The Easter Story

According to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Injustice

Matthew 27:1-2, 11-26; Mark 15:1-15; 11-26; Luke 23:1-5, 13-25; John 18:28-19.16

What crime did he commit?

After Jesus was arrested, religious officials sent Him to the Roman authorities for sentence. Jesus was led to Pilate, the Roman governor, who questioned him as to whether Jesus was King of the Jews. Pilate was aware that there seemed to be a plot against Jesus. As it was the custom to release a prisoner at Passover, he asked the crowd whether they would like Jesus or another prisoner set free. "Barabbas!", they shouted in a frenzy. "What must I do with Jesus?" asked Pilate. "CRUCIFY HIM!" screamed the crowd. The people had welcomed Jesus to their city the week before, but now voted for His death.

Bearing the Cross
Matthew 27:27-32; Mark 15: 15-23; John 19:2-3

"A crown of thorns was placed on his head"

After Jesus had been condemned by Pilate, He was whipped and dressed in fake royal robes with a crown made of thorns. He was again beaten, and spat on while being mockingly bowed down to before His own clothes were returned.

Jesus was then made to lift the cross, and as they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; and the soldiers compelled Simon to carry the cross.

The Crucifixion

Matthew 27:32-44; Mark 15: 22-32; Luke 23:26-43; John 19:17-27

"He saved others, but cannot save himself!"

And when they came to a place called Golgotha (meaning Place of a Skull), they offered him wine, mixed with gall, to drink; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; they then sat down and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "Jesus, the King of the Jews." Then two thieves were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." The chief priests, along with the scribes and elders, were also mocking him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, 'I am God's Son' ".

Death

Matthew 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49; John 19:28-30

"It is finished"

From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" When the bystanders heard it, one said, "This man is calling for Elijah." One of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him."

Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.

When the centurion and those keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, "Truly this man was God's Son!" Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

The Tomb

Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10

"After three days, I will rise again..."

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise again.' Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception would be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can." So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

Ressurection

Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10

"He is not here, he has risen..."

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and two other of Jesus's friends went to the tomb with precious spices. They wanted to show their love and respect by anointing the body of Jesus. As they walked through the early morning sunlight, they wondered how they could move the enormous stone from the entrance to the grave. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.

But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you."

So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, "You must say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So they took the money and did as they were directed.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore 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 that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

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