The Easter story is one of the most significant events in Christianity. It is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which marks the victory of life over death, good over evil, and hope over despair. But where does the Easter story begin in the Bible? The answer is not just one place but many, as the story unfolds in the final chapters of the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Each Gospel gives its own perspective on the events leading up to and following the resurrection of Jesus.
In this article, we will take a journey through the Bible to discover where the Easter story begins. We will look at key moments in the life of Jesus that lead up to His death and resurrection. This includes His final teachings, the Last Supper, His arrest, trial, crucifixion, and the miracle of His rising from the dead. By understanding where these events are found in Scripture, we can better grasp the significance of Easter and why it is so important for Christians.
The Significance of Easter
Before we dive into where the Easter story begins in the Bible, it is important to understand why Easter is such an important event for Christians. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the cornerstone of Christian faith because it confirms that Jesus is the Son of God, as He had claimed, and that through His death and resurrection, humanity can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
The Bible teaches that Jesus lived a perfect life, died for the sins of the world, and rose again on the third day, just as He had promised. This event gives Christians hope and assurance of salvation. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:17, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” This verse shows how crucial the resurrection is to the Christian faith.
Now, let’s explore where the Easter story begins in the Bible.
The Final Days of Jesus
Jesus’ Last Supper with His Disciples
The Easter story begins in the Gospels during the final days of Jesus’ life on earth. One of the most important events in these final days is the Last Supper, which took place on the night before Jesus was crucified. The Last Supper is described in the Gospels of Matthew (26:17-30), Mark (14:12-25), Luke (22:7-23), and John (13:1-30).
At the Last Supper, Jesus shared a meal with His twelve disciples. During this meal, He instituted the practice of communion, telling His followers that the bread represented His body, and the wine represented His blood, which would be poured out for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 22:19-20). This event marks the beginning of the story of Jesus’ sacrificial death.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
After the Last Supper, Jesus went with His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. This event is recorded in Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, and Luke 22:39-46. Jesus was deeply troubled, knowing that His crucifixion was near. He prayed to God, asking if there was any other way to accomplish the mission of salvation, but He ultimately surrendered to God’s will, saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
In this moment of intense emotional and spiritual struggle, Jesus’ disciples fell asleep instead of praying with Him, which added to His sense of abandonment. This was an important moment in the Easter story, as it showed Jesus’ humanity and His willingness to submit to God’s plan, even in the face of great suffering.
Jesus’ Arrest and Trial
The Easter story continues with the arrest of Jesus. After His time in Gethsemane, Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples, betrayed Him to the religious leaders for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus was arrested by a mob sent by the chief priests and elders. His arrest is described in all four Gospels (Matthew 26:47-56, Mark 14:43-50, Luke 22:47-53, John 18:1-11).
Jesus was then taken to the high priest’s house, where He was interrogated. The religious leaders accused Him of blasphemy because He claimed to be the Son of God. The trial was unjust and conducted under the cover of night, which was against Jewish law. Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, denied knowing Him three times, as Jesus had predicted earlier (Luke 22:61).
Jesus Before Pilate
After the trial before the Jewish leaders, Jesus was brought before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. The religious leaders wanted Jesus to be executed, but they could not carry out the death penalty themselves, so they brought Jesus to Pilate, hoping to have Him condemned to death. Pilate questioned Jesus, but he found no fault in Him. Pilate even offered to release a prisoner for the Jewish people as part of a Passover tradition, but the crowd demanded the release of Barabbas, a known criminal, instead of Jesus.
This event is described in Matthew 27:11-26, Mark 15:1-15, Luke 23:1-25, and John 18:28-40. Pilate, unable to find a way to avoid condemning Jesus, gave in to the pressure of the crowd and sentenced Jesus to be crucified.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
The crucifixion of Jesus is one of the central events in the Easter story. Jesus was stripped of His clothes, beaten, and forced to carry His cross to the place of His execution, known as Golgotha, or the “Place of the Skull.” This event is described in detail in all four Gospels: Matthew 27:27-56, Mark 15:16-41, Luke 23:26-49, and John 19:17-37.
Jesus was nailed to the cross and placed between two criminals. While on the cross, He endured great physical pain and emotional suffering. He cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34), expressing the depth of His anguish. Jesus also forgave those who crucified Him, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). After several hours, Jesus died, and the earth became dark in a sign of mourning.
The crucifixion of Jesus was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 53, which spoke of the suffering servant who would bear the sins of many. It also marked the moment when Jesus took upon Himself the punishment for the sins of the world.
The Burial of Jesus
After Jesus died, His body was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb. A wealthy man named Joseph of Arimathea, who was a secret follower of Jesus, asked Pilate for permission to bury Jesus’ body. He wrapped Jesus’ body in a linen cloth and placed it in a tomb that had never been used before. This event is recorded in Matthew 27:57-61, Mark 15:40-47, Luke 23:50-56, and John 19:38-42.
The religious leaders, fearing that Jesus’ disciples would steal His body and claim He had risen from the dead, requested that the tomb be sealed and guarded. A large stone was rolled in front of the entrance, and soldiers were placed outside the tomb to keep watch (Matthew 27:62-66).
The Resurrection of Jesus
The most important part of the Easter story is the resurrection of Jesus. After Jesus was buried, His followers were devastated. But on the third day, something miraculous happened: Jesus rose from the dead. This event is described in all four Gospels.
The Discovery of the Empty Tomb
Early on the first day of the week, a group of women—Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome—went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body with spices. However, when they arrived, they found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance, and the tomb was empty. An angel appeared to them and told them that Jesus had risen from the dead, just as He had said (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10).
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and many others over the course of forty days. He proved to them that He was alive by showing them His wounds and eating with them. Jesus gave His disciples the command to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:9-20, Luke 24:36-49, John 20:19-23).
The Ascension of Jesus
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples one last time on a mountain in Galilee. There, He gave them final instructions before He ascended into heaven. As Jesus was lifted up, a cloud took Him from their sight. Two angels appeared and told the disciples that Jesus would return in the same way they had seen Him go (Acts 1:9-11).
Conclusion
The Easter story begins with the final days of Jesus’ life and culminates in His glorious resurrection. Through the Gospels, we see how Jesus’ death and resurrection fulfilled God’s plan for the salvation of humanity. Easter is a celebration of new life, hope, and victory over death. For Christians, it is the heart of their faith, and it reminds them of God’s great love and the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
As we read the Bible, we see that the Easter story is not just about the past but also about the present and future. It calls all believers to trust in the power of Jesus’ resurrection and to live in the hope of His return. Through the Easter story, Christians find purpose, joy, and the assurance that, like Jesus, they too will rise again to eternal life.
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