Easter is a holiday celebrated by over 95 countries, yet many people think of it as a holiday about bunnies and eggs. But the true story behind it is not a work of fiction or inaccurate. It can be read in several books of the Bible, written by witnesses of this supernatural phenomenon; It was prophesied centuries before, and took many years to reach.
Once Jesus was born, it was put in motion. He began to perform signs and wonders, causing the people in power to detest him. One of the events that led to Good Friday, was several days before. Palm Sunday
Jesus and his disciples were approaching Jerusalem, when Jesus sent two of his disciples into the village, saying “At once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
This happened just as he said it would. The disciples returned and placed their cloaks on the donkey and colt for Jesus to sit on. Jesus was the first to sit on the colt, representing himself as a King of Peace, as the donkey symbolizes humility and peace, which opposed what many believed the Messiah would do. By doing this, he fulfilled the centuries old prophecy written in Zachariah 9:9 See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
As he rode on the road that continues to the Mount of Olives, the crowd that was there for a festival heard Jesus was on his way, so they stopped to watch and placed their cloaks or cut branches from the trees onto the rode, shouting “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” and “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
The crowd had heard of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and performing amazing signs and wonders, making them believe Jesus was the Messiah. The crowds continued to watch in wonder as Jesus rode past them, despite the protests from the Pharisees.
Good Friday
After Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, one of his disciples approached and had him arrested. Jesus had predicted this would happen, even mentioning it to the betrayer, who gave the Roman Soldiers his location for 30 pieces of silver. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Roman Empire had been wanting to capture Jesus, the man who claimed to be the Messiah and did great miracles, because they were powerful, but felt threatened as the people turned towards Jesus and away from the fake religiosity and orders by the Romans who invaded their land years before.
Jesus was taken to the high priest and the teachers of the law, as well as the elders gathered to decide his fate. The chief pursers and all of Sanhedrin hoped to find a way to falsify evidence against Jesus so they could put him to death, but they were unable to find any, despite the false witnesses who spoke against him.
The false witnesses said things, which the high priest asked Jesus if it was true. Jesus stayed silent, well aware of what was going to happen.
In Matthew 26:63,64 it says The high priest said to him “I charge til under oath of the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Believing, as many religious people did, that it was blasphemy, the high priest was angered, and asked the crowd what they thought.
“He is worthy of death,” they answered, and mocked Jesus.
Next, Jesus was taken before the governor, who asked “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied. (Matthew 27:11) The priests and the elders accused him and still, he remained silent.
This amazed the governor. As his custom, he asked the crowd which prisoner he should release.
It was between Jesus and the murderer, Barabbas. The elders persuaded the crowd to shout for the freedom of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus.
“Why? What crime has he committed?” Asked Pilate But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:23)
One of the Jewish leaders informed Pilate that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God.
“Where do you come from?” He asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or crucify you?”
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
After hearing that and the warning from his wife, Pilate wanted to set him free, but knew he couldn’t persuade the crowd to free the innocent man, so he washed his hands, saying “I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your responsibility!”
The governor’s soldiers took Jesus where more soldiers would surround him and mock him. They twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head, spit on him, and struck him repeatedly. When they finished, he was forced to carry the heavy cross which he would be crucified on and walk the long distance to Golgatha.
His cross was placed in the center, with two others to his left and right, his hands and feet were nailed to the cross and above his head, still with the crown of thorns, the written charge said THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Matthew 27:37)
Many insulted him, believing all he has said was blasphemy. They mocked him, for not saving himself from this terrible fate, which they believed he would have done since he claimed to be the Son of God.
But Jesus chose to go through with it. Being a sinless sacrifice, he was able to die for everyones sins and give them a chance to go to heaven, saving them from eternal suffering.
As recorded in Luke 23:34, Jesus said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
One of the thieves who was on a cross next to him told him, if he really was the Messiah to save himself and “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42,43
Noon had approached, yet the sun stopped shining for three hours.
Jesus cried out once more with his last breath “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
At that very moment, the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom, the earth shook, rocks split in half, and the bodies of holy people who died came back to life.
Terrified, the people realized “Surely, he was the Son of God!” Easter
There was an earthquake and an angel went to the tomb, rolled the stone away from the entrance, and sat on it. The guards who were sent to watch Jesus’ tomb were so fearful that they fainted.
At dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James went to Jesus’ tomb to anoint him. There they saw an angel seated on the rolled away stone.
The angel told the women “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” (Jesus had stated “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”)
The women hurried to tell the disciples, afraid and joyful, when they suddenly met with Jesus “Greetings. Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Since Jesus’ supernatural resurrection people have celebrated this holiday, commemorating Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for us.
As we celebrate Easter, let’s be sure not to forget the true meaning.