Holy Week Timeline (Passion Week): Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday

Doug Bookman

Holy Week, also known as Passion Week, is the week leading up to Easter Sunday and is a significant period in the Christian calendar.

Timeline of Holy Week

Here is a timeline with meanings, importance, and relevant Bible verses for each day of Holy Week:

Palm Sunday:

Meaning: Commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Importance: Fulfillment of prophecy and the beginning of the end of Jesus' earthly ministry.

Bible Verses: Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19.

Monday of Holy Week:

Meaning: Jesus' cleansing of the Temple.

Importance: Emphasizes the purity and sanctity of God's house.

Bible Verses: Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48.

Tuesday of Holy Week:

Meaning: Teaching and parables, including the Olivet Discourse.

Importance: Jesus' preparation of His disciples for what is to come.

Bible Verses: Matthew 21:23-26:5, Mark 11:20-13:37, Luke 20:1-21:36.

Wednesday of Holy Week (Spy Wednesday):

Meaning: Judas' agreement to betray Jesus.

Importance: The turning point towards Jesus' arrest.

Bible Verses: Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, Luke 22:1-6.

Maundy Thursday:

Meaning: Last Supper, washing of disciples' feet, institution of the Lord's Supper.

Importance: Establishes the sacrament of communion.

Bible Verses: Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-39, John 13:1-17:26.

Good Friday:

Meaning: Crucifixion and death of Jesus.

Importance: Atonement for sins through Jesus' sacrifice.

Bible Verses: Matthew 27:1-61, Mark 15:1-47, Luke 23:1-56, John 18:28-19:42.

Holy Saturday (Black Saturday):

Meaning: Jesus' body in the tomb.

Importance: A day of reflection and waiting.

Bible Verses: Matthew 27:62-66.

Easter Sunday:

Meaning: Resurrection of Jesus.

Importance: Victory over sin and death, the foundation of the Christian faith.

Bible Verses: Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-18.

These days hold deep significance for Christians worldwide, reflecting on the events leading to the crucifixion and celebrating the resurrection, which is the core of the Christian faith.

Holy Week Timeline 2024

Below is a complete timeline of the Holy Week of Easter, often called 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, which are possibly popular among the Galilean Jews, from 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.

Nisan 1 1 Nisan 1 2 Sunday 3
March 24		Palm Sunday: The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
  • Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem
  • Spends the night in Bethany
 Nisan 2
Nisan 2 
  Monday
March 25

Holy Monday

  • Leaves Bethany
  • Curses the fig tree on the way into the city
  • Weeps over Jerusalem
  • Cleanses the temple for the second time in His ministry
  • Late in day, looks into the Temple, then leaves the city
  • Spends the night in Bethany
 Nisan 3
Nisan 3 
  Tuesday
March 26

Holy Tuesday

  • Leaves Bethany
  • Finds the fig tree withered; teaches on faith
  • Possesses the temple and its precincts; confounds and pronounces woes upon His enemies.
  • Leaves city; Olivet Discourse on way back to Bethany
  • Judas bargains with Sanhedrin to betray Jesus
  • Spends the night in Bethany
 Nisan 4
Nisan 4 
  Wednesday
March 27		Holy Wednesday Silent Day
  • No record in the Gospels, but much activity as Jesus prepares for Last Supper and as Judas and Sanhedrin prepare for Jesus' arrest
  • Remains in Bethany throughout the day, stays night there
 
 Nisan 5
Nisan 5 
  Thursday
March 28

Maundy Thursday

  • Peter and John were sent to prepare Passover meal
  • After sunset, eats meal with the twelve; washes disciples; Judas departs
  • Lord's Supper instituted
  • To Garden of Gethsemane; Jesus' agony
  • Betrayal by Judas; arrest by Sanhedrin
  • To house of High Priest as Sanhedrin is convened; Peter betrays Jesus
 Nisan 6
Nisan 6 
  Friday
March 29		Good Friday: The Trials of Jesus Christ
  • First trial, before Annas [nightime hours]; Annas is looking for an accusation, biding time till Sanhedrin is gathered at High Priestly villa
  • Second [and primary] trial before Sanhedrin, Jesus is condemned, misused
  • Third trial, immediately at dawn [meanwhile, Peter denies Jesus a third time; Jesus looks upon him]; the condemnation repeated, then Jesus taken to Romans
  • Fourth trial before Pilate [till "beginning at Galilee"]
  • Fifth trial before Herod [looks for miracle]
  • 6th trial before Pilate
    • Jesus is scourged; the city cries, "Crucify Him or we will tell Rome!"
    • Jesus is finally turned over to be crucified
    • Jesus mocked (Roman soldiers); crown of thorns
    • Judas hangs himself
    • Jesus bears His cross to the gate north of the city and is crucified around 9 am.
Jesus' Seven Sayings from the Cross
  • "Father, forgive them..."
  • "Today...with me in paradise"
  • "Woman, behold thy son..." [darkness: noon – 3 pm]
  • "My God, My God..."
  • "I thirst."
  • "It is finished."
  • "Into Thy hands..."
The Death of the God-Man
About 3 pm, veil torn, rocks rent; some graves opened, and people rise [to mortality] and go into the city
  • Jesus' side pierced
  • Passover lambs were slain in the temple
  • Jesus was buried by sundown
 Nisan 7
Nisan 7 
  Saturday
March 30

Holy Saturday

  • At the request of the Jewish leadership, Pilate grants a guard and sets a seal on the tomb of Jesus
 Nisan 8
Nisan 8 
  Sunday
March 31		Easter Sunday: Resurrection Day
Jesus Christ rises from the dead (before dawn) and makes five appearances on the day of His rising:
  1. To Mary Magdalene [given a message to the disciples]
  2. To the other women who come to the tomb [intending to complete the burial preparation of His body]
  3. To two disciples on the Road to Emmaus
  4. To Simon Peter [nowhere recorded, but alluded to in Luke 24:33 and 1 Corinthians 1:5]
  5. To the astonished disciples [Thomas is absent]
 Nisan 9
Nisan 9 
 

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, which are possibly popular among the Galilean Jews, from 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

Learn more about the meaning and significance behind the Easter holiday and Holy Week celebrations:

What is Lent? and When Does Lent Start?
What is Ash Wednesday? and When is Ash Wednesday?
What is Palm Sunday?
What is Maundy Thursday?
What is Good Friday? and When is Good Friday?
What is Holy Saturday?

What is Easter? and When is Easter Sunday?
Easter Bible Verses
The Resurrection of Jesus 
Easter Prayers

More from Christianity.com

40 Best Thanksgiving Bible Verses to Offer Thanks to God