Road to the Resurrection

7/31/2019 Road to the Resurrection

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to theRoadRESURRECTIONExplore and Share the Miracle of Easter

: greg laurie

A publication of

Riverside, Californiawww.harvest.org


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Greg Laurie is senior pastor o Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Cali ornia.

Road to the Resurrection: Explore and Share the Miracle o Easter

ext Copyright 2011, 2004 by Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries.All rights reserved.

Portions adapted rom: 2004 Te Passion o the Christ: A Biblical Guide 2004 Te Resurrection o the Christ: A Biblical Guide

Design: Harvest DesignCopywriting: Harvest PublicationsCopyediting: Harvest PublicationsResearch: Harvest Publications

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are rom the Holy Bible, New KingJames Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Tomas Nelson, Inc. Used by

permission. All rights reserved.Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken rom the Holy Bible, New InternationalVersion . NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.Used by permission o Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quoatations marked NL are taken rom the Holy Bible, New Living ransla-tion, Copyright 2004, 2006, 2007. Used by permission o yndale House Publishers,Inc. Whaton Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved under international copyright conventions. No part o thisbooklet may be reproduced in any orm or by any means, electronic or mechanical,including photocopying, recording, or by any in ormation storage and retrieval sys-tem, without written permission rom this publisher. Inquiries should be addressedto: Harvest Ministries, P.O. Box 4000, Riverside, Cali ornia, 92514-4000.

Printed in the United States o America.

ISBN-13: 978-1-61754-021-9


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Heart o Easter 01

Why Christ Had to Die 05

The Scripture Speaks 11

The People, Places, and Chronology o the Cross 19

Seven Statements rom the Cross 43

What Happened Easter Morning 53

Evidence or the Resurrection 63

The Great Commission and the Birth o the Church 77


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PREFACE

He is Risen!

Tese words are a traditional greeting among Christians onEaster Day, and they are answered with the joy ul countersign,

He is risen indeed!

But much more than a happy greeting, these words express theoundational truth upon which all o Christianity hinges. As the

Apostle Paul said, I Christ is not risen, then our preaching isempty and your aith is also empty (1 Corinthians 15:14).

But Christ is risenHe is risen indeed! We, as Christians, there orehave more reason to rejoice, more reason to celebrate, and morereason to share our Good News than anyone else on earth.

In conjunction with this book, we are o ering special bonus mate-rial to help you explore the miracle o Easter, and to share it withothers. Tis material includes special music, videos, devotional

messages, and more. o access this material, we invite you to visit

risen.harvest.org


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What this woman

will be TOLD as a

Memorial...

HAS DONE

MARK

14:9


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CHAP ER 1

THE HEART OF EASTER

A li etime o love poured out in the space o a ew hours

n the Gospels we read that Jesus clearly and repeatedly told hisdisciples what was coming. Te Road to the Resurrection was

mapped out or them in plain and de nite terms. In act, in Luke18:3133 NL we read,

aking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, Listen, were going upto Jerusalem, where all the predictions o the prophets concerningthe Son o Man will come true. He will be handed over to theRomans, and He will be mocked, treated shame ully, and spit upon.Tey will og Him with a whip and kill Him, but on the third day

He will rise again.

Jesus wasnt mincing words. Teres no ambiguity in His statement.Nothing complex or cryptic or convoluted. But despite the simplic-ity and candor o His words, verse 34 tells us,

But they didnt understand any o this. Te signi cance o His

words was hidden rom them, and they ailed to grasp what Hewas talking about.

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Te importance o Easter went right over their heads. And the same iso en true today. So many people just dont get the signi cance o Easter. It is garbled in their minds with egg hunts, plastic grass, newdresses, bunnies, chicks, or chocolate. So what is it really all about?

Jesus was in Bethany at the home o Simon, a man who had previ-ously had leprosy. While He was eating, a woman came in with abeauti ul alabaster jar o expensive per ume made rom essenceo nard. She broke open the jar and poured the per ume over hishead. Some o those at the table were indignant. Why waste suchexpensive per ume? they asked. It could have been sold or ayears wages and the money given to the poor! So they scoldedher harshly. But Jesus replied, Leave her alone. Why criticize heror doing such a good thing to Me? You will always have the pooramong you, and you can help them whenever you want to. Butyou will not always have Me. She has done what she could andhas anointed My body or burial ahead o time. I tell you the truth,wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, thiswomans deed will be remembered and discussed (Mark 14:39).

Tis woman was listening. She allowed His words to penetrate hermind and to break her heart. Tat broken heart led to a broken jar,and the ragrance o her worship lled the house.

We are told that her gi was worth a years wages. Tat is an amaz-ing sacri cea whole years worth o work poured out in the spaceo a ew seconds. But it is apparent that this woman measured its value against the orthcoming sacri ce o her Saviora li etimeo love poured out in the space o a ew hours, on the cross. Tatis what Easter is aboutthe love o God. A love that endured pain,ridicule, anguish, and death or the sake o you and me. And whatshould be our response? Worship. Pure and unadulterated worship.

Tis Easter, allow the words o Jesus to penetrate your mind. Andallow the magnitude o His su ering to break your heart, so thatthe ragrance o your worship can be poured out upon the Savior.


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No one takes

of Myself.

From Me, but I

JOHN10:18

[MY LIFE ]

LAY it DOWN


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CHAP ER 2

WHY CHRIST HAD TO DIE

Christ su ered and died on the cross or numerousreasons. But the simplest reason is He loved us.

ver since I was a small child, I have always had a greatadmiration or the historical person known as Jesus Christ.

I had seen the movies Hollywood had made about His li e. But theone thing I didnt like about the story o Jesus was how it ended.I used to think, Whoever wrote the story o Jesus ought to rewriteit again with a happier ending. Tis whole story o His crucifxionshould be edited out. Its just not the way His li e should have ended. You may understand why I would think such a thing. It seemed tome that Jesus was on something o a roll, a er all. He was healing

and teaching people. Little children were ocking to Him. Clearly,His popularity was growing by leaps and bounds. But then theunexpected occurred. Jesus was murdered. It is no wonder somepeople think to themselves, Why do they have to put Jesus on across and kill Him? What a tragic and unnecessary ending to sucha wonder ul li e.

Becoming a Christian radically trans ormed my opinion on the end-ing o Jesus Christs story. A er reading the Gospel accounts or therst time in my li e, I began to see that the cruci xion o Jesus was

E


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really the primary reason He came to this earth in the rst place.Te cruci xion does not read like a storybook ending, because itdoes not come rom the pages o a storybook. It is no mere airytale.It is a historically true, real-li e story, recorded in the pages o Scrip-

ture. And the Bible gives us real-li e reasons Jesus had to die on thecross. Christ su ered and died on the cross or numerous reasons.But the simplest reason is He loved us. Te Apostle John said it wellwhen he wrote, In this is love, not that we loved God, but thatHe loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation or our sins.(1 John 4:10). Gods love or us and His desire to make right ourrelationship with Him was why Jesus humbled Himsel by becoming

a man and dying on the cross or our sins (see Philippians 2:511).

o demonstrate the passion behind Christs love, here are ourreasons He died on the cross:

To bring us into a right relationship with God (see Colossians1:1920; 2 Corinthians 5:18). Our sin had separated us romGod. In order to restore our relationship with God, He sentHis Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty or our sins. Tatpenalty was the cross. With the death and resurrection o Christ,we can now have that right and holy relationship with God by grace through aith in Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 2:89).

To forgive us of our sins and the guilt that accompanied them.In the Hebrew Scriptures, the shed blood o animals was symbolic

o the orgiveness o sins. Te Bible makes it clear that withoutthis shedding o blood, we cannot be orgiven o our sins(see Hebrews 9:22). So Jesus came to die as a once-and- or-allsacri ce to orgive us o our sins and ree us rom guilt(see Acts 13:39).

To satisfy the radical requirement of the holiness of God (see

Leviticus 11:44). Gods holiness made a penalty or sin neces-sary. Gods love endured that penalty or the sinner and madepayment o the penalty possible. Jesus paid that penalty by


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experiencing Gods wrath and separation rom Him on thecross (see Romans 5:910; Hebrews 10:12). Jesus was orsakeno God so we dont have to be. He was orsaken or a time thatwe might enjoy Gods presence orever (see Matthew 27:46; see

also Hebrews 10:1214).

To perform the righteous requirements of the law (see Matthew 3:15; 5:17; Galatians 4:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30). Jesus, through Hisholy li e and su ering on the cross, lived the per ect li e we wererequired to live and took the punishment that we deserved.

Tese are just some o the reasons Jesus Christ died. But the ApostlePaul summed up the message o the cross best when he wrote,[Christ] died or us so thatwe can live with him orever(1 Tessalonians 5:10 NL ). Clearly, Jesus death was no ridiculousending. Te cross did not ruin everything. Jesus death andresurrection saved us rom our ruin and gave us li e everlasting.Tis is why we must not blame the people o that day or executingJesus. Scripture provides no room or anti-Semitism and no roomor hatred. Our sins put Him on that cross 2000 years ago. Te deatho Christ is part o the happiest story ever told. It is the story o howGod became a man so He could die or our sins and so we could beriends with Him once again. He did it or you and He did it or me.

All that is le up to us is to believe in Him (see Romans 3:22).


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Ought not

These Things?

to have

LUKE24:26

THE CHRIST

SUFFERED


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wicked kings Israel lived under. He is righteous and humblesohumble that He rides upon a donkey instead o a horse (an animalassociated with war are). All our Gospel writers record Jesusentering into Jerusalem on a donkey.

The Christ Would Be Betrayed by a Close Friend (Judas Iscariot)Prophesied: Psalm 41:9Fulflled: Luke 22:4748

Judas Iscariot was one o the twelve disciples whom Jesus Christcalled to be close to Him. As the manager o the groups assets,Judas was known or pil ering money. Judas singled out Jesus witha kiss o betrayal in the Garden o Gethsemane.

The Christ Would Be Betrayed or Thirty Pieces o SilverProphesied: Zechariah 11:1213Fulflled: Matthew 26:1415

Just as the prophet Zechariah oretold, Judas Iscariot betrayedJesus Christ to the religious leaders or 30 pieces o silver, theprice o a slave in those days.

The Christ Would Be Scourged and Spat UponProphesied: Isaiah 50:6Fulflled: Matthew 26:67; 27:26

Jesus Christ was spat uponan act showing contempt and scorn.

As punishment, Jesus accusers beat Him with a cat-o-nine-tails,a whip that was made o cords astened to a handle with bits o bone and/or metal attached to it.

The Christs Blood Money Would Be Used to Buy a Potters FieldProphesied: Zechariah 11:1213Fulflled: Matthew 27:910

Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, ung the blood money on theemple oor a er declaring he had betrayed innocent blood.


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Te high priests decided to use the money to buy a eld, knownas Potters Field, to use as a burial place or strangers.

The Christ Would Be Crucifed between Two Thieves

Prophesied: Isaiah 53:12Fulflled: Matthew 27:38, Mark 15:2728, Luke 22:37

wo criminals were cruci ed at the same time as Jesus Christ,one on His right and one on His le .

The Christ Would Be Given Vinegar to Drink

Prophesied: Psalm 69:21Fulflled: Matthew 27:34, 48; John 19:2830

A er Christ said, I thirst, He was o ered wine to drink that wasmingled with gall. Tis drink was used to numb pain. A er tastingit, Jesus re used it, not wanting to take anything that would diminishthe pain He came to experience or our sins.

The Christ Would Su er the Piercing o His Hands and FeetProphesied: Psalm 22:16; Zechariah 12:10Fulflled: Mark 15:25, John 19:34, 37; 20:2527

In Roman cruci xions, the victims hands were nailed or boundto the cross with arms extended and raised up. Te eet o thecruci ed were nailed with one or two spikes. Jesus Christsaccusers nailed both his hands and eet to the cross.

The Christs Garments Would Be Divided and Gambled ForProphesied: Psalm 22:18Fulflled: Luke 23:34; John 19:2324

Te Roman soldiers nearest the cross divided the garments o Jesus,except or His seamless tunic. Tey instead decided to cast lots tosee who would get the whole garment.


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The Christ Would Be Surrounded and Ridiculed by His EnemiesProphesied: Psalm 22:78Fulflled: Matthew 27:3944; Mark 15:2932

Te chie priests, scribes, elders, and people passing by all hurledabuse at Jesus Christ. Even the two criminals on the crosses werecasting insults at Him be ore one o them put his aith in Him.

The Christ Would ThirstProphesied: Psalm 22:15Fulflled: John 19:28

Jesus displayed His humanity when he experienced physical needson the cross. His deity did not lessen the horri c treatment broughtupon Him as He su ered on the cross or humankind.

The Christ Would Commend His Spirit to the FatherProphesied: Psalm 31:5Fulflled: Luke 23:46

Jesus Christ willingly committed Himsel to His Father a er Hehad nished all that was required or sinners to have orgivenessand removal o their sins.

The Christs Bones Would Not Be BrokenProphesied: Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20Fulflled: John 19:3336

O entimes to hasten the death o the cruci ed, the soldiers wouldbreak the legs o the victim so that su ocation would occur. Jesuswas already dead when the soldiers came to per orm this act on Him,so there was no need to break any o His bones.

The Christ Would Be Forsaken by GodProphesied: Psalm 22:1Fulflled: Matthew 27:46

On the cross, Jesus Christ cried out, asking God why He hadorsaken Him. Many believe it was at this time that ellowship wassevered between God the Father and God the Son. Te cause o this


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severed ellowship was the sin o the world alling upon Jesus asHe paid the price or humanitys sin. Jesus revealed this separationo intimacy by using the name God instead o His more o en usedand more intimate term Father.

The Christ Would Be Raised rom the DeadProphesied: Psalm 16:10Fulflled: Matthew 28:27

Long be ore Jesus was born in the little town o Bethlehem,it was prophesied that the Messiah would rise rom the dead.

The Christ Would Ascend to HeavenProphesied: Psalm 24:710Fulflled: Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9

Forty days a er His resurrection, Jesus Christ ascended to heavento be with the Father.

The Christ Would Be Seated at the Fathers Right HandProphesied: Psalm 110:1Fulflled: Matthew 22:44; Hebrews 10:1213

Te right hand is a symbol o honor and strength, the supremeseat o authority. Te Father exalted Jesus Christ to this placesigni ying that He ul lled all that was required o Him.

JESUS CHRIST PREDICTS THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION

Jesus made predictions concerning His own death, resurrection,ascension, and more.

First PredictionPredicted: Matthew 16:2128; Mark 8:3139; Luke 9:2134

Second PredictionPredicted: Matthew 20:1729; Mark 10:3234; Luke 18:3134

Third PredictionPredicted: Matthew 26:25; Mark 14:19Fulflled: Matthew 2728; Mark 1516; Luke 2324; John 1920


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Much to the surprise and dismay o the disciples, Jesus Christpredicted to them His soon coming su ering, death, and resur-rection. He later ul lled His words when He was cruci ed,buried, and raised rom the dead on the third day.

CHRIST PREDICTS HIS POST-RESURRECTION MEETING WITHTHE DISCIPLES IN GALILEE Predicted: Matthew 26:32; Mark 14:28; 16:7Fulflled: Matthew 28:910, 1620; John 20:1929; 21:115

Te Risen Christ met with His disciples in Galilee in order to givehope to His dismayed ollowers, prove He had risen bodily, andcommission them to make disciples o all the nations.

CHRIST PREDICTS THE ASCENSIONPredicted: John 1:5051; 7:3334; 8:14; 20:17Fulflled: Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, Acts 1:9

Te word ascension simply means the act o going upward. ospeak o the Ascension signi es Christs glori cation at the righthand o God and the hope or believers that they too will one day

ascend into heaven.

CHRIST PREDICTS THE DAY OF PENTECOSTPredicted: John 7:3739; 15:2627; 16:7; Acts 1:45Fulflled: Acts 2:14

Pentecost, or Feast o Weeks (see Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10),was a Jewish estival celebrated seven weeks a er Passover. In the

New estament, Pentecost was the day God empowered the rstChristians with the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2).

CHRIST PREDICTS THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCHPredicted: Matthew 16:1819Fulflled: Acts 2On Pentecost, the rst-century believers were empowered with theHoly Spirit (see Acts 2). Tis endowed them (and all Christians) withspiritual gi s that enabled them to carry on Gods mission and pur-pose through the collective body o believers known as the church.


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For GOD so

The World

JOHN3:16

LOVED


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CHAP ER 4

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, ANDCHRONOLOGY OF THE CROSS

Te hour has come that the Son o Man should be glorifed.John 12:23

AndrewTe brother o Simon Peter, Andrew was a disciple o John theBaptist and was the rst o the apostles to be called by Jesus Christ(see John 1:3542). In the events ollowing the Resurrection,Andrew was among the apostles who were present at the Mount o Olives to witness the ascension o Jesus Christ (see Acts 1:913).

Annas, the Former High PriestAnnas was a ormer high priest (A.D. 615) and ather-in-lawto Joseph Caiaphas, the high priest during the time o Christ.Te Gospels continue to re er to Annas as high priest due tohis continued power a er his o cial term in o ce. In a gestureo respect and acknowledgment o Annas in uence, Caiaphashad Annas begin the preliminary hearings o Christ (see John18:13). It was there that Annas questioned Christ and then sentHim bound to Caiaphas (see John 18:24). Ultimately, Annaswas simply a political pawn, as his reputation added potentialcredibility to the unjust plot to kill Jesus Christ.


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The ApostlesAlso known as the welve and the disciples, the apostles weremen whom Jesus Christ called and sent out to preach the GoodNews o the kingdom o God.

1. Peter (Simon)2. Andrew (Brother o Peter)3. James (Son o Zebedee)4. John (Brother o James)5. Philip6. Bartholomew (Nathanael)

7. Tomas8. Matthew (or Levi, the ax Collector)9. James (Son o Alphaeus)10. Judas, Son o James (Taddaeus)11. Simon (the Zealot)12. Judas Iscariot (the Betrayer)

A er Christ ascended into heaven, Matthias was chosen to replaceJudas as the twel h apostle o Jesus Christ (see Acts 1:1626).

BarabbasBarabbas was a known revolutionary convicted o murder duringan insurrection in Jerusalem against the Roman and provincialJewish government (see Luke 23:19).

Barabbas only appearance in the li e o the Christ was in PontiusPilates trial o Jesus Christ. It was there that Pilate tried to ree Christby the means o what is known as the Passover privilege, where thecrowd was allowed the option o choosing one prisoner to be setree. When Pilate o ered the option o releasing Jesus, the crowds

shouted, Kill Him, and release Barabbas to us! (Luke 23:18 NL ).Pilate appeased the crowds and released Barabbas, leaving Jesus to be

scourged and then cruci ed.


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BartholomewOne o the twelve apostles, Bartholomew was among those whowere present at the Mount o Olives to witness the ascension o Jesus Christ (see Acts 1:913). ypically, Bartholomew is identi ed

as the disciple Nathanael.

BethanyBethany, a city located o o the Jericho road less than two milesrom Jerusalem, was positioned on the southeastern slopes o the

Mount o Olives. In his Gospel, Luke writes that the ascension o Jesus Christ transpired in Bethany: And He led them out as aras Bethany, and He li ed up His hands and blessed them. Now itcame to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted rom themand carried up into heaven. (24:5051). In Acts, Luke places theAscension at the Mount o Olives (see Acts 1:612). Tis di erencein detail poses no signi cant problems since Bethany sat at the ooto the Mount o Olives.

Cleopas

Luke 24:18 identi es Cleopas as one o the two disciples whoencountered the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus.

The Criminals on the CrossesJesus Christ was cruci ed with two criminals, one on His le sideand the other on His right side. One o these convicted criminals joined Jesus sco ers by saying, I You are the Christ, save Yoursel and us. (Luke 23:39). Just then, the other criminal protested,explaining that he and the other criminal deserved death or theirevil deeds, but Jesus, however, was innocent. Tis criminal thenlooked to Jesus and said, Lord, remember me when you come intoyour kingdom. Jesus replied, Assuredly, I say to you, today you willbe with Me in Paradise. (Luke 23:4243).

Te believing criminal is a testimony that orgiveness o sins

is not based on any work o our own, or he was a convictedcriminalnot a saint. Instead, our salvation is based on Godsgrace through our aith in Him (see Ephesians 2:89).


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The Empty TombTe Garden omb was the burial site o Jesus Christ. Unlike tombstoday, this tomb was carved out o a rock with the entrance coveredby a large stone. Luke, in his Gospel, tells us that it was a new tomb

where no one had ever been laid (see Luke 23:53). All our Gospelsrecord the emale ollowers o Christ appearing at the tomb early Sunday morning, only to nd it empty. It was there that the angelproclaimed the message o the Resurrection, and hope was restoredto all o Christs ollowers (see Matthew 28:110; Mark 16:18;Luke 24:17; John 20:117).

EmmausA village seven miles out o Jerusalem, Emmaus was the destinationo two discouraged disciples, Cleopas and another unnamed disciple(see Luke 24:1318). Tere on the Emmaus road, the two disciplesencountered a stranger who asked them about their conversationconcerning Jesus o Nazareth. Te stranger was no other than therisen Lord. Te two disciples were unable to recognize Jesus becauseGod had kept them rom realizing who He was.

While walking on the road, Jesus taught them everything that thewritings o Moses and the prophets said concerning the Christ.Later that day, Cleopas and the other disciple begged Christ to stay the night with them because it was getting late (see Luke 24:29).When the three o them sat down to eat, Christ blessed the oodand suddenly their eyes were opened, and they recognized him(see Luke 24:31). At that moment o discovery, Jesus disappeared!

Within the hour, the two witnesses o the risen Christ were travelingback to Jerusalem. Upon arrival in Jerusalem, they heard otheraccounts o the resurrected Lord and then reported to the Eleventheir meeting with the risen Christ. Just then, Jesus appeared be orethe group, and showed them His nail-pierced hands and eet so they

would know He was no ghost (see Luke 24:3240). He had truly risen bodily rom the dead.


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Field o Blood (Akeldama )Also known as Potters Field, the leading priests purchased this ploto land with the thirty pieces o silver that Judas Iscariot returned tothem. Te priests were not able to return the money to the emple

treasury because it had been used to pay or murder (see Matthew27:110). Instead, they bought the Potters Field with it and used it asa cemetery or oreigners.

The First Century Temple (19 B.C.A.D. 70)Te Jerusalem emple was the center o religious and social li eor the Jews o Christs day. Herod the Great built the emple in

order to appease the Jews and build a structure that would rivalSolomons emple, which King Nebuchadnezzar burned in 587B.C. Te emple was an ornate house o worship that lled an areameasuring approximately 490 yards rom north to south and 325yards rom east to west. Te main construction o the emplewas nished in 9 B.C. with the nal construction ending in A.D.64. Almost seven years later, the Romans utterly annihilated the

Herodian emple.

Signi cant events occurred there, such as Jesus cleansing o themoneychangers and His preaching about the coming destruction o theemple. In his Gospel, Luke writes that a er Jesus ascended into heaven,the disciples went to Jerusalem and were continually in the templepraising and blessing God. (Luke 24:53). Once the Holy Spirit came

upon the believers, the Book o Acts says that they worshiped togetherat the emple each day, all the while praising God (see 2:46, 47).

GalileeTe location o Jesus Christs childhood (Nazareth is in lowerGalilee), Galilee was the primary setting o Jesus ministry. Hetaught ten o His thirty-two recorded parables in Galilee andper ormed twenty- ve o His thirty-three recorded miracles there.Jesus recognized that the major centers o Galilee were not acceptingthe gospel, so He denounced such Galilean cities as Korazin,


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Bethsaida, and Capernaum (see Matthew 11:2124). He and Hisdisciples then began proclaiming the Good News o the kingdomo God in regions outside o Galilee (see Mark 7:24, 31; 8:27).

A er rising rom the dead, Jesus instructed the emale disciplesto tell the other disciples to go to Galilee or they would seeHim there (see Matthew 28:10). wo o the most monumentalappearances o Christ occurred in Galilee. First, Jesus appeared toseveral o His disciples at the Sea o Galilee. It was then that Herestored Peter and said, Follow me (see John 21:123). Also inGalilee, Christ commissioned the apostles to make disciples o

all the nations, baptizing them in the name o the Father and theSon and the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 28:1620).

The Garden o GethsemaneA er the Last Supper, Jesus Christ and His disciples went to a placecalled the Garden o Gethsemane, located on the slopes o the Mounto Olives (see Luke 22:39). Gethsemane was probably in an olivegrove. Just be ore His death, Jesus took His disciples to Gethsemaneto pray in preparation or His cruci xion. Peter, James, and John ellasleep instead o praying, even despite Jesus passionate prayer or theFathers will to be done (see Luke 22:3946).

When Jesus nished His prayer and woke the disciples, JudasIscariot appeared with a mob to arrest Christ. Judas then kissedChrist as a prearranged signal so they would know whom to arrest

(see Matthew 26:4749). During the arrest, Peter cut o the ear o Malchus, the high priests servant. But Jesus healed Malchus ear andreminded Peter that He must be arrested and cruci ed in order toul ll the Scriptures (see Matthew 26:5154; John 18:1011).

The Garden TombTe Garden omb was the burial site o Jesus Christ. Unlike tombstoday, this tomb was carved out o a rock with the entrance coveredby a large stone. Luke, in his Gospel, tells us that it was a new tombwhere no one had ever been laid (see Luke 23:53).


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Golgatha (Calvary)Jesus Christ was cruci ed between two criminals at Golgatha. It waslocated on an elevated site somewhere near Jerusalem and close tothe Garden omb, where Jesus was buried (see Matthew 27:33; Mark

15:22; John 19:17, 41). Te Bible also re ers to Golgatha as Calvary inhis Gospel, which means skull or cranium.

Herod AntipasSon o Herod the Great, Herod Antipas (or Herod the tetrarch)ruled over the regions o Galilee and Perea rom 4 B.C. to A.D. 39.Antipas was amous or beheading John the Baptist, something

the people o his jurisdiction resented (see Matthew 14:312;Mark 6:1729; Luke 3:1920).

Herod Antipas role in the story o Christ is small but signi cant.For various political reasons and in an attempt to escape having totry Jesus Christ, Pontius Pilate (Roman Governor o Judea) handedover Jesus to Antipas to be tried, since Jesus was rom Antipasterritory o Galilee. Antipas questioned and mocked Jesus,dressing Him in a royal robe, but made no judgment. Antipasthen sent Jesus back to Pilate or trial in ear that Pilate wouldreport him to the emperor.

James (Son o Alphaeus)Sometimes identi ed as James the younger (see Mark 15:40;Matthew 27:56), James was among the apostles who were presentat the Mount o Olives to witness the ascension o Jesus Christ(see Acts 1:913).

James (Son o Zebedee)James was the brother o John and was one o the rst apostles to becalled by Jesus Christ. James, his brother, and Peter all were part o Jesus inner circle. He was likely among the disciples who met the

risen Christ at the Sea o Galilee (see John 21:112). A er ollowingChrist to the Mount o Olives, James was among the privilegedwho witnessed Christ ascend into heaven (see Luke 24:5052;


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Acts 1:913). James was the rst o the apostles to be martyredbecause o their aith (see Acts 12:2).

Jerusalem

Te amous capital o Palestine during Old estament times,Jerusalem had been conquered by the Romans and was reducedto a city-state by the time o the New estament.

Jerusalem was the location o Jesus Christs arrest, conviction, andcruci xion. A er the Resurrection, Jerusalem became the settingo the ollowing important events:

Jesus appearance to the two disciples on the Emmausroad (see Mark 16:12)

Jesus appearance to the Eleven (see John 20:1925) e ascension of Christ (see Luke 24:50; Acts 1:912) e prayer meeting in the upper room (see Acts 1:13) Pentecost (see Acts 2:1)

Jesus ChristJesus o Nazareth was Gods promised Christ (anointed one), whowas born to die or the sins o the world (see John 3:16). Te Gospelo John tells us Jesus existed in the beginning o time and was withGod and was God (see John 1:1). Christ was there ore ully Godand ully man. He was born o a virgin in Bethlehem and raised inNazareth. He grew up like a normal person, raised by His parents

Mary and Joseph. But unlike the rest o us, Jesus lived a sinless li e.He did, however, experience the temptations that everyday peopleencounter in everyday li e (see Matthew 4).

Jesus began His public ministry at the age o thirty. His ministry consisted o the calling o the apostles, healing the sick, raisingthe dead, re uting many o the religious leaders, and preaching thekingdom o God and the repentance o sins. He ministered largely in Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and was arrested and condemned inJerusalem, where He died on the cross or the sins o humankind.Te Cruci xion was not the end o Jesus Christ. Tree days later,


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Christ ul lled the Scriptures when God raised Him rom the dead.Tis was not a mere resuscitation like Lazarus rising rom the dead.Lazarus would one day die again, but Christ would never againace death. Te Resurrection assures humankind that Christs death

was e ective. Sin and death did not de eat Christ, but rather, Christde eated sin and death. His resurrection means a new and livingway which He consecrated or us (Hebrews 10:20). Believersthrough Christ are now reconciled to God. Te Cruci xion andResurrection assure believers in Christ that they have the hopeo li e everlasting.

A er the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and to vehundred other believers during a period o orty days. In thistime, Jesus provided hope to His ollowers and commissionedthem to be His witnesses to the world until He returns again.Forty days a er He was raised rom the dead, Christ took Hisdisciples to the Mount o Olives where He ascended into heaven.Later, on the day o Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon thebelievers and empowered them to live or God in spirit and in truth.

JoannaJoanna, the wi e o Chuza (see Luke 8:3), was a ollower o JesusChrist who helped provide or Jesus and His disciples while they toured Galilee (see Luke 8:2). Joanna was one o the women whohelped prepare spices and ointment or Christs body. She also

was among the women who discovered the empty tomb and toldthe story to the disciples, who did not believe what they had tosay (see Luke 24:111).

John (the Son o Zebedee)Te brother o James and one o the three members o Jesus innercircle o disciples, the Apostle John was known as the disciple whom

Jesus Christ loved (see John 19:26). John was the only disciple loyalenough to witness Christs cruci xion. It was at the oot o the crossthat Jesus commissioned John to watch over His mother, Mary. A er


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hearing about the empty tomb, John outran Simon Peter and was therst apostle to see that the tomb was empty (see John 19:2527). Te

Apostle Paul later told the church in Galatia that John was one o thethree pillars o the church (see Galatians 2:9).

Joseph o ArimatheaJoseph o Arimathea was a member o the Sanhedrin and asecret ollower o Christ who paid respect and honor to Christ by providing Him with a proper burial. Josephs provision o a properburial or Christ is marked by the clean linen and embalming oilin which he and Nicodemus wrapped Jesus Christs body and the

new tomb in which he laid Jesus (see Matthew 27:5960; Luke23:53; John 19:3842). Joseph, there ore, helped to provide Christwith a burial t or a king.

Joseph Called BarsabbasA ollower o Christ, Joseph, called Barsabbas and surnamed Justus,was nominated along with Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot as thetwel h apostle (see Acts 1:23). However, the Lord chose Matthias totake Judas place as the twel h apostle (see Acts 1:26).

Joseph Caiaphas the High PriestJoseph Caiaphas was the high priest rom A.D. 1836/37. He wasson-in-law to Annas, the ormer high priest. He was an expertpolitician who was convinced that Jesus Christs death would leadto political peace. A er being interrogated by Annas, Jesus wasdelivered to Caiaphas or a treacherous nighttime trial, whereCaiaphas and the leaders attempted to nd alse testimony againstJesus (see Matthew 26:5968; Mark 14:5565; Luke 22:6365; John18:24). When no adequate alse testimony was ound, Caiaphasasked Jesus i He was the Messiah, the Son o the blessed God (seeMark 14:61). Jesus answered, I am, and Caiaphas alsely accusedHim o blasphemy and stated Jesus deserved the death sentence

(see Matthew 26:6566; Mark 14:6063). Caiaphas was yet anotherperson involved in the unjust trial and conviction o Christ.


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Judas IscariotJudas Iscariot is in amous or being the disciple who betrayedChrist. He initiated his betrayal in Bethany when he met with theleading priests to betray Christ or the price o 30 pieces o silver

(see Matthew 26:613; Mark 14:310). Judas nalized the dealby identi ying Jesus Christ to His arresters in the Garden o Geth-semane, where Jesus was arrested (see Matthew 26:47; Mark 14:43;Luke 22:47; John 18:35).

Te Gospels do reveal that Judas regretted his actions and went tothe leading priests and tried to right his wrong by returning themoney and con essing to them that he had betrayed an innocentman (Matthew 27:4). Te priests, however, rejected the money andwould have nothing to do with him. More than likely sickened by theoutcome o his actions, Judas threw the money on the oor o theemple and went out and hung himsel (see Matthew 27:5).

Te Apostle Peter mentioned Judas when he addressed 120 believersin Jerusalem. It was there that Peter and the rest o the apostles

nominated two candidates, Joseph and Matthias, to replace Judas asthe twel h apostle. Peter did not speak highly o Judas (see Acts 1:25).

Judas, Son o James (Thaddaeus)Te Gospels o Matthew and Mark both name this apostle asTaddaeus (see Mark 3:18; Matthew 10:3), while the Gospels o Luke and John call him Judas the son o James (see Luke 6:16; Acts1:13; John 14:22). Judas, more than likely, was his given name whileTaddaeus was a place name or nickname. During the events o the Resurrection, Judas was only mentioned as being present at theMount o Olives or Christs ascension into heaven (see Acts 1:913). Malchus, the High Priests ServantAt the arrest o Jesus Christ, Peter, in an attempt to ree Jesus,cut o Malchus ear with a sword. Jesus then commanded Peter to

put away his sword, reminding Peter that He was supposed to dieor humankind (see John 18:11; Matthew 26:5156). Jesus thentouched Malchus ear and healed it (see Luke 22:51).


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Mary MagdaleneA ollower o Jesus Christ rom the time He visited cities and villagesto announce the Good News o the kingdom o God (see Luke 8:2),Mary was among the last at the cross and the rst at Jesus Christs

tomb on Easter morning. Her status among the women is evidentin that she is always listed rst when Scripture names groupso the emale ollowers o Christ. All our Gospels record Mary,along with the other emale disciples, as the rst to discover thatChrists tomb was empty (see Matthew 28:110; Mark 16:18; Luke24:112). Mary had the honor o being the rst person to whom theresurrected Christ appeared. Te Gospel o John records that Jesus

commissioned her to nd the disciples and proclaim the message:I have seen the Lord! (see John 20:1418). Mary Magdaleneproved to be a devoted ollower o Christ, who ministered to Himrom beginning to end.

Mary, the Mother o JamesLike the other emale disciples, Mary was a woman o deep com-mitment and aith. Comparing the parallel texts o Mark 15:47; 16:1;and Luke 24:10, it is likely that Mary was the other Mary o Mat-thew 27:61 and 28:1. She also was part o the rst group o women toappear at the empty tomb (see Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1).With the other emale ollowers, she had the privilege o announcingthe news o the Resurrection to the disciples (see Luke 24:10).

Mary, the Mother o JesusTe early portions o the Gospels record that Mary was a youngJewish virgin engaged to a man named Joseph. God had sent theangel Gabriel to announce to her that she was blessed amongwomen (Luke 1:42), because He had privileged her with giving birthto the Savior o the world. At the Cruci xion, it was apparent thatJesus Christs death would alter the mere mother/son relationshipbetween Jesus and Mary. At the cross, Mary had a new relationshipwith Christ: the relationship o her as ollower and Christ as Lord.A er Christs ascension into heaven, Mary was present in the upperroom, praying continually with the other disciples (see Acts 1:14).


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Matthew (the Tax Collector)Matthew, also called Levi, was a tax collector whom Jesus Christcalled to be His disciple. Matthew responded by leaving everythingand ollowing Christ (see Mark 2:14; Luke 5:2729). Scripture

mentions Matthew in all our listings o the apostles (see Matthew10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). He also witnessed Christsascension and met or prayer with the other believers in the upperroom (see Acts 1:1214). Matthew also was the author o theGospel o the same name.

Matthias

A er Christ ascended into heaven, Peter addressed the need or atwel h apostle to replace Judas Iscariot. Peter established a criteriaor the election o the twel h apostle, namely that the candidate

would have to have been present rom the time John the Baptistbaptized Christ to the day He ascended into heaven (see Acts1:2122). Te apostles there ore nominated two men: Matthiasand Joseph called Barsabbas. Using the Old estament manner ordiscovering the choice o God (see Proverbs 16:33), the apostles castlots and Matthias was chosen. No other scriptural in ormation existsconcerning Matthias, but church tradition states that he preached inJudea and that he was later stoned to death.

Mount o OlivesIn His nal week, Jesus Christ taught on the Mount o Olives andspent His nights there as well (see Mark 13; Luke 21:37). Te Mounto Olives is a rounded hill reaching 2,676 eet high and overlookedthe emple. A er the Last Supper, Jesus brought His disciples tothe Mount o Olives, where they prayed nearby in the Gardeno Gethsemane. Immediately a er praying, Jesus was arrested atGethsemane. Te Mount o Olives was also the location where thedisciples witnessed Christs ascension (see Mark 14:32; Acts 1:12).

NathanaelSee Bartholomew


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NicodemusNicodemus was a Pharisee and a member o the Sanhedrin.Nicodemus met with Jesus Christ at night and discussed with Himthe need to be born again (see John 3). He later openly de ended

Christ be ore the Sanhedrin. Nicodemus helped Joseph o Arimatheaprovide Jesus with a proper burial. Nicodemus was most likely among the many who believed in Christ, but did not con ess theirbelie in ear that they would be excommunicated (see John 12:42).Christian tradition states that Nicodemus was indeed a believer.

Peter (Simon)

Peter was the amous ollower o Jesus Christ whom the Bibledepicts as the leader o the 12 apostles. Peters birth name wasSimon, but Jesus renamed him Peter , which means rock.

At the Last Supper, he boldly protested any possibility that hecould deny Jesus, insisting that he would die be ore ever denyingHim (see Matthew 26:35). All our Gospel writers depict Petersthree old denial o Christ just be ore His cruci xion (see Matthew26:6975; Mark 14:6672; Luke 22:5562; John 18: 2527). TeGospel o John records a unique meeting between the risen Christand Peter, where Jesus restored Peter, telling him eed my sheepand ollow me (see John 21:17, 19). Peter and the Apostle John were the rst disciples to see the empty tomb on Easter Sunday (see Luke 24:12; 20:310). Peter witnessedChrists ascension into heaven and prayed along with the otherdisciples in the upper room (see Acts 1:1214). Shortly therea er,he addressed the disciples and led them in the nomination andselection o Matthias as the twel h apostle. Peter later becameone o the central leaders o the early church. He eventually dieda martyrs death under Neros persecution o the Christians.

PhilipNot to be mistaken with Philip the evangelist (see Acts 21:8), Philipwas one o the rst apostles to ollow Christ (see John 1:3551).


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Like the other apostles, Philip witnessed the Ascension and waspresent or the choosing o Matthias as the twel h apostle.

Pontius Pilate

Pontius Pilate was Roman governor (or pre ect) o Judea rom A.D2636/37 and was a key political gure. Early in the morning, onthe day o Christs death, the Jewish leaders brought Christ be orePontius Pilate, accusing Jesus Christ o claiming to be king. Pilatedesired to release Jesus because o His innocence, knowing thechie priests handed over Jesus due to envy. Te crowds, however,were relentless at Christs trial, demanding or Him to be cruci ed.Pilate then gave in and took water and washed his hands clean,saying I am innocent o the blood o this just Person. (Matthew27:24). Te crowds yelled in agreement and Pilate had Jesusscourged and handed over or cruci xion.

Te day a er the Cruci xion, the leading priests and Pharisees cameto Pilate and reminded him that Christ had predicted He would riserom the dead in three days. o prevent any resurrection stories,

the religious leaders asked Pilate to seal the tomb and have itprotected by Roman guards. Tis way no one could steal the body o Christ. Pilate appeased the religious leaders and granted theirwishes (see Matthew 27:6266).

But on the third day, an angel rolled away the stone o the tomb,revealing that Christ had indeed risen rom the dead (see Matthew

28:17). Shortly therea er, Pilate was recalled rom his place o o ce.Te tradition o the church states that he later committed suicide.

Pontius Pilates Wi eClaudia Procula, Pontius Pilates wi e, appears on the scene duringthe trial o Christ. Just as Pilate was attempting to ree Christ, shesent him a message concerning Jesus Christ. Te message read:

Have nothing to do with that just Man, or I have su ered many things today in a dream because o Him (Matthew 27:19). Despiteher wise counsel, Pilate gave into the wishes o the crowds and hadJesus scourged and cruci ed.


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Potters FieldSee Field o Blood ( Akeldama)

The Praetorium

Te Praetorium was the residence o Pontius Pilate, governor o Judea. It was here that Pilate questioned Jesus Christ be ore Hiscruci xion (see John 18:28). Te word praetorium can also loosely re er to another part o the residence, such as where the Romansoldiers mocked Jesus a er He appeared be ore Pilate(see Matthew 27:2731; Mark 15:1620).

The Residence and Courtyard o Caiaphas and AnnasJoseph Caiaphas the high priest and Annas the ormer high priestlived in di erent wings o the same residence. In the courtyardo this residence is where Peters denial takes place while Annasinterrogated Jesus inside the residence. Annas then sent Jesus toCaiaphas or trial, which occurred in another area o the home (seeMatthew 26:5758; Mark 14:5354; Luke 22:5455; John 18:1924).

The Roman CenturionTe Roman centurion at the cross was so impressed by Jesus Christsdeath that he made the statement, ruly, this man was the Sono God! (Mark 15:39). Te centurions words may have been apro ession o aith in Christ or he may have simply meant that Jesuswas a righteous and innocent man, as Luke states it (see Luke 23:47).Either way, the Roman centurions statement is urther evidence thatthe political and religious leaders o the day were guilty o cruci yingthe innocent Christ, who was indeed the Son o God.

SalomeSalome was a aith ul ollower o Jesus Christ and helped careor Him while He was in Galilee. Salome is seen at the oot o the

cross with Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother o James (seeMark 15:41). A er Christs death, these women brought spices

to anoint Christs body or burial (see Mark 16:1). Salome is anexample o a loving and aith ul ollower o Christ who helped careor Him even when most deserted Him.


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SanhedrinTe Sanhedrin was the supreme Jewish council in Jerusalem duringthe times o the New estament. It presided over the religious,political, and legal issues o all Jews. Te Sanhedrins membership

consisted o seventy-one Jewish leaders. Te head o the Sanhedrinwas the high priest (see Matthew 26:57). A er Herod the Greatsreign, religious reasons ceased to be the primary means or choosingthe high priest. More o en than not, he was appointed or politicalreasons. Under the high priest was the captain o the emple(see Luke 22:4, 52). Te rest o the members were select Levites andpriests. Te Gospels seem to point to the chie priests, ormer high

priests who belonged to the Sadducees, as the central members o the Sanhedrin (see Acts 4:1; 5:17). Te Bible provides evidence thatPharisees were members o the Sanhedrin as well (see John 3:1). TeSanhedrin was partly responsible or the planning and carrying outo Christs trial (see Matthew 26:59; Mark 14:55; 15:1; John 11:4753).

SatanSatan was an exalted angelic being who became proud andattempted to dethrone God (see Isaiah 14:1214; Ezekiel 28:1119).God, who is in control o all things, removed Satan rom hisposition o honor. Satan then convinced one-third o the angels toollow him in his mission to usurp the plans o God.

Although Satan played a part in tempting both Judas Iscariot andPeter (see Luke 22:3; Luke 22:31), the cruci xion was not the resulto Satans doing. It was Christs intended purpose to die on the crossor the sins o the world (see John 3:16).

The Sea o GalileeFamous or being the setting o many New estament events(see Matthew 8:2327; Mark 5:113, 3541; Luke 8:2224; John6:1521), the Sea o Galilee is located in the Jordan Valley; its

sur ace sits at 696 eet below sea level. Tis body o water isapproximately thirteen miles long and eight miles wide.


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A er Jesus rose rom the dead, He appeared to the disciples asthey were shing at the Sea o Galilee. Jesus yelled out to them,asking i they caught any sh. Unable to see who Jesus was, thedisciples told Him no and were directed by Christ to cast their

net on the right side o the boat. Te disciples obeyed and caughtso many sh that they were not able to draw in the net. Suddenly,the disciples realized that the man standing on the shore wasJesus, their Lord (see John 21:513).

Simon o CyreneSimon was rom Cyrene, a district o North A rica. On the road toGolgotha, the Romans orced Simon to carry Jesus Christs cross(see Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26). Simon was the athero Alexander and Ru us. In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paulsaid Ru us was chosen o the Lord; he also stated that Ru us motherhad been a mother to him as well (see Romans 16:13). From Paulswords, we can presume Simon may have later become a Christian.

Simon (the Zealot)One o the twelve apostles o Jesus Christ, Simon was a zealot.Zealots were members o a revolutionary political group thatbelieved political submission to Rome denied God as Lord. TeGospels o Matthew and Mark re er to Simon as the Cananaean,which is rom the Aramaic word or zealot (see Matthew 10:4;Mark 3:18). Te dynamics o the apostles are apparent with the callo Simon the zealot and Matthew the tax collector. ax collectors

and zealots held political belie s that were on opposing ends o thepolitical spectrum. A er the Resurrection, Simon, like the rest o the eleven apostles, was present or Christs ascension into heaven,or the corporate prayer in the upper room, and or the election o Matthias as Judas replacement (see Acts 1:1226).

The TempleSee Te First Century emple

Thaddaeus See Judas (Son o James)


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ThomasImproperly known as doubting Tomas, the Gospel o John depictsthis apostle as a strong, aith ul, and courageous man o character.Tomas boldness is evident in his words to the apostles, Let us

also go, that we may die with Him (John 11:16). But he is mostamous or missing the rst appearance o the risen Christ (see John

20:1924), and then re using to believe that Jesus was alive until Hesaw Jesus Christ and the wounds on His body. Eight days later, Jesusgranted Tomas request and appeared be ore him and the otherdisciples. Jesus said to Tomas, Put your nger here and seemy hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Dont be

aithless any longer. Believe! Tomas replied with one o the Newestaments most pro ound and monumental con essions o Christsdeity: My Lord and my God! (John 20:28). A erward, Tomas waspresent with the other apostles or the Ascension, or the corporateprayer in the upper room, and or the election o Matthias as thereplacement o Judas Iscariot as the twel h apostle (see Acts 1:1226).

The Upper RoomIn biblical times, some homes had second-story rooms, whichresembled towers. Tese rooms were o en re erred to as upperrooms. Jesus Christ and His disciples ate the Passover supper inan upper room. A er the Ascension, Luke wrote that the apostlesreturned to Jerusalem and went to the upper room o the housewhere they were staying (see Acts 1:1213). It was most likely there that the apostles prayed continually with the other ollowerso Christ (see Acts 1:14).


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Christ and the Disciples Eat the Last Supper

Christ Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane and Is enBetrayed and Arrested

Annas the Former High Priest Interrogates Christ

Joseph Caiaphas, the High Priest, Begins FormalTrial of Christ

e High Priest's Questioning of Christ

Peter's Denial of Christ

e Mocking of Christ

e Jewish Trial Ends with the Sanhedrin'sDecision against Christ

Christ Led to Pontius Pilate and Accused of Sedition

Judas Iscariot Hangs Himself

Christ's Initial Hearing before Pontius Pilate

Pilate Hands Christ over to Herod Antipas;Herod Mocks Christ

Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas Are ReconciledPontius Pilate Resumes the Trial of Christ;Christ is Scourged and Mocked

Christ on the Road to the Cross

Christ Is Cruci ed

Christ Is Buried

Christ in the Tomb

Christ Rises from the Dead

ursday Evening

ursday Evening

ursday Night before Midnight

Friday Morning Sometimea er Midnight

Early Friday Morning

Friday Morning around 3 A.M. (thetime of the cockcrow in Jerusalem)

Early Friday Morning

Friday Morning As Day Was Dawning

Friday Morning

Friday Morning

Friday Morning

Friday Morning

Friday Morning

Friday Morning

Friday Sometime before 9:00 A.M.

Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

Friday Evening As EveningApproached

Saturday

Sunday Morning As theNew Day Was Dawning

To help you understand what Jesus Christ went through duringthe time before His death, here is a chronology of events.

THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE CROSS

KEY EVENTS TIME OF DAY


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26:2029

26:36-56

26:57

26:5968

26:6975

27:1

27:2

27:310

27:1114

27:1731

27:3234

27:35

27:5761

27:6265

28:115

14:1725

14:2652

14:53

14:5565

14:6672

15:1a

15:1b

15:25

15:820

15:2123

15:25

15:4247

16:1

16:18

22:1438

22:3953

22:54

22:5562

22:6365

22:6671

23:1

23:26

23:711

23:12

23:1325

23:2632

23:33

23:5055

23:56

24:135

13:24

18:112

18:13

18:24

18:1924

18:1518, 2527

18:28

18:2940

19:116

19:17

19:18

19:3842

20:118

BOOK OF MATTHEW BOOK OF MARK BOOK OF LUKE BOOK OF JOHN


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Father, into

I Commit

LUKE23:46

YOUR HANDS

MY SPIRIT.


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CHAP ER 5

SEVEN STATEMENTSFROM THE CROSS

Examining the signifcance o the wordsJesus uttered be ore His death

he seven statements Jesus Christ made rom the cross giveus a glimpse into the eternal and show us that our salvationwas paid in ull, once and or all, at the cross. Te nal words o the dying capture our attention, o en reveal the speakers char-acter, and can even impart wisdom or our own lives. Te nalwords o Jesus do that and much more.

Statement OneFather, orgive them or they do not know what they do.

Te act that Jesus rst words rom the cross consisted o a prayerdoes not surprise us. Jesus always had been a man o prayer.

But we might have expected Jesus to pray, Father, help Me! Or,even His later statement being His rst: My God, My God, why

have you orsaken Me? But knowing Jesus, it was only tting thatHe should say what He said in the very order He said it.

T


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He did not pray in that dark hour or His loved ones rst, or orHis riends. He prayed or His enemies! He modeled exactly whatHe taught.

We also see rom this example o Jesus that no one is beyond thereach o prayer. No matter how hopeless it may look, keep prayingor that person! It was as i Jesus was saying, Father, orgive them,or they need orgiveness so desperatelyForgive them, or they have committed a sin that is wicked beyond all comprehensionForgive them, or they have committed a sin that is black beyondall their realization.

Maybe youre praying or someone right now to see his or herneed or God. Youve brought that riend to church, but theresno apparent interest in spiritual things. Keep praying!

Statement Two oday you will be with Me in Paradise.

His second statement was an answer to prayer. Next to Jesus weretwo criminals being cruci ed. Something signi cant happened tochange the heart o one o these criminals, bringing him to his spiri-tual senses. Jesus second statement was an answer to that prayer ororgiveness. Jesus spoke to that criminal as though he were the only person in the world.

What joy must have lled this mans heart when he heard thesewords! We cannot help but notice this mans immediate aith:Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.

He did not say, Remember me i you come into Your kingdom,but rather, Remember me when you come into Your kingdom(Luke 23:42, emphasis added).

It would seem at this moment that this thie , who only had comealive spiritually just moments be ore, had more spiritual insightthan many o Jesus closest ollowers!


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Also, I love the way this new convert de ends Jesus to the othercriminal: Do you not even ear God, seeing you are under thesame condemnation? And we indeed justly, or we receive thedue reward o our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong

(Luke 23:4041).

Amazingly, both men heard these words o Jesus. Both saw Hisawless and incredible example. Both were dying, and both neededorgiveness. Te unrepentant thie died as he had lived, hardenedand indi erent. Te other repented, believed, and as a result, joinedJesus in Paradise.

Te mystery o the gospel! Hearing the same message, one personwill listen with indi erence while another will have his or her eyesopened to his or her needs and will believe.

Statement ThreeWoman, behold your son.

Te Lords third statement rom the cross was a response to what He

saw. At the oot o the cross was His mother Mary, along with someother women and John the apostle. Looking down at Mary and John,He said to His mother, Woman, behold your son. Ten He said toJohn, Behold your mother. From that hour, John took Mary intohis home. Te Lord was thinking about the needs o His mother andher uture on earth.

Statement FourMy God, My God, why have You orsaken Me?

At noon, darkness suddenly ell on the earth. Piercing throughthat darkness was Christ voice as He cried out, Eli, Eli, lamasabachthani? (Matthew 27:46; see also Mark 15:34).

It was at this moment that I believe Jesus bore all the sins o the

world. Every wicked thing ever done by every person was pouredon Jesus at that very moment. In my opinion, it was Gods mostpain ul moment.


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You would think, as a moment like this was un olding, that thepeople would stand in complete silence, especially when darknessell on the earth. But as we read the cruci xion account, we realizethat the mockery continued until the very end. Even as He was bear-

ing the sins o the world and crying out, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? they had no interest at all. People were laughing, mocking, gambling,and acting as though nothing o any importance was taking place.In reality, the most signi cant event in human history was un olding.

Statement FiveI thirst!

We nd the next words that Jesus gave rom the crossin John 19:2829:

A er this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished,that the Scripture might be ul lled, said, I thirst! Now a vesselull o sour wine was sitting there; and they lled a sponge withsour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.

I thirst! was the rst rom the lips o our Lord o a personal nature.Understand that this was not merely a casual thirst. Tis was a thirstproduced by a tremendous loss o blood. Tis was a thirst producedby a man who had literally borne the sins o the world. Tis was athirst like no man has ever known be ore. Imagine the Creator o the universe, God Almighty, saying, I thirst! Te very One whocreated water was crying out or just a ew drops to quench Hisinsatiable thirst.

I thirst, was a statement Jesus said to the woman at the well whenHe asked or a drink o water. Again, as He was hanging on thecross, He said, I thirst. Here is what it comes down to: becauseJesus thirsted, we dont have to. Because He died on the cross,we dont have to be thirsty. He has made possible a way or us to

know God. No longer do we have to go thirsting a er the empty things this world o ers. We can satis y our thirst in a relationshipwith Him.


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You may recall that prior to this moment, Jesus was o ered sour winemingled with gallbasically, a painkiller. You might also rememberthat the Lord re used it (see Matthew 27:34). He was going to bearthe Cruci xion and all o its pain. He would take upon Himsel

the sin o the world and all o its horror, and He wanted to haveull sense o His mental aculties.

Statement SixIt is fnished!

Now, having borne the sins o the world, Jesus cries out It is n-

ished! (John 19:30). Tis battle cry o the cross was the greatest andmost ar-reaching battle cry ever heard in history. Tose who stoodcloseMary, John, the Roman soldiers, and otherswere not theonly ones who heard these three words. I believe these words echoedthroughout heaven. I am sure they were heard as a cry o victory among the angels who would have, at any moment, come and gladly delivered the Lord rom this situation. It is nished.

I also think these words reverberated throughout the hallways o hell as Satan realized his plan had back red. In his blind rage and jealousy, Satan had lled the heart o Judas Iscariot to betray theLord, but he actually helped bring about the completion o Godsplan. He unwittingly played into the plan and purpose o the Father,who determined long ago that God would come to this earth as aman and die on a cross. It is spoken o extensively in the Old esta-

ment. Suddenly, perhaps at this moment, it dawned on the devil thathe just helped ul ll prophetic scriptures. He helped bring aboutthe purposes o God. What was meant to destroy Jesus would nowultimately destroy the devil.

What does this phrase, It is nished, mean? It could be translateda number o ways: It is made an end o . It is paid. It is per ormed. It

is accomplished.Each one o those phrases gives a di erent acet tothe meaning o It is nished.


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What was made an end o ?Our slavery to sin and the guilt that accompanies it.What was paid? Te price o our redemption.What was per ormed? Te righteous requirements o the law.

What was accomplished? All that the Father had given Jesus to do.

Te storm had nally passed. Te devil had done his worst andthe Lord had bruised Him. Now the darkness has ended, and itis nished. Understand this was a victory cry rom Calvary. Tiswas a glorious moment because the work was now completed.

What was nished? Finished were the horrendous su erings o Christ. Never again would He experience pain or be in the handso Satan. Never again would He bear the sins o the world. Neveragain would He, even or a moment, be orsaken o God. Finishedwere the demands o the Mosaic Law, those standards laid out inthe Scripture that we were unable to keep.

Satans stronghold on humanity was nished. Because o what Jesusdid on the cross, we no longer have to be under the power o Satan.

Tis does not mean we never will be tempted. It does not meanwe are not vulnerable to the enticements o the devil. But it doesmean that Satan has no rights over our lives. We were under hiscontrol, but Jesus su ered or our redemption. Jesus came anddied or our reedom. Tis is what happened or us at Calvary.

Te humility, the sorrow, the su ering, the separation, the lovethat is the passion o Jesus Christ.

Tere ore, we no longer have to be under the power o any sini we dont want to be. We dont have to be under the power o immorality. We dont have to be under the power o addiction todrugs or alcohol. We dont have to be under the power o any vice

or any li estyle. We have been reed by the work that Jesus per-ormed on the cross. He has opened the door to our prison cells,but each o us must get up and walk out.


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Some o us dont really want to be reed rom the vice that may have a strangle-hold on our lives. Some o us dont want to change.Some o us dont want to get out o the darkness we are in. I amtelling you on the authority o Scripture that i you want out, the

door is open. Jesus Christ has paid the price. He will give you thepower and resources to be victorious over the power o sin. Yourli e may not be sinless, but you can sin less. Your li e can be trans-ormed because o what was nished on the cross.

Finished was our salvation. All our sins were trans erred to Jesuswhen He hung on the cross, and righteousness was trans erred to

our account. As Isaiah 53:6 says, Te Lord has laid on Him theiniquity o us all. It is nished. Tere is nothing that you or I canadd to the work that Jesus did or us.

It is all paidno more debts le . Jesus has done this or you andor me. It is nished.

Statement SevenInto Your hands I commit My spirit.

Jesus then gives His seventh and nal statement rom the cross. Hesays to the Father, Into Your hands I commit My spirit (Luke 23:46).Te Lord o en said: No one takes it [my li e] rom Me, but I lay itdown o Mysel . I have power to lay it down, and I have power totake it again (John 10:18). Te Roman soldiers who came to break Jesus legs were amazed that He already had died. Tis practice wasintended to prevent the one on the cross rom pulling up or abreath. As a result, the prisoner would immediately die o su ocation.When they came to Jesus, it was not necessary to break His bones,which ul lled the Scripture that says not one o His bones would bebroken (see Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20; John 19:36).


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Christ made His love or the world passionately evident in these laststatements rom the cross, and the presentation o these statementsin all their pain, victory, and meaning is power ul to behold:

Father, orgive them or they do not know what they do. Do you realize that you are in need o the Fathers orgiveness?

oday you will be with Me in Paradise. Have you realized and con essed Jesus as your personal Savior?

Woman behold your son.

Jesus is concerned and provides or all o us.

My God, My God, why have You orsaken Me? Jesus was orsaken so we dont have to be.

I thirst! Tis personal statement reminds us that Jesus is not only God,but He was also man. Jesus identi es with our needs.

It is fnished. Our sin is paid or and sins control over our lives is broken!

Into Your hands I commit My spirit. You can trust your li e into Gods hands.


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He is NOT

but is RISEN!

LUKE24:6

HERE,


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CHAP ER 6

WHAT HAPPENED EASTER MORNING

Very early on Sunday morning, everything changed.Hope had arisen!

while back, the cover o ime eatured a painting o JesusChrist that introduced a series o articles about His impact

not only on our time, but also on all o humanity or all time.Reynolds Price, the writer o one o the articles, made this state-ment: A serious argument can be made that no one elses li ehas proved remotely as power ul and enduring as that o Jesus.

Tat is true. Tere has never been, nor will there ever be, anyonelike Jesus. He stands out rom all others. Because Jesus died and

rose again, His li e proved to be power ul and enduring. His deathand resurrection trans ormed the lives o those who believed onEaster morning, and continually trans orms the lives o thosewho believe today.

Lost in TranslationIve heard that when Coca-Cola was introduced in China, it wasrst rendered as Ke-kou-ke-la. Un ortunately, it wasnt until a -ter thousands o signs had been printed the company discoveredthe phrase means, Bite the wax tadpole, or Female horse stu ed

A


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with wax, depending on the dialect. And in aiwan, the transla-tion o the Pepsi slogan, Come alive with the Pepsi Generation,was translated, Pepsi will bring your ancestors back rom thedead. Sometimes things get lost in the translation!

Tat is what happened to the ollowers o Christ a er His cruci x-ion. Jesus had spoken to the disciples about His impending deathand resurrection constantly and in great detail. Nevertheless, thedisciples incorrectly thought Christ was going to overthrow the Ro-man government and establish an earthly kingdom. Tere ore, thedreams o the disciples were destroyed when they saw Jesus cruci ed

on a Roman cross. Te One called the King o kings was taken andcrowned with thorns. Tey saw spikes driven through His handsand eet. Tey hoped or a last-minute miracle. But none came. TeirLord was dead. Te disciples never anticipated the Cruci xion. Tey misunderstood the messageit was lost in translation.

But very early Sunday morning, three days a er Joseph o Arimathealaid Christ in the tomb, Jesus message became clear. Lets read aboutwhat happened that rst Easter Sunday in Luke 24:112:

Now on the rst day o the week, very early in the morning,they, and certain other women with them, came to the tombbringing the spices which they had prepared. But they oundthe stone rolled away rom the tomb. Ten they went in anddid not nd the body o the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as

they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two menstood by them in shining garments. Ten, as they were a raidand bowed their aces to the earth, they said to them, Why doyou seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,saying, Te Son o Man must be delivered into the hands o sin ul men, and be cruci ed, and the third day rise again.

And they remembered His words. Ten they returned rom thetomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother o James,


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and the other women with them, who told these things to theapostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, andthey did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb;and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves;

and he departed, marveling to himsel at what had happened.

Here humanity had done its worst. Christ was put to death. Tedisciples le the cross, dismayed and disillusioned, the religiousleaders rested in victory, and the Christ lay dead and buried in adark garden tomb. Everything had allen apart. But very early onSunday morning, everything changed. Hope had arisen.

Ten the emale disciples o Christ came to the tomb, taking thespices they had prepared. Notice that it was the womennot themenwho were last at the cross and rst at the tomb. Te menwere in hiding, but the women were willing to stand up or theLord and to care or His body. Marks Gospel tells us that Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary the mother o James were presentamong the women (see Mark 16:1). Tey were there to anoint Hisdead body. Tough He was dead, their love or Him re used todim. Teir aith in Him had not ailed. What they had hoped orhad simply not happened. Yet those aith ul ollowers would notabandon His dead body. Tey honored Him even in death.

Te aith ulness o the women rewarded them with an unexpectedsurprise. Instead o nding the dead body o Jesus, they came

ace to ace with holy angels o God. Ten one o the angels said,He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you whenHe was still in Galilee, saying, Te Son o Man must be deliveredinto the hands o sin ul men, and be cruci ed, and the third day rise again. (Luke 24:67). Ten they remembered His words. Sothey ran to tell the apostles. But when the apostles heard what hadhappened, they said that the story sounded like nonsense, so they

would not believe it (see verses 1011). Tese great men o aithregarded the witness o these women as mere hysteria. Its hardto believe that these were the apostles. Tese were the ones whom


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Jesus spent an entire night praying over be ore He called them. Yetwhen they heard the message that the Lord had risen, they didntbelieve it.

The Race to the TombTe Gospel o John does ll in a ew details which reveal that twodisciples investigated Mary Magdalenes testimony. o their credit,Peter and John had to see the empty tomb or themselves(see John 20:12). A er hearing about the Resurrection, Peter andJohn sprinted to the tomb, but John outran Peter (see John 20:34).I think there is a reason why John beat Peter to the tomb, and it had

little to do with who was the aster runner.

Consider this: Remember when you were a child and you got into trouble with your mom and she uttered those ominous words,

You just wait until your ather gets home! Ten when dad pulledinto the driveway, I bet you did not run as quickly to meet him atthe door. You knew you were going to have to come ace to acewith what you had done wrong. Your conscience was guilty andyou eared the consequences o your actions.

In the same way, Peters last contact with the Lord was when hedenied Him. He was running to the tomb, but with mixed emotions,to say the least. Ten Peter walked into the tomb. With his chestheaving rom the run, he probably thought, Whats going on here? Where is the Lord? Where is His body? Ten John entered, and the

Gospel tells us that he saw and believed. For as yet they did not knowthe Scripture, that He must rise again rom the dead (John 20:89).

Dont Live in the Old WayNow Peter and John were gone. Te other women had le too. Andthere was Maryall alone. She was still wondering where the body o Jesus was. She could not take it anymore. She broke under the pres-

sure and began to weep. So the angels in the tomb asked her, Why are you weeping? And she replied, Because they have taken away my Lordand I do not know where they have laid Him (John 20:13).


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Ten hope came to Mary. She heard a voice speak to her out o the darkness. It was Jesus, but she did not recognize Him at rst.

Why are you weeping? Jesus asked her. Whom are you seeking?She answered and said, Siri you have carried him away, tell me

where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away. Ten Jesus saidher name. Mary! And she realized that He was the Lord and criedout, eacher! She grabbed a hold o Him, but Christ told her, Donot cling to Me, or I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go toMy brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and yourFather, and to My God and your God. (John 20:1517).

Some people have tried to read some mystical meaning into this verse. Tey have claimed that the Lords resurrected body wasso ragile that you did not want to touch it. Tat is not true. Inother instances people touched Him. In Matthews Gospel, a erthe Resurrection, the women grabbed hold o Jesus eet andworshipped Him. When He appeared to the disciples in the upperroom and Tomas was there, Jesus told him to touch His handsand His side (see John 20:27).

I think there is a deeper meaning to why Jesus told Mary not totouch Him. It could better be translated, Dont cling to me. Orliterally, Stop clinging to me. Jesus was essentially saying, Mary,it is a new day. It is not going to be the way it used to be. In the olddays, I would be with you physically in a given place at a given time.We would spend time together. Tose days are gone. Now it is

going to be better. My Holy Spirit is going to live inside o you!Ten He tells her, I am ascending to My Father and your Father,and to My God and your God (John 20:17). Jesus was saying,

Mary, because o what I have done at the cross and at the Resurrec-tion, you can approach God as your Father. Tat was a revolution-ary thought to the average Jew o the day. Te Jews would re er toGod by using the more ormal term, Lord . Tey would rarely, i

ever, use the intimate term o Father . Jesus was saying, Tis is anew covenant that is established. Now I am going to send you My Holy Spirit. Dont cling to the old ways. Dont live in the old way.


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Tis is a new covenant I have established. Tis is true or all o usas well, or the Apostle Paul wrote For you did not receive a spiritthat makes you a slave again to ear, but you received the Spirit o sonship. And by him we cry, Abba, Father (Romans 8:15 NIV).

Te Bible says that Christ has done all o that or us. He has openedor us a new and a living way. Mary was so excited about seeingthe Lord and hearing His message that she could not wait to tellthe others. John 20:18 says, Mary Magdalene came and told thedisciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken thesethings to her.

Te message o Christs resurrection trans ormed everything. Ittrans ormed a group o disillusioned, discouraged, and rightenedwomen and men into bold and courageous disciples who turnedtheir world upside down.

Lessons rom Easter MorningTere are a number o things we should learn rom that rstEaster morning, some two thousand years ago.

First, Easter reminds us that God loves ordinary and awed people.Tey dont come any more awed than Peter, John, and Mary. Re-member, Mary was a demon-possessed womanbut Jesus healedher and trans ormed her li e (see Luke 8:2). He not only orgaveher but also commissioned her to go and take this message to the

world. Tis gives hope to all o the ordinary people out there. You,who were picked last or the team. You, who never won the contest.You, who never distinguished yoursel in any signi cant way romthe others. Tis message rom the Resurrection reminds us thatGod can do extraordinary things through ordinary people.

Secondly, Easter shows us that God blesses those who seek Him

with their whole heart. Tere is no question that Marys persistentaith and love was richly rewarded. She was last at the cross. Shewas rst at the tomb. She just wanted to be close to Jesus. She loved


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the Lord and wanted the world to know. She made time early in themorning to be with Him. I you will make time in your li e and inyour schedule or Jesus, He will reward you as well. Te Bible says,

Great is His aith ulness; His mercies begin a resh each morning

(Lamentations 3:23 NL ). But some o us will say, I dont have timeor Bible study or prayer. I have so many things to do. I thats thecase, then maybe you need to slow down and make time or whatis important. God will bless you or that. Mary made time or Jesus.What a blessing she received.

Te third lesson we should learn is that Easter reveals the prom-

ise that God will more than meet us hal way. Here was a womanwho was weakened in her aith, but strong in her love. She camewith what she had and Jesus more than met her hal way. Maybeyou have a weakened aith. A tragedy has be allen you. A lovedone has died. A marriage has collapsed. Your aith has su ered.Maybe in your estimation, you eel as though God has somehowlet you down. God wants to renew your aith. He wants to bringyou back to that place o ervency and commitment. Just as Heministered to Mary, He can minister to you as well.

Finally, Easter gives us hope or now and eternity. Mary was soexcited because what appeared to have been the worst de eatimaginable, remarkably turned out to be the greatest victory o all.Te act that Jesus Christ rose rom the dead means that there ishope in this li e and hope a er it.

In the words o the Apostle Paul, But i the Spirit o Him whoraised Jesus rom the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christrom the dead will also give li e to your mortal bodies through

His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11). Paul is saying thatGod has provided every Christian with the power to live this li eHe has called us to live. I admit, living the Christian li e can behard, but it is possible through the power o the Holy Spirit. Tesame Spirit who raised Jesus rom the dead has taken residence in


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you. Te same Holy Spirit whom Jesus breathed on the disciples isliving inside o you. He will enable you to be the woman or manthat God has called you to be.

But Easter also reveals the hope o li e a er death, because i Jesusdied and rose again, we too will be raised like Him. Te ApostlePaul made this point in his letter to the church in Corinth:

But now Christ is risen rom the dead, and has become therst ruits o those who have allen asleep. For since by mancame death, by Man also came the resurrection o the dead.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.(1 Corinthians 15:2022)

Te Bible says that you are going to all asleep and go into thepresence o God. Tat is the picture Scripture uses. Because Jesusdied and rose again, you have li e beyond the grave. Paul tells usin 1 Tessalonians 4:14, For i we believe that Jesus died and roseagain, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus(1 Tessalonians 4:14). Whatever stage o li e you are in,this promise is precious. We, as believers, will live orever withGod in heaven.

Tis is what happened Easter morning: God through Christconquered sin and death, providing eternal li e to anyone whobelieves. No other persons li epast, present, or uturehas

accomplished such a eat. Tere will never be anyone like Jesus,and because o what happened Easter morning, we will have theprivilege o spending eternity with Him.


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BLESSED are

Believed.JOHN20:29

Not Seenthose who have

and yet have


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CHAP ER 7

EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION

For all practical purposes, God says,Believe and I will show you.

hrists resurrection rom the dead is not a peripheral issue.Te Resurrection is oundational to the Christian aith. In

act, its what sets the Christian aith apart rom all others. Forthat reason, its easy to see why people have attempted to explainaway the Resurrection. But to the dismay o skeptics throughouthistory, our main lines o evidence exist that help attest to thetruth o the Resurrection.

The Empty Tomb

Te rst argument or the Resurrection is the empty tomb. TatChrists tomb was empty three days a er He died is essential toChristianity or i Christs body was still there, then Christ didnot rise rom the dead. And i Christ is not alive, then our aith isin vain (see 1 Corinthians 15:14). But one look at the Gospels andit is clear that all our authors were in complete agreement thatChrists tomb was empty three days a er He died. Many otherwitnesses veri ed this act as well (see Matthew 28:56; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:13; John 20:12).

C


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Te oldest claim against the Resurrection was that somebody stolethe body o Christ. Only two groups o people had real motives tosteal the body: the ollowers o Christ and the enemies o Christ.And rom examining history and Scripture, neither o these groups

were likely candidates or robbing the tomb o Christ.

Despite the arguments throughout history, the disciples were notlikely suspects or counter eiting the Resurrection. Te truth o thematter is that the ollowers o Christ did not even believe Christ wasgoing to rise rom the dead. Remember when the women reportedthe Resurrection to the disciples? Te Scriptures tell us that the men

thought the report o the women seemed to them like idle tales,and they did not believe them (Luke 24:11). Instead o waiting withgreat anticipation, they rejected it out o hand. Its also unlikely thatthe discipleswho just three days ago ed or their lives duringthe Cruci xionwould have suddenly mustered the courage andingenuity to steal the body and then boldly begin preaching andteaching about a Jesus who was really dead. Te acts simply donot match up. Te disciples were in hiding. Tey were in shock anddisbelie . None o Christs ollowers were displaying the characterit took to challenge the Roman government and steal the body o Christ. Tat is a dramatic change that cannot be overlooked.

Te only other main suspects or the robbery o Christs body wereHis enemies. Te only problem with this theory is that Christs en-emies had no motive to rob His grave. Te leading priests and other

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Road to the Resurrection