The Last Week of Jesus' Life

Introduction

• Focus on the synoptic Gospels
• Jesus (Greek for "God saves") is the translation of Joshua (Hebrew for "God saves")
• The Gospels tell the good news of the Messiah
• Limited information on early life, detailed last week

Palm Sunday

• Jesus enters Jerusalem, the capital city
• Time coincides with Passover
• City is full due to annual feast
• Jesus stays in Bethany with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus
• Disciples initiate a parade
  • People lay palm branches and robes
  • Jesus enters on a donkey, not a white horse
• Enters through the Sheep Gate
  • Symbolizes Jesus as the sacrificial lamb

Monday: Confrontation Day

• Jesus returns to the temple
• Flips money changers’ tables
• Criticizes them for turning the temple into a "den of thieves"

Tuesday

• Jesus stays at Mary, Martha, and Lazarus' house
• Martha understands Jesus’ purpose
• Presents an alabaster jar of nard to Jesus
  • Acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah
  • Judas criticizes the act for wasting money

Wednesday: Teaching Day

• Jesus returns to the temple
• Priests attempt to discredit him
• Jesus summarizes the Law
  • Love God (vertical)
  • Love your neighbor (horizontal)
• Critiques the sacrificial system

Thursday: Passover

• Jesus diverges from traditional Passover
  • Should have celebrated with the house of David
  • Celebrates with disciples, signifies a bond beyond blood
• Jesus washes disciples' feet
  • Commands them to serve and love
• Changes Passover meal to represent himself
  • Bread as his body
  • Wine as his blood
• Promises a future fulfillment in the kingdom of God

Friday: Trial and Crucifixion

• Sanhedrin charges Jesus with heresy
• Taken to Pontius Pilate
  • Pilate offers to release a prisoner as a gesture
  • Crowd chooses Barabbas over Jesus
• Jesus crucified at Golgotha
  • Dies by 3 PM
  • Earthquake and darkness reported
  • Temple curtain torn, symbolizing access to God

Saturday: The Sabbath

• Jewish Sabbath observed; no events

Easter Sunday

• Women visit tomb
• Event to be covered in the next lecture

Key Points to Remember

• Symbolism of the Sheep Gate
• Passover traditions and Jesus’ versions
• 30 shekels of silver (betrayal price)
• The significance of the temple curtain tearing
• Characters: Caiaphas, Barabbas, Judas, Pontius Pilate, Joseph of Arimathea, Martha, Mary, Lazarus
• Important details: Alabaster jar of nard, donkey entrance, Bethany