• BELIEFS
  

Easter Story

Share:

Easter is the most significant Christian holiday, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ

three days after his crucifixion, which represents victory over sin and death. It offers

believers the hope of eternal life, acting as the foundation of Christian faith and a promise

of new beginnings.

Key reasons Easter is considered a "big deal":

• Foundation of Faith: According to Christian belief, if Jesus did not rise from the

dead, their faith would be pointless. It serves as confirmation of all Jesus claimed

during his ministry.

• Promise of Eternal Life: It symbolizes that death is not the end and promises

believers victory over "sin, death, and the Devil," promising future reunion with God

in heaven.

Easter is related to the Jewish holiday of Passover because Jesus' crucifixion and

resurrection occurred during the Passover festival. While they often fall near each other in

March or April, Easter is set as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal

equinox, whereas Passover is tied to the Hebrew lunar calendar.

Key connections and differences include:

• Historical Link: Some believe The Last Supper was a Passover Seder. A Passover

Seder is a traditional ritual feast held on the first two nights of Passover (Pesach) to

retell the story of the Israelites' liberation from Egyptian bondage. However, that is

not the case.

First, very little, if anything, of the rabbinic Seder practices can be read back to the

early part of the first century C.E. Second, Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples did

not take place on the first night of Passover. There is a real di?erence

between John and the synoptics on this question, and Jesus was tried and

killed before the holiday began. By Seder time, he was buried.

• Calendar Separation: The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD determined that Easter

should not be tied to the exact date of Passover, separating the calendars.

• Timing Variations: Because Passover is based on the Jewish lunar calendar

(starting on Nisan 14 or 15) and Easter is based on a solar-lunar hybrid, they do not

always coincide.

• Symbolism: Both are spring festivals, but Passover celebrates the liberation from

slavery in Egypt, while Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.

For those who want to understand more about Easter, visit churches that hold Holy

Thursday to Easter Sunday services. This is the most holy of all Christian celebrations.

The Easter Bible Story - While Christmas observes the birth of Jesus, Easter remembers

the main Christian event: Christ's su?ering, crucifixion, and resurrection. For Christians,

Easter is the remembrance of Christ's voluntary death and resurrection to save humankind

from sin and death.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He

has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3)

Discover the complete Bible story of Easter, including the Last Supper, Judas' Betrayal, the

Crucifixion of Jesus, and Jesus' Resurrection. Read the summary of each and the full

scripture on your own:

Key Events of Holy Week:

1. Palm Sunday: Jesus enters Jerusalem to cheering crowds, riding on a donkey,

fulfilling prophecy.

2. Holy Monday/Tuesday: Jesus cleanses the Temple, cursing the barren fig tree, and

teaches in parables.

3. Spy Wednesday: Judas Iscariot agrees to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

4. Maundy Thursday: The Last Supper, where Jesus washes his disciples' feet and

initiates the New Covenant, followed by his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and

betrayal by Judas.

5. Good Friday: Jesus is tried, sentenced, scourged, and crucified at Calvary. He dies

and is buried in a tomb by Joseph of Arimathea.

6. Holy Saturday: Jesus rests in the tomb while his disciples hide in fear and mourn.

7. Easter Sunday: The resurrection. Women visit the tomb, find it empty, and are told

by angels that Jesus has risen, later appearing to his followers

1. The Last Supper

Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-25, Luke 22:7-23

The story of the Last Supper is an invitation from Jesus to partake of Him, first to His

apostles and to all Christians. This is a summary of the Last Supper Bible story as told in

the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke below. Read more in-depth Bible verses from the

Scripture below and use the articles and videos to understand the meaning behind this

teachable event in the Bible.

The last supper occurred on Passover's first day, or the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Jesus

sent his disciples to the city to prepare a meal to celebrate Passover. Passover is the

remembrance of Israel being freed from slavery to Egypt, specifically when the angel of

death passed over the homes of the Israelites that had lambs' blood over the doors.

As the disciples reclined and ate dinner with Jesus, he explained that one of the twelve

would soon betray him. One by one the disciplines denied that it would be them, including

Judas who would be the betrayer. Jesus responded that the person who betrays him will

have a terrible fate and that it was Judas.

Jesus prayed and thanked God for the meal. He then broke the bread, shared the wine with

the disciples, and explained to them how the bread was a symbol of his body, broken for

them, and the wine a symbol of his blood which would be poured out for their sins to be

forgiven. This is where the church's tradition of communion comes from.

After the meal, Jesus became like a servant and washed the feet of the disciples. Peter did

not feel right having Jesus wash his feet but Jesus said that He was doing it to be an

example to them. Now the disciples would be able to wash each other's feet, meaning they

could be servants to all.

2. Judas Betrays Jesus

John 18:1-13, Luke 22:1-6, Luke 22:47-54, Matthew 26:47-56, Mark 14:43-50

The Bible Story of Judas betraying Jesus is found in all four gospels. This powerful story is

well-known in Christian theology as one of the most significant events of disloyalty. There

are several explanations as to why Judas betrayed Jesus, including bribery and demonic

possession, that vary among the gospel accounts.

The Gospels imply that Jesus anticipated and permitted Judas's betrayal. One

interpretation is that Jesus allowed the betrayal because it would allow God's plan to be

achieved and another that regardless of the betrayal, Jesus was eventually fated for

crucifixion as part of God's plan.

During the meal of the Last Supper Jesus predicts that "one of you will betray me" referring

to Judas. Judas leaves the supper and goes to the Roman authorities who are looking to

arrest Jesus. He accepts a bribe of 30 silver and agrees to take them to Jesus. Judas knew

that Jesus and the disciples would go to a garden near Jerusalem and led the soldiers there,

stating "Whoever it is I kiss, he is the one; take him into custody, and lead him away under guard.

” Leading the group into the garden, Judas sees Jesus with his disciples and approaches him.

“Greetings, Rabbi!” Judas says, and he kisses Jesus very lightly.

“Fellow, for what purpose are you present?” Jesus responds. (Matthew 26:49, 50) Answering his own

question, Jesus says: “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

As the soldiers move toward Jesus, the apostles recognize what is happening. “Lord,

should we strike with the sword?” they ask. (Luke 22:49) Before Jesus can respond, Peter

uses one of the two apostles' swords and attacks Malchus, a high priest servant, cutting o?

his right ear.

Jesus caresses the ear of Malchus, healing the wound. He then teaches an important

lesson, telling Peter: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take up the sword

will perish by the sword.” Jesus is willing to be captured, for he explains: “How would the

Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must take place this way?” (Matthew 26:52) This then

leads to the trial and Crucifixion of Christ.

3. Crucifixion of Jesus

Matthew 27:1-54, Mark 15:1-40, Luke 23:1-48, John 19:1-30

The crucifixion of Jesus is recorded in the New Testament books, known as the Gospels -

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This Bible story is the central summary of the saving

Gospel of Jesus. Jesus had prophesied his death in Matthew: "from that time on Jesus

began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and su?er many things at the

hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law and that he must be killed

and on the third day be raised to life." Jesus understood that his life would be required as a

sacrifice for the sins of man.

At the height of his ministry and miracles, many Jews came to believe in Jesus as the

Messiah, the Son of God. Jewish leaders feared Jesus because of his growing followers.

With the help of Judas Iscariot, Roman soldiers arrested Jesus, and he was put on trial for

claiming to be the king of the Jews. According to Roman law, the punishment for rebellion

against the king was death by crucifixion.

The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, was reluctant when it came to the punishment for

Jesus. Pilate could find no wrong in Jesus, yet he wanted to give the people what they

wanted, and that was the death of Jesus. Pilate washed his hands in front of the crowd to

symbolize that he was not taking responsibility for the bloodshed of Jesus and then handed

Jesus over to be beaten and lashed. Jesus had a crown of thorns thrust on his head and

made to carry his cross along the pathway to the hill where he would be crucified. The

location of Jesus' crucifixion is known as Calvary, which is translated from "a place of a

skull."

Crowds had gathered to mourn and watch Jesus' death. Jesus was nailed to the cross

between two criminals, and his sides were pierced by a sword. While Jesus was mocked,

one of the criminals asked him to remember him, and Jesus responded: "Truly, I tell you,

today you will be with me in paradise." Jesus then looked to heaven and asked God to

"forgive them, for they do not know what they do." When taking his last breath, Jesus spoke:

"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit...it is finished."

Extraordinary events marked the death of Jesus. The sky was completely dark for three

hours as Jesus hung on the cross. At the moment of his last breath, the earth shook, the

temple curtain split from top to bottom, and the tombs of saints opened and their bodies

raised from the dead.

The crucifixion of Jesus was a part of God's plan from the very beginning of the birth of

Jesus. The sin of mankind would require a sacrifice. The sinless life of Jesus was lived and

given so that man could receive salvation and eternal life in heaven.

4. Resurrection of Jesus

Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Christian faith. Without the

resurrection, the belief in God's saving grace through Jesus is destroyed. When Jesus rose

from the dead, He confirmed his identity as the Son of God and His work of atonement,

redemption, reconciliation, and salvation. The resurrection was a real, literal, physical

raising of Jesus’ body from the dead.

Jesus was arrested, tried, and found guilty of claiming to be a king. His body was hung on a

cross between two thieves. After his death, Jesus’ body was wrapped in linen cloth and

placed in a tomb with a large stone rolled across the opening. On the third day, an early

Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and another Mary came to the tomb and found it empty.

Sitting on the rolled-away stone was an angel of the Lord who told them not to be afraid

because Jesus had risen. As the women left to tell the disciples, Jesus Christ met them and

showed them his nail-pierced hands.

Both the Old and the New Testaments speak of the truth of Jesus being raised from death -

Jesus testified of his resurrection before he died on the cross, and his disciples witnessed

his body after the resurrection. Below are the Bible verses and Scriptures that both

prophesize the resurrection and testify of its reality after Christ’s death.

You can read the Biblical accounts of Easter on your own. Here are four di?erent tellings of

the story by four di?erent authors written to four di?erent audiences.

Matthew 28, The Gospel of Matthew, likely written between A.D. 50–70 (possibly 60-65), is

traditionally attributed to Matthew (also called Levi), a former tax collector and one of the

12 apostles. It was written for a primarily Jewish Christian audience to prove that Jesus is

the Messiah and King who fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.

Mark 16, The Gospel of Mark, likely written around A.D. 55–70 (often cited as the first

Gospel), was authored by John Mark, an associate of the Apostle Peter, to provide a

concise record of Peter’s eyewitness testimony. The primary audience was Gentile

Christians, likely in Rome, facing persecution under Nero, designed to encourage

endurance through Jesus' example.

Luke 24, The Gospel of Luke, was written by Luke, a Gentile physician and companion of

Paul, likely between A.D. 58 and 65. It is addressed to "Theophilus," likely an influential,

high-ranking Gentile, with a broader audience of Gentile Christians intended to provide an

orderly, reliable account of Jesus' life and ministry.

John 20, The Gospel of John, was written by the Apostle John (son of Zebedee) around A.D.

70–100, most likely from Ephesus in the late 1st century. It addresses a general audience of

early Christians, both Jews and Gentiles, aiming to prove Jesus is the Messiah and Son of

God to secure their faith

What about Lent? The first thing to notice is that lent is not prescribed in the Bible.

It was developed as a practice of the Catholic church centuries ago.

It’s a tradition, not Scripture. Link to .pdf