Jesus’ crucifixion timeline explained

The timeline of Jesus’s crucifixion, as observed in Christian tradition, spans several significant events leading up to and following Easter Sunday, which commemorates his resurrection. Here’s a breakdown of the key events:

Maundy Thursday:
- The Last Supper: Jesus shares a final meal with his disciples, washing their feet as a symbol of humility and service.
- Prediction of Betrayal: Jesus predicts that one of his disciples will betray him and institutes the sacrament of communion, symbolizing his body and blood.
- Agony in the Garden: Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, grappling with the impending ordeal and ultimately submitting to God’s will.
The Betrayal:
- Judas’s Betrayal: Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’s disciples, identifies him to the authorities for thirty pieces of silver, leading to his arrest.
Good Friday:
- Trial and Sentencing: Jesus faces multiple trials before Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas, ultimately being sentenced to crucifixion despite Pilate finding no fault in him.
- Crucifixion: Jesus is crucified at Calvary, enduring mockery, abuse, and agony on the cross.
- Death and Burial: Jesus dies on the cross, his body is taken down, and he is buried in a tomb guarded by Roman soldiers.
Easter Sunday:
- Resurrection: On the third day after his crucifixion, Jesus rises from the dead, conquering death and fulfilling prophecies.
- Discovery of the Empty Tomb: Mary Magdalene and other women discover the empty tomb, encountering angels who proclaim Jesus’s resurrection.
- Appearances to Disciples: Jesus appears to his disciples, showing them his wounds and affirming his resurrection.
- Ascension: Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus ascends into heaven in the presence of his disciples.

The Easter story, with its themes of sacrifice, redemption, and hope, is central to Christian faith and is commemorated annually during the Easter season. Christians reflect on the significance of Jesus’s death and resurrection, finding spiritual renewal and assurance of salvation in the victory over sin and death.

Jesus