Below is a complete timeline of the Holy Week of Easter, often referred to as the Passion Week of Jesus Christ that spans from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday.
1 This column represents standard First Century Jewish day/night cycles—sundown to sundown. Notice that the slaying of the lambs "between the evenings" on Nisan 14 would in this case happen on Friday afternoon (which is when, according to John 18:28, the Jewish authorities intended to keep the feast).
2 This column represents the day/night cycles very possibly in popular usage among the Galilean Jews—sunup to sunup. Notice that the slaying of the lambs "between the evenings" on Nisan 14 would, in this case, happen on Thursday afternoon (which is when Jesus and His disciples kept the feast).
3 This column represents modern-day/night cycles—midnight to midnight.
Use our 8-Day Prayer and Scripture Guide - Praying Through the Holy Week. Print your own copy for a beautiful daily devotional leading up to Easter.
Holy Week Timeline 2023
Nisan 1 1 | Nisan 1 2 | Sunday 3 April 2 | Palm Sunday: The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
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Monday April 3 | Holy Monday
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Tuesday April 4 | Holy Tuesday
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Wednesday April 5 | Holy Wednesday Silent Day
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Thursday April 6 |
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Friday April 7 | Good Friday: The Trials of Jesus Christ
About 3 pm, veil torn, rocks rent; some graves opened, and people rise [to mortality] and go into the city
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Saturday April 8 | Holy Saturday
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Sunday April 9 | Easter Sunday: Resurrection Day Jesus Christ rises from the dead (before dawn) and makes five appearances on the day of His rising:
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1 This column represents standard First Century Jewish day/night cycles—sundown to sundown. Notice that slaying of the lambs "between the evenings" on Nisan 14 would in this case happen on Friday afternoon (which is when, according to John 18:28, the Jewish authorities intended to keep the feast).
2 This column represents the day/night cycles very possibly in popular usage among the Galilean Jews—sunup to sunup. Notice that slaying of the lambs "between the evenings" on Nisan 14 would in this case happen on Thursday afternoon (which is when Jesus and His disciples kept the feast).
3 This column represents modern-day/night cycles—midnight to midnight.
Information courtesy of Dr. Doug Bookman of Bookman Ministries
This article is part of our larger Holy Week and Easter resource library centered around the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through his son Jesus Christ!
What is Palm Sunday?
What is Ash Wednesday?
What is Maundy Thursday?
What is Good Friday?
What is Holy Saturday?
The Meaning of Easter
Photo Credit: Thinkstock/Azerberber