Tuesday: The Last Week of Jesus’ Life Before the Crucifixion (Passion Week)

In the last week of Jesus’ human life before on earth, He commenced the redemptive work to accomplish salvation for all humanity of their sins.  Jesus’ love, suffering and resurrection established salvation for everyone through faith (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9).

Sunday, Jesus’ Messianic and Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19

Monday, Jesus curses the fig tree, Monday
Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, Mark 11:20-26

Monday, Jesus clears the Temple
Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-46; cp. John 2:13-16

Tuesday, Jewish religious leaders questions Jesus' authority
Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8

Tuesday, Jesus teaches in the Temple
Matthew 21:28-23:39; Mark 12:1-44; Luke 20:9-21:4

Tuesday, Jesus anointed at Bethany
Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-11

One day as He (Jesus) was teaching the people in the Temple courts and preaching the Gospel (Good News), the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to Him. "Tell us by what authority You are doing these things," they said. "Who gave You this authority?" He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell Me, John's baptism--was it from heaven, or from men?" They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will ask, 'Why didn't you believe Him?' But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet." So they answered, "We don't know where it was from." Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." Luke 20:1-8 (NIV).

During Jesus’ public ministry, He was very popular with the people and large crowds often followed Him.  He spent time preaching, teaching and healing the people around Him.  During the last week before His death, He continued to preach, teach and heal the people.  Jesus received His authority for preaching, teaching and healing not from His education, title, position, or connections. However, Jesus' authority came directly from God, from who He was. The religious leaders' silence proved that they were not interested in God’s truth but they simply wanted to kill Jesus because Jesus’ popularity hurt their authority with the people.

Also during Jesus' last week, Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus (John 12:1-3), anointed Jesus with very expensive oil at Bethany.  Matthew and Mark’s Gospel place this event just before the Last Supper, while John’s Gospel places this event before the Triumphal Entry on Sunday. Each passage reveals the special sacrifice and devotion Mary made for Jesus before His sacrifice, death and burial. 
 
Wednesday, The plot against Jesus
Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6

Thursday, The Last Supper
Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14-12-25; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-38

Thursday, Jesus comforts His disciples
John 14:1-16:33

Thursday, Gethsemane
Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46

Thursday night and Friday, Jesus’ arrest and trial
Matthew 26:47-27:26; Mark 14:43-15:15; Luke 22:47-23:25; John 18:2-19:16

Friday, Jesus’ crucifixion and death at Golgotha
Matthew 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30

Friday, The burial of Jesus in Joseph’s Tomb
Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42