Easter Joy! He is Risen!

The Agony in the Garden by Frans Schwartz

EASTER CHRONOLOGY

How do The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrate Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter?

            The Church of Jesus Christ commemorates the events of the last week of the Savior’s life generally in Sacrament Meeting talks referring to the scriptures. Members are always encouraged to read the scriptures and ponder in his/her heart the meaning and importance of this holy time.

            The last week of Jesus Christ life, as revealed in the scriptures, was important. He taught us many things, especially about the significance of the Sacrament and what it represents.

            One of our favorite scriptures refers to Jesus washing the Apostles feet. Through His humble example we learn what He would have us do in His absence: Serve others!

            E A S T E R   J O Y !  H E   I S   R I S E N !

Spring A.D. 34

•Bible: Jesus returned to Jerusalem area (city of Ephraim) final time to celebrate the Feast of the Passover.

•Jesus raised Lazarus from dead.

•Book of Mormon: Righteous people in America began to look for sign of Christ’s death.

6th Day before Passover

•Bible: Mary anointed Jesus’ feet.

•Chief priests conspired to kill Jesus and Lazarus.

5th Day before Passover

•Bible: Two disciples brought donkey colt to Jesus, as He had instructed them.

•Jesus made triumphal entry into Jerusalem on donkey colt.

•Large crowds of people gathered to honor Jesus. They spread clothing and palm branches in His path.

•Jesus wept over Jerusalem.

•Jesus cast money changers out of temple for second time.

•Jesus taught some Greek Jews about His Father, at temple

•Jesus returned to Bethany.

4th Day before Passover

•Bible: Chief priests challenged Jesus’ authority. He rebuked them.

•Enemies tried to trap Jesus in His words. He answered their questions about Roman taxes, marriage and resurrection, and the great commandment.

•Jesus noticed a widow donating a mite at temple treasury.

•Jesus again lamented over Jerusalem. Jesus warned multitude about hypocrisy. At Mount of Olives, Jesus taught His disciples about destruction of Jerusalem and signs of his Second Coming.

•Jesus cursed the barren fig tree on his way to Jerusalem.

•Parables given: two sons, wicked husbandmen, king’s son’s marriage, ten virgins, talents, sheep and goats

3rd Day before Passover

•Nothing Recorded

2nd Day before Passover

•Bible: Jesus told disciples He would be crucified in two days.

•Chief priests again conspired to kill Jesus.

•Jesus visited home of Simon the leper. Woman anointed Jesus in preparation for his death.

•Judas Iscariot arranged to betray Jesus to chief priests.

Passover Eve: 1st day of unleavened bread 6:00 P.M. (1800 hours)

•Bible: Disciples prepared upper room for Passover meal.

•Jesus had Last Supper with 12 Apostles after sundown. (The Last Supper painted by Leonardo da Vinci, 1495-1497)

•Jesus announced His betrayal. (Judas left the room.)

•Jesus instituted the Sacrament.

9:00 P.M. (2100 hours)

•Bible: Jesus washed feet of His Apostles. He did this to teach them that they were to serve others.

•Jesus’ disciples pledged their love for Him.

•Jesus taught disciples and commanded them to love one another as He loved them.

•Jesus testified of His divinity and taught of the Comforter.

•Jesus and disciples left for Mount of Olives.

•Jesus taught disciples of true vine, love, opposition, and His imminent death.

•Jesus offered intercessory Prayer (John 17), praying to Father for Apostles and all who believed in Him through them.

12 Midnight (2400 hours)

•Bible: Jesus and disciples arrived at Gethsemane.

•Peter, James and John went to Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to suffer for the sins of the world. After asking Peter, James and John to watch with Him, Jesus prayed, and angel comforted Him.

•Jesus found Peter, James and John asleep; Jesus wakened them, asked them to watch with Him and prayed second time; Jesus bled from every pore; Peter, James and John went back to sleep; Jesus prayed third time; Jesus woke disciples.

•Judas led chief priests’ men to Garden of Gethsemane where he kissed Jesus as a signal. Jesus allowed these men to arrest Him and asked that His followers be unharmed.

3:00 A.M. (0300 hours)

•Bible: Jesus sent to Caiaphas for questioning.

•Members of ruling council questioned, mocked, spat upon and beat Jesus.

•Three times Peter denied knowing Jesus.

•Jesus questioned by whole ruling council at sunrise.

 

6:00 A.M. (0600 hours)

•Bible: Jesus declared He was Son of God.

•Judas hanged himself.

•Jesus led to Roman Hall of Judgment.

•Pontius Pilate questioned Jesus and found no fault in Him.

•Pilate sent Jesus to King Herod Antipas.

•Herod questioned and mocked Jesus.

•Jesus was sent back to Pilate

•Pilate offered to release Jesus, but people said, “Crucify him.” Pilate released Barabbas.

•Jesus whipped, crowned with thorns, clothed in purple robe, beaten by Roman soldiers. Pilate sought again to release Jesus but people wanted Him crucified.

•Jesus led to Golgotha.

9:00 A.M. (0900 hours)

•Bible: Jesus nailed to cross; soldiers cast lots for His clothes.

•Jesus mocked as He hung on Cross.

12 Noon (1200 hours)

•Bible: Darkness covered land three hours.

•Jesus offered vinegar to drink—called “hyssop” a kind of wild marjoram, used at the Passover.

•A soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear.

3:00 P.M. (1500 hours)

•Bible: Jesus spoke His last words and died. There was an earthquake and the veil of the temple was torn in half.

•Jesus’ body was laid in a tomb before sundown.

•Book of Mormon: Great storms and earthquakes caused destruction throughout the Americas.

6:00 P.M. (1800 hours)

•Bible: Chief priests and Pharisees sealed tomb and assigned guards to watch it.

Jewish Sabbath

•Jesus visited the righteous in the spirit world while His body laid in the tomb.

•Book of Mormon: Darkness covered Americas for three days.

•Jesus spoke from heaven to the more righteous people in Americas.

1st Day of Week

•Bible: Jesus’ Resurrection: earth shook, angels opened His sealed tomb.

•Righteous saints in spirit world resurrected.

•Some women found tomb open, saw angels, and ran to tell disciples.

•Peter and John ran to tomb and found it empty.

•Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene at tomb.

•Jesus appeared to Peter.

•Jesus appeared to other women; they testified to disciples of His Resurrection.

•Jesus appeared to two disciples on road to Emmaus.

•Jesus appeared to group of disciples at Jerusalem; Thomas was not with them.

Other Appearances

•Bible: Jesus appeared to Thomas eight days later as well as to other Apostles.

•Jesus appeared to seven of His disciples at Sea of Galilee.

•He said to Peter, “Feed my sheep.”

•Jesus appeared to eleven disciples in Galilee.

•Book of Mormon: Jesus visited and taught people in Americas.

•Jesus visited other lost sheep of house of Israel.

•Jesus ascended into heaven from Mount of Olives 40 days after His Resurrection. Two angels promised Jesus would return in like manner (Second Coming).