Did “Palm Sunday” take place historically on Sunday? Did the Last Supper take place on a “Maundy Thursday”? Did Jesus die on a “Good Friday”?
In Christian tradition, the Holy Week refers to the week beginning from the day when Jesus entered Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) to the day of His resurrection (Easter Sunday).
As we commemorate the death and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus this week, let us re-trace the timeline of these historical events by harmonising New Testament records with Old Testament feasts.
Before that, it is important to note that:
- The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which was the 15th day of Nisan, was a high Sabbath for a holy convocation when no laborious work was to be done (Leviticus 23:5-8).
- In the Holy Week, the high Sabbath or “high day” (John 19:31) was an extra Sabbath besides the regular Sabbath from Friday evening to Saturday evening.
- “The day of preparation” in the Holy Week could be the day of preparation for both the high Sabbath (John 19:31) and the regular Sabbath (Luke 23:54; Mark 15:42).
- Passover and the first day of Unleavened Bread could be mentioned as the same day because it overlaps on the same day “between the two evenings” at 6pm (Exodus 12:8-11; Mark 14:1,12; Luke 22:1,7).
- Jesus must keep the Passover, which was the 14th day of Nisan (Matthew 26:18).
- The full “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40) between death and resurrection must be fulfilled.
So, taking into account of the above, I believe that this is the harmonised timeline of the Holy Week in the days of Jesus:
- 9th day of Nisan (or Abib) {Wednesday evening to Thursday evening} – “Six days before the Passover” on 14th / 15th of Nisan, Jesus was having supper on Thursday “between the two evenings” at Bethany where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were (John 12:1).
- 10th day / Setting apart the lamb / Jesus entered Jerusalem {Thursday evening to Friday evening} – ‘Holy Week began’. Setting apart the lamb (Exodus 12:1-5). Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey “the next day” (John 12:12), which was Friday before the regular Sabbath began, else the people who had cut the branches from the palm trees would be violating the Sabbath (Mark 11:1-10). “After looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late” (Mark 11:11) into the Sabbath and spent the night in Bethany (Matthew 21:17).
- 11th day / Regular Sabbath {Friday evening to Saturday evening} – Jesus returned to Jerusalem “in the morning” (Matthew 21:18) “on the next day” (Mark 11:12). Cursed the fig tree. Cleansed the temple (Mark 11:12-18). When evening came, they went out of the city (Mark 11:19).
- 12th day / “the Passover and Unleavened Bread were two days away” {Sunday evening to Monday evening} – Jesus returned to Jerusalem and taught in the temple. Jesus went out of the temple and taught at the mount of Olives (Mark 11:27-13:37). Then Jesus went to Bethany.
- 13th day / Jesus at Bethany {Monday evening to Tuesday evening} – Jesus at Bethany with Simon the leper, while Judas Iscariot struck a deal with chief priests to betray Jesus (Mark 14:1-10).
- 14th day / Passover / Day of preparation / Removal of yeast / Slaughtering of the Passover lamb {Tuesday evening to Wednesday evening} – The day of preparation for the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, that is, the day of preparation for the High Sabbath (John 19:31); Last Supper on Tuesday evening, the beginning of Passover (Matthew 26:18-20; Luke 22:7-14; Mark 14:12-17); Betrayal by Judas Iscariot; Crucifixion and burial of Jesus on Wednesday evening before 6pm (Mark 15:33-47; Luke 23:44-55), which is aligned to the slaughtering of the Passover lamb “between the two evenings” just before 6pm (Exodus 12:6-7).
- 15th day / First day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread / High Sabbath or high day {Wednesday evening to Thursday evening} – High Sabbath for a holy convocation (Leviticus 23:7). Passover lamb eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs after 6pm on Wednesday “between the two evenings” (Exodus 12:8-11). The day after the preparation when the chief priest requested for the securing of the tomb (Matthew 27:62). [1st night & 1st day in the heart of the earth].
- 16th day / Normal day after the High Sabbath / Day of preparation {Thursday evening to Friday evening} – Day of preparation for regular Sabbath (Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54). Spices and perfume prepared by the women for the body of Jesus (Luke 23:56). [2nd night & 2nd day].
- 17th day / Regular Sabbath {Friday evening to Saturday evening} – The regular Sabbath (Luke 23:56). [3rd night & 3rd day].
- 18th day / Resurrection day / Waving of the sheath of first fruits {Saturday evening to Sunday evening} – After the Sabbath, as it began to dawn (while it was still dark on Sunday morning) toward the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1; Luke 24:1; John 20:1), Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection. Jesus is the first fruits of the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 15:23). Waving of the sheath of first fruits “on the day after the Sabbath” (Leviticus 23:11) speaks of Christ is accepted before God for us, and we are accepted of God in Christ.
As we can be certain from biblical accounts that the 17th and 18th day of Nisan were a regular Sabbath {Friday evening to Saturday evening} and dawn towards the first day of the week {dawn of Sunday} respectively, we can trace with certainty that the 10th day of Nisan was on Friday before the regular Sabbath; and the 14th day of Nisan, when the Last Supper and crucifixion took place, was on Tuesday evening to Wednesday evening (Matthew 27:45-46; Mark 15:33-34; Luke 23:44-46).
Thus, Jesus entered Jerusalem on Friday, the Last Supper was on Tuesday, and the death of Jesus was on Wednesday. So, instead of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, it should be Palm Friday, Maundy Tuesday, and Good Wednesday respectively.
While this biblically and historically harmonised account is important from the perspectives of biblical truth, theological harmony, and orthopraxy, it does not devalue the current tradition of commemorating Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, as long as these commemorations are not another form of religious legalism. After all, whenever we read the Gospels, or partake of the Holy Communion, we are also commemorating our Lord’s death and resurrection.
May this Holy Week draw us into deeper gratitude, greater knowledge, and stronger relationship with Jesus who lived, suffered, died, and resurrected for our reconciliation with God. May it grace us with a more passionate resolve to live for Him and walk in His footsteps, to the praise of the glory of His grace.
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