THE TRUE MEANING OF EASTER
	ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE

PREPARATIONS FOR THE PASSOVER From the New Testament of the Bible John 11:55 - 57, Mark 14:12 - 16 Jesus Sends His Disciples To Find A Room CHRIST INSTRUCTING PETER AND JOHN TO PREPARE THE PASSOVER Vincenzo Civerchio 1544 (CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION) "Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" I Corinthians 5:6-8 "And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, 'What do you think - that He will not come to the feast?' Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him." "Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, 'Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?' And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, 'Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. Wherever he goes in say to the master of the house, ""The Teacher says, """Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?""""" Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.' So his disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover."

JESUS CELEBRATES THE PASSOVER From the New Testament of the Bible Luke 22:24 - 30 Disciples Dispute Over Greatness "Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, 'The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ""benefactors."" but not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." DISCIPLES DISPUTING OVER GREATNESS Daniel Crespi 1624 - 25 (CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION) "Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, 'What was it you disputed amoung yourselves on the road?' But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, 'If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.'" Mark 9:33 - 35

JESUS CELEBRATES THE PASSOVER From the New Testament of the Bible John 13:3 - 20 Jesus Washes The Feet Of The Disciples CHRIST WASHING THE FEET OF THE DISCIPLES Vincenzo Civerchio 1544 (CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION) "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:5 - 7 "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and grided 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; therefore He said, 'You are not all clean.' So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, 'Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If then, 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, blessed are you if you do them.'"

JESUS CELEBRATES THE PASSOVER From the New Testament of the Bible Matthew 26:20 - 25, John 13:26 - 27, 30 The Betrayer Is Known And Identified "When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. Now as they were eating, He said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, 'Lord, is it I?' He answered and said, 'He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.' The Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, 'Rabbi, is it I?' He said to him, 'You have said it.'" "Jesus then answered. 'That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.' So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, 'What you do, do quickly.' So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night." JUDAS THE BETRAYER Author unknown (CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION) "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, so is he who gets riches, but not by right; it will leave him in the midst of his days, and at his end he will be a fool." Jeremiah 17:9 - 11

"When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.

And He said to them. 'I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.'

And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, 'Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.'

And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'"

And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.'"

THE LAST SUPPER
Leonardo da Vinci
1498
(CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION)

CHRIST SPEAKS OF HIS DESTINY
John 14:1 - 6
"'Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.'

Thomas said to Him, 'Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?'

Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"

CHRIST SPEAKS OF THE FATHER
John 14:7 - 14
"'If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.'

Philip said to Him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.'

Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ""Show us the Father""? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.'"

CHRIST SPEAKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 14:15 - 21, 25 - 26, John 16:7 - 15
"'If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.'"

''These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.''

"'Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to you advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.'"

CHRIST SPEAKS OF HIS PEACE
John 14:27 - 29
"'Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard Me say to you, ""I am going away and coming back to you."" If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ""I am going to the Father, for My Father is greater than I."" And I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.'"

CHRIST SPEAKS THAT HIS IS THE VINE
John 15:1 - 11
"'I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine-dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes, that it may bear more fruit

You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine; neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing.

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.'"

CHRIST SPEAKS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE DISCIPLES TO EACH OTHER
John 15:12 - 17 "'This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My fiends if you do whatever I command you.

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.'"

CHRIST SPEAKS OF HATRED BY THE WORLD
John 15:18 - 25
"'If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ""A servant is not greater than his master."" If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ""They hated Me without a cause."'"

CHRIST SPEAKS OF PERSECUTION BY RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD
John 16:1 - 3
"'These things I have spoken to you, that you would not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.'"

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CHRIST PRAYS FOR HIMSELF
John 17:1 - 5

"Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: 'Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.'"

CHRIST PRAYS FOR THE DISCIPLES
John 17:6 - 8, 12

"'I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me; and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given to Me are from you. For I have given to them the words which You have given to Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from you; and they have believed that You sent Me.'"

"'While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.'"

CHRIST PRAYS FOR ALL BELIEVERS
John 17:20 - 26

"'I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.'"

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THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMENE From the New Testament of the Bible Matthw 26:30 - 35 Peter's Denial - Second Prediction "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of olives. Then Jesus said to them, 'All of you will be made to stumble 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.' Peter answered and said to Him, 'Even if all are made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.' Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.' Peter said to Him, 'Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!' And so said all the disciples."

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THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMENE From the New Testament of the Bible Mark 14:32 - 42 Jesus' Three Agonizing Prayers In The Garden "Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples. 'Sit here while I pray.' and He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.' He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.' Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, 'Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.' Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer him. Then he came the third time and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping, and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.'" THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN Hans Leonhard Schaufelkin 1516 (CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION)

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THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMENE From the New Testament of the Bible Mathew 26:47, 48, 49, 52 - 56, Luke 22:48, 51, John 18:4, 12 - 14 The Betrayal by Judas Iscariot JUDAS BETRAYS HIM William Blake 1803 - 1805 (CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION) THE CAPTURE OF CHRIST Dieric the Elder Bouts 1460 (CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION) "And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people." "Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, 'Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.' Immediately he went up to Jeus and said, 'Greetings, Rabbi!' and kissed Him." But Jesus said to him, 'Friend, why have you come?'" "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" "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. Now when He said to them, 'I am He,' they drew back and fell to the ground. Then He asked them again, 'Whom are you seeking?' And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.' Jesus answered. 'I have 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.' "Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus." "But Jesus answered and said, 'Permit even this.' And He touched his ear and healed him." "So Jesus said to Peter, 'Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?'" "But Jesus said to Him, 'Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish 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. How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus.'" "In that hour, Jesus said to the multitudes, 'Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.' Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled." "Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people."

PRAYER IN THE GARDEN AND CAPTURE
Giotto di Bondone
1304 - 1306

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End Of Part 2 - Please Go On To Part 3 By Making Selection Below

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All Biblical Quoations From:
The Holy Bible, New King James Version
Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO PART 1 OF THE EASTER STORY Events Prior To The Last Supper

CLICK HERE TO GO TO PART 3 OF THE EASTER STORY Trial and Condemnation of Christ

CLICK HERE TO GO TO PART 4 OF THE EASTER STORY Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ

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For more information on the teaching of Jesus, you may read the following:

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JESUS
by John F. MacArthur, Jr.
Zondervan Publishing House
Grand Rapids, Michigan
1988, 1994

You can also order on-line at: http://www.gbibooks.com

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