A HARMONY OF JESUS' PASSION AND EASTER

(New King James Version)

(Jesus precious words in the upper room are recorded in John 13-17.)

First Lesson Jesus in the Upper Room and Gethsemane.

(Short summary of John 13) Now on the first day of unleavened bread when the Passover lamb must be killed, Jesus sat down with the twelve in an upper room And there was rivalry among them, who would be considered the greatest. Jesus, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." For He knew who would betray Him. So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "If I your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. "If you know these things, happy are you if you do them".

When Jesus had spoken these words, they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of  Olives as He was accustomed.  And  Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is  written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be  scattered.'  But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."

But Peter answered and said to Him, "Even though all may fall away  because of You, I will never fall away."

And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that today, even this night,  before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."

But Peter spoke more vehemently: "Even if I have to die with You, I  will not deny You."  And so said all the disciples.

They went over the brook Kidron, and they came to a garden named  Gethsemane.  When He came to the place, Jesus said to His disciples: "Sit  here while I go and pray over there.  Pray that you may not enter into  temptation."

And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, James and  John, and He was withdrawn from the others about a stone's throw.  And  He began to be sorrowful, troubled, and deeply distressed.  Then He said to  them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.  Stay here and  watch with Me."

And He went a little farther, and He knelt down.  He fell to the ground  on His face and prayed, that if it were possible, the hour might pass from  Him.  And He said: "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You.  O My  Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; if it is Your will, take this  cup away from Me.  Nevertheless, not My will,  but Yours, be done."

Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  And  being in agony He prayed more fervently; and His sweat became like great  drops of blood, falling down to the ground.

When He rose up from prayer, He came to His disciples and found  them sleeping from sorrow.  He said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep?   What, could you not watch with Me one hour?"  He said to them, "Why do  you sleep?  Rise, watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.  The spirit  indeed is willing and ready, but the flesh is weak."

He went away again a second time and prayed, saying the same  words, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink  it, Your will be done."

And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy;  and they did not know what to answer Him.  So He left them and went away  again and prayed the third time, saying the same words once more.  Then  He came to His disciples the third time, and said to them, "Are you still  sleeping and resting?  It is enough.  Behold, the hour has come; it is at hand.   Behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Rise up,  let us be going.  Behold, he who betrays Me is at hand."

Second Lesson - Jesus' Arrest

Now Judas, one of the twelve, who betrayed Jesus, also knew the  place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.  Then Judas, having  received a detachment of troops and officers from the chief priests and the  scribes and the Pharisees and elders of the people, came there with lanterns  and torches, and weapons: swords and clubs.  Now Judas went  before them and had given them a sign, saying,  "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; take Him, and lead Him away safely."

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went  forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?"

They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth."

Jesus said to them, "I am He."  And Judas, who betrayed Him, also  stood with them.  Then, when He said to them, "I am He," they went  backward and fell to the ground.

Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?"

And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; therefore if you seek Me, let  these go their way," that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of  those whom You gave Me I have lost none."

Judas drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.  He went up to Him, and said  to Him, "Hail, Master!" and kissed Him.  And Jesus said to him, "Friend, why  have you come?  Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

When those who were around Jesus saw what was going to happen,  they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"   And suddenly Simon Peter, one of  those who stood by with Jesus, stretched out his hand and drew out his  sword, struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear.  The  servant's name was Malchus.

But Jesus said, "Permit even this!"  And He touched his  ear and healed him.  Then Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the  sheath; for all who take the sword will die by the sword.  Or do you think  that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than  twelve legions of angels?  But how then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that  it must happen thus?  Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given  me?"

In that hour Jesus said to the chief priests and captains of the temple  and elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber,  with swords and clubs to take Me?  I sat daily with you in the temple,  teaching, and you did not lay hands on Me.  But this is your hour, and the  power of darkness.  All this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets  might be fulfilled.

Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.  Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body; and the  young men laid hold of him.  And he left the linen cloth and fled from them  naked.

Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the  Jews arrested Jesus and  bound Him.  And they led Him away.

Third Lesson - Jesus before Caiaphas

Now the officers of the Jews with their troops brought Jesus into the high priest's house.  They led Him to Annas first; for he was the  father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now it was  Caiaphas who gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man  should die for the people.

The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.   Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world; I always taught in  synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret  I have said nothing.  Why do you ask Me?  Ask those who have heard Me  what I said to them; indeed they know what I said."

And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by  struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do You answer the high  priest like that?"

Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil;  but if well, why do you strike Me?"

Then Annas sent Jesus bound to Caiaphas the high priest; and with  him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes.  And  the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony  against Jesus to put Him to death; and found none, even though many false  witnesses came forward.  For many bore false witness against Him, but their  testimonies did not agree.

At last two false witnesses came forward and bore false witness  against Him, saying, "We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this  temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another  made without hands.'"  But not even then did their testimony agree.

And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, "Do  You answer nothing?  What is it that these men testify against You?"

But Jesus held His peace and answered nothing.

And the high priest asked Him, "I adjure You by the  living God that You tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God, the Son of  the Blessed?"

And Jesus said, "I am. And  you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and  coming on the clouds of heaven."

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken  blasphemy!  What further need do we have of witnesses?  Behold, now you  have heard His blasphemy.  What do you think?"

And they all condemned Him answering, "He is worthy of death!"

Then some began to spit in His face.  And the men who held Jesus  mocked Him.  They blindfolded Him and struck Him in the face and asked  Him, "Prophesy to us, Christ; who is the one that struck You?"  And many  other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.

Fourth Lesson - Peter's denial and Judas' death

And Simon Peter had followed Jesus at a distance, and so did the other  disciple.  Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with  Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.  But Peter stood at the door  outside.  Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went  out and spoke to her who kept the door and brought Peter in, right into the  courtyard of the high priest.

And the servants and officers, who had made a fire of coals in the  midst of the courtyard, stood there to warm themselves; for it was cold.   And Peter sat down with them to see  the end and warmed himself at the fire.

Now as Peter was sitting outside, below in the courtyard.  One of the servant-girls of the high priest, the one who kept the door, saw Peter warming himself as he sat by the fire. She looked at him intently and said, "You also were with Jesus of Nazareth, the Galilean."

But Peter denied it before them all, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him; I neither know nor understand what you are saying." And he went out on the porch. And a rooster crowed.

And after a little while, when he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and began to say to those who stood by, "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth. This is one of them."

Therefore they said to him, "You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?" He said, "Man, I am not.

The maid said, "You  are one of them."

But again he denied it with an oath. "I do not know the Man."

Then after about an hour had passed, one of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?"

Peter therefore denied it again. "Man, I do not know what you are saying."

Another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him; for he is a Galilean." Those who stood by said to Peter: "Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it." Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the Man. And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed a second time. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter called to mind the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."

And when Peter thought about it, he went out and wept bitterly.

Immediately in the morning, as soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes again came together. They took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death. They led Jesus before the whole council, saying, "If You are the Christ, tell us."

But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe; and if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God."

Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?"

And He said to them, "You rightly say that I am."

And they said, "What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth."

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood."

And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!"

Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed and went and hanged himself. And falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.

But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood." And they took counsel and bought with them the Potter's Field to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me."

Fifth Lesson - Jesus before Pilate and Herod

Then the whole multitude of them arose, bound Jesus, and led Him away from Caiaphas to the Praetorium and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate, the governor; and it was early morning.

And the Jews themselves did not enter into the Praetorium lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?"

They answered and said to him, "If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you."

Then Pilate said to them, "You take Him, and judge Him according to your law."

Therefore the Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death," that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.

And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this Fellow perverting the nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."

Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, and called Jesus. Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the king of the Jews?"

Jesus answered him, "Are you speaking for yourself on this, or did others tell you this about me?"

Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me; what have you done?"

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?"

Jesus answered and said to him, "It is as you say. You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?"

And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this Man. I find no fault in Him at all."

And the chief priests accused Him of many things. And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing? Do You not hear how many things they testify against You? See how many things they testify against You!"

But Jesus still answered nothing, not one word, so that Pilate, the governor, marveled greatly.

.But the Jews were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place."

When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes stood there and vehemently accused Him.

Then Herod with his men of war treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate.  That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for before that they had been at enmity with each other.

Sixth Lesson - Jesus Condemned by the Jews and Pilate

Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, "You have brought this Man to me as one who misleads the people; and, indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him. No, neither did Herod; for I sent you back to him, and, indeed, nothing worthy of death has been done by Him. I will, therefore, chastise Him and release Him.

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished, whomever they requested. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow-insurrectionists. He had been thrown into prison for a certain insurrection made in the city, and for murder. And the multitude cried aloud and began to ask Pilate to do just as he had always done for them.

Therefore Pilate, the governor, answered them, saying, "You have a custom, that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Whom do you want me to release to You?  Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ, the King of the Jews?" For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man; for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."

But the chief priests and elders stirred up the crowd and persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"

Then they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas."

Pilate therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.  He said to them, "What, then, do you want me to do with Jesus, who is called Christ, the King of the Jews?"

And they all shouted, "Let Him be crucified!"

Then the governor said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go." So the soldiers of the governor led Jesus away into the hall called Praetorium, and they gathered  together the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him, scourged Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, clothing Him in purple. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and worshiped Him, mocking Him. They saluted Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they spat on Him and took the reed and struck Him on the head with it. And they struck Him with their hands.

And when they had mocked Him, Pilate went out again and said to them, "Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him." Now Jesus was wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, "Behold, the Man!"

Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"

Pilate said to them, "You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him."

The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God."

Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid; and went again into the Praetorium and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You and power to release You?"

Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me, unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."

From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, "If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar."

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is call The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the preparation day of the Passover and about the sixth hour [probably 6:00 a.m., according to Roman time].

And he said to the Jews, "Behold, your King!"

But they cried out instantly with a loud voice, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!"

Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?"

The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."

They were insistent and cried out more exceedingly, "Let Him be crucified! Crucify Him!"  And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it."

And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children."

And wanting to gratify the crowd, Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. And he released Barabbas to them, the one they requested, who for insurrection and murder had been thrown into prison. And delivered Jesus to their will, to be crucified.

Then the soldiers mocked Jesus some more, took the purple robe off Him and put His own clothes on Him, and led Jesus away, bearing His own cross, to crucify Him

Seventh Lesson - Jesus Crucifixion

Then the soldiers led Jesus away, bearing His own cross, to crucify Him. Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming from the country. They compelled him to bear Jesus' cross.

And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts which never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?"

There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.  And they brought Him to the place called in Hebrew Golgotha, which is translated Calvary, the Place of a Skull. And when they had come there, they gave Him sour wine mingled with myrrh and gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.

Now it was the third hour [9:00 a.m., according to Jewish time] when they crucified Him there, and two robbers with Him, one on the right hand, and the other on the left, and Jesus in the center. So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with the transgressors."

Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they do."

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and divided them up among themselves into four parts, to each soldier a part, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be;" that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which says, "They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." Therefore the soldier did these things; and, sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.

Now Pilate wrote a title or inscription of His accusation over Him. And the soldiers put it above His head on the cross. And it was written: "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in letters of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but 'He said, "I am the King of the Jews."'"

Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."

And the people stood, looking on. And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

Likewise even the rulers, the chief priests, together with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders, sneered at Him and mocked Him among themselves and said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the Chosen of God. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe in Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'"

And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!"

Even One of the criminals who were crucified with Him blasphemed Him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save Yourself and us!"

But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!"

And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus many women who had accompanied Him from Galilee, ministering to Him,  His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus, therefore, saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved, standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

And it was about the sixth hour [12:00 noon]. Then the sun was darkened and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour [3:00 p.m.].

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani!" Which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

And when some of those who stood by heard that, they said, "Look! This Man is calling for Elijah."

Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst."

Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there. Then immediately someone ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a hyssop reed, put it to His mouth and offered it to Him to drink. The others said, "Let Him alone! Let us see if Elijah will come to save Him."

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He cried out with a loud voice, "It is finished!"

And said, "Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit." And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit, and breathed His last.

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth quaked; and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and, coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Now when the centurion, and those with him who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake, the things that had happened and that He cried out like this, they feared greatly.  The centurion glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man, truly the Son of God."

And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned.

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with Jesus; but when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs; but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken." And again, another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."

Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, behold, there came a rich man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, named Joseph, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God and  had become a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews. He was a prominent council member, but he had not consented to their counsel and deed. This man took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and, summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. And when he found out from the centurion, Pilate commanded the body to be given to Joseph.

Then Joseph bought fine linen and came and took the body of Jesus down. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus and wrapped and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.

Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and Joseph's own new tomb, that was hewn out of the rock, in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore, because the Sabbath drew near and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. And Joseph rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb and went away.

And Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, the mother of Joses, observed the tomb, and where and how His body was laid. And they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise.' Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse than the first."

Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how."

So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

Jesus' Resurrection From the Dead

Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanna  and other women  bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. And now, as the first day of the week began to dawn, while it was still dark, they came to see the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.

Mt. 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; and (1 Peter 3:18,19) Christ was made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison. (Colossians 2:15)   Having disarmed (hell's) principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing overthem in the cross.(Revelation 1:18) Jesus says, "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hell and of Death.

Mt. 28:2-4 And behold,  an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. (Then they fled into the city.)

Mark 16:3-4 Now as the women (were coming to the tomb they) said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?"- for it was very large. But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away  Luke 24:3-5 Then they entered the tomb; but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, one young man clothed in a long white robe, sat down on the right side and said to them, Mt. 28:5 "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. Luke 24:5-8 "Why do you 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, ' The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' And they remembered His words. Mt. 28:6-8 And the angel said to the women, Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you. So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, Mk 16:8  And said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

The Visit of Peter and John to the Tomb

John 20:11-18 Before coming to the tomb, when  Mary Magdalene saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."

Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together  to the tomb. And John outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, And the handkerchief that had been around His head, (was) not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then John went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes Lk 24:12 marveling to themselves at what had happened.

Jesus' Appearance to Mary Magdalene

Mk 16:9 Now Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.  For having told the disciples she returned and stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'

"Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples, as they mourned and wept, that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. But when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

Jesus' Appearance to the Other Women

Matthew 28:9-15   Now (as the other women) went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" And they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me." Lk 24:9,11 Then they returned from the tomb and told  all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

The Lie of the Guards

Now while they were going,  behold, the guard reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' "And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Jesus' Appearance to The Two On Their Way to Emmaus

Mk 16:12 After that Jesus appeared in another form to two of them, as they walked and went into the country. Lk 24:13-35 For, behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained so that they did not know Him.

And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"

Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?"

And He said to them, "What things?"

So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."

Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent."

And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"

So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon."

And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how Jesus was known to them in the breaking of bread, Mk 16:13 but they did not believe them.

Jesus' Appearance to the Disciples Behind Closed Doors

(Mk 16, Lk24, Jn 20) Now when it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, as they sat at the table and discussed these things. The doors were shut where the disciples including the eleven were assembled, for fear of the Jews, and Jesus Himself came and stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace be with you."

But they were terrified and frightened and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."

When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. But while they still did not believe for joy and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb, and He took it and ate in their presence.

Then He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms concerning Me." And He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, "Thus it is written and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things."

So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Thomas Sees Jesus

Jn 20:26-31 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord."

So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."

And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"

Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Breakfast with Jesus

Jn 21 After these things the eleven disciples went away into Galilee. Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing."

They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?"

They answered Him, "None."