The 6th Day of Passion Week

The 6th Day of Passion Week (Author: DX, Translator: KC)

Introduction：
Friday was the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. The four Gospels have all recorded a great deal on that day. Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow in Gethsemane, and His sweat was as if it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Shortly after He was betrayed by Judas, many of the disciples forsook him and fled. Peter disavowed him three times. The soldiers mocked Him and spat on him. Wearing the crown of thorns, covered with cuts and bruises, and after a night of interrogation, Jesus carried the heavy cross and walked towards Calvary, where He was crucified.
Key Events：

• Gethsemane  

Events/Facts	Location	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
1 Jesus and his disciples headed to Mount of Olives	Jerusalem	26:30	14:26	22:39	18:1‐2
2 Jesus predicted Peter's denial	On the way to Mount Olives	26:31‐35	14:27‐31
3 Jesus Prayed in Gethsemane	Gethsemane	26:36‐46	14:32‐42	22:40‐46
4 Jesus was arrested	Gethsemane	26:47‐56	14:43‐52	22:47‐53	18:3‐12

• Interrogation

Events/Facts	Location (Jerusalem)	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
1 Anna saw Jesus	High Priest’s Palace				18:13‐14
2 Peter's First Denial	High Priestess Palace	26:58,69‐70	14:54,66‐68	22:54b‐57	18:15‐18
3 The High Priest Questioned Jesus	High Priest’s Palace				18:19‐23
4 Caiaphas Interrogated Jesus	High Priest’s Palace	26:57,59‐68	14:53,55‐65	22:54a,63‐65	18:24
5 Peter’s Second and Third Denials	High Priest’s Palace	26:71‐75	14:69‐72	22:58‐62	18:25‐27
6 Jesus Convicted	Sanhedrin Hearing			22:66‐71

• After Sanhedrin Trial

Events/Facts	Location (Jerusalem)	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
1 Jesus Before Pilate	Pilate’s Praetorium	27:1‐2,11‐14	15:1‐5	23:1‐7	18:28‐38
2 Judas' Suicide		27:3‐10
3 Jesus at Herod's court	Herod’s Court			23:8‐12
4 The Crowd Rejected Jesus	Pilate’s Praetorium	27:15‐16a	15:6‐15a	23:13‐21	18:39‐40
5 Soldiers Mocked Jesus	Pilate’s Praetorium	27:27‐31	15:16‐20		19:1‐3
6 The Crowd Again Rejected Jesus	Pilate’s Praetorium			23:22‐23	19:4‐12
7 Jesus Was Condemned Before Pilate	Gabbatha, Pilate’s Praetorium (Stone Pavement)			23:24	19:13‐15

• The Walk to Calvary

Events/Facts	Time	Location	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
1 Jesus handed over to be crucified	Friday 8 am	Pilate’s Praetorium	27:26b	15:15b	23:25	19:16
2 Simon of Cyrene Carried the Cross of Jesus	9 am	On the way to Calvary	27:32	15:21	23:26	19:17
3 Jesus Dissuaded Mourning Women	9 am	On the way to Calvary			23:27‐31
4 Two Criminals with Jesus	9 am	Calvary			23:32

• Crucifixion

Events/Facts	Time	Location	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
1 Jesus Crucified	9 am	Calvary	27:33‐35a	15:22‐24a,25	23:33a	19:18
2 Jesus’ Prayer	9 am	Calvary			23:34a
3 Jesus is Ridiculed	Morning	Calvary	27:37‐44	15:26‐32	23:33b,35‐38	19:19‐22
4 Soldiers Divided His Clothes	Morning	Calvary	27:35b‐36	15:24b	23:34b	19:23‐24
5 Criminal Saved	Morning	Calvary			23:39‐43
6 Jesus Comforted His Mother	Morning	Calvary				19:25‐27
7 Jesus Breathed His Last	Noon - 3pm	Calvary	27:45‐50	15:33‐37	23:44‐46	19:28‐30
a Pain from being abandoned by His Father b Jesus said “I am thirsty” and “It is finished” c Jesus gave up His spirit		Calvary	27:45‐49 27:50	15:33‐36 15:37	23:44‐45a 23:46	19:28‐30a 19:30b
8 The Holy of Holies curtain in the temple was torn apart	3 pm	Calvary	27:51‐56	15:38‐41	23:45b,47‐49
9 Jesus’ side was pierced	3 pm	Calvary				19:31‐37
10 Jesus was Buried	After 6 pm	Outside Jerusalem	27:57-61	15:42-47	23:50-56a	19:38-42

Key Verses:
Matthew 26: 36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” 39 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.” 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 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. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

Meditation:
This is the darkest day in the history of mankind. The pain that Jesus suffered for us on the cross far surpassed our imagination. The Son of God was tortured for us in human form on the cross. He was the holy Lamb of God who bore the sins of the world for us. Jesus was God’s only Son but He was rejected by the Father because of our sin. Therefore, Jesus said He was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. He prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup leave me." (Matthew 26:39a) Let us stop at this moment and spend a little time to imagine what Jesus was experiencing.

"Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39b) Our Lord was determined to die for our salvation. He did not break away from the suffering of the cross but gave up His life to bear  our sins and penalty. Our Savior changed the entire history of mankind with is love and His death.

Let us praise Him with our hearts, drink the cup, and eat the bread. Jesus bore the curse and we received the blessing. We shall never forget this great love.

Song：Lamb of God