The week leading to the crucifixion & resurrection

If we consider the Gospel of John a sort of “Day Planner” for Jesus, we have nearly complete activity recorded for two weeks of the earthly ministry of Jesus. The first is in John 1:19—2:11 where activity for six of the seven days is recorded. I think the omitted day is the Sabbath.

The next nearly complete week is the last week, leading up to the resurrection. John gives more attention to the last week than any other Gospel. Even here we have activities for only six of eight days. This section begins in John 12:1 and continues into John 20. Here is the way I have reconstructed it. Where John does not record the activity I have omitted the scripture reference.

• Sunday — The King enters Jerusalem — 12:12-19
• Monday — Cleansing the Temple —
• Tuesday — Visit of the Greeks — 12:20-36
• Tuesday — Jewish rejection — 12:37-50
• Wednesday — No events recorded in the Gospels
• Thursday Evening — Passover Meal, including Washing Disciples Feet (only in John) — 13:1-38
• Thur. Eve — Farewell discourses — 14—16
• Thur. Eve — Prayer — 17
• Thur. Eve — Annas (only in John) — 18:12-14
• Thur. Eve — Caiaphas — 18:24-28
• Friday — Pilate — 18:28—19:16
• Friday — Crucifixion — 19:16-42
• Sabbath —
• First Day — Resurrection — 20

It should be noted that the appearance before Annas and Caiaphas were the Jewish (Religious) trials. The appearance before Pilate [and Herod Antipas] were the Roman (Civil) trials.

The Second Temple Model at the Israel Museum shows the location of the Palace of Herod Antipas and the Praetorium of Pontius Pilate. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

John does not record the pronouncement of woes on the religious leaders, the institution of the Lord’s Supper, and the account of the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

With this sparse attention given to two weeks, no wonder John says,

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. (John 21:25 ESV)

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Updated from earlier posts