THE LAST SIX DAYS IN THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST

LEADING UP TO HIS CRUCIFIXTION

THIS IS A VALUABLE SERMON RELATING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT PASSOVER, WHETHER YOU OBSERVE THE EARLY NEW TESTAMENT PASSOVER (AS THE APOSTLE JOHN, POLYCARP AND POLICRATES DID ON THE 14^TH NISAN,) OR PARTAKE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS, AS MOST CHRISTIANS DO TODAY.

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DISCERNING THE LORD'S BODY

This Passover (1986) happens on just the same day of the week as it did on the day Christ died in 30 A.D. [Wednesday, 14th Nisan 30 A.D./ Wednesday, 23 April 86.]

“[To view an extensive research paper proving this date of 30AD, log onto http://www.biblestudy.org/maturart/calendar-used-by-jesus-and-apostles-1.html ]”

I Corinthians 11:27-30. "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." [cf. II Corinthians 13:5. "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless you are disqualified." i.e. Examine yourselves to see if Jesus Christ is in you, i.e. examine yourselves to see if you have the Holy Spirit functioning in you, leading you, cf. Romans 8:14. This is a slightly different type of examination from what we were used to back in 1986 and before. Just cataloguing all our individual sins can be very depressing, and is not the kind of examination God is calling for. He is calling for us to examine whether his Holy Spirit is active in us! And if it isn't, to make it so, to stir it up. Then you are prepared for Passover or Lord's Super.

Dictionary definition: Discern: To perceive, as with sight or mind; recognize; apprehend. To descriminate mentally; recognize as separate and different. To distinguish.

In Hebrew there are five meanings for discern:

1. To separate mentally, observe.
2. To be acquainted with.
3. To scrutinize.
4. To have an experience with.
5. To hear, witness.

In the Greek there are three definitions for discern:

1. To separate thoroughly.
2. To test, prove.
3. To examine.

Jesus Christ and what he went through should be real to you. You must understand his death and what he did for us through his sacrifice. Isaiah 52:13-15. "Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, so his visage was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men; so shall he sprinkle [startle] many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at him; for what had not been told them they shall see. And what they had not heard they shall consider." Isaiah 53:1-12. "Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see him there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from him; he was despised, and we did not esteem him. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare his generation? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people he was stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked--but with the rich at his death, because he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he has put him to grief. When you make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see the travail of his soul, and be satisfied. By his knowledge my righteous Servant shall justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul unto death, and he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

A good portion of the four gospels are about or cover the last six days of the life of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 21-26 (just over one fifth),
Mark 11-16 (one third of the book of Mark),
Luke 19-23 (one fifth),
John 11-21 (half the book of John).

Jews from around the world custimarily would come early to Jerusalem to purify themselves for that year's coming Passover. They were asking about Christ on this year of 30 A.D. His fame had reached out around the known world to them. John 11:54-57. "Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with his disciples. And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, 'What do you think--that he will not come to the feast?' Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it, that they might seize him."

THURSDAY NIGHT, 8 Nisan 30 A.D.: John 12:1-11. "Then, six days before the Passover [which occured on 14 Nisan, (14-6=8)], Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom he had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot [Ish Kiriot, man from Kiriot], Simon's son, who would betray him, said, 'Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii [about one year's wages for a worker] and given to the poor?' This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. Then Jesus said, 'Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of my burial. For the poor you have with you always, but me you do not have always.' Then a great many of the Jews knew that he was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests took counsel that they might also put Lazarus to death, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus."

FRIDAY, 9 Nisan 30 A.D.: Palm Sunday never occured on a Sunday. Christ arrived at the home of Lazarus in Bethany Thursday night. John 12:12-19 is a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9--a powerful moving entry into Jerusalem. The masses were behind Christ. It was the Jewish religious leadership who weren't. They were scared of Jesus Christ, and of loosing their power. John 12:12-19. "The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, and cried out:

'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!'

Then Jesus, when he had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:

'Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt.' [Isaiah 53:1]

His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him and that they had done these things to him. Therefore the people, who were with him when he called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For this reason the people also met him, because they heard that he had done this sign. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, 'You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!'" Mark 11:1-11. "Now when they came near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent out two of his disciples; and he said to them, `Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here.' So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street and they loosed it. And some of those who stood there said to them, 'What are you doing, loosing the colt?' So they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. And they let them go. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their garments on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'

And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when he looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve."

THE SABBATH, SATURDAY, 10 Nisan 30 A.D.: Mark 11:12-19. "Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, he went to see if perhaps he would find something on it. And when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, 'Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.' And his disciples heard it. So they came to Jerusalem. And Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold doves. And he would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then he taught, saying, to them, 'Is is not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? [Isaiah 56:7] But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' [Jeremiah 7:11] And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy him; for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his teaching. And when evening had come, he went out of the city."

This could have been Christ's sermon in the Temple that Sabbath day (it comes in chronological order of where he was at the time):

John 12:23-50. "But Jesus answered them, saying, 'The hour has come that the Son of man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, let him follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, him my Father will honor. Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.' Then came a voice from heaven, saying, 'I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.' Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, 'An angel has spoken to him.' Jesus answered and said, 'This voice did not come because of me, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to myself.' This he said, signifying by what death he would die. The people answered him, 'We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can you say, 'The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?' Then Jesus said to them, 'A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.' These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. But although he had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:

'Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?'

Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:

'He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, Lest they should see with their eyes and understand with their heart, Lest they should turn, so that I should heal them.'

These things Isaiah said when he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Then Jesus cried out and said, 'He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And he who sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority; but the Father who sent me gave me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that his command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father told me, so I speak.'"

SUNDAY, 11 Nisan 30 A.D.: Christ goes back to the Temple, the religious leaders try to discredit Christ publicly in front of the many thousands gathered around the Temple. They were waiting for him inside the Temple and probably stepped in front of him. Mark 11:27-33. "Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him. And they said to him, 'By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority to do these things?' But Jesus answered and said to them, 'I will also ask you one question; then answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John--was it from heaven or from men? Answer me.' And they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 'But if we say, 'From men'--they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. So they answered and said to Jesus, 'We do not know.' And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

The Pharisees try to discredit Christ next:

Matthew 22:15-22. "Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do you care about anyone, for you do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do you think? Is is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? But Christ perceived their wickedness, and said, 'Why do you test me, you hypocrites? Show me the tax money.' So they brought him a denarius. And when he said to them, 'Whose image and inscription is this?' They said to him, 'Caesar's.' And he said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.' When they heard these words, they marveled, and left him and went their way."

The Sadducees try next:

Matthew 22:23-33. "The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him, saying, 'Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. And last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.' Jesus answered and said to them, 'You are mistaken, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection [he is talking of the first resurrection. cf. I Cor. 15:49-54] they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels of God in heaven. But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?' God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."

The Pharisees try one last time:

Matthew 22:34-46. "But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him, and saying, 'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. [Deuteronomy 6:5] The second is like to it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' [Leviticus 19:18] On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.' While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, 'What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is he?' They said to him 'The Son of David.' He said to them, 'How then does David in the Spirit call him 'Lord,' saying:

'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, Till I make your enemies Your footstool.' [Psalm 110:1]

'If David then calls him 'Lord,' how is he his Son?' And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question him anymore."

Cross reference to Matthew 22:15-46 is Mark 12:12-37. Mark 12:12-37. "And they sought to lay hold of him, but feared the multitude, for they knew he had spoken the parable against them. So they left him and went away. Then they sent to him some of the Pharisees and Herodians, to catch him in his words. When they had come, they said to him, 'Teacher, we know that you are true, and care about no one; for you do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?' But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, 'Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius that I may see it.' So they brought it. And he said to them, 'Whose image and inscription is this?' And they said to him, 'Ceasar's.' Then Jesus answered and said to them, 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.' And they marveled at him.

Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him; and they asked him, saying: 'Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.' Jesus answered and said to them, 'Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels in heaven. But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?' He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.'

Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, 'Which is the first commandment of all?' Jesus answered him, 'The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength [Deuteronomy 6:4-5]. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' [Leviticus 19:18]. There is no other commandment greater than these.' So the scribe said to him, 'Well said, Teacher, you have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but he. And to love him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.' So when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' And after that no one dared question him.

Then Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, 'How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Spirit:

'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool."'

'Therefore David himself calls him 'Lord', how is he then his Son?' And the common people heard him gladly."

The whole city is alive with Jewish leaders who don't want to follow Christ. The people, the masses are with Christ, not against him. Now all the leaders want to destroy Christ, especially after this next discourse. Matthew 23:1-39. "Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, saying: 'The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their work; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' But you, do not be called 'Rabbi,' for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, he who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses [vs 14], and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.' Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.' Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law; justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and unrighteousness. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.' Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see me no more till you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'[psalm 118:26].'"

Then in Matthew 24, the whole chapter, he gave a private discourse on the 2nd coming of the Messiah.

MONDAY, 12 NISAN 30 A.D.: Two days and one night before the evening when Christ celebrated the first New Testament Passover (which was kept 24 hours before the Jews celebrated their Passover or Sedar). Mark 14:1-11. "After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by trickery and put him to death. But they said, 'Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.' And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. And she broke the flask and poured it on his head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, 'Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.' And they criticized her sharpely. But Jesus said, 'Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint my body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the whole world, what this woman did will also be spoken of as a memorial to her.' Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray him to them. So when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray him."

TUESDAY, 13TH NISAN, 30 A.D.: This Tuesday at evening, after the day had passed, was the Passover that Christ observed, 24 hours earlier than when the Jews were going to observe it. The next day would be Passover day, the 14th of Nisan. Christ had to send in a few disciples to prepare the Passover. He can no longer move about without being seen or recognized. Mark 14:12-16. "Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, 'Where do you want us to go and prepare, that you may eat the Passover?' So he sent out two of his disciples and said to them, 'Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. And wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, "The Teacher says, 'Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'" Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.' And his disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as he had said to them; and they prepared the Passover."

That brings us up to the Passover and Christ's illegal arrest and crucifiction. It was illegal by Jewish law to arrest someone at night or to have legal meetings at night, but the Jewish leaders had to attempt to solidify their case against Christ and get as many leaders behind them, Roman and otherwise (Pilot and Herod) before the crowds gathered that Passover Day.

The scriptures covering Tuesday and Wednesday are:

Matthew 26:20-75. Matthew 27:1-66.
Mark 14:16-72. Mark 15:1-47.

Luke 23:1-56. (This "Sabbath Day" being spoken of in Luke 23 was the High Day, or Holy Day, the First Day of Unleavened Bread (15th Nisan), not an ordinary weekly Sabbath (Saturday).

John 13:1-37. John 18:1-40. John 19:1-34. Mark 16:1-20.

Matthews Account

PASSOVER, TUESDAY NIGHT, NISAN 13/14: Matthew 26:20-75. "Now when evening had come, he sat down with the twelve. Now as they were eating, he said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.' And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to him, 'Lord, is it I?' Then he answered and said, 'He who dipped his hand with me in the dish will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.' Then Judas, who was betraying him, answered and said, 'Rabbi, is it I?' He said to him, 'You have said it.' And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body.' Then he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.' And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Then Jesus said to them, 'All of you will be made to stumble because of me this night, for it is written:

'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.' Peter answered and said to him, 'Even if all are made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.' Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.' Peter said to him, 'Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you!' And so said all the disciples. Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane [olive press], and said to the disciples, 'Sit here while I go and pray over there.' And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and he began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then he said to them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.' He went a little farther and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, 'O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.' Then he came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, 'What, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.' He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, 'O my Father, if this cup cannot pass away from me unless I drink it, Your will be done.' And he came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So he left them, went away again, and prayed a third time, saying the same words. Then he came to his disciples and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, he who betrays me is at hand.'

And while he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying, 'Whomever I kiss, he is the one; seize him.' Then immediately he went up to Jesus and said, 'Greetings, Rabbi!' and kissed him. And Jesus said to him, 'Friend, why have you come?' Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus [I suspect Peter] stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, 'Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray my Father, and he will provide me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen thus?' In that hour Jesus said to the multitude, 'Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize me. But all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.' Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.

And those who had laid hold of Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end. Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'" And the high priest arose and said to him, 'Do you answer nothing? What is it that these men testify against you?' But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to him, 'I adjure you by the living God that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.' Jesus said to him, 'It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.' Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, 'He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard his blasphemy! What do you think?' They answered and said, 'He is deserving of death.' Then they spat in his face and beat him; and others struck him with the palms of their hands, saying, 'Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck you?'

Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, 'You also were with Jesus of Galilee.' But he denied it before them all, saying, 'I do not know what you are saying.' And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there. 'This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.' But again he denied with an oath, 'I do not know the man!' And after a while those who stood by came to him and said to Peter, 'Surely you also are one of them, because your speech betrays you.' Then he began to curse and swear, saying, 'I do not know the man!' And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him. 'Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.' Then he went out and wept bitterly."

Matthew 27:1-66. "When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that he had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.' And they said, 'What is that to us? You see to it!' Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, 'It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.' And they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed."

Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked him, saying, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' So Jesus said to him, 'It is as you say.' And while he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then Pilate said to him, 'Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?' And he answered him not a word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

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