Easter, what's it really about.

The crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the central events of the Christian faith, encapsulating God's redemptive plan for humanity. These events, recorded in all four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—form the foundation of Christian belief in salvation, grace, and eternal life.

The Crucifixion

The events leading to the crucifixion began with Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. After celebrating the Passover meal—commonly known as the Last Supper—with His disciples, Jesus went to pray, fully aware of the suffering He was about to endure. There, He was betrayed by one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who handed Him over to the religious authorities in exchange for thirty pieces of silver.

Jesus was taken to the high priest, where He was falsely accused, mocked, and beaten. The Jewish leaders charged Him with blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God. However, since Jewish authorities lacked the power to carry out capital punishment under Roman rule, they brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, accusing Him of claiming kingship and inciting rebellion—charges aimed at framing Him as a political threat to Rome.

Despite finding no guilt in Him, Pilate succumbed to the pressure of the crowd, who demanded Jesus' crucifixion. Attempting to appease them, Pilate offered to release one prisoner, as was customary during Passover. The crowd chose Barabbas, a known criminal, and shouted for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate symbolically washed his hands, declaring himself innocent of Jesus' blood, and handed Him over to be crucified.

Before the crucifixion, Jesus was scourged—flogged with a whip embedded with sharp pieces of bone or metal—causing immense pain and blood loss. Roman soldiers mocked Him by placing a crown of thorns on His head and a purple robe on His shoulders, sarcastically hailing Him as the "King of the Jews." Weakened and in agony, Jesus was forced to carry His cross to Golgotha, the place of execution, but Simon of Cyrene was compelled to help Him along the way due to Jesus’ deteriorating condition.

Jesus was crucified between two criminals, fulfilling prophecy from Isaiah 53. Nails were driven through His wrists and feet, and He was lifted up on the cross, a method of execution designed for maximum suffering and humiliation. Above His head, a sign was placed reading “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The soldiers divided His garments and cast lots for His clothing, again fulfilling prophetic Scripture.

During the crucifixion, Jesus spoke several profound statements. He asked God to forgive His executioners: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He promised one of the criminals beside Him, who expressed faith, that he would be with Him in paradise. He entrusted the care of His mother, Mary, to His beloved disciple, John. In His final moments, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”—a direct reference to Psalm 22, reflecting the weight of sin He bore. After declaring, “It is finished,” signifying the completion of His redemptive mission, Jesus breathed His last.

At the moment of His death, extraordinary events occurred. The veil in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, symbolizing the new access humanity had to God through Christ. An earthquake shook the land, rocks split, and some tombs opened. A Roman centurion, witnessing all this, proclaimed, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

The Burial

Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy and respected member of the Sanhedrin who had not consented to Jesus’ condemnation. He, along with Nicodemus, another secret follower of Jesus, prepared the body for burial according to Jewish customs, wrapping it in linen and spices.

Jesus was placed in a new tomb carved out of rock—a significant act, as it fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy that the Messiah would be buried with the rich. The tomb was sealed with a large stone, and Roman guards were stationed to prevent the disciples from stealing the body, as the chief priests remembered Jesus’ prediction that He would rise on the third day.

The Resurrection

On the third day after Jesus’ death, early in the morning, women who had followed Jesus—Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and others—went to the tomb with spices to anoint His body. To their astonishment, they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.

Angels appeared to them, declaring the good news: “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” The women ran to tell the disciples, and Peter and John raced to the tomb, finding it empty, with the burial cloths neatly arranged—a sign of intentionality, not theft.

Jesus began to appear to His followers in the days following His resurrection. He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, then to other women, and later to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. These appearances were physical and bodily, not merely spiritual visions. He ate with them, allowed them to touch Him, and reassured their doubts.

One of the most well-known appearances was to Thomas, who had declared he would not believe unless he saw and touched Jesus’ wounds. When Jesus appeared and invited Thomas to do so, Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”—a powerful confession of faith.

Jesus spent forty days appearing to His followers, teaching them, and preparing them for the mission ahead. He commissioned them to go into all the world and make disciples, baptizing and teaching in His name—the beginning of what Christians now call the Great Commission.

The Significance

The crucifixion and resurrection are the cornerstone of Christian theology. Jesus’ death is seen as the ultimate atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. According to Christian doctrine, His suffering and death fulfilled Old Testament prophecies and satisfied divine justice, while extending mercy and forgiveness to humanity.

His resurrection validated His divine identity and demonstrated His power over sin, death, and the grave. It affirmed the promise of eternal life for all who believe in Him. The resurrection is not only a historical event but also a living hope. Christians believe that just as Christ was raised, they too will be raised to new life.

These events are commemorated annually during Holy Week, with Good Friday marking Jesus’ death and Easter Sunday celebrating His resurrection. The message of the cross is one of sacrificial love, and the empty tomb is the assurance of victory and eternal hope.

Let me know if you'd like this tailored to a certain denomination (like Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox views) or written in a more devotional, academic, or storytelling style!