Category Archives: Easter

The powers of darkness descended in hate,Maliciously, leeringly trying to baitTheir Victim, Creator, this self-emptied Man,Committed to wrecking their Maker’s bold plan. Seducing Iscariot, whipping the crowdTo lynch-mob ferocity (fear rages proud),Self-righteousness hoodwinked to murder the Lord—The angel of light is the lion that roared. Disowned and alone, by close friendship betrayed,Contemptuously punched while inContinue reading “God’s Laugh”

Easter commemorates and celebrates a historical event unlike any other: the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  But what is the significance of the resurrection? And how can we know it really happened?  The four Gospels report that Jesus predicted his death, burial, and resurrection. He was born to die. All of his wondrous teachings,Continue reading “Easter and History”

How do we mark a day like this? The worst crime in human history, the murder of the God-Man. It’s one in which each of us, without exception, is implicated. If one, just one, of us had sinned, Christ would have died to redeem that. So each of us stands, in a sense, like BarabbasContinue reading “I Am Barabbas. So Are You.”

No, Easter is not a pagan holiday. Easter is the Christian celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Christians believe that Jesus, the Son of God, died for our sins on a Roman cross, was buried, and rose to life again “on the first day of the week, very early in the morning” (LukeContinue reading “Wasn’t Easter a Pagan Holiday?”

Jesus’ body lay in its tomb, where it was guarded by Roman soldiers throughout the day on Saturday, which was the Sabbath. When the Sabbath ended at 6 p.m., Christ’s body was ceremonially treated for burial with spices purchased by Nicodemus: “He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. FollowingContinue reading “Holy Saturday”

Imagine being an eyewitness to Jesus’ final days on earth: his entry into Jerusalem, his celebration of Passover with his followers, his trial, death, burial, resurrection, commission, and ascension. Try to put yourself there as part of the crowd or one of his followers or even one of his detractors on the dusty streets ofContinue reading “Put Yourself in the Story”

Good Friday is the most difficult day of Passion Week. Christ’s journey turned treacherous and acutely painful in these final hours leading to his death. According to Scripture, Judas Iscariot, the disciple who had betrayed Jesus, was overcome with remorse and hanged himself early Friday morning. Meanwhile, before the third hour (9 a.m.), Jesus endured the shame ofContinue reading “Good Friday”

Holy Week takes a somber turn on Thursday. From Bethany, Jesus sent Peter and John ahead to the Upper Room in Jerusalem to make the preparations for the Passover Feast. That evening after sunset, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as they prepared to share in the Passover. By performing this humble act ofContinue reading “Holy Thursday”

The Bible doesn’t say what the Lord did on the Wednesday of Passion Week. Scholars speculate that after two exhausting days in Jerusalem, Jesus and his disciples spent this day resting in Bethany in anticipation of Passover. Just a short time previously, Jesus had revealed to the disciples, and the world, that he had power over death by raisingContinue reading “Holy Wednesday”

The four Gospels make it clear that Jesus was crucified in conjunction with the Jewish Passover (Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-15; John 18:28,39; 19:14). The four Gospels also make it clear that Jesus was raised from the dead three days later, on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2,9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1,19). Biblically speaking, then, Christ’s resurrectionContinue reading “How Is the Date for Easter Determined?”