Easter is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, an event that provides the foundation for Christian hope and salvation. While the resurrection is the climactic moment of the Easter story, it is preceded by the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. These events, including Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection, form the full Easter narrative, which is spread across several chapters in the New Testament. The full Easter story can be found in all four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—each providing unique details but together offering a complete picture of the most significant event in Christian theology.
In this article, we will examine where to find the full Easter story in the Bible, focusing on the passages that highlight Jesus’ suffering, death, burial, and resurrection. By exploring these biblical texts, we can better understand the significance of the Easter story and the role it plays in the salvation of humanity.
The Four Gospels and Their Depictions of the Easter Story
The Easter story is not confined to a single passage in the Bible but is rather woven throughout the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Each Gospel presents a narrative that includes Jesus’ journey to the cross, His suffering and death, and His miraculous resurrection. While each Gospel offers a unique perspective, they all emphasize the same central truth: Jesus died for the sins of humanity and was raised to life for their salvation. Here is a breakdown of where to find the key events of the Easter story in each Gospel.
1. The Gospel of Matthew (Chapters 26-28)
Matthew’s account of the Easter story begins in chapter 26 and concludes in chapter 28. Matthew’s Gospel provides a detailed portrayal of Jesus’ suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection, emphasizing Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
The Arrest and Trial of Jesus: Matthew 26:36-75 describes Jesus’ time in Gethsemane, His betrayal by Judas, and His arrest. It also recounts His trial before the Sanhedrin, where He was falsely accused and condemned to death (Matthew 26:57-68).
The Crucifixion: Matthew 27:27-56 offers a detailed account of Jesus’ crucifixion, including His flogging, the mocking He endured, His crucifixion on the cross, and His final words. Notably, Matthew also records the supernatural events that accompanied Jesus’ death, such as the earthquake and the tearing of the temple veil (Matthew 27:51).
The Resurrection: Matthew 28:1-10 describes the miraculous resurrection of Jesus. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary discover the empty tomb, and an angel announces that Jesus has risen from the dead. Jesus Himself appears to the women, reassuring them and commissioning them to tell His disciples the good news of His resurrection. The chapter concludes with the Great Commission, where Jesus sends His disciples to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:16-20).
2. The Gospel of Mark (Chapters 14-16)
Mark’s Gospel, the shortest of the four, also provides a vivid portrayal of the events leading up to and following the resurrection. Mark’s account is particularly known for its brevity and immediacy, focusing on the actions and emotions of those involved.
The Arrest and Trial: Mark 14:32-72 recounts Jesus’ time in Gethsemane, His betrayal by Judas, and His arrest. Mark provides a more condensed version of the trial before the Sanhedrin, with Jesus’ response to the high priest’s question about His identity as the Messiah (Mark 14:61-64).
The Crucifixion: Mark 15:16-41 provides a graphic description of Jesus’ crucifixion, including the mockery He received from soldiers and bystanders, His physical suffering, and His final words (Mark 15:34, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Mark emphasizes the centurion’s declaration that Jesus was the Son of God after His death (Mark 15:39).
The Resurrection: Mark 16:1-8 describes the women who go to Jesus’ tomb and discover that it is empty. An angel tells them that Jesus has risen, and He will meet them in Galilee. However, Mark’s account ends abruptly with the women fleeing from the tomb in fear and amazement, which has led to much discussion about the Gospel’s original ending and its implications for the Easter message.
3. The Gospel of Luke (Chapters 22-24)
Luke’s Gospel provides a rich narrative of the Easter story, with particular emphasis on Jesus’ compassion, His forgiveness, and His post-resurrection appearances.
The Arrest and Trial: Luke 22:39-71 covers the events in Gethsemane, Jesus’ betrayal by Judas, His arrest, and the early stages of His trial. Luke emphasizes Jesus’ forgiveness of His captors and His calm demeanor in the face of unjust accusations.
The Crucifixion: Luke 23:26-49 narrates Jesus’ journey to the cross, His crucifixion, and the profound words He spoke from the cross, including His plea for forgiveness for those who crucified Him (“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”—Luke 23:34). Luke also includes the story of the repentant thief who is promised paradise (Luke 23:42-43).
The Resurrection: Luke 24:1-12 describes the women finding the empty tomb and receiving the angelic message that Jesus has risen. Later in the chapter, Jesus appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and He later reveals Himself to the apostles in Jerusalem (Luke 24:13-49). Luke emphasizes the fulfillment of Scripture and the importance of the resurrection for understanding Jesus’ mission.
4. The Gospel of John (Chapters 18-21)
John’s Gospel provides a more theological perspective on the Easter story, focusing on the divinity of Jesus and His ultimate purpose in coming to earth. John highlights many intimate details, including Jesus’ conversation with His disciples and His post-resurrection appearances.
The Arrest and Trial: John 18:1-27 covers the arrest of Jesus, His trial before the Jewish leaders, and His subsequent denial by Peter. The trial before Pilate is also detailed, where Jesus is questioned about His identity as the King of the Jews (John 18:33-38).
The Crucifixion: John 19:16-37 provides a detailed description of Jesus’ crucifixion, including His final words (“It is finished”—John 19:30) and His care for His mother, Mary, even as He is dying. John also records the piercing of Jesus’ side by a soldier, confirming His death (John 19:34).
The Resurrection: John 20:1-18 recounts Mary Magdalene discovering the empty tomb and meeting the risen Jesus. She initially mistakes Him for the gardener, but Jesus reveals Himself to her. Later, Jesus appears to the disciples, offering them peace and commissioning them to continue His work (John 20:19-23). The chapter concludes with Thomas’ famous doubt and eventual declaration of faith when he sees Jesus’ wounds (John 20:24-29).
The Restoration of Peter: In John 21:1-19, after His resurrection, Jesus appears to some of the disciples on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias, where He has breakfast with them and restores Peter, asking him three times if he loves Him. This passage underscores the restoration of Peter after his earlier denial of Jesus.
Conclusion
The full Easter story is composed of the interconnected events of Jesus’ passion, His death on the cross, His burial, and His glorious resurrection. The accounts provided in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John offer complementary perspectives on these events. Each Gospel highlights different aspects of the story, whether it be the fulfillment of prophecy, the display of Jesus’ love and forgiveness, or His triumph over death.
The Easter story is more than just a historical narrative; it is the foundation of Christian theology. Jesus’ death and resurrection are understood as the means by which humanity is offered forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life. These events mark the climax of God’s redemptive plan and are celebrated annually by Christians worldwide through the observance of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
The Easter story can be found across several chapters in the New Testament, primarily in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, with each Gospel contributing its own unique witness to the life-changing events of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Together, they form the full Easter narrative—a powerful reminder of the victory over sin and death that Christians celebrate each year.
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