The Last Hours of Jesus: From Gethsemane to Golgotha

by Ralph Gorman

Here for the ordinary reader is an unforgettable moment-by-moment account that brings to vivid life the powerful events that transpired between Jesus Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and His death on the Cross at Golgotha.

Fr. Ralph Gorman has here crafted for us a single detailed narrative out of the four Gospels, weaving into his narrative relevant Old Testament passages and prophecies, and facts from Jewish and Roman history, laws, beliefs, traditions, and practices, plus helpful first century military, political, geographical, and archaeological information.

Faithful to the Gospels while drawing on the best commentaries on them in English, Latin, French, German, and Italian, these rich pages provide you a refreshing reading of the Gospels supplemented by reliable archaeological, historical, and theological information about the period, places, and persons involved. Plus, you have the benefit of Fr. Gorman's keen depictions of the Gospel places based on his three years residence there.

You can read this book straight through, or one chapter a day as spiritual reading before Mass or during Lent. Either way, you'll come to grasp anew the depths of Christ's love for you, awakening in you greater devotion to Him than ever before.

From these moving pages, you'll come to learn scores of new and sometimes surprising things, including:

-The exact moment that Satan entered Judas: can you name it?
-The most terrible words Jesus spoke during his life on earth: do you know them? (Pray they will never be said about you.)
-How Jesus failed to fulfill popular hopes about the Messiah
-The dangerous political currents in Palestine that fueled the fatal events of holy week: Fr. Ralph Gorman explains them all
-That naked man who fled before Jesus and the soldiers after Jesus s arrest. Was it really St. Mark, as some say?
-Annas, Caiaphas, Herod the Great, Herod Antipas, Pilate, the High Priests, the Sanhedrin, the Sadducees, the Scribes, and the Pharisees: learn which of these many overlapping (and often conflicting) authorities and groups ruled what . . . did what . . . and why
-The many and often shifting charges made against Jesus
-Why Jesus refused to answer many of His accusers
-The moment that, under oath, Jesus declared himself to be God: do you know when that was?
-Pontius Pilate before and after Christ s passion: where he came from and what happened to him afterwards
-He burst asunder and all his bowels gushed out : St. Luke s little-known description of the death of Judas
-The incestuous marriage that led to the death of John the Baptist
-What Barabbas really did, and why that led the crowd to demand Pilate release him instead of Jesus
-Why, so quickly, Palm Sunday's "Hosannas" led to Good Friday's "Crucify him!";
-The likely location of the crucifixion, and that spot in particular was chosen
-How Roman methods deliberately increased the shame and pain of crucifixion
-Why, after His death, the Sanhedrin still feared Jesus
-And much more to enrich your knowledge, understanding, and love of Jesus!

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Theology, History, Nonfiction, Christian, Spirituality

304 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1960

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those consecrated to their Guardian and all the Holy Angels through Opus Sanctorum Angelorum, a ministry primarily committed to prayer are asked to be like the Angel sent to Jesus in His agony to strengthen Him as He bore the weight of the world’s sins, while the three Apostles slept. Jesus asked Peter, James and John sadly, “Could you not watch one hour with Me?” All these centuries later, we commit to spend an hour every Thursday evening (or Friday afternoon) meditating on the Passion of the Lord, or, Passio Domini, in a weekly anniversary of His pilgrimage of suffering. Some of the reasons why we do this are explained at the website by saints and popes, but personally, it stands as a constant reminder of Jesus’ great sacrifice, draws Him near and helps in the on-going battle with humility. I am fortunate in having my dear husband join me each week.

Initially, we spent the Passio Domini hour with the Gospels alone and I know for many saints, that is all that is needed. However, when I discovered an excellent book which really helped expand our understanding/appreciation of and devotion to Christ’s Passion, I have been on a mission for other books which will further that quest. So far, this is the second book, with three more already lined up to read after this.

Though The Last Hours of Jesus: From Gethsemane to Golgotha is a methodical, meticulous journey with Jesus during these most critical hours of His Life and our Salvation, it is never dull nor dogmatic. For the last seven months we’ve been reading one chapter each week; we take turns reading a page or two, depending on length, then pray a decade of the rosary, pondering on what we’ve just read.

Beginning with Chapter 1, the Background, there is a chapter on Judas, one on the Last Supper and then, Gethsemane and the Betrayal. Subsequently there are chapters on Annas, Jesus and His Captors, Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, Peter’s Denials, the Death of Judas, Christ Brought Before Pilate, Herod Antipas, Christ Returned to Pilate, Christ Condemned, the Way of the Cross, Calvary, the Seven Last ‘Words’ and two chapters devoted to ‘after Christ’s death’.

In each, Fr. Gorman presents the information from Sacred Scripture, including the conflicts, then offers possible resolutions, what scholars have typically believed as well as alternative interpretations and the pros and cons for each. He also provides available archeological information from the area* and historical, cultural and military norms and customs of the era and how they impacted Jesus, those around Him and the events of the Passion as it occurred. This is invaluable as it deepens one’s appreciation of Christ’s true suffering and immeasurable love for us.
Do I need to have this proved to me? Not really, but impoverished soul that I am, it never hurts!

My husband and I were both sorry to close the cover on this book, but we hope to return to this book as we expect there are limited number of quality books on this subject. But I could be wrong!

*Unfortunately, this is dated to 1960 as the book was written then. We were reading a reprint, with only minor emendations, but no real updates. This did not seriously detract from the quality or authenticity of the book for my husband and me, but it might for some.

Beautiful book which has drawn me closer to my dear Savior.

Edited 3/12/2023 for grammatical errors.





This is our new Thursday evening Passio Domini read. We read a page, pray a decade and read another page until we finish that chapter. This is our mediation on the Passion of Christ leading us into Friday. We recently finished, The Passion of Jesus and Its Hidden Meaning: A Scriptural commentary on the Passion, which was excellent. We were therefore concerned that any follow-on would be a disappointment, but although different, this seems like it will be inspirational as well.

[Riley Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

+JMJ+

A beautiful book I used for spiritual reading during Lent 2022. I loved how precise the author was without being overly-scholarly or dumbing down the reader. This book only made me love and appreciate Jesus Christ even more. I am so thankful for Jesus' sacrifice and gift to mankind. Glory to God in all things.

May God receive the soul of Father Ralph Gorman into eternal glory.

Amen

[Richard Grebenc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fr. Gorman does an absolutely splendid job of blending historical background with a completely orthodox (that is, strictly literal biblical) telling of the last hours of Jesus from the Last Supper through His burial (he also provides a fairly brief background of events leading up to this time). Leaving no detail unmentioned, and often bringing out aspects that are easily overlooked (either due to their seeming insignificance or because we have heard the story so often), the author brings alive the story of the end of Jesus' earthly life in such a way as to make this a page-turner; I did not want to put down the book. He deals with *all* of the characters of the Passion (Herod, Pilate, Annas, Caiaphas, Judas [who gets his own chapter], etc.) in great detail so we can appreciate and understand their positions and motivations. Any speculation on Gorman's part is always solidly based on the text and his vast historical knowledge. I learned much about an episode about which I had heard and read dozens, if not hundreds, of times. A magnificent combination of scholarship and faithfulness put together in such a way to make compelling reading whether one has great familiarity with the story or knows next to nothing about it.

An outstanding book that makes excellent Lenten reading but is worth working through any time. It is one of the few books that I would recommend reading over and over. It certainly would make a great addition to a yearly Lenten personal retreat. It would also make a wonderful gift for anyone near or far from the Lord. Reading it will certainly give any person a much greater respect for what Jesus did for us.

While I have the original Sheed & Ward edition from 1960, I am pleased that Sophia (www.sophiainstitute.com) has reissued the book -- it deserves to get into as many hands as possible.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breath of fresh air, despite being 60 years since publication. Father Gorman writes clearly and engagingly about a challenging topic, and cuts through mythology to give the most detailed treatment to Holy Week I’ve encountered. You wouldn’t think it merits an entire book, but there’s so much context needed to understand what’s happening - from Jewish legal procedures to architectural details. My main critique is I don’t feel he needed to spend quite so much time describing the architecture of key locations in Jerusalem, as they didn’t feel relevant to the theology here. But it remains that those passages are interesting, and add to my desire to visit the Holy Land one day! I’ll never hear the Passion the same way again and I finished this book just in time to experience Holy Week in a whole new way. Highly recommended, 5 full stars!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fr. Gorman's moving Lenten devotional is perhaps best experienced as an audiobook. The audio version of this book was read in such a way that it inspired contemplation. Truly, it was as though Christ's journey to the Cross – starting in Gethsemane and extending over the course of Lent to the Cross Itself – was brought vividly to life. Walking beside Jesus through his final hours was an emotional and unique experience. While Fr. Gorman fleshes out the facts with likely suppositions, most of the text is based on an amalgamation of the four Gospels. I'll likely be reading or listening to this each and every Lent in order to better understand the extent of Christ's suffering and love for us and His Church.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! It was such a great Lenten read! I was afraid it might be over my head, but it was very readable. I highly recommend it!

[Jo Shafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually take over a month to read a book, but this one I planned as Lenten reflection and meditation, covering only a chapter or less a day. Still, I finished it one week before Good Friday. This book, as its title suggests, follows the last hours of Jesus from His betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane to His burial, then ends rather abruptly. The Sanhedrists had rather hoped this messianic movement stirred up by the Galileans had ended and that they could get on with their own religiosity.

The author's stated purpose was to fill in the gaps of the Gospel narratives, beginning with the background of Jewish religious monotheistic thought in the time of Jesus. The Pharisees clung tenaciously to strict observance of Mosaic Law in the face of Pagan Greek culture and philosophy already permeating Palestine, leading to legalistic excesses that became an end in itself.

The Sadducees, on the other hand, rejected in large part the oral traditions of the Pharisees. They were recruited from the priestly families which performed ritual and sacrificial Temple functions. Over time, however, they grew more tolerant of pagan Hellenizing influence and less devoted to Jewish orthodoxy.

But the Pharisees, with their Scribes, and the Sadducees were only the two main Jewish religious sects. I'll not complicate this review by delineating all those minor sects. Suffice it to say here that each held a slightly different concept of the Messiah. By the time of Jesus, popular imagination had created a savior of national glorification and legalistic perfection. Thus, the conflict was already in place before Jesus ever entered the scene.

THE LAST HOURS OF JESUS by the late Father Ralph Gorman was not intended as scholarly material but for personal reflection. I recommend this book to readers for their meditative and prayerful observance of Lent.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my spiritual reading for Holy Week, and I found it to be both scholarly and spiritually illuminating. Father Gorman brings biblical archaeology, cultural history, and geography to bear on the last day in Jesus Christ's life. His approach made many of the actions and words of Jesus, his Apostles, and the various Jewish factions, as well as the Romans, much clearer and understandable for those desiring to follow along on the journey. We often tend to quickly read over the passages of Holy Week without wondering about what this or that word or action might have meant; Father Gorman makes us take the time to think on these moments and put them in their proper context. It was particularly instructive for me to read the sections on the Crucifixion and to recognize how important Jesus' silence was (as Father Gorman instructed his readers). The only thing I really missed, though, was a map, so I could see and trace the paths taken and not just imagine them.

While this book is not a meditation on those last hours, it certainly provides the basis for meditation and prayer for the Triduum, those last three days before the celebration of the Resurrection.

[Patrick Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a perfect mix of the story of the Passion with hard Roman/Jerusalem history. We all know the Passion narrative, but this gives great backup on who the characters are and what their roles in ancient times were. E.g., who were the Tetrarchs and how did their power coincide/conflict with the Roman Prefect (Pilate)? What was life like in Jerusalem and the surrounding area, and where did these events actually take place within? How were crucifixions actually carried out in ancient Rome? A good quick read too.

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to read this book for the Lenten season, and it was an excellent choice. Fr. Gorman did an excellent job of research, and was able to bring the last three days of Jesus' life into clear focus. Fr. Gorman relied on all 4 Gospels, and the Church Fathers and other experts to give us a penetrating look into the time, the world, and the people who were there for that fateful Passover celebration. Lots of footnotes to back up anything that might be troubling to our 21st Century minds, and a deep love for our Lord make this an excellent spiritual book for any Christian, not just Catholics.

[Nathan H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fr. Gorman creates a wonderful synthesis of the Four Gospels, anthropological knowledge, and archeological findings to bring readers in depth into the Last 36 or so hours of Christ's life. It is a great, objective presentation of the history of the events of the Passion, but I think it could have greatly benefitted from a Spiritual dimension, particularly having being written by a Catholic Priest. This was my main qualm with the book as it could have been a great spiritual read, but chooses to remain a strictly academic address of Christ's death.

[Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, much like the gospels, represents a play-by-play analysis of the events encompassing Jesus’ passion. Unlike the gospels, it synthesizes the content of the gospels into a one narrative. It is grounded in the context of historical analysis of the major players (Judas, Annas, Caiphais, Pilate) and the first century Jewish paradigm. It has enlivened and enlightened my understanding of the events of Jesus’ last hours and the meaning of it all.

[Ray Boshers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Helpful

Fr. Ralph Gorman does an excellent job of putting together the timeline of the last hours of Jesus. His use of other resources helps to clear up some of the passages where we are left wondering what may have happened and why. I highly this book if you are interested in what did and may have happened during those last hours.

[Jeremy Bonnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent. The writing is so easy to understand and everything is clearly laid out. There were many times when the author says, "We do not know" instead of wildly speculating about information. If there's a better book out there about these events, I'd certainly like to read it. Greatly enjoyed this one!

5 out of 5 stars

[Rachel Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a shame that he didn’t write about more events of the Bible like he did of the Passion! I love the historical background provided along with the scriptural events, giving the reader much more insight into the culture of the day and why people thought and did what they thought and did, bringing much more meaning into their words and actions.

[Courtney Haass]

I don’t even know what to say. This was very academic and while I was hoping for a meditative Holy Week read this was a very detailed historical read. I almost couldn’t get through it. Extremely detailed passion account and conservative/exclusive language/antisemitic too often. Would recommend for a historical reference but not for devotional use.

[Anne-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using the four gospel accounts and additional contemporary resources, Ralph Gorman documents the events from Gethsemane to Calvary to Christ's burial in tremendous detail. He expands on certain characters and provides cultural contexts to events that makes it so much more real and tangible. A fantastic book that helps you really delve into the passion and death of Christ.

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important chronicle of The Passion.

This small book puts into great perspective the last hours of our Lord. For those seeking a biblical voyage thru this time this is a great a d fast read.

[Maryann Masci · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Hours Of Jesus

This is one of the best books I've read. It kept my interest and made me feel close to our Lord. It points out parts of the Gospels and explains them for me to understand and realize.

[Tom Fabrizio · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good, you felt you were there.

What a wonderful book, it made you feel you were right there during the last hours of Jesus life and his disciples actions. A book reading more than once.Please

[Richard Cain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for personal devotion

This book lends itself to devotional reading and meditative prayer. I recommend it highly, both for believers and for those wanting to understand how believers understand the significance of Christ’s death.

[Thomas Donoghue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good explanation of the passion of Jesus and the pain he was subjected to for our sins.

[Rico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Lenten reading. It was fully of big and small historical points that make the last hours of jesus more real, more detailed, or simply more understandable in terms of why.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful

Very helpful in contemplating Christ's passion especially during this Lenten season. Fr. Gorman's writing is insightful and has a nice flow.

[Tom Mach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book opened my mind about details of the Lord’s passion. It was well researched and easy to read. Well done!

[Maria Englehardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating historical background on the last hours of Jesus. A perfect Holy Week read.

[Andrew Fast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining, in stretches seemed to wane in my interest and time was a factor. overall good for the "CONTEXTUAL HISTORY" buff in all of us :)

[Stephen Cleary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another must read for Christians. This book is very spiritual, inspiring and gives us hope.

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Barbara J Sauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used as spiritual reading during Lent, 2025. It helped me to go deeper into meditating on Jesus agony.