This is the time of year we start seeing a lot of post on social media about Easter, Resurrection Sunday, and some will also include Passover. I want to encourage you to read and study the Bible to see what Jesus did for us through His life, death, burial, and resurrection and what that personally means for each one of us.

This post is not about debating the holiday, it is about digging deeper in the Bible for each and every one of us on our own to see what the Lord teaches us through His Word.

The Last Supper

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

Crucifixion/Death of Jesus

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

Resurrection of Jesus

Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20

The Passover Supper and Jesus Washes Feet

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He now showed the disciples the full extent of his love. It was time for supper, and the Devil had already enticed Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to carry out his plan to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that He had come from God and would return to God. So He got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel He had around Him. (John 13:1-5). By His actions He showed us what it means to be a servant and one of His followers. He showed us how we are to love others through our actions as well as our words.

Jesus’ Arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane

Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with His disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had gone there many times with his disciples. The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a battalion of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove. Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to Him. Stepping forward to meet them, He asked, “Whom are you looking for?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am He,” Jesus said. Judas was standing there with them when Jesus identified himself. And as He said, “I am He,” they all fell backward to the ground! Once more He asked them, “Whom are you searching for?” And again they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.” “I told you that I am He,” Jesus said. “And since I am the One you want, let these others go.” (John 18:1-8). Judas, who was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, betrayed Him in the most cruel way possible. He led those who wanted to kill Jesus straight to where He was at. Judas had seen first hand that Jesus was the Son of God and yet he still betrayed Him.

Jesus Is Tried and Beaten

Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head, and they put a royal purple robe on Him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, and they hit Him with their fists. Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring Him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find Him not guilty.” Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Here is the man!” When they saw Him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify! Crucify!” (John 19:1-6). I don’t think we could ever grasp the level of torture Jesus went through for us.

His Crucifixion

Carrying the cross by Himself, Jesus went to the place called Skull Hill (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they crucified Him. There were two others crucified with Him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign over Him that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it. Then the leading priests said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written. It stays exactly as it is.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took His robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said, “Let’s not tear it but throw dice to see who gets it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided My clothes among themselves and threw dice for my robe.” So that is what they did. (John 19:17-24).

Jesus’ Death

Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures He said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to His lips. When Jesus had tasted it, He said, “It is finished!” Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (John 19:28-30) I don’t think we could ever grasp the level of torture Jesus went through for us. He was innocent, but He died a criminals death for our sin. It was not His sin because He was sinless. Everything He did and suffered was for you and for me.

His Burial

Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take Jesus’ body down. When Pilate gave him permission, he came and took the body away. Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night, also came, bringing about seventy-five pounds of embalming ointment made from myrrh and aloe. Together they wrapped Jesus’ body in a long linen cloth with the spices, as is the Jewish custom of burial. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation before the Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. (John 19:38-42).

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put Him!” Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side. Then the other disciple also went in, and he saw and believed. (John 20:1-8).

The first person Jesus showed Himself to after His resurrection was Mary, on of His followers. He later showed Himself to His disciples. Before ascending to heaven He left them, and us, with the great commission.

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

**Some info was found on various online sites.

Blessings,

Nichole Henson

Fullness of Joy Ministry

Fullnessofjoyministry@gmail.com