The Chronology of Christ's Crucifixion & Resurrection

The key to understanding the chronology of the events leading up to and including Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection is that there were two Sabbaths in that week, with a day of preparation between them. This makes all of the Gospels accounts fall into place. The fulfillment of Christ's words become clear. A correct harmonization of all the facts will bear this out.

THE EVENTS:	.	HOW WE KNOW:
TUESDAY Nisan 13 Jesus and the twelve disciples come into Jerusalem from Bethany, to partake of the Passover meal.	N I G H T O N E	John and Peter were sent ahead of time to locate the place of the meal and to make preparations for it (Mark 14.12-16). Mark 14.17 Passover is observed on the 14th of Nisan every year (Leviticus 23.5). Jesus and His disciples partook of the Passover in the early evening of the previous day. (Days are calculated from sunset-to-sunset, not midnight-to-midnight.) Gethsemane is at the foot of the Mount of Olives, not far from the brook Kidron, and takes its name from a cave there that contained an oil press — thus, Gat-Shmanim. Luke 23.44 shows that Jesus died around the ninth hour or approximately 3PM. He would have been buried before sunset because of the approaching Sabbath, for that Sabbath day was a high-day (John 19.31). John 19.31 mentions that the day following Jesus' crucifixion was a high day as opposed to the weekly seventh-day Sabbath. TWO Sabbaths – first an annual Holy Day and then the regular weekly Sabbath – are mentioned in the Gospel accounts. Compare Mark 16.1 with Luke 23.56 The 15th of Nisan is the first Holy Day, high-day, or annual Sabbath of the 7-day festival of Unleavened Bread. It begins at sunset on the 14th. Mark 16:1 tells us, "And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary (the mother of James and Salome), bought sweet spices that they might come and anoint Him." Luke's account also describes how the women "prepared the spices and ointments" and then they "rested on the Sabbath day according to the commandment." (Luke 23.56) Thus, according to these two accounts, they bought the spices and prepared them after the Sabbath and yet before the Sabbath. There had to be two Sabbaths involved here with a day of preparation between them. Jesus' promise was fulfilled exactly as he said it would. He said that, like the prophet Jonah, He would be entombed three days and three nights and that then He would be raised up from the dead the third day after His crucifixion and death (Matthew 12.39-40; 17.23; 20.19). Jesus' resurrection had already taken place by the time Mary Magdalene arrived at dawn Sunday morning. (John 20.1-2) In Matthew's account he states that "In the end of [or after] the Sabbath(s), as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week" they came to see the sepulchre (Mt. 28.1) The original Greek word used here for Sabbath is actually plural and should be translated "Sabbaths."
Jesus ate an early-evening Passover meal with His disciples. After the meal, the walks with His disciples towards the Mt. of Olives. Jesus was betrayed by Judas at the olive grove in Gethsemane, arrested and brought before the high priest, Caiaphas. Trial ends at daybreak.
WEDNESDAY Nisan 14 Preparation day for the annual, not weekly, Sabbath. In the morning, Jesus was brought before Pilate the governor. Jesus was crucified and dies around 3PM Jesus' body was placed in the tomb at twilight
Annual Sabbath begins at sunset. Sunset at this time of year in Jerusalem, is about 6:30 to 7:00 PM. .
THURSDAY Nisan 15 This was the first annual Sabbath or high-day - the first day of Unleavened Bread. Tomb is guarded and secured by sealing it with a stone.	D A Y O N E
The annual Sabbath ends at sunset.	N I G H T T W O
FRIDAY Nisan 16 With the annual Sabbath now over, the women bought and prepared spices for anointing Jesus' body.	D A Y T W O
The weekly Sabbath begins at sunset Friday night. No work is to be done as commanded in the fourth commandment.	N I G H T T H R E E
SATURDAY Nisan 17 The weekly Sabbath. The women rested on the weekly Sabbath. Jesus rose around sunset, exactly three days and three nights (72 hours) after burial, to fulfill the sign of Jonah and authenticate Jesus' messiahship.	D A Y T H R E E
The weekly Sabbath ends at sunset Saturday night. .
SUNDAY Nisan 18 The women brought the prepared spices early in the morning while it was still dark. When they arrived they found that Jesus had already arisen.
Sunday night .