Easter is almost here! Easter should not be about the Easter bunny, Easter baskets, or candy. Easter should be a time of remembrance.
This Easter I wanted to re-study the Resurrection starting with Passover.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover was first noted in Mark 14:1. Passover commemorated the night Israelites were freed from Egypt when God "passed over" homes marked by the blood of the lamb while killing firstborns sons in unmarked homes. The day of Passover was followed by a seven day festival called the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief of priest and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him."But not during the Feast" they said, "or the people may riot." Mark 14:1
Disciples Prepare for the Passover & The Last Supper
When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and give it to them saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with me at the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." Luke 22:14-22
I think it is very important to including Jesus prediction of the betrayal of Peter when studying the days leading up to the Resurrection. Peter denying the Lord three times is a huge role in the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus assured Peter that his faith, although it would father, would not be destroyed. It would be renewed, and Peter would become a powerful leader.
But he replied, "Lord I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me. When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing" they answered. He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: And he was numbered with the transgressors and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching fulfillment."
Did you know? All Jewish males over the age of 12 were required to go to Jerusalem for the Passover festival! When the Israelites were fleeing from Egypt they didn't have enough time to let
their bread rise, so they baked it without yeast. On this holiday Jewish families still gather for a special meal that includes lamb, wine, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread.
Jesus asks his disciples to pray that they would not fall into temptation because he knew that he would soon be leaving them. Jesus knew that some would need extra strength to face the temptations ahead. They were about to see Jesus die. Would they still think he was the Messiah? The disciples' strongest temptation would be to think they had been deceived.
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was like blood falling to the ground. Luke 22:39-44
Luke tells us that Jesus' sweat resembled drops of blood. Jesus was in extreme agony, but he did not give up or give in. Luke 22:47-52 talks about Jesus being betrayed and arrested. You see that Jesus told his followers not to fight with the servants of the high priest. The religious leaders did not arrest Jesus in the temple for fear of a riot. Instead they came secretly at night under the influence of the prince of darkness, Satan himself. Jesus was immediately taken to the high priest house. The Jewish leaders were in a hurry they wanted to complete the execution before the Sabbath and get on with the Passover celebration. Peter denies the Lord. After the Lord was seized Peter followed at a distance, and a fire had started a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had joined them and sat down.
While Peter was sitting down a servant girl saw him and said, "This man was with them." But he denied it, "Woman I don't know him," he said. A little later someone else saw him and asked him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man I am not!" Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean." Peter replied, "Man I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking a rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight and Peter. Luke 22:57-60
Luke 22:66-71 we see that the elders , chief priest and teachers met and asked Jesus if he was Christ. Jesus replied,
"If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." They then asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" Jesus had replied,
"You are right in saying I am." They then said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips." The high priest had recognized Jesus' claim and had accused him of blasphemy. Blasphemy, is the sin of claiming to be God or attacking God's authority and majesty in any way was punished by death. The Jewish leaders had the evidence they wanted.
Jesus Stands Trail before Pilate & Herod
Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying," We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claimed to be Christ, a king." So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say." Jesus replied. Then Pilate announced to the chief priest and the crowd, I find no basis for a charge against this man." But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here." On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod. When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. He piled him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate become friends. Luke 23:1-11
Did you know? : Pilate, was the Roman governor of Judea and Samaria, had a reputation for harassing Jews. Pilate had began to feel insure in his position when the Jewish leaders brought Jesus to trail. Herod, also called Antipas, was the one who had killed John that Baptist. Herod was in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. Pilate hoped to pass Jesus off on Herod because he knew that Jesus had lived and worked in Galilee. But Herod was not much help. He was curious about Jesus and enjoyed making fun of him. When Herod had sent Jesus back to Pilate, it was with verdict of "not guilty." Before Pilate and Herod became friends - they were enemies.
Pilate called together the chief priests, the rules and the people, and said to them. "You brought me this man as one who was inciting people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he had done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him." With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then released him" But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. Luke 23:13-23
When the stakes are high, it is difficult to stand up for whats, right and it is easy to see our opponents as problems to be solved rather than as people to be respected. If Pilate had been a man of courage, he would have released Jesus no matter what the consequences. But the crowd roared, and Pilate buckled. Jesus was tried six times, by both Jewish and Roman authorities, but he was never convicted of a crime deserving death. Barabbas had been part of the rebellion against the Roman government and had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city and for murder. Ironic that Barabbas who was released, was guilty of very crime Jesus was accused of.
Jesus Is Led Away to Be Crucified
As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turns to them and says, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breast that never nursed! Then "they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Come us!" For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" Luke 23:26-31
Luke alone mentions the tears of Jewish women while Jesus was being led through the streets to his execution. Jesus told them not to weep for him but for themselves. (He knew that in only 40 years, Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed by the Romans.
Jesus is Placed on the Cross
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they were crucified him, along with criminals - one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching and rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." The soldiers also came up and mocked hum. They offered him wine vinegar and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." There was a written notice above him which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Other criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminals rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man had done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come inter your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:32-43
Jesus asked God to forgive the people who were putting him to death-Jewish leaders. Sometimes we struggle to even forgive people who may have hurt our feelings. (I try and remember verse 34 every time) Jesus was suffering the most horrible, painful death ever devised by sinful man, and he looked at the people responsible for his suffering and prayed for their forgiveness.
Jesus Dies on the Cross & is Laid in the Tomb
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in tow. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, and they beat their breast and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. Luke 23:44-49
Luke 24:50-55 Joseph, a member of council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He was a secret dispel of Jesus. When the other disciples who had publicly fled Joseph took a stand and stayed. He was going to Pilate, he had asked for Jesus body. He cared about Jesus to ask for to his body so he could give him a proper burial. He took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut it the rock, which no one had been laid. It was Preparation Day and Sabbath was about to being. The women who had came with Jesus saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
Jesus Rises from the Dead
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lighting stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee. The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again." Then they remembered this words. Luke 24:1-7
The Resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the central fact of Christianity history. Church is built on it. God who became human died for his people, and was raised in power and glory to rule his church forever.
Why is the Resurrection so important?:
Christ was raised from the dead, we know that the kingdom of heaven has broken into earth's history. God's mighty power is at work destroying sin, creating new lives, and preparing us for Jesus' second coming. We know that death has been conquered, and we too will be raised from the dead to live forever with Christ. The resurrection gives authority to the church's witness in the world. The resurrection gives meaning to the church's regular feast, the Lord's Supper. Like the disciples on the Emmaus Road, we break bread with our risen Lord, who comes in power to save us. The resurrection assures us that Christ is alive and ruling his kingdom. He is not legend; he is alive and real. God's power that brought Jesus back from the dead is available to us so that we can live for him in an evil world.
Have a great Easter, and remember the true meaning of this season!
If you know someone that you would like to be on Ethan and mines prayer list please let us know.
Prayer List
-Clifton Hodges
-Grandma Brown
-Grandpa Rollin
-Troy Richison
- Travis & Sara Charlton
- Jason Lobland
-Soldier & Troops
-Those who are lost
-Mommies-To-Be & Baby
- Baby Allen
-Baby Mills
