Jesus' Last Days

My favorite institute teacher of all time (who is more like a dear friend/mother/wonder woman than just an institute teacher), LeAnn Whitesides, put together a list of scriptures and other readings to study during the week leading up to Easter.  I've loved it ever since she gave it to me, and I've tried to incorporate it into my Easter celebration each year.  I was happy that I found it in my notebook just in time to start the reading on Saturday.  While it's a couple of days late for you, dear reader, to start on Saturday, I decided to post it anyway, in case you have the yen to read along.  Happy Easter!

suggested reading for April 16 - April 24, 2011

Jesus’ Last Days

It is not always evident from the scriptures exactly which events happened on which days.

Our calendar is different from the Jewish Calendar.  For the sake of consideration the dates are given as we reckon time.

Saturday (Day of Anointing): Jesus is anointed in Bethany by Mary (sister of Martha and Lazarus).
John 12:3-8; BD, “Anoint” 609; Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage, ch 29, note 7.

Sunday (Day of Popularity also known as Palm Sunday): The first day of the greatest week in history.  The Savior left the small village of Bethany where He had spent the Sabbath with Mary, Martha and Lazarus and began to walk toward Jerusalem, less than three miles away.  Matthew records that ‘a very great multitude’ had come out to greet the Master, spreading their garments and palm branches before Him and crying, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” (Matt 21:8-9 -- known as the Triumphal Entry).
When the Savior came nearer to Jerusalem, He wept over the city as he contemplated the future destruction that would come upon its people.
When evening came He went back to Bethany with the twelve (Mark 11:11).
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-36; BD, “Hosanna” 704-5; Jesus the Christ, ch 29, note 8.

Monday (Day of Authority): Jesus returned to Jerusalem.  He curses the barren fig tree and cleanses the temple.
Matthew 21:12-18; Mark 11:12-19; Luke 19:45-48.

Tuesday (Day of Conflict and Teaching): Jewish leaders devised barbed questions to ask the Lord, hoping that they could discredit Him.  Jesus teaches in the temple and on the Mount of Olives.
Matthew 21:19-46, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26:1-16; Mark 11:20-33, 12, 13, 14:1-11; Luke 20, 21, 22:1-6; John 12:27-50; BD, “Parables” 740-41; Jesus the Christ ch 19.

Wednesday (Day of Rest): Jesus probably spends a day of rest with His friends at Bethany.  Elder Talmage says a reverential curtain is drawn over that day.

Thursday (Day of Fellowship): Jesus partakes of the “Last Supper” with His Apostles and offers the great Intercessory prayer, praying to the Father for His Apostles and all who believe in Him.
Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane where He ‘took upon Himself the burden of the sins of mankind from Adam to the end of the world’ (James Talmage).  Around midnight, Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss and Jesus is arrested by the chief priests, scribes and elders.
Matthew 26:17-75; Mark 14:12-72; Luke 22:7-65; John 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18:1-27; Jesus the Christ ch 33, note 3.

Friday (Day of Suffering): At about sunrise, Jesus is officially condemned by Caiaphas and the Jewish Sanhedrin.  He is taken to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, about 6:00 am.  Pilate sends Jesus to Herod.  Herod returns Jesus to Pilate, who releases Barabbas and delivers Him to be crucified.  Jesus is crowned with thorns and mocked.  Simon the Cyrene helps Him carry the cross to Calvary.  Soldiers part Jesus’ garments.  Darkness lasts from noon to 3:00 pm.  Jesus dies.  His side is pierced with a spear.  Jesus is buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.
Matthew 27:1-61; Mark 15:1-47; Luke 22:66-71, 23:1-56; John 18:28-40, 19:1-42.

Saturday (Day of Silence, the Jewish Sabbath): Guards are placed at the tomb.  Jesus ministers to those in Spirit Prison (1 Peter 3:18-20; D&C 138:29-37).  Savior spoke out of the darkness to the Nephite survivors on the American Continent.
3 Nephi 9:12-22; Matthew 27:62-66; Luke 23:56.

Sunday (Day of Triumph): Jesus victoriously rises from the dead.
Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-12; Luke 24:1-49; John 20:1-23.

Above material adapted from an exercise by Anne Woodbury Moore, New Era April 1994 and A Christ-Centered Easter by Janet and Joe Hales.  Prepared by LeAnn Whitesides March 2010.