Stylistic Diary of Holy Week Myth

Sunday

• Disciples arrange a donkey
• Zechariah 1, 9-10 says donkey
• Jesus rides this
• Palm leaves waved, coats laid down
• Symbol of peace, also reference to new temple 200 years before
• Rides into Jerusalem
• Pharisees angered

Monday

• Jesus into Temple
• Doves sole for sacrifices and money changing for profit
• Jesus reacts with anger
• House of prayer is a den of thieves
• Angers Sadducees - Jesus must go but when is convenient?

Tuesday

• Jesus in Temple, preaching against Pharisees
• Parables point to crucifixion and to the few who may enter the Kingdom of Heaven
• Jesus challenged on payment of taxes
• - if he says not pay, it's treason, if he says pay, he loses support
• Jesus says give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's
• He is asked which is the most important commandment
• He answers two - Love God and Love neighbour as thyself

Tuesday night into Wednesday

• Judas sees Chief Priest and gets paid thirty pieces of silver for betrayal
• Upper Room arranged

Thursday (Maundy means commandment)

• In Upper Room Jesus washes others' feet as a commandment to serve
• He identifies Judas as a betrayer
• Last Supper of bread and wine - a New Covenant
• Peter will deny him
• Go to Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prays and disciples sleep
• Jesus is arrested identified by Judas with a kiss

 Thursday night into Friday

• Jesus has a show trial
• Friday morning they decide he should die
• This needs Roman agreement and he is sent to Pilate
• Should Pilate do Sadducees' dirty work? He does (doesn't really care!)
• Of two to die, crowd wants Barrabas freed
• Jesus subjected to ridicule, carries his cross (and Simone)
• Jesus dies a slow death
• Darkness
• Earthquake
• Veil of the Temple rips

Friday into Saturday

• Joseph of Aramathea has taken the body to a fresh tomb
• The Chief Priests arrange a guard on the tomb
• They know about Tanakh predictions regarding resurrection

Sunday

• Earthquake
• The stone is rolled
• Angel frightens and stills the guards
• Marys come and find no body  (various accounts)
• They tell disciples
• Guards run and report what happened
• Resurrection appearances begin