Easter

Easter

Easter is a very special and extraordinary moment in history. Without Easter, everyone would be living in complete misery and shame. No forgiveness, no happiness, so much worry. But that’s not how it is. After the punishment before the cross, the punishment being beaten harshly, Jesus was crucified on the cross. Because he died and rose again, we live in forgiveness, happiness, and don’t have to worry about anything; no matter how many times you mess up.  

On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. People packed the streets. They took their cloaks off and laid them before the Lord. Some climbed the trees and cut limbs down to put down on the road before he crossed. Jesus rode on the donkey all the way to the temple courts knowing the same people who were praising and worshiping Him on the donkey, would turn around six days later and be yelling “Crucify Him.” As the Bible said, “a very large crowd” spread their cloaks on the road before Jesus crossed and some even climbed up into the trees around them and cut down limbs to lay before him. When Jesus came into the temple, those who were selling items and purchasing them off of the people selling immediately left the temple. All those who were hurt, blind, or mentally, or physically ill went to Jesus, and he made them completely normal, not injured or not blind. 

That night Jesus traveled to Bethany, which is a city, and stayed the night. The second day of being near Jerusalem, the people in the temple started questioning Jesus and asking how he can do these miracles, or impossible things. As the week went on, Jesus continued to heal people and come to the temple. Close to Passover, Judas, who is one of the twelve disciples, went to the chief priests. He asked them how much money they would give him to tell them when and where Jesus would be so they could capture Him. After The Last Supper, Jesus declared when Peter would betray him. Peter said to the Lord that he would go through anything with him, even through death or the worst punishment. 

Jesus took two sons of Zebedee and Peter to Gethsemane where Jesus prayed. Jesus walked away and prayed to the Lord. While Jesus was praying Peter and the two sons fell asleep. Jesus returned and said, “Couldn’t you keep watch over me for sixty minutes?” Jesus went away and prayed two more times and found Peter and the other two sleeping, but just the second time. The third time Jesus returned from praying, he said to the men, “The hour is here. The Son of Man is passed over to the feet of the sinners. My betrayer has come, rise!” Judas arrived first with an immense crowd sent by the chief priests and elders. Judas would kiss the man that was meant to be arrested. Judas walked toward Jesus and kissed Jesus. 

The crowd took Jesus to the courtyard in Caiaphas. Peter followed the crowd at a distance. The chief priests were there waiting for Jesus, looking for false evidence to then put Jesus to death. They found no false evidence. After nobody wanted to speak of false evidence, two people came to the priests and told him Jesus spoke of destroying the temple and rebuilding it in three days; in which Jesus did. The priests continued to push more questions and more questions at Jesus; even through all of the questions, Jesus remained silent. For the last time, the priests asked him, are you the Son of God, the Messiah? ” Jesus answered, “You will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” The priests declared Him guilty and published to the crowd of what they thought. They declared to put Him to death.

As Jesus walked through the crowd, people slapped, punched, and spat on Him. After all the commotion, three people asked Peter different questions meaning the same thing. He denied them all three times and then realized what he had done. Peter had done just exactly what Jesus said he would do the day before. Early in the morning, the priests handed Jesus over to Pilate, the governor, to be executed. Pilate asked Him, “Are you the King of Jews?” and “Didn’t you hear what they were saying about you?” Jesus said nothing, which greatly surprised Pilate. Pilate walked with Jesus back out to the crowd. Pilate asked the crowd who they wanted to release, Barabbas, a murderer, or Jesus who is called the Messiah. The crowd answered, “Barabbas!” Among the crowd, stood the chief priests who were trying to persuade the crowd to yell Barabbas instead of Jesus. Pilate asked the crowd two times who they wanted, in return answered Barabbas both times. 

After the crowd declared that they wanted Barabbas, Pilate asked, “Why? What do I do with Jesus?” The crowd responded, “Crucify Him!” Pilate told the crowd that Jesus’s blood was not his to take and released Barabbas. Jesus was beaten and whipped, then handed over to be crucified. Pilate’s soldiers took Jesus to the praetorium and put a thorn-twisted crown on his head. The soldiers mocked Jesus and spat on Him. After being disrespectful to Jesus, they lead Him away to be crucified. Jesus carried the cross to the place where he would be crucified. From noon until three in the afternoon, the sun was hidden and the land was covered in darkness. When Jesus took his last breath, the curtain at the temple was torn in two and there was an earthquake. The people that were near were terrified; the soldiers finally understood. Holy people in their tombs rose. 

On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead and defeated death. All people that have asked for forgiveness, no matter how many times they have messed up, are completely cleared of their sins because He lives. He Lives! God is so strong and mighty that death itself can’t even defeat Him. Not a chance. Jesus is always with you. All you have to do is ask sincerely for forgiveness and God will give it to you. Because He li