The Story
Introduction
The story of Easter is a powerful journey of love, sacrifice, and hope. It tells of Jesus’ final days, his death on the cross, and his miraculous resurrection, offering a message of forgiveness and new life for all. Whether you’ve heard it many times or are discovering it for the first time, this story continues to shape hearts and inspire lives around the world.
You can read the Easter story on this page. Told in two ways, you can read the paraphrased version first or scroll down for verses direct from the Bible.
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The Easter Story
Paraphrased
1. The Arrival in Jerusalem
As the time of Passover approached, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. He was greeted by crowds waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” People celebrated him as their long-awaited king, though many of the religious leaders were uneasy about his growing influence. (Matthew 21)
2. The Last Supper
On the night before his arrest, Jesus gathered with his closest disciples for a meal, now known as the Last Supper. He broke bread and shared wine with them, saying they represented his body and blood, soon to be given for their forgiveness. During this meal, he also humbly washed his disciples’ feet and spoke of the betrayal that was coming. (Luke 22)
3. The Garden of Gethsemane
After supper, Jesus went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew he was about to die and was deeply troubled and sorrowful. He asked God if the coming suffering could be taken from him, but ultimately submitted: “Not my will, but yours be done.” Meanwhile, Judas, one of his own disciples, arrived with soldiers to betray him with a kiss. (Mark 14)
4. The Arrest and Trials
Jesus was arrested and taken before the Jewish council, where he was falsely accused and mocked. The next morning, he was brought to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Though Pilate found no reason to condemn Jesus, the crowd, stirred by the religious leaders, demanded his crucifixion. Pilate washed his hands of responsibility and handed Jesus over. (Luke 22–23)
5. The Way to the Cross
Jesus was beaten, mocked, and crowned with a wreath of thorns. Weakened by the torture, he was forced to carry his cross through the streets toward Golgotha, the place of execution. Along the way, Simon of Cyrene was pulled from the crowd to help carry the heavy wood. (Luke 23)
6. The Crucifixion
At Golgotha, Jesus was nailed to the cross between two criminals. The soldiers divided his clothes, and people who watched hurled insults at him. Above his head hung a sign: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Darkness covered the land for three hours, and with a final cry — “It is finished” — Jesus gave up his spirit. (John 19)
7. The Burial
A man named Joseph of Arimathea, a quiet follower of Jesus, asked Pilate for his body. Jesus was carefully wrapped in linen and laid in a new tomb carved into the rock. A heavy stone was rolled across the entrance, and guards were posted to prevent anyone from tampering with the body. (Mark 15)
8. The Women at the Tomb
Early on the third day, some women — Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome — went to the tomb with spices to anoint Jesus’ body. But when they arrived, they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. An angel appeared, telling them, “He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24)
9. The Resurrection Appearances
Jesus began to appear to his disciples and followers, showing them his hands and side to prove he was alive. He met two travelers on the road to Emmaus, appeared in a locked room, and even shared a meal of fish with them. His message was clear: the scriptures had been fulfilled, and forgiveness and new life were now offered to all. (John 20–21)
10. The Great Commission
Before ascending to heaven, Jesus gathered his disciples and gave them a mission: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all I have commanded.” With a promise that he would be with them always, Jesus ascended, leaving his followers to spread the good news of his resurrection to the world. (Matthew 28)
The Verses
From the Bible
1. The Arrival in Jerusalem
“Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. Now the crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!’” (Matthew 21:8-9, NASB)
2. The Last Supper
“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.’” (Luke 22:19-20, NASB)
3. The Garden of Gethsemane
“And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, ‘Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.’” (Luke 22:41-42, NASB)
4. The Arrest and Trials
“Then the entire assembly of them set out and brought Him before Pilate. And they began bringing charges against Him, saying, ‘We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.’” (Luke 23:1-2, NASB)
5. The Way to the Cross
“And when they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.” (Luke 23:26, NASB)
6. The Crucifixion
“And when they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’” (Luke 23:33-34, NASB)
7. The Burial
“And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man … took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain.” (Luke 23:50, 53, NASB)
8. The Women at the Tomb
“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” (Luke 24:1-3, NASB)
9. The Resurrection Appearances
“Now while they were telling these things, Jesus Himself suddenly stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be to you.’ But they were startled and frightened, and thought that they were looking at a spirit.” (Luke 24:36-37, NASB)
10. The Great Commission
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.’” (Matthew 28:18-19, NASB)
Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org
Further Reading
Coming soon.