What actually happened at the time of Crucifixion?
1. Maundy Thursday – It is the day before Good Friday.
Incidents happened on Thursday:
Evening: Nisan 14 (Passover day) begins. Christ instituted the New Testament Passover service. He introduces foot washing and the symbols of bread and wine. He for tells his
betrayal (Mathew 26: 26:30; Luke 22:14-23; John 13: 3-17, 21)
At Passover service: Christ foretells the disciples’ desertion and peter’s threefold denial.
Night: In Gethsemane, Christ prays. The disciples fall asleep. An angel appears and strengthens Christ. (Mathew 26: 36-46; Luke 22:43)
Judas arrives with a mob. Christ is seized. The disciples forsake him. (Mathew 26:47-56)
Early Morning, before daylight: Christ is taken to Annas, questioned and sent to Caiaphas. Peter denies Christ. (John 18:12-24)
Sanhedrin, through false witnesses, tries to condemn Christ for blasphemy. (Mathew 26: 57-66)
Peter denies Christ a second and a third time. (Mark 14: 70-72; Luke 22: 58-62)
Christ is mocked and beaten. (Luke 22:63-65)
Daybreak: Sanhedrin condemns Christ and sends him to Pilate. (Luke 22:66-71; 23:1)
2. Incidents happened on Friday:
Morning: Judas, remorseful, hangs himself. (Mathew 27: 3-10)
Pilate questions Christ, and then sends him to Herod. (Luke 23: 1-7)
Herod questions Christ, and then returns him to Pilate. (Luke 23:8-11)
Pilate seeks to release Christ. The people reject him. Christ is scourged and led Golgotha. (Mathew 27 : 15-26; Mark 15:21-22; John 19:1-16)
9 a.m: Christ is crucified between two robbers. (Mark 15:25-28)
9 a.m-3 p.m: Christ prays for his murderer’s forgiveness. (Luke 23:34)
The soldiers divide his garments. (Mathew 27:35)
Christ is scoffed at and mocked. (Mathew 27: 39-44)
Christ asks John to care for Mary. (John 19:25-27)
Noon – 3 p.m: Darkness over all the land. (Mathew 27:45)
3 p.m: Christ is given wine vinegar. He speaks his last words and dies. (Luke 23:46; John 19:28-30, 34-37)
Late afternoon-early evening: Joseph of Arimathea claims Christ’s body. He and Nicodemus prepare it for burial. Christ’s body is laid in Joseph’s new tomb. (Mathew 27:60; Mark 15: 42-46; John 19:38-42)
Evening: Nisan 15 (First day of Unleavened bread) begins.
The cross as a symbol: Jesus said “anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Mathew 10:38). He also said “If anyone would after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily” (Luka 9:23).
“Carrying the Cross” is a meaningful analogy. Jesus used the cross as a symbol to portray the spiritual sacrifice required of his followers.
About Resurrection:
Christians accept the resurrection accounts on faith, but it is a faith sealed by the inward testimony of the Holy Spirit.
Faith is not blind, unintelligent trust. Christians worship God with their minds and hearts. While Jesus was still alive (Before Crucifixion), He said “After 3 days I will raise again”. The word of Jesus is fulfilled.
