An Easter Timeline Part 1

As the Easter season draws to a close, I want to write something simple but meaningful, to help us walk through the full story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

It’s easy to skip straight to the joy of Easter Sunday without sitting fully with everything that came before: the betrayal, the trials, the beating, the cross. But when we slow down and take it all in, it gives the resurrection even more weight.

So as we step out of Easter Sunday and into a new week, here’s a chance to go back through the story in full. From the Last Supper to the empty tomb, may this help you reflect more deeply on what Jesus went through… and why He did it.

It is presented as more of a timeline—a guide you can follow along with, Bible in hand. The references are all there, so you can open Scripture and move through the events step by step, watching the story unfold just as it happened.

The Last Supper & Gethsemane

The Last Supper is one of the most recognizable scenes in the life of Jesus, immortalized in da Vinci’s famous painting and often referenced in popular culture.

Jesus shared this final meal with His disciples during the Jewish festival of Passover, a sacred celebration remembering how God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt.

At the heart of that original event was a lamb—spotless and without defect—slain so that its blood could mark the homes of God’s people. When the angel of death passed through Egypt, it would "pass over" the homes covered by the lamb’s blood (Exodus 12). 

Jesus was about to become that Lamb.

During the meal, Jesus took the familiar elements of the Passover and gave them new meaning. He broke the bread and said, "This is My body." He took the cup and said, "This is My blood of the covenant, poured out for many."

In that moment, Jesus revealed that He was the fulfillment of what Passover had always pointed to: a perfect sacrifice whose blood would bring true and eternal deliverance, not just from slavery in Egypt, but from sin and death itself.

• Jesus shared the Passover meal with His twelve disciples, breaking the bread as His body and offering the cup as His blood of the new covenant (Matthew 26:26–29).

• While they were reclining at the table, Jesus announced that one of them would betray Him and, after indicating Judas as the traitor, warned Peter that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed (John 13:21–30; Luke 22:31–34).

• After the meal, Jesus led Peter, James, and John into the Garden of Gethsemane, where He fell to the ground in profound agony and prayed, "Not my will, but Yours be done." Unfortunately, his disciples were unable to keep watch with him (They kept falling asleep). (Mark 14:32–36; Matthew 26:40–42)

• Judas arrived at Gethsemane with a detachment of soldiers and officials sent by the chief priests. Judas planted a kiss on Jesus, identifying him to the soldiers. Peter reacted violently, drawing a sword and cutting a man's ear, but Jesus rebuked him. He was laying down His life voluntarily, to fulfill the mission He came to complete. The disciples scattered, and Jesus was arrested. (Matthew 26:47–50; John 18:3–6).

Jewish Trials

This is a part of the story that is not often talked about. But these Jewish trials of Jesus are deeply important. They’re where the final decision to condemn Jesus is first made.

First, Jesus is brought before Annas, a former high priest who, it seems, still holds influence behind the scenes. This is not an official trial—more like a probing interview, a chance to find something they can use against Him.

Then Jesus is sent to Caiaphas, the current high priest, and the full council of Jewish leaders, the Sanhedrin. It’s here that the accusations really pile up—false witnesses, distorted testimonies—and when Jesus finally declares who He truly is, the response is swift and violent. They accuse Him of blasphemy and decide He must die.

While all this is happening inside, outside in the courtyard, Peter is nearby. Three times, people recognize him and ask if he knows Jesus. And three times, he denies it. The moment the rooster crows, Peter realizes what he’s done.

• Trial before Annas (High Priest Emeritus): Jesus was first led to Annas, the former high priest. There, He endured preliminary questioning about His disciples and teaching. Peter, interestingly, followed at a distance, observing the interrogation (John 18:13–14, 19–24).

• Trial before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin: After being bound and sent from Annas’ house, Jesus stood before Caiaphas and the full Sanhedrin, where false witnesses accused Him of blasphemy. When asked if He was the Son of God, He affirmed it and was condemned to death (Matthew 26:57–68).

• Peter’s Denials: A famous story; While Jesus faced trial inside the high priest’s courtyard, Peter denied knowing Him three times. Immediately after the third denial a rooster crowed, fulfilling Jesus’ prediction (Matthew 26:69–75).

Roman Trials

This next part of the story—the Roman trials of Jesus—is another section that often gets overshadowed. People tend to remember the cross or the resurrection, but what happens here, in the governor’s halls and judgment courts, is crucial. This is where the religious drama becomes a political one.

Jesus is now in Roman hands. The Jewish leaders, having already condemned Him in their own council, bring Him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Why? Because they didn’t have the legal authority to execute Him. They needed Rome to carry out the sentence.

Pilate questions Jesus, trying to understand who He is. Is He really claiming to be a king? Is He a threat? But Pilate sees through it all—he finds no guilt in Jesus. Still, he hesitates to go against the crowd.

Trying to avoid responsibility, Pilate sends Jesus to Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, since Jesus was technically from Herod’s region. Herod has heard of Jesus, maybe even been curious about Him, but now that he sees Him in chains, his curiosity turns to mockery. Jesus didn't respond. Not a word. Herod has Him dressed in a robe like a joke king and sends Him back to Pilate.

The governor tries one last tactic—he offers to release a prisoner, as was tradition during Passover. He gives the people a choice: Jesus, the teacher and healer, or Barabbas, a known criminal.

It seems like a clear decision. But the chief priests stirs the crowd, and they demand Barabbas. "Crucify Jesus!" they shout. Pilate, afraid of a riot and more concerned with keeping peace than doing what’s right, gives in.

These trials are the final steps in the rejection of the Son of God, and the stage upon which the cross is set.

• Jesus before Pontius Pilate: After the Jewish leaders brought Jesus to the praetorium, Pilate questioned Him about whether He claimed to be the King of the Jews. Pilate declared Him innocent, finding no basis for a capital charge (Matthew 27:11–14; John 18:28–38).

• Jesus sent to Herod Antipas: When Pilate learned that Jesus was a Galilean, he sent Him to Herod Antipas, who happened to be in Jerusalem. Jesus remained silent before Herod’s interrogation and was mocked before being returned to Pilate (Luke 23:6–12).

• Pilate’s Offer & Crowd’s Choice: Pilate offered to release either Jesus or the prisoner Barabbas in keeping with the Passover tradition, but stirred by the chief priests the crowd demanded Barabbas and insisted on Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 27:15–23; John 18:39–19:16).

Path to the cross

Roman scourging—also called flogging—was one of the most brutal and dehumanizing punishments in the Roman justice system. It was often administered before crucifixion to weaken the condemned and speed up death on the cross.

Jesus was scourged.

The instrument used was called a flagrum (or flagellum) , a short whip made of several leather strands. Each strand was embedded with bits of bone, metal, or lead. 

It wasn’t designed just to sting; it was meant to rip skin, tear through muscle, and leave a person disfigured and bleeding profusely.

Victims were typically stripped naked and tied to a post, leaving their backs fully exposed. The lashes didn’t just hit the back—they often wrapped around to the chest, shoulders, legs, and even the face. There were no strict limits on the number of lashes (unlike Jewish law, which capped it at 40 minus one).

The goal wasn’t justice—it was to humiliate, torture, and bring a person as close to death as possible without killing them outright.

Jesus was torn and broken before He ever picked up the cross.

• Scourging & Mocking: Jesus was scourged at Pilate’s orders, then Roman soldiers placed a crown of thorns on His head, clothed Him in a purple robe, and mocked Him as "King of the Jews" (Matthew 27:26–31; John 19:1–3).

• Journey to the hill: As Jesus carried His cross toward Golgotha, Simon of Cyrene was compelled to bear it after Him. Along the way, Jesus paused to console the weeping women of Jerusalem (Mark 15:21; Luke 23:27–31).

Crucifixion

• Crucifixion at Golgotha: At the place called Golgotha, Jesus was nailed to a wooden cross between two criminals, and above His head the inscription "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" was affixed (Matthew 27:33–37; John 19:18–22).

• Three Hours of Darkness: From the sixth hour until the ninth hour, a supernatural darkness covered the land (Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44).

• Final Words & Death: From the cross, Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" then He declared "It is finished." He yielded up His spirit to the Father, and gave up His life (Matthew 27:46; Luke 23:46).

Effects of His Death

• Immediately after Jesus gave up His spirit, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, symbolizing that access to God was now open to all (Matthew 27:51).

• At that same moment, the earth shook and rocks split as tombs opened and many saints who had died were raised to life, later appearing to many in Jerusalem (Matthew 27:51–53).

• When the centurion standing guard and those with him witnessed the earthquake and supernatural events, they were filled with awe and proclaimed, "Surely He was the Son of God" (Mark 15:39; Matthew 27:54).

Burial

• Request of Joseph: Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy disciple, asked Pilate for permission to take Jesus' body for burial (Matthew 27:57-58).

• Nicodemus Assists: Nicodemus, who had previously visited Jesus at night (John 3), brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes to anoint the body according to Jewish burial customs (John 19:39-40).

• Tomb Laid in Rock: Jesus’ body was placed in a new tomb, which no one had yet been laid in (Matthew 27:60).

• Guard and Seal: The chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and requested that the tomb be secured with a guard and sealed to ensure that Jesus’ body could not be stolen by His disciples, and Pilate granted their request (Matthew 27:62–66).

Conclusion:

We find ourselves standing at a solemn moment in the story—Jesus has been rejected, condemned, and now laid to rest in a tomb. But this is not the end. The story of His death is not merely a tragedy; it's the beginning of something greater, something that will change everything.

Tomorrow, I will share Part 2: The glorious resurrection. Come back then and continue this journey.

Read Part 2 HERE