Reading the Bible in Historical Sequence Part 11Намуна

Most temple-goers disbelieve Jesus. At the evening meal a woman pours perfume over Him. The next day, Wednesday, Judas sides with the Sanhedrin who wish to kill Him – after the Festival. Two disciples help prepare for Passover.

Note Matthew 26:17; Mark 14:12; Luke 22:8: ‘On the first day...’ The sun had already set so the fourteenth day of Nisan had begun. This was not officially the first day of Unleavened Bread but a day of cleaning the home of leaven and any crumbs of leavened bread. General practice was to eat only unleavened bread on this day – the ‘preparation day’ for the feast period. ‘Passover’ and ‘Unleavened Bread’ had become synonymous names for the period.

Normally when visiting Jerusalem, Jesus and the disciples would stay with friends in Bethany, a short walk from Jerusalem. For this Passover, however, the disciples realized Jesus was intending to stay in Jerusalem, so Peter and John offered to help make the necessary arrangements, no doubt thinking the huge influx of pilgrims would be taking up available accommodation. Jesus accepted their offer and gave them some directions. Peter and John then found that arrangements for the evening meal were, in fact, well in hand (Mark 14:15).