Detailed timeline of Easter
The 3 days of death or the 3 last days of the Holy Week
The events of that first Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, also called the "three days of death"
The last week of the Season of Lent is called the Holy Week, which ends with Easter Sunday. The last three days of Holy Week are called the “days of death”: the 3 days between Jesus’ crucifixion and his Resurrection. Matthew likens the 3 days of death to the 3 days Jonah spent inside the belly of the whale (Mt. 12:40).
- Good Friday (6 April 2007)
In the early hours before sunup, Jesus is betrayed by the “Judas Kiss” and arrested. At sunrise, he is disowned by Peter. When brought before Caiaphas, the Jewish High Priest, and his Council, he is condemned. He says that he will rise from death after three days.
They hand him over to the Roman authority, Pontius Pilate, who sends him to Herod (Antipas, the son of Herod the Great). Then Pilate asks the crowd who he is to pardon: a murderer, or Jesus? The crowd betrays Jesus and he is sentenced to death.
Jesus is brought to Calvary, where on the “third hour” (9 am) he is crucified. He is mocked as he hangs between the Bad Thief and the Good Thief, whom he blesses. On the “sixth hour” (noon), darkness covers the land. Jesus cries out “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
After drinking sour wine, he commits his spirit to his Father and dies. Matthew (27:51-52) reports an earthquake that destroys the Temple. Many understand now that Jesus was the Son of God. His body is taken down and anointed. He is buried in a cave. This is the first day of death.
- Holy Saturday (7 April 2007)
The Jewish Council remembers his vow to return and has the tomb guarded and sealed with a heavy stone. His followers stay in the “Easter Vigil”. Second day of death.
- Easter Sunday (8 April 2007)
On the third day of death, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary see an angel roll away the stone in front of the tomb. The angel tells them Jesus is already resurrected and is on his way to Galilee. On their way to tell the others, Jesus appears to them.
Easter Sunday marks the beginning of Eastertide or the Easter Season of 7 weeks, ending with Pentecost (Sunday, 27 May 2007).
Related articles:
- First part of the Detailed Lent and Easter Timeline
- The Season of Lent
- Lenten Days of Forgiveness
- King Herod and the Massacre of the Innocents
