Easter is a significant event for Christians, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is celebrated every year by millions of people around the world. For Christians, Easter is a time of hope, renewal, and joy because of the victory of Jesus over sin and death. But where in the Bible does it talk about Easter? Let’s take a detailed look at the scriptures that highlight the story of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, which are the central themes of Easter.
The Significance of Easter in the Bible
Easter is all about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This event is the foundation of the Christian faith. Without the resurrection, there would be no hope of eternal life. As the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:17, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”
The resurrection of Jesus is not just a historical event; it has deep theological significance. It demonstrates that Jesus is the Son of God, that He conquered death, and that through Him, we can have eternal life. The resurrection is God’s victory over sin and death. It also confirms that Jesus’ teachings were true, and His promise of eternal life is real.
The Last Supper: The Beginning of the Easter Story
Before the resurrection, there is the Last Supper. This is the event where Jesus shared a final meal with His disciples before His crucifixion. The Last Supper is mentioned in all four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. In this meal, Jesus established the practice of communion (also known as the Eucharist), instructing His followers to remember Him by eating bread and drinking wine in His name.
In the Gospel of Matthew (26:26-28), we read:
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'”
Jesus’ words at the Last Supper set the stage for what would happen next. His body would be broken, and His blood would be shed for the forgiveness of sins.
The Arrest and Trial of Jesus
After the Last Supper, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. It was there that He was arrested by the Roman soldiers, betrayed by one of His own disciples, Judas Iscariot. Jesus’ arrest and subsequent trial before the Jewish high priests and the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, are key events leading up to His crucifixion.
In the Gospel of Matthew (26:47-50), we read:
“While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.’ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed Him. Jesus replied, ‘Do what you came for, friend.'”
Jesus’ arrest was the beginning of His suffering. He was falsely accused, mocked, and condemned to death by crucifixion. All of this was part of God’s plan for salvation.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
The crucifixion of Jesus is the central event of Easter. Jesus died on a cross to pay for the sins of the world. The Bible tells us that Jesus, though sinless, took on the punishment that we deserved so that we could be forgiven.
In the Gospel of Mark (15:33-39), we read about the final moments of Jesus’ life on the cross:
“At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how He died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!'”
The darkness that covered the land during Jesus’ death symbolized the weight of the sin He was bearing. When Jesus cried out to God, it was a sign of His deep anguish. His death was not the end, however. The tearing of the temple curtain symbolized the opening of a new way to God, a way made possible by Jesus’ sacrifice.
The Burial of Jesus
After Jesus died, His body was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb. A man named Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy member of the Jewish council, offered his tomb for Jesus’ burial. Jesus was wrapped in linen cloth and laid to rest.
In the Gospel of Matthew (27:57-60), we read:
“As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock.”
The burial of Jesus is a reminder of His physical death. It also fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament, confirming that He was the promised Messiah. Jesus’ burial marked the end of His earthly life but was also the beginning of something new.
The Resurrection of Jesus
On the third day after His death, Jesus rose from the dead. This is the heart of Easter. The resurrection of Jesus is not just a miraculous event; it is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Without the resurrection, there would be no Christianity. The resurrection proves that Jesus is who He said He was—the Son of God—and it guarantees eternal life for all who believe in Him.
The resurrection is described in all four Gospels. In the Gospel of Matthew (28:1-10), we read about the moment when the women went to the tomb and discovered that Jesus had risen:
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.”
When the women arrived, the angel told them that Jesus had risen. They were instructed to go and tell the disciples that Jesus was alive. This was the first of many appearances of Jesus after His resurrection.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to many of His followers. He spent time with them, proving that He was truly alive. One of the most famous post-resurrection appearances is when Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They didn’t recognize Him at first, but when He broke bread with them, their eyes were opened, and they realized it was Jesus.
In the Gospel of Luke (24:30-31), we read:
“When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight.”
Jesus’ appearances to His disciples were proof that He had indeed risen from the dead. These encounters helped strengthen their faith and gave them the courage to spread the good news of His resurrection to the world.
The Great Commission: Jesus’ Final Instructions
Before He ascended into heaven, Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission, telling them to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. This is a key moment in the story of Easter because it marks the beginning of the spread of Christianity. Jesus’ resurrection was not just for the disciples; it was for all people, and it was their mission to share that message.
In the Gospel of Matthew (28:18-20), we read:
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'”
The resurrection of Jesus marked the start of a new era—the era of the Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to share the message of Jesus’ love, death, and resurrection with the world.
Conclusion
The Bible is filled with the story of Easter, from the Last Supper to the resurrection and beyond. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are at the heart of the Christian faith. Through Jesus’ resurrection, Christians find hope, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life. Easter is a celebration of victory—the victory of Jesus over sin and death. It is a reminder of God’s love for humanity and His desire to offer salvation to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
As we celebrate Easter, we remember the incredible sacrifice of Jesus and the power of His resurrection. The Easter story is not just a historical event; it is the story of God’s love and the hope that we have because of Jesus.
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