this is the site
where God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Issac. At noon, the sky
becomes dark, due to supernatural darkness. The darkness is highly symbolic of the Father turning His back on the one He had earlier called My beloved son. During that time
the Savior experienced hell for us. Hell is to be utterly forsaken by God.
4. At 3:00 PM Jesus utters the most important words to believers when he
cries with a loud voice: It is finished. The phrase literally means Paid in
full The spotless Son of God became sin for us! Isa. 53:5,6. Jesus gives
up His life and fulfills the typology of the Passover Lamb at exactly the
time the lambs were being slaughtered in the Temple. The veil is rent in
the Temple (Mk. 15:38). Jesus was on the cross 6 hours.
5. Jesus is laid in Joseph's tomb before the Sabbath began at sunset, or
around 6:00 PM.
Day Seven Saturday. ___________________________________________________________
Resurrection Day. __________________________________________________________ Any Part of any day is a day. The Father raises the Son from the dead sometime early Sunday morning, possibly before dawn. Luke 24:1-9 In doing so, He
fulfills the typology of the Firstfruits (I Cor. 15:23. M att. 28:1-13).
Through His death believers are justified, that is, the perfect righteousness
of the Son is imputed to sinners, and through His resurrection we can be
assured that the sacrifice of the Lamb of God was accepted by a Holy God,
and therefore, our resurrection is certain.
Christ Jesus died on the Cross to redeem mankind, to save us from our sins, because He loves us.
As recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Holy Bible, Jesus Christ was mocked, scorned, and tortured in the praetorium. He carried his cross up the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem to Calvary, nailed to the Cross, hung between two common criminals, and suffered an indescribable end, recalled by the Church on Good Friday of Holy Week.
One may meditate on the Passion of Christ by reflecting on his Seven Words on the Cross
or by a devotion known as the Way of the Cross.
When religious pilgrimages to the Holy Land ended with military occupation of Jerusalem in the Middle Ages, a popular devotion known as the Way of the Cross arose during Lent retracing the Passion, Crucifixion, and Death of Jesus. The fourteen stations of the Cross are (1) Pilate condemns Jesus to death; (2) Jesus takes up his Cross; (3) He falls the first time; (4) Jesus meets his sorrowful mother Mary; (5) Simon helps carry the cross; (6) Veronica cleans his face; (7) He falls the second time; (8) Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem; (9) He falls the third time; (10) Jesus is stripped of his garments; (11) Jesus is nailed to the cross; (12) Jesus Christ dies on the cross; (13) He is taken down from the cross; (14) Christ is laid in the tomb.
Here are his Seven Words, the last seven expressions of Jesus Christ on the Cross recorded in Scripture.
THE FIRST WORD
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."
Gospel of Luke 23:34
THE SECOND WORD
"Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Gospel of Luke 23:43
THE THIRD WORD
"Jesus said to his mother: "Woman, this is your son".
Then he said to the disciple: "This is your mother."
THE FOURTH WORD
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34
THE FIFTH WORD "I thirst" Gospel of John 19:28
THE SIXTH WORD
When Jesus had received the wine, he said,
"It is finished";
and he bowed his head and handed over the spirit.
Gospel of John 19:30
THE SEVENTH WORD
Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit":
Gospel of Luke 23:46
THE RESURRECTION APPEARANCES OF JESUS
| Event | Time | Scriptures | Activities |
| Visit of the women to the tomb of Jesus | Golgotha & Bethany, our late Saturday afternoon and early evening (A.D. 30 (or 29) | Mk. 16:1; Matt. 28:1 | They watch the tomb late on Sabbath (our Sat. afternoon; purchase the spices after the Sabbath ends at 6 PM |
| Earthquake, rolling away of the stone | Before sunrise on the Sunday after the death of Christ | Matt. 28:2-4 | Great earthquake in Jerusalem, angel of the Lord rolled away the stone, Roman soldiers became as dead men |
| Visit of the women to the tomb | Golgotha, early Sunday morning about sunrise | Mk. 16:2-8; Matt. 28:5-8; Lk. 24:1-8; Jn. 20:1 | Women visit the tomb of Jesus. Angels announce that Jesus has risen. |
| Mary Magdalene and women report to the apostles | Early in the morning | Lk. 24:9-12; Jn. 20:2-10 | The women report the happenings at the tomb of Jesus to the apostles, John and Peter run to the tomb and make observations |
| Appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene | Jerusalem on Sunday | Mk. 16:9-11; Jn. 20:11-18 | Five appearances are given as occurring on the day of JesusÂ’ resurrection, and five are given subsequently during the forty days. The five on the day of His resurrection were: (1) to Mary Magdalene; (2) to the other women; (3) the two going to Emmaus; (4) to Simon Peter; (5) the ten apostles. |
| Appearance of Jesus to the other women | Jerusalem on Sunday | Matt. 28:9-10 | The women worship the resurrected Jesus. |
| Guards report to Jewish authorities | Probably Sunday morning | Matt. 28:11-15 | Soldiers were paid to keep quiet and lie about JesusÂ’ body. |
| Appearance to two on road to Emmaus | Sunday afternoon | Mk. 16:12, 13; Lk. 24:13-32 | Jesus reveals Himself to two disciples walking along the road. They recognize Him as He breaks bread and blesses it. |
| Appearance to Simon Peter | Jerusalem, Sunday evening | Lk. 24:33-35; I Cor. 15:5 | Two disciples give their report and hear of Jesus appearance to Simon. |
| Appearance to disciples without Thomas | Jerusalem, Sunday evening
| Mk. 16:14; Lk. 24:36-43; Jn. 20:19-25 | Jesus appears to all of the disciples except Thomas in the upper room. |
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| Appearance to Thomas and the disciples | Jerusalem, Sunday night a week later | Jn. 20:26-31; I Cor. 15:5 | Jesus appears to Thomas who then worships Jesus. |
| Appearance to the seven disciples at the Sea of Galilee | Some time after the resurrection day and before the ascension at the Sea of Galilee | John 21 | Miraculous catch of fish |
| Appearance to over 500 in Galilee | Mountain side in Galilee | Mk. 16:15-18; Matt. 28:16-20; I Cor. 15:6 | Over 500 see Jesus and worship Him. Jesus gives His commission to His followers. |
| Appearance to James, the brother of Jesus |
| I Cor. 15:7 |
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| Appearance to disciples with another commission | Jerusalem | Lk. 24:44-49; Acts 1:3-8 | Jesus teaches them He is the fulfillment of O. T. prophecies and another commission. |
| Last appearance and the Ascension | On Olivet between Jerusalem and Bethany | Mk. 16:19-20; Lk. 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-12 | Jesus blessed those who were gathered and was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight. |