The Passover Resurrection Connection

  

The Passover Resurrection Connection

The Bible is a complete unit. Things that are shown in the Hebrew Scriptures are explained in the Christian Scriptures.  Prophecies spoken by the Old Testament prophets see their fulfillment in the Gospels and will be seen in the Book of Revelation.

Many pictures are painted in the Hebrew Scriptures and the captions are added in the Christian Scriptures.

You cannot have one without the other.

Holy Week for the observant Jew celebrates the Passover.

Holy Week for Christians focuses on the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus.

These two events are entwined together so it is impossible to understand one event without an appreciation of the other.

What are the connecting points?

The Hebrews were slaves in Egypt, and God sent Moses to coerce Pharoah to release the slaves and allow them to return to their homeland.

The Wilderness of Zin, 2006

Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. ⁷ Then I will take you  for My people, and I will be your God; Exodus 6:6-7

Pharoah was reluctant, and God gave 10 signs to Pharoah to convince him- Aaron’s rod became a serpent, the Nile turned to blood, there were plagues of frogs, insects, boils, hail, and locusts, cattle died and darkness spread over the land. The final sign was the Angel of Death would Passover the land and kill all the first born humans and animals.

¹ While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the LORD gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron: ² “From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. ³ Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household. ⁴ If a family is too small to eat a whole animal, let them share with another family in the neighborhood. Divide the animal according to the size of each family and how much they can eat.

 ⁵ The animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects.
⁶ “Take special care of this chosen animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then the whole assembly of the community of Israel must slaughter their lamb or young goat at twilight. ⁷ They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal. ⁸ That same night they must roast the meat over a fire and eat it along with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast. ⁹ Do not eat any of the meat raw or boiled in water. The whole animal—including the head, legs, and internal organs—must be roasted over a fire. ¹⁰ Do not leave any of it until the next morning. Burn whatever is not eaten before morning.

¹¹ “These are your instructions for eating this meal: Be fully dressed, wear your sandals, and carry your walking stick in your hand. Eat the meal with urgency, for this is the LORD’s Passover. ¹² On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the LORD! ¹³ But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.
¹⁴ “This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the LORD. This is a law for all time. Exodus 12:1-14

The Camel Riders Team, Wilderness of Zin 2006

Before the Israelites entered The Land, they were given instructions to remember this event of deliverance each year by sacrificing an unblemished lamb or goat and eat a special meal.

“In honor of the LORD your God, celebrate the Passover each year in the early spring, in the month of Abib, for that was the month in which the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night. ² Your Passover sacrifice may be from either the flock or the herd, and it must be sacrificed to the LORD your God at the designated place of worship—the place he chooses for his name to be honored.

³ Eat it with bread made without yeast. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, as when you escaped from Egypt in such a hurry. Eat this bread—the bread of suffering—so that as long as you live you will remember the day you departed from Egypt.  Deuteronomy 16:1-3

This became a celebration each year for the Jewish people.

Laura walking from the Mt of Olives to the Kidron Valley.

Fast forward to the First Century in Roman occupied Judea. Jesus of Nazareth has entered Jerusalem on the first day of Passover week as the crowd waved palm branches, a symbol of the nation of Israel, and shouted “Hosanna!”, an Aramaic phrase meaning “Save us now!”. 

On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³ took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.” ¹⁴ Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, ¹⁵ “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.” John 12:12-15

John is quoting Zechariah 9:9, a foretelling of this event.

⁹  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

 Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;

He is  just and endowed with salvation,
Humble, and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9

The crowds were expecting the Messiah to be a political military leader who would expel the hated Romans and reestablish the Jewish Kingdom. Many believed Jesus to be the expected Messiah.

 The View Jesus would have had as He rode down toward the Temple.

In the previous three years Jesus became know as a miracle worker, healing many, casting out demons, feeding 5000 people with two fish and five loaves, walking on water, along with many other supernatural events. He gave profound teachings, ignored many of the laws of the Pharasees, and spent time with prostitutes and tax collectors and made audacious claims about himself.

The Plain of Ginosar, Galilee, where Jesus taught and did miracles.

Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, as Zechariah prophesized, as the Christ, but with a different mission that was connected to the Passover celebration.

 

The Mount of Olives from the Old City

The Audacious Claims?

Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city.
²  And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” ³ And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This fellow blasphemes. (Only God can forgive sins)”

 ⁴ And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? ⁵ Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? ⁶ But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He *said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.” ⁷ And he got up and went home. ⁸ But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men. Matthew 9:1-8

Jesus identified Himself as the “Son of Man’ whom Daniel saw in vision.

“I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven
One like a Son of Man was coming,
And He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.
¹⁴ “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14

 

Eventually the Religious authorities asked Jesus plainly if He is the Christ.

At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; ²³ it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. ²⁴  The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

 ²⁵ Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe;

The works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. ²⁶ But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. ²⁷ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; ²⁸ and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

 ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”
³¹ The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. ³² Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”

 ³³ The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” John 10:22-33

 

Jesus made it clear: He is the Christ, the Messiah spoken of by the prophets Micah, Isaiah, Zechariah, David, Daniel and others.

 

The area where this conversation took place.

 

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching.

 ² The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people.
³  And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. ⁴ And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. ⁵ They were glad and agreed to give him money. ⁶ So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.

 

⁷  Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸ And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.” ⁹ They said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?” ¹⁰ And He said to them, “When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters. ¹¹ And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ ¹² And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there.” ¹³ And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

¹⁴  When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. ¹⁵ And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; ¹⁶ for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

 ¹⁷  And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; ¹⁸ for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” ¹⁹ And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁰ And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.

²¹ But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. ²² For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” ²³ And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.

Jesus changed the focus- looking back but to the present and future.

Bread, wine, bitter herbs, and a roasted lamb were essential parts of the celebration.

 

Arielle and Paul's Wedding, Kula Maui, March 3, 2023

 

What were the disciples thinking as Jesus broke the bread and passed it to each of them, and then drank from the cup of wine and also passed around the table.

 

Perhaps they were connecting the manner that a Hebrew man proposed marriage to his beloved.

First there was the negotiation with the father over the price of the bride. When the amount of olive oil, bushels of wheat, or sheep and goats (or other commodities) was decided upon, the young lady and her mother, who were waiting outside, brought a tray with wine and bread into the room. The young man took the bread, blessed it, took a piece and ate it, and then gave a piece of the bread to the young lady. Next, he took the cup of wine, blessed it, and took a sip.

 Now came the moment- he passed the cup to the young lady.

In cultural language, with this gesture he was saying “I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

If she took the cup and drank from it, she was accepting the marriage proposal.

They were officially betrothed.

 

By Jesus passing the broken bread and wine to His disciples, Jesus was proposing an intimate relationship between them and God, one akin to the intimacy of marriage.

 

A New Relationship

A New Order

²⁴ And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. ²⁵  And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ ²⁶ But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

Service is the route to greatness in God's Kingdom. In the Kingdom of Jesus, promotion would not be on merit, but on brokenness, repentance, and service..

Now a reality of life in the Spiritual World.

³¹ “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; ³² but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” ³³  But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” ³⁴ And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

Sift Happens.

Those fallen angels we call demons will often test us in our obedience to our Lord. God allows it, to give us opportunity to stay close to Him and be victorious in these battles through His power and Holy Spirit.

Dinner is over and now they head down into the Kidron Valley.

³⁰  After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
³¹ Then Jesus *said to them, “You will all  fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.’ ³² But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

³³ But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” ³⁴ Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” ³⁵ Peter *said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too. Matthew 26:20-35

³²  They came to a place named Gethsemane;

Gethsemene: Aramaic: gath, a press and shemen, oil.

This is an olive grove at the bottom of the Kidron Valley where farmers took their olives to press out the oil. 

Jesus is about to be pressed.

Mikaela & I in the olive grove next to the church at the Garden of Gethsemene, 1999

Jesus said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” ³³ And He *took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. ³⁴ And He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.”

 ³⁵ And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. ³⁶ And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will”    Mark 14:32-36.                                                                                      

troubled:  adēmonéō; To faint, be depressed and almost overwhelmed with sorrow or burden of mind.  Grieved: perílupos;  Surrounded with grief, severely grieved, very sorrowful.   

 

Why was Jesus troubled and deeply grieved?

 

Crucifixion was an extremely torturous manner of capital punishment. Nails through the wrists area held the condemned hanging with arms extended, with the chest distended. Breathing was difficult, and the only way of exhaling and breathing fresh oxygen was to take the pressure off the arms by pushing up with the feet, which was also nailed to the cross, then exhaling and then falling back into a hanging position. This painful process went on for hours and even days before the condemned died of asphyxiation. If the guards had mercy on the condemned, they would take a baseball bat shaped club (crurifragium), and break their legs, forcing them to hang by their arms until they died.

 

Jesus knew that this was ahead of Him but also realized that something worse would occur- a total separation from God the Father, which He had never experienced.

 

Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.  Luke 22:43-44                                                       

 

 ³⁷ And He *came and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

³⁹ Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰ And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. ⁴¹ And He *came the third time, and *said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand”.

While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people.              Mark 14:37-43

⁴ So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and *said to them, “Whom do you seek?” ⁵ They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He *said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them.

⁶ So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. ⁷ Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” ⁸ Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” ⁹ to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.”

¹⁰ Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. ¹¹ So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”         John 18:4-11

⁵¹  Jesus said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. Luke 22:51

 Malchus was the servant to the High Priest, and spent much time inside the Temple. Since everyone who approached the altar in Temple must pass a bodily inspection by a priest to ensure they were ‘whole” (not missing any body parts, Lev 21:16-23), Malchus has just been disqualified from entering the Temple, since he was missing an ear. Jesus restored it, thereby giving him back his job. Luke mentions this servant of the High Priest by name, since he was undoubtedly known by the members of the Christian community in Jerusalem.

 ⁴⁸ Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” ⁴⁹ Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. ⁵⁰ And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. Matthew 26:47-50

‘Friend’ - literally ‘false friend’: hetairéō: basically means to keep company with or to establish and maintain a meretricious, pretentious, ostentatious, deceptive, and misleading friendship.

I told this story of Jesus and the decision He made to go to the cross to Mikaela & Lukas in the summer of 1999 siting among the discarded tires, beer bottles, and other trash in this Gethsemene olive grove. I got pretty emotional as I shared my feeling about His deciding to die for my sins. After I finished, Mikaela quietly said "Poppy, can we throw rocks at the bottles now?"

¹²  So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, ¹³ and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. ¹⁴ Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.
¹⁵  Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, ¹⁶  but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷  Then the slave-girl who kept the door *said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He *said, “I am not.” ¹⁸ Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.  John 18: 12-18

⁵⁶ And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” ⁵⁷ But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” ⁵⁸ A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”   Matt 26:56-58

John records that it was one of Malchus’ family members who recognized Peter.

²⁶ One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, *said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” ²⁷ Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed. John 18:26-27

⁶¹  The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”

 ⁶² And he went out and wept bitterly.  Luke 22:61-2

The proud Peter suddenly realized his inadequacy, failing miserably by denying that he was one of Jesus’ disciples, after boasting that while others would fall away, he would never forsake Jesus. He was a broken man, weeping bitterly as he walked away.

⁵⁹ Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. ⁶⁰ They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, ⁶¹ and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” ⁶² The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?”

 ⁶³ But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I  adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.”

⁶⁴ Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”

Jesus quoted Messianic prophecies from Psalm 110 and Daniel 7 that were very familiar to the High Priest. There was no doubt that Jesus was declaring his Divinity.

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; ⁶⁶ what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!”
⁶⁷  Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, ⁶⁸ and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”                             Matthew 26:59-68

Jesus often told His disciples that these things would happen.

³¹  Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. ³² For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, ³³ and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.” ³⁴ But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said. Luke 18:31-34

They didn’t understand, clinging to their expectation that the Christ would kick out the Romans and reestablish the Jewish Kingdom.

 

^{The Ecce Homo Arch on the Via Doloroso near where Pilate interviewed Jesus.}

^{"Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate *said to them, “Behold, the Man! (Ecce Homo)” John 19:5}

¹¹  Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” ¹² And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. ¹³ Then Pilate *said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” ¹⁴ And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.

Amazed: thaumázō; a wonder. to wonder, marvel, be struck with admiration or astonishment.

¹⁵  Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. ¹⁶ At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸ For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.

¹⁹  While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” ²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. ²¹ But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”

 ²² Pilate *said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all *said, “Crucify Him!” ²³ And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.”

 ²⁵ And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” ²⁶ Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. Matthew 27:11-26

²⁷  Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman  cohort around Him. ²⁸ They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. ²⁹  And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

 ³⁰  They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. ³¹  After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.
³²  As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.                 Matthew 27:27-32

³³  And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, ³⁴  they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink. ³⁵ And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. ³⁶ And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. ³⁷ And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
³⁸ At that time two robbers *were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. ³⁹ And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, ⁴² “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. ⁴³  HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴  The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.
⁴⁵  Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. ⁴⁶ About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” ⁴⁷ And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.”  Matthew 27:33-47

 

Jesus being flogged stained glass at the Church of Flagellation.

Actually Jesus was quoting the opening line to Psalm 22, written by King David a thousand years before.

¹  My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?  Far from my deliverance are the words of my  groaning.
² O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. Psalms 22:1-2

⁶ But I am a worm and not a man, A reproach of men and despised by the people.
⁷ All who see me  sneer at me; They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,
⁸ “Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”

¹² Many bulls have surrounded me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. ¹³ They open wide their mouth at me, As a ravening and a roaring lion.

¹⁴ I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. ¹⁵ My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death.

¹⁶ For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. ¹⁷ I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me;

¹⁸ They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. Psalms 22: 6-8, 12-18

David gave an accurate description of this specific execution by crucifixion, which he wrote over 500 years before crucifixion was introduced as a form of capital punishment. The detail of casting lots for His clothing is riveting.

Isaiah also gave a description of what was happening this day with Jesus being executed by crucifixion and the reasons why.

He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. ⁴ Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
⁵ But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
⁶ All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.                           

But the LORD was pleased to crush Him,  putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering.
My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities.  Isaiah 53:3-6, 10-11

 

The altar at the top of the promentory inside the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus was probably crucifcied.

Finally:

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, *said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. ³⁰ Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. John 19:28-30

 

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre sits atop an ancient stone quarry where Jesus was crucified and burried.

Jesus understood that His mission on Earth was to give His life as a sin offering for the redemption of mankind (Leviticus 4), for all those who received Him as Savior and Lord. Now we are freed from the curse of death and have eternal life with Him. 

Jesus is the perfect Passover offering whose blood protects us from the Angel of Death, as described in Exodus. John the Baptist understood this, and declared it when he met Jesus:

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  John 1:29-30

Consider how Jesus described His Mission and His death on the cross:

¹⁴ I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, ¹⁵ even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

¹⁶ I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd (Jews and Gentiles).

 ¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.

 ¹⁸ No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.This commandment I received from My  Father. John 10:14-18                                                                                       

                                            The twin domed Holy Sepulchre Church

 

At the moment of Jesus’ death, Creation reacted:

 ⁵¹  And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. ⁵² The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; ⁵³ and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

⁵⁴  Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was  the Son of God!”⁵⁵  Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while  ministering to Him. ⁵⁶ Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.                                            Matthew 27:33-56

³¹ Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. ³² So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; ³³ but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

³⁵ And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. ³⁶ For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.” ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.”

Since it was the Passover, the religious authorities did not want Jesus’ body to remain on the cross, so they asked for a merciful killing of the condemned by breaking their legs, so that they would not be able to breathe and quickly die of asphyxiation.

³⁸  After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. ³⁹  Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight.

⁴⁰ So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. ⁴² Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. John 19:31-42

Some of the First Century tombs cut out in the walls of the Holy Sepulchre

The Resurrection

¹  Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene *came early to the tomb, while it *was still dark, and *saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. ² So she *ran and *came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and *said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” ³  

So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. ⁴ The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; ⁵ and stooping and looking in, he *saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. ⁶ And so Simon Peter also *came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he *saw the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷ and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.

 ⁸ So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. ⁹ For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. ¹⁰ So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

¹¹  But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; ¹² and she *saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. ¹³ And they *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She *said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

¹⁴ When she had said this, she turned around and *saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she *said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” ¹⁸  Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.           John 20:1-18

Women were not considered reliable witnesses during that time and were not allowed to testify in court. If someone were fabricating this account of the Resurrection, they would never use a woman as the first one to see Jesus alive. This lends immense credibility to the historical accuracy of this narrative.

 

Later that day:

¹³ And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.

¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.

¹⁷ And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?”

 ¹⁹ And He said to them, “What things?”

And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, ²⁰ and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. ²¹ But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.

 ²² But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, ²³ and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.”

 ²⁵ And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” ²⁷ Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
²⁸ And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them.

 ³⁰ When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.

 ³² They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” ³³ And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, ³⁴ saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. Luke 24:13-35

 

That evening:

⁶ While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be to you.”

³⁷ But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.

³⁸ And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰ And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

⁴¹ While they still  could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; ⁴³ and He took it and ate it before them.
⁴⁴ Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

⁴⁵ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things.

⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:36-49

 

Jesus appeared to Cleopas and his traveling companion, and Jesus explained all the events of the weekend in light of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Next He suddenly appeared to the disciples, and proved that He was not a ghost by eating the fish.

He gave them a Biblical perspective to all that they had witnessed this Passover Week.

Then He supernaturally opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” ²² And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:21-22

 

Jesus is alive, and has fulfilled many of the Hebrew Scripture prophecies. He has sacrificed Himself as the Passover Lamb, and has atoned for our sins. Now we are considered ‘righteous’ in God’s eyes and are welcomed into His Family.

 

The Resurrection is the Hinge of Christianity. All the claims that Jesus made about His Divinity have been proven to be true by His rising from the grave. No other religious leader in human history has accomplished that!

The Resurrection- The most astonishing Event in all of Human History

Why is this the most splendid event in all recorded history?

 Here is what just a few scholars, professors, and historians say:

 

Adrian Rogers:  a leader of the Southern Baptist Convention

The resurrection is not merely important to the historic Christian faith; without it, there would be no Christianity. It is the singular doctrine that elevates Christianity above all other world religions.

 

Dr. John MacArthur

The truth of the resurrection gives life to every other area of gospel truth. The resurrection is the pivot on which all of Christianity turns and without which none of the other truths would much matter. Without the resurrection, Christianity would be so much wishful thinking, taking its place alongside all other human philosophy and religious speculation.

 

Harvard University Professor of Law Simon Greenleaf

The foundation of our religion is a basis of fact - the fact of the birth, ministry, miracles, death, resurrection by the Evangelists as having actually occurred, within their own personal knowledge. "There is more historical - legal evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus than any other event in history”

 

 

Lee Strobel Chicago Tribune former atheist reporter &  Author of The Case For Christ

In short, I didn’t become a Christian because God promised I would have an even happier life than I had as an atheist. He never promised any such thing.

Indeed, following him would inevitably bring divine demotions in the eyes of the world. Rather, I became a Christian because the evidence was so compelling that Jesus really is the one-and-only Son of God who proved his divinity by rising from the dead.

That meant following him was the most rational and logical step I could possibly take.–

 

Josh McDowell  Author of Evidence That Demands a Verdict, A Ready Defense

No matter how devastating our struggles, disappointments, and troubles are, they are only temporary. No matter what happens to you, no matter the depth of tragedy or pain you face, no matter how death stalks you and your loved ones, the Resurrection promises you a future of immeasurable good. 

 

New York City Pastor Dr. Timothy Keller

If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said;

 if he didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said?

The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead.

 

As a result of the Resurrection, Jesus gives us a mission for our time here on Earth:

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

My literal translation of the Great Commission according to the Greek verb tenses focuses on the only command form verb “Make Disciples: The other verbs are in the continuous action form: Going, Baptizing, Teaching.

“All authority in this universe has been given to me. Therefore proceed on the journey you began with me and make disciples of the people I place you with, baptizing them in my Father’s name as well as mine and the Holy Spirit, teaching them all to walk out their lives by obeying all that I taught you. Remember, as you do this I will be with you!”

 

1) God proved Himself to be just and merciful- He took the price of our sins on Himself. Our sins are forgiven.

2) Satan’s power has been destroyed (1 John 3:8). Sin no longer has power over us.

3) Jesus proved that He is the Son of Man, Son of God, and that all He said is true.

4) Jesus established a new community and given us His Holy Spirit, empowering us to do extraordinary things.

5) Jesus has given us Divine Purpose for our lives (Eph 2:10, Matthew 28:18-20).

6) Jesus has shown He has power over death and has given us eternal life.

7) Jesus has opened a door to a daily experience with Him with a special adventure designed for each of us.