Saturday
08:38 AM — Mary of Bethany
We reflect on Mary of Bethany, who anointed Jesus’ feet with oil, tears & hair (John 12:3). Called sinner, her act of love earned her salvation.
You can almost feel the sticky perfume mingling with her tears, see her hair’s soft strands glinting in dawn’s light—an act so vulnerable it repelled scorn, yet sealed her hope.
Thursday (Pre-Passover)
17:00 PM – MIRACLE
Jesus sends Peter and John to prepare for the Passover meal, instructing them to follow a random man carrying a water jar to his master’s large upper room, where they find a FREE guest room ready for them (Luke 22:7–13).
Imagine the clatter of pottery in dusty alleys, the strangers’ furtive glance—only to step into a lamp-lit chamber that seems to wait, as though Providence itself had set the table.
Thursday (Maundy Thursday)
18:07 PM
Jesus arrives with his disciples for the Passover meal, unaware to the synagogue authorities, and unbeknownst to his disciples, they're about to share a somber meal, one that will morph into a sacred farewell, far from the traditional Haggadah and sedah meals.
You catch the faint crackle of the fireplace, the shuffle of sandals—this gathering holds more than bread and wine; it pulses with a destiny none can yet name.
18:25 PM
Jesus shocks his disciples by taking the servant’s role, washing their feet with humility. Peter protests, but Jesus insists, teaching them the value of servanthood as they recline for the meal.
Feel the cool water slip over calloused skin, watch hearts shift from astonishment to awe—power redefined as a basin and towel.
18:58 PM
As sunset arrives, Jesus gathers his disciples for the Passover meal, his somber mood casting a shadow. He reveals one of them will betray him, sending murmurs through the group. Jesus breaks bread, giving thanks, symbolizing it as his body. He shares wine, representing his blood. In a poignant moment, he asks them to remember him in this ritual. Jesus dips bread in wine, hands it to Judas, and instructs him to proceed with his intentions. The others remain unaware, speculating about Judas' sudden departure.
You hear Judas’ footsteps fade, taste the metallic tang of fear—and suddenly the feast feels like a farewell.
Thursday Night
20:25 PM
Judas steps into the Synagogue Tribunal backyard, armed with crucial intel on Jesus' whereabouts tonight. The Pharisees and Sadducees, already seething with anger over Jesus, swiftly call an emergency council meeting, summoning key temple leaders, including Caiaphas and Annas, to discuss their next move.
Imagine torches bobbing in columns of smoke, murmured oaths in hidden chambers—an ambush plotted beneath Jerusalem’s serene skies.
20:41 PM
Jesus heads to the Mount of Olives, specifically the Gethsemane garden, for an evening of prayer. His mind is fixated on the looming fate. Peter has just vowed unwavering loyalty, promising to stand by him even unto death. But Jesus foresees Peter's failure, predicting he'll deny him three times before the 3 AM rooster's crow.
You tread softly on crushed olive leaves, sense the weight of words unspoken, and know the hour has already begun to fracture their bonds.
23:45 PM
Jesus has been praying for hours, his disciples scattered in groups – the followers at a distance, the disciples nearby, and Peter, James, and John closest to him. Now, he's alone on a massive rock, overcome with emotion, sobbing in desperation. ‘This cup is crushing me,’ he cries out. In his anguish, visions swirl — Satan taunting him, an angel offering comfort. Sweat-drenched and straining, Jesus' body convulses, blood streaming from his nose.
The night air is thick with prayer and dread; each gasp feels like eternity, each heartbeat like judgment day itself.
Friday (Good Friday)
02:20 AM – ARREST
Jesus is apprehended, Judas sealing his fate with a kiss. Most disciples flee, fearing for their lives. Peter puts up a fight, slicing off Malchus' ear in the chaos. Jesus, displaying divine power, heals the wound, restoring Malchus' ear. 'Sheath your swords,' he urges, 'live not by violence.' The one who earlier rebuked his disciples for succumbing to sleep, acknowledging the frailty of human spirit, now faces his own trial, prophecies unfolding before him.
Torches blaze, sandals skid on blood-soaked earth, and you feel the jolt of betrayal sharper than any blade.
02:52 AM – TRIAL 1
Jesus, the accused, arrives at Caiaphas' Palace, still wearing the simple yet dignified attire he had chosen for this night. Roman soldiers escort him into the midst of the religious leaders, who aim to question him and find grounds for conviction. Jesus remains largely silent, neither confirming nor denying the charges, frustrating the council further.
Hushed accusations ricochet off stone walls, but his silence rings louder than their shouts.
03:51 AM – DENIAL
Peter denies Jesus three times to an angry mob, his words tumbling out in hasty denials. Just before a rooster's crowing pierces the night air, Peter's eyes meet Jesus', a poignant reminder of his earlier prediction. Meanwhile, Jesus is held in a cell, awaiting a second preliminary trial before the Sanhedrin.
The rooster’s cry cleaves the darkness—each “I do not know him” cuts deeper than nails.
08:14 AM – Before Pilate
Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor, accused of blasphemy, but the case is tenuous. Earlier, when questioned by Caiaphas, Jesus uttered a single, pivotal word: 'Yes,' affirming his divinity as the Son of God. He added, 'My kingdom isn't of this earth, but heaven,' which enraged Caiaphas, prompting him to rend his robes. Pilate, however, discerns no fault in Jesus and decides to forward the case to King Herod, the ceremonial leader of the Jews, in hopes of resolving the matter. The Pharisees and Sadducees, undeterred, clamor for Jesus' death sentence, pushing for an expedited verdict.
Pilate’s marble bench feels colder than the chains at Jesus’ wrists, and the crowd’s jeers echo like thunder.
09:40 AM – Herod’s Court
After Herod Antipas' failed attempt to interrogate Jesus, Pilate has devised a plan. He orders Jesus to be flogged in a public square, mocked with a crown of thorns, a reed as a scepter, and a royal robe. The Roman soldiers strip Jesus NAKED and administer a severe beating. The whips used have embedded hooks that tear flesh upon impact. Pilate hopes this brutal display will appease the Jewish leaders.
Each lash is a drumbeat of injustice; the crown’s thorns draw glory and blood in a single twist.
11:46 AM – Ultimatum
A closed–door meeting between temple authorities and Roman officials has yielded a stark ultimatum: Jesus' death sentence or risk an empire-wide uprising, with the Jews refusing to pay taxes to Caesar. Pilate plays his final card, offering the crowd a choice: release Jesus, the Passover prisoner, or Barabbas, a notorious criminal, in a bid to break the deadlock.
Tension crackles like lightning—Barabbas grins while Jesus stands silent, both judged by the same crowd.
12:19 PM – Final Verdict
The crowd, mobilized by temple authorities, demands Jesus' death sentence, overpowering the minority's voices in his favor. Pilate signs the decree: Jesus to be crucified, Barabbas to be released. The severely wounded Jesus is forced to carry his cross from Pilate’s palace (present day West Bank, Palestine) to Golgotha, near modern-day Jerusalem (exactly at the Church of Holy Sepulchre).
Your chest tightens as you watch him shoulder the beam—the weight of every sin, every hope, every promise.
13:35 PM – The Road
The procession reaches Golgotha. Jesus' mother, Mary, briefly encounters him, offering water, though it's spilled before he can drink. Simon of Cyrene is compelled to help Jesus carry the cross, alleviating some of the burden on his severely weakened and bleeding body. The next step will be the crucifixion. Oh, and news reaching us is that Judas Iscariot committed suicide about an hour ago under immense gravity of his actions.
Two mothers weep in unison: one broken by shame, the other by sorrow.
14:23 PM – Crucified
Jesus lies stretched on the cross, his body pierced by nails through his wrists and feet. Despite the excruciating pain, no bones are broken, fulfilling an ancient prophecy. The crowd mocks him, including one of the crucified criminals beside him, taunting Jesus to save himself if he's truly the Messiah. The other criminal defends Jesus, and in a moment of faith, Jesus promises him paradise in the afterlife.
Thorns, wood, sky—each element conspires to crush him, yet his mercy still flows outward.
15:00 PM – Death
Jesus entrusts John with the care of his mother, Mary, asking him to take her as his own. He cries out for water, but instead receives a sponge soaked in bitter wine. Then, in a final, anguished cry, Jesus shouts, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani" ("My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"), before succumbing to death.
Silence swallows every sound. Heaven waits with bated breath.
16:30 PM – Earthquake
An hour ago, Jesus breathed his last, saying 'Father, into your hands I commend my spirit' and 'It is finished!' A sudden, intense storm and earthquake strike, shrouding the land in darkness. The temple veil is torn, fulfilling prophecy. Many flee in awe, convinced Jesus was the Son of God. Roman soldiers attempt to hasten death by piercing the victims with spears, but Jesus is already lifeless. Upon piercing, blood and water flow from his side, fulfilling another prophecy.
The earth itself seems to sign the verdict: Love has conquered all.
17:55 PM – Burial
Jesus' body is taken down from the cross and laid to rest in a new tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy follower of Jesus and a member of the Sanhedrin. The tomb, hewn out of rock, is located in a garden near Golgotha. Jesus' body is wrapped in fine linen and spices, fulfilling prophecy. With Sabbath approaching at sunset, Jesus is laid to rest, leaving the city in hushed anticipation.
A silent hush falls—stone seals the promise, and sorrow holds its breath.
Saturday (Holy Saturday)
All Day
Jesus' body lies in the tomb under heavy guard. Meanwhile, in the spiritual realm, he's believed to have descended into Hades, proclaiming victory and liberation to the dead. By doing so, Jesus unlocks the gates of death, freeing the righteous from their wait and the unrighteous from the prison of death, ultimately defeating death itself. This pivotal act is seen as a central purpose of Jesus' mission on earth.
Even in absence, his voice echoes: “It is done; glory awaits.”
Sunday (Easter Sunday)
03:00 AM
HE HAS RISEN!!!
The stone rolls back. Light floods the chamber. Hope bursts forth as you—like every believer—stand stunned before the empty tomb, knowing that death could not hold him.
The End!
