As we prepare our hearts to remember and celebrate the last week of Christ’s life on earth, I am compelled to share something that has always amazed me.
The first four books of the New Testament, “the Gospels,” contain 89 chapters.
Matthew – 28 chapters
Mark – 16 chapters
Luke – 24 chapters
John – 21 chapters
And of those 89 chapters, 30 chapters cover the events of the last week of Jesus’ life.
In other words, about 33% of the Gospels are all about the last few days of Christ’s life, culminating with his crucifixion on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. (Also included in these 30 chapters are his post-resurrection appearances.)
I find that most significant. Think about it. We emphasize what is most important. We repeat ourselves when we want to make sure that people understand what we’re saying, that they “get it.”
In the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, God has done exactly that. By devoting such a large portion of these inspired narratives to the details of Christ’s death and resurrection, and the events immediately preceding and following, he is making a point: the most critical events in the life of Jesus, and therefore the most important events in the history of the world, are found in the final 30 chapters of the four Gospels.
With that in mind, I wanted to share with you a simple way to better understand and internalize the significance of Christ’s final week: during the next 6 or 7 days, why not read these accounts for yourself?
Here are the chapters:
Matthew 21-28
Mark 11-16
Luke 19-24
John 12-21
For example, pick one of the Gospels and read 1 or 2 chapters each day from April 3-9. You can do this on your own, or if you have a family, start a new family tradition and do it together.
Here’s how this would play out for each of the Gospels. The chapter number(s) are listed next to each day of the week.
Matthew
Monday – 21,22
Tuesday – 23
Wed – 24
Thur – 25
Fri – 26
Sat – 27
Sun – 28
Mark
Tuesday – 11
Wed – 12
Thur – 13
Fri – 14
Sat – 15
Sun – 16
Luke
Tuesday – 19
Wed – 20
Thur – 21
Fri – 22
Sat – 23
Sun – 24
John
Monday – 12, 13
Tuesday – 14, 15
Wed – 16, 17
Thur – 18
Fri – 19
Sat – 20
Sun – 21
Next year, pick a different Gospel, and continue to alternate Gospels so that every four years you cover the final chapters in all the Gospels.
Doing this every year will give you a much greater appreciation for what Jesus did for you by dying, rising from the grave, and spending time with his followers after the resurrection.
Here’s one more idea to increase your understanding of both the significance and the meaning of Christ’s death. Get a free copy of John Piper’s Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Each chapter is a short yet meaty 2-page explanation of selected verses that teach a specific reason for the God-glorifying, salvation-providing death of Jesus. Read a chapter a day and you’ll fill your mind with wonderful truths found throughout the New Testament.
I wish you a week of much joy and gratitude as you read and meditate on the soul-satisfying message of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
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