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THE RESURRECTION STORY A BIBLICAL TIMELINE

BY: WONDILL FROMAN

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2012 Wondill Froman. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, for profit, without the written permission of the author.

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Wondill Froman The Resurrection Story, Scriptural Timeline: Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2011 His Candle Word of Faith Deliverance Ministry. Authorized King James Version, Public Domain All Scriptures are taken from the Authorized King James Version, unless otherwise stated. “Scripture taken from The Amplified New Testament, ©Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1954, 1958, 1987, Used by permission.”, www.lockman.org (Lk. 24:39 ) Scripture taken from New American Standard Version ©Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, Used by permission”, www.lockman.org “Scripture taken from the New Century Version, ©Copyright 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” CLIPART FROM: http://www.biblia.com/bible/kings15.htm, J. Dominguez, M.D. Clipart: 1. www.expertsoftware.com, 25,000. Clipart: 2-10, 12-14, 16-21, 29, Guards 30, 31-33, Man & Spear 28. www.valuesoft.com, 75,000 Images Clipart Value soft, Lesson 13, Rooster http://christianunite.com, Clipart: Priest 11, Peter 13, 15, 22, Tomb 30, 16, 25, Clip art for Cover. "GospelGifs image(s) in this publication are used by permission of www.GospelGifs.com http://gospelgifs.com/clip_art/art001.htm, Clipart: 23, 26, and back cover. http://www.wpclipart.com/about.html, Clipart: Jesus on a cross 27, 28. Proofreading: Gary Gabbard, Teresa Kay Welch, Marilyne Brook Welch, Myra Campbell Contributors: Penney Creek, Jacqueline Rena Gabbard, Gary Bryce Gabbard, Jana Welch, Stephen Welch, Marilyne Brook Welch, Patricia Ann Truran

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all I would like to thank my Lord and Savior for giving me the knowledge and wisdom to write this book. Secondly, I would like to thank my family and friends, especially my son, Gary Gabbard, my daughter, Teresa Kay Welch, my sister Penney Creek, and Myra Campbell who has contributed, encouraged and supported me in making this story a reality. I dedicate this story first and foremost to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to my parents, Taylor and Dora Spencer who are now with the Lord, and to my children and grandchildren. Also to all the teachers, children and adults who attended Bible study at: HIS CANDLE WORD OF FAITH DELIVERANCE MINISTRY.

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INTRODUCTION The Resurrection Story and card games were created to help young minds glorify and honor Jesus Christ at the Easter celebration. Your children will delight in this well presented, simplified story and card games. It is an illustrated timeline of Biblical events that took place during Passover week, which led to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. The timeline card game will be a fun addition during story time, and a creative challenge for the children as they play. This will require them to remember each event as it took place, and show such, by placing each card into the correct time-frame to become the winner. They can also play Memory Match, Matching Pairs, and Resurrection Charade. The Resurrection Bible Story and Scripture card games can stimulate young minds of all ages with Christian literature. The card games are educational, not only spiritually, but academically. The cards are designed to aid in improving your child’s attention span, concentration, memory skills, recognition of numbers, and look-a-like’s as they also learn to recognize each Biblical character and their stories. In addition, it will help to bring into perspective what their savior, Jesus Christ, has done for them. It will become one of your child’s, and their friends’, favorite activities to play for years to come.

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THE RESURRECTION STORY

CHAPTER ONE ALL MEN REQUIRED AT THE TEMPLE

Long ago in Israel there was an event that took place during Passover week that became the greatest story ever told. God chose this special week as the setting for His only begotten son’s Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. God established a law that all men twenty years of age and older had to be in Jerusalem at the temple to attend the feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread. Passover week began on the fourteenth of the month of Abib and ended on the twenty first day. The first and last days were holy, no one was allowed to work except for the priest who performed all of the sacrifices. Before Passover began everyone stayed very busy in preparation for the feast, they stored up enough unleavened bread and food to sustain them for seven days. The Israelites chose an unblemished male lamb on the tenth day for their sacrifice; then they gathered together early at Jerusalem to purify themselves. The people brought with them thousands of tents to live in close to the temple as they prepared for the feast. The priest continued to do their regular daily sacrifices in addition to the offerings and sacrifices required for the Feast of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of First Fruit.

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CHAPTER TWO MARY ANOINTED JESUS’ FEET

Six days before Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany to attend a dinner given in his honor. Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Martha served the food and among the guests was a woman named Mary, who was Martha’s sister. Mary did something very special that day. She used a very expensive perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet and then wiped them with her hair. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples, was upset with Mary over this. He thought, “What a waste! This perfume should have been sold for a large sum of money to use for the poor.” Not that he really cared, for he was the disciple who later betrayed Jesus. Jesus told him, “Leave Mary alone. She has done a good thing. There will always be poor people among you, but I will only be here for a short time. This anointing is for my burial.” There were many people who had traveled to Bethany when they heard that Jesus was there with Lazarus. Everyone was talking about Lazarus, for there was a lot of curiosity about him. After all, he had been dead for four days before Jesus brought him back to life. The chief priests and Pharisees became alarmed at Jesus’ popularity, for many people believed in Him. They wanted to kill Jesus and Lazarus. They thought that the people would forget about Jesus’ special powers and the miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection if they were both dead.

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CHAPTER THREE JESUS’ TRIUMPHAL ENTRY

The people had heard that Jesus was going to be in Jerusalem, and the next day a large crowd gathered to meet Him. Jesus found a young donkey and rode upon it into the little town, making a triumphal entry. The people took branches of palm trees and met Jesus, crying, “Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord.” This is just what the Scripture in Zechariah 9:9 said He would do. Jesus knew that He would be crucified in just a few days, and that it was time for Him to establish His spiritual kingdom. He could fore-see the destruction of Jerusalem, and this caused Him to weep. When He entered the temple He became very upset at the injustice He saw there. The money changers had taken up business in His father’s house, which was supposed to be a place of worship, but they had turned it into a den of thieves! Jesus turned over their tables and threw them out of the temple.

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CHAPTER FOUR JUDAS BETRAYED JESUS FOR THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER

When the chief priests, scribes, and the elders of the people heard Jesus say, “After two days is the feast of Passover, the Son of Man will be turned over to be crucified,” they gathered together at the home of Caiaphas, the high priest. They devised a plan to kill Jesus because He had become a threat to the priests. They were afraid that the Romans would come and take away their authority in the temples, and then their nation would perish. Caiaphas, being the high priest that year, prophesied that Jesus should die for the good of the nation. They decided that Passover day was not a good time to kill Jesus because it would cause an uproar among the people, so they decided to wait for a more appropriate time. Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, knew that the chief priest and scribes wanted to capture Jesus. He made a deal with them, and he agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

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CHAPTER FIVE LAST SUPPER ESTABLISHED

It was almost time for the Passover lamb to be sacrificed. Everything had to be exactly as God commanded, only this time God would provide the final sacrifice for man’s sins, His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Never again would there be another need for an animal sacrifice, for Jesus would be the final atonement for man’s sins. When evening came, Jesus sent His disciples, Peter and John, to prepare a place for Him to observe the Passover. Jesus partook in the Last Supper in an upper room of a “home”, just as the very first Passover was taken in Egypt. Jesus and His disciples attended the Last Supper, but they did not eat any lamb (meat) because Jesus was the Passover lamb. The animal sacrifice had to be eaten in the temple. It was against their laws to eat it in their homes during the feast. When the hour arrived, Jesus took Passover with His disciples and established the Last Supper. They ate unleavened bread, which contained no yeast. It was symbolic of Jesus’ sinless body, for He had no sin, knew no sin, and did no sin. They drank the fruit of the vine, the unleavened grape juice, which was symbolic of His sinless blood. It was against the law to consume or to have in their presence anything that was leavened (fermented) during Passover week. Jesus said, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death until He comes.” Sometime during the night, Judas Iscariot’s opportunity arose. Satan entered him after he had dipped his bread, and he left immediately to betray Jesus.

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CHAPTER SIX JESUS WASHED HIS DISCIPLES’ FEET

After the Last Supper was over, Jesus got up and took off His outer garment. He wrapped Himself with a towel, poured water into a basin, and began to wash and dry His disciples’ feet. Peter hesitated when his turn came. He thought, “This is such a humble task for my Lord to do; I am not worthy for Him to wash my feet.” Peter said, “My Lord, thou shall never wash my feet.” Jesus explained to Peter, “Unless I wash your feet you will have no part with me… You may not understand why I am doing this now but later you will.” Peter responded, “My Lord, my hands and head need it as well.” Jesus told His disciples, “Do you know what I have done? Your Lord and Master has washed your feet. You should also do the same for each other for the servant is not greater than his Lord.” Jesus told them, “This same night all of you will be offended because of me.” Jesus foretold of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal, the abandonment of all of His disciples, and that Peter would deny Him three times before the cock crowed.

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CHAPTER SEVEN JESUS IN GREAT AGONY

Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn, and then they depart from the upper room. After they arrived at the Mount of Olives, Jesus did some very serious teaching. There He taught them about the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Also, He told them that He would need to leave them, but would one day return. When they came to Gethsemane, Jesus’ soul became very sad, for He was in a spiritual battle with hell for the souls of mankind. He had a lot on his mind, for He knew He was going to die. He took Peter, James, and John to watch and pray with Him. The disciples found a place to rest, but Jesus went on a little farther to pray by Himself. When Jesus returned, He found them asleep. He left them again and went to pray some more. He was very distressed, grievous, feeling lonely, rejected, and abandoned. His soul was in such great agony that His sweat became as great drops of blood, which fell from His body to the ground. Jesus thought, “Lord, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.” The disciples slept during Jesus’ agony. They couldn’t even stay awake to pray with Him for one hour.

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CHAPTER EIGHT JUDAS BETRAYED JESUS WITH A KISS

Jesus had chosen Judas Iscariot to be one of His twelve disciples. He was put in charge of taking care of the ministry’s money. Judas had served with Jesus for three years, being a very good friend and companion, but Jesus knew all along that Judas was going to betray Him. During the Last Supper, He told Judas, “Judas, what you are going to do, go do it quickly.” Judas allowed the devil to use him in the betrayal of Jesus, which was a horrible crime. Later, while Jesus was in the garden, Judas arrived with a great multitude from the chief priests and the elders of the people, carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons. Judas led them straight to Jesus. He gave them a sign that revealed who Jesus was by giving Jesus a kiss. Jesus said, “He was able to keep all His disciples that God had given Him. None were lost except for Judas, the son of perdition.”

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CHAPTER NINE JESUS IS ARRESTED

There came the chief priest, elders of the people and, a great multitude with staves and swords to capture Jesus, and in front of the crowd was Judas Iscariot, the betrayer. Jesus asked them, “What do you want?” He took a step forward. The soldiers replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said, “I am He.” Then the power of God came down and the soldiers fell backward to the ground. Simon Peter, one of the disciples, tried to defend Jesus. He drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Jesus rebuked Simon, saying, “Put away your sword Simon, for the cup my Father has given me, I shall drink it. Don’t you know, if I wanted to, I could pray to my Father and He would send me an army of angels to protect me?” Jesus put His hand on the servant’s ear and a miracle happened. The servant’s ear was healed! They arrested Jesus, but He willingly went with them so that the Scripture of the prophets would be fulfilled. Jesus allowed everything to happen. He was in charge the whole time for He knew that He had to suffer for the sake of salvation.

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CHAPTER TEN JESUS’ TRIAL BEFORE ANNAS

They bound Jesus and led Him to Annas the high priest first. During the trial Annas asked Jesus many questions, trying to involve Him. When Jesus gave an answer to one of their questions an officer hit Him for speaking out to the priest. Jesus told them, “I have done nothing contrary to the law and the prophets,” but they wouldn’t listen. Jesus quickly became a problem Annas, didn’t know what to do with Him so he decided he would send Jesus to Caiaphas, his father-in-law, for Caiaphas was the official high priest that year. As they were on their way Peter followed them, hanging back in the shadows, afraid to show his face. When they arrived at the high priest’s palace, Peter waited outside the door because he wanted to know what was going to happen to Jesus. One of Jesus’ disciples knew the high priest so he was allowed to attend the trial, and later he went out and got Peter.

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CHAPTER ELEVEN JESUS’ TRIAL BEFORE CAIAPHAS

Jesus stood before Caiaphas, the official high priest; his trial was a big joke, because Caiaphas had already prophesied that it was necessary for Jesus to die for the good of the nation. Caiaphas knew that the people would accept his judgment; after all, he was the priest who gave them guidance in their laws and important matters. Caiaphas thought that Jesus was a cult leader, teaching rebellion, but the religious leaders did not understand anything that Jesus taught, for they were unable to discern spiritual matters. Jesus’ teachings were well known to everyone for He had no secrets. Rome had allowed the priests to keep a certain amount of authority over their Jewish laws and customs, but the priests were jealous of Jesus’ popularity and wanted Him dead. When the high priest, scribes, and elders assembled together they sought many witnesses to put Jesus to death, even though the outcome had already been decided. He was guilty in their eyes, but they still needed to go through the motions of a legal trial so that they would look innocent. At first they failed to find any witnesses to accuse Jesus, but they did not give up.

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CHAPTER TWELVE TWO FALSE WITNESSES

There were many people who came to bear witness against Jesus, but none of them could agree together. As a result, the religious leaders chief priest, elders, and all the council arranged for false witnesses to testify against Jesus by twisting His words to get what they wanted. When the false witnesses came forth, they gave their testimony, saying that Jesus had said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.” The high priest stood up and said, “Jesus, do you have an answer for that?” Jesus said nothing, so Caiaphas said to Him, “You are under oath, swear by the Living God, tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said unto him, “Thou hast said; nevertheless I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds.” Caiaphas tore his clothes, saying, “Blasphemy! Blasphemy! He is guilty of death.” The people cried even louder, “Blasphemy! Blasphemy!” They were very angry, and they spit in Jesus’ face, mocking Him. Others hit Him with the palms of their hands saying, “Prophesy unto us Jesus, who hit you?”

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN PETER’S THIRD DENIAL, COCK CROW

In the meantime, in the midst of the palace hall, Peter was warming himself by the fire. A maid of the high priest asked Peter, “Aren’t you one of Jesus’ disciples?” Peter said, “I am not,” and as he sat by the fire he cuddled underneath his coat, trying to hide. He was afraid that someone would recognize him; after all, he was the one who had cut off the servant’s ear. He was fearful that the soldiers would come and arrest him. The maid said again, “Surely you are one of Jesus’ disciples.” Peter again replied, “I said I am not.” Now, by this time a male servant, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, came by. He also accused Peter of being a Galilean, and remembered seeing Him in the garden, but Peter swore in rage and denied Jesus for the third time saying, “I do not know the man”. The cock crowed just as Jesus said it would. Jesus looked at Peter through the crowd and Peter remembered what Jesus had told him. Peter was very grieved, and as he walked away he fell to the ground and wept bitterly. All of Jesus’ disciples said they would never leave or deny Him, but they all did.

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN JESUS’ TRIAL BEFORE PILATE

When it was morning, the chief priest, elders, and the scribes took council to put Jesus to death. They bound Jesus, and then the multitude of the people delivered Him to Pontius Pilate, a Roman ruler in Jerusalem at that time. At His trial they accused Him saying, “We found this fellow trying to corrupt the nation, He refuses to give honor to Caesar, saying that He, Himself, is Christ, a king.” Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the Jews’ King?” Jesus told Pilate, “It is as you say.” He explained to the governor, “My kingdom is not of this world; I came for one reason, to bring the truth. To this end was I born, and for this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth will hear my voice.” Now this convinced Pilate that Jesus was not a dangerous cult leader. He wanted to set Him free for he could not find any fault in Him, but the priest and scribes would not hear of it. Pilate was relieved when he heard that Jesus was from Galilee. Not wanting to deal with the problem, he was able to send Jesus to Herod, the ruler of Galilee, so that Herod would have to be the one to condemn Jesus.

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CHAPTER FIFTEEN JUDAS RETURNS THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER AND HANGS HIMSELF

Judas Iscariot had witnessed Jesus’ trial and sentencing, but it had never occurred to him that Jesus’ punishment would be so severe. When Judas realized that Jesus would die he tried to undo the wrong that he had done, for he knew that Jesus was innocent. He deeply regretted his sin, so he repented went to the temple and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priest. The priests were not allowed to use blood money for the use of the temple. They took the money and bought the potter’s field to bury strangers in, and they called it the Field of Blood. Judas was out of his mind with grief, and he could not cope with what he had done. He had considered himself to be a good friend of Jesus. They had ministered and traveled together, and he had personally seen many people healed and delivered. Judas had seen Jesus do many miracles. He had faith in Him, yet he betrayed Jesus and committed a horrible act. His crime became so unbearable that he went out and hung himself.

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN JESUS’ TRIAL BEFORE HEROD

Herod became very excited when he heard that Pilate was sending Jesus to him. Many great things had been said about Jesus so he thought “Finally, I’ll get to see that Holy man do a miracle.” Herod was a very sinful man. He had no religious morals for he was living in adultery with his brother’s wife. His lust had caused John the Baptist to be beheaded, and now he was going to judge Jesus. Herod was amazed at Jesus’ power. He wanted to know everything about Him. He asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus didn’t say anything. The chief priest and scribes did not have a reason to be angry or jealous of Jesus, but they stood by accusing and complaining anyway. Herod’s soldiers treated Jesus with disgust and contempt. They were very disrespectful, mocking Him by displaying Him in a gorgeous robe. It was a laughing matter for Jesus to be a king to them. Since Jesus was an innocent man, even Herod couldn’t find any fault in Him so he sent Jesus back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends that day. Before this the two men didn’t even like each other.

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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN JESUS’ TRIAL, PILATE WASHES HIS HANDS OF JESUS’ BLOOD

Pilate had Jesus brought before him once again. While Pilate was in the judgment hall his wife sent him a message, warning him not to have anything to do with Jesus, the “righteous man,” for she had suffered many things in a dream that day because of Him. The chief priest and elders convinced the people that Jesus was guilty, so they began to scream, “Crucify Jesus! Crucify Jesus!” Now Pilate was frantic for the situation had almost turned into a riot, and that was the last thing that he wanted to happen. The people warned Pilate, “If you let Jesus go, then you will not be a friend of Caesar’s.” Pilate paced to and fro from the judgment hall trying to find a legal way to release Jesus because he knew that He was innocent. Pilate knew the right thing to do, but through fear and pressure of the crowd he decided to take the easy way out and please the people. Pilate washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.”

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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN BARABBAS RELEASED

The Jews had a custom that during the Passover feast a prisoner could go free. Pilate thought to himself, “I’ll use this custom and appeal to the people. I’ll give them a choice between a holy man a prisoner.” Pilate deliberately chose Barabbas, the very worst prisoner he had. He thought, “Surely they will come to their senses and ask me to free Jesus, a just man.” Pilate thought, “No one would want to turn loose an evil criminal into their community who was a robber and a murderer. Surely they will choose Jesus instead of Barabbas.” Pilate was wrong, for when he brought Jesus out to the people, chief priest, and the elders, they all chose Barabbas, crying out, “Crucify Jesus! Crucify Jesus!” They said, “Let His blood be on us and our children.” The priest would not accept any kind of a compromise, and even though the people had seen Jesus do many miracles, they went along with the priest and rejected Jesus. Pilate gave into the crowds’ will. He gave them what they wanted and he set Barabbas free.

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CHAPTER NINETEEN JESUS WAS SCOURGED (WHIPPED)

The Jews had found Jesus guilty, and now the Romans would execute the punishment. After Pilate released Barabbas he gave the order for Jesus to be scourged. Jesus was whipped unmercifully. It was a shameful, public beating and often the victim would faint, go into shock, or even die. What they did to Jesus was a horrible sight, for He was disfigured so badly that you could barely recognize Him. They tied His hands to a pillar above His head, stripped off His top clothes in order to expose His bare back, and then they applied strokes to His back and shoulders. The Romans’ whip consisted of leather thongs, which had small sharp pieces of imbedded bone and metal balls. The sharp pieces of bone tore the flesh, exposing muscle and blood. The metal balls bruised His body, just as the Word said, “He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we were healed.” The Roman soldiers took Jesus to the common hall before Pilate. Pilate thought that this degree of punishment would have please the people and they would finally come to their senses and agree to release Jesus, but nothing would satisfy them. They cried even louder, “Crucify Jesus! Crucify Jesus!”

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CHAPTER TWENTY A CROWN OF THORNS PLACED ON JESUS’ HEAD

Jesus was very weak, bruised, bleeding, and in shock when they led Him for the last time into the Common Hall, the hall of judgment. This was the official home of the governor, the place for the final verdict. Here they continued to mentally and physically torture Jesus, hitting Him, shaming him, and spitting on Him. They thought that Jesus was some kind of lunatic, a mental case, and since He claimed to be a king, the soldiers of the governor thought a king should have a crown. They plaited a crown of thorns and shoved it onto His head. The thorns pierced His brow, and His precious blood ran down His face. They continued to tease and make fun of Him as they placed a reed in His right hand, bowed down before Him and sneered while saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” After they were finished inflicting their cruel pain upon Him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him while He patiently waited for them to crucify Him.

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CHAPTER TWENTY- ONE JESUS LED AWAY TO BE CRUCIFIED

After they mocked Jesus they took off His robe and put His own raiment (clothes) back on Him, and then they led Him away to be crucified. Exhausted from being awake all night, He was very weak from the beatings and loss of blood, yet He tried very hard to walk as He struggled along the path to Calvary. There were lots of people who followed Jesus that day to watch Him suffer. Some enjoyed the show, while others were very sad. The soldiers continued their insults as they hit, pushed, and forced Jesus to move closer to Calvary. Crucifixion was a very painful way to die. It was a requirement as part of their shame that a prisoner be forced to carry his own crossbeam and wear a sign around his neck that stated their crime. Jesus could have asked His father to send a great number of angels to destroy all the people who hated Him. Instead, He willingly chose to bare that shame, to feel that pain and agony for the people. If Jesus had saved Himself then He could not have saved others. The love that was in His heart for you and I… would be to suffer and hang on a cross for the whole world to see.

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CHAPTER TWENTY – TWO SIMON BORE JESUS’ CROSS

Thousands of Jews came to observe the Passover. There was a man in the crowd named Simon, a Cyrenian who watched Jesus struggle to carry the heavy load of His cross as He walked down the path to Calvary. When the soldiers realized that Jesus was unable to carry the cross, they ordered Simon to carry it for Him. It must have been hard for Simon at the time, a terrible burden, but what a blessing it was to carry that load. The women cried and mourned, but Jesus said, “Don’t weep for me, weep for yourselves and your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bare, and the breast that never nurse.’ They will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’” Jesus said this because He could see into their future. He could see the horrible suffering that they would have to go through later on. He knew that if the Romans would deliver and crucify the innocent, who had never done anything wrong or given them any reason to be angry, what would they do to people that actually displeased them?

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CHAPTER TWENTY – THREE THIRD HOUR (NINE A.M.), JESUS IS CRUCIFIED

They took Jesus to Golgotha, which is called “the place of the skull,” and there they crucified Him. It was the third hour nine o’clock in the morning when they nailed Him on a cross, displaying His body by a public highway where everyone could see it. Even though the people had no cause to hate Him, they were angry, shouting and mocking in disgust. Pilate had ordered them to write an accusation against Jesus and to set it up over His head. The accusation said, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS,” written in three languages: Latin, Hebrew, and Greek. This was done so that any foreigner who passed by could read it. The Jews did not approve of this accusation. They wanted it removed, but Pilate would not change it. Jesus was suffering and in severe pain. It was a custom to give the condemned criminal vinegar mixed with gall to help relieve their pain, but when they offered it to Jesus He refused to drink. The love Jesus had in His heart for the people never wavered for a moment. Even as they were crucifying Him He prayed for them, saying, “Father, please forgive them for they know not what they do.”

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CHAPTER TWENTY – FOUR SOLDIERS CAST LOTS FOR JESUS’ GARMENTS

At an execution, soldiers usually gambled for the possessions of those being crucified, and shared the loot. The person being crucified did not always die immediately. It could take hours, or even days, before it occurred. As Jesus hung on the cross for the souls of mankind, the soldiers sat at the foot of the cross, casting lots for His garments. The soldiers took His garments and made four parts so each one would receive a portion. His coat was made of one piece of fabric, and they did not want to tear it, so they cast lots for it separately. This fulfilled an Old Testament prophesy Psalms. 22:18, which said, “They part my garments among them, and cast lots for my vesture.” After the soldiers cast their lots for Jesus’ garments, they sat down and kept watch over Him. Jesus’ mother, and one of the disciples, John was standing near the cross. Jesus spoke, saying, “John take care of my mother,” and immediately John took Mary, Jesus’ mother home with him.

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CHAPTER TWENTY – FIVE JESUS FORGAVE THE THIEF

They nailed Jesus on a cross between two criminals, at the place of the skull. There was one on the left and one on the right, and one of the criminals screamed insults at Jesus, saying, “If you are the King of the Jews save yourself and us.” The other one rebuked him saying, “Don’t you even fear God? For we have received our just reward but Jesus has done nothing wrong.” One of the criminals being crucified with Jesus believed in Him, and asked Jesus to remember him when He enters into His kingdom. Jesus assured the repentant thief that he would have a place in paradise with Him that very day. The soldiers continued to mock and amuse themselves with Jesus. At different times they tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh to ease His pain, but when He tasted it He refused to drink. He was determined to pay the full price and penalty for the sins of mankind.

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CHAPTER TWENTY – SIX DARKNESS FROM THE SIXTH HR. (NOON) TO THE NINTH HR. (THREE P.M.)

As Jesus hung on the cross the chief priest, elders, scribes, and many other people passed by Him. They looked upon Him, screaming rude words, shaking their heads and saying, “You said you could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. If you are the Son of God why don’t you save yourself and come down from the cross?” Teasing and laughing they said, “He saved others but He cannot save Himself.” It was the sixth hour, noon when the sun darkened, and it was as if time stood still. From twelve noon to three p.m. the ninth hour there was darkness all throughout the land. Jesus did not beg for His life during this time. Instead, He carried the sins of the world. It appeared as if all of creation was in mourning, holding its breath, awaiting Jesus’ death. The weight of His limp body made it difficult for Him to breath. Intense pain went through His arms and legs as He suffered their cruel torment, yet He willingly hung on the cross for everyone’s sins.

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CHAPTER TWENTY – SEVEN JESUS GAVE UP HIS LIFE

As the darkness left in the evening Jesus cried, “Eli, Eli, lama, sabachthani!” which means “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The people thought He was calling for Elijah. They wanted to give Him vinegar to drink for His pain, but they said, “Let’s wait and see if Elijah will come to help Him.” Jesus spoke again and said, “I thirst.” He was not thirsty for a drink, but thirsty for heaven. The people did not understand what He meant, so someone moistened a sponge with vinegar and hyssop and touched it to His lips. He tasted and refused to drink, just as He had done previously, because He knew that He must suffer the full penalty for mankind’s sins without anything to relieve the pain. When God withdrew His spirit from Him, Jesus took upon Himself all of the sins of mankind. Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “It is finished! Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit.” There was a great earthquake and the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split, and those watching said, “Truly, this was the Son of God.”

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CHAPTER TWENTY – EIGHT SOLDIER PIERCED JESUS’ SIDE

There was a Jewish law that said that no dead body could hang overnight or on the Sabbath, so they needed to make arrangements to bury Jesus’ body for the night was drawing near. At three p.m. Jesus gave up His life. When evening arrived it was Friday, a new day, and preparation day for the Saturday Sabbath. All of their work had to be done before the holy day began. There came a wealthy man named Joseph from Arimathea, and because he was afraid of the Jews, he had secretly became a disciple of Jesus. Joseph went to Pilate and begged for Jesus’ body because he wanted to give Him a proper burial. The governor commanded his soldiers to turn the body over to Joseph and to make sure that Jesus was dead. Pilate sent the soldiers to break Jesus’ legs, to speed up His death. They broke the legs of the others who were crucified with Him, but when they saw that Jesus was already dead His legs were not broken. There was no doubt that Jesus was dead, for the soldier shoved a spear into His side to make sure of His death, and blood and water came forth from the wound.

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CHAPTER TWENTY – NINE JOSEPH TAKES JESUS’ BODY FOR BURIAL

Joseph of Arimathaea took Jesus’ body down from the cross, and carried it away to prepare it for washing, purification and dressing. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about a hundred pounds, which was used on the body to prepare it for burial. They wrapped the body in clean linen cloth and spices, according to the custom of the Jews. In the place were Jesus was crucified there was a garden where Joseph had prepared a burial tomb for himself. He took Jesus’ body and laid it in his own new tomb. Mary and Mary Magdalene were sitting opposite of the tomb as the burial took place. It was late Friday night when the women returned home. They were not allowed to work on the Saturday Sabbath, so they would have to work all day Friday, until evening, preparing their spices in order to have them ready to anoint Jesus’ body on Sunday morning.

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CHAPTER THIRTY GUARDS POSTED AT THE TOMB

It was the on the Jews’ Sabbath, a Saturday, when the priests became very worried. They remembered that Jesus had said that “after three days He would rise again.” The chief priest and Pharisees met with Pilate. They asked him to post guards at the tomb so that Jesus’ disciples and friends could not come and steal the body during the night and say that He had risen, and then their last mistake would be worse than the first. Pilate granted their request and guards were posted at the tomb. They put an official Roman seal on the stone, which made it impossible for anyone to steal the body. Under Roman law, it was punishable by death for a guard to fail at his task, so they would never let anything or anyone interfere with their duty. They would fight to their death to guard their post.

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CHAPTER THIRTY – ONE MARY MAGDALENE AND THE OTHER MARY FOUND THE TOMB EMPTY

The Sabbath had passed, and it was the first day of the week, very early Sunday morning when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary brought their sweet spices to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body. The women wondered how they would roll the big stone away from the door, but when they arrived they found the stone was already rolled away. During the night there had been a great earthquake, and an angel of the Lord descended and rolled the stone away to let the women into the tomb. The angel told them, “Jesus is not here. He has risen. Come and see the place where He used to lay. Now go tell the disciples that Jesus will see them in Galilee.” Mary Magdalene ran to tell Peter and John that Jesus had risen, and that His body was not in the tomb. The disciples ran to the tomb. They could see the linen clothes and the napkin that was about His head lying there. John believed that Jesus had risen, but Peter wondered if it had really happened. The disciples left and returned home, but Mary stayed to rest at the tomb. Meanwhile, the guards had gone into the city and reported to the chief priest everything that had happened. When the elders and priest assembled together they came up with a plan to bribe the soldiers. They gave them large sums of money and told them to say that during the night, while they were asleep, the disciples came and stole the body. How would they know who took the body if they were asleep? This was a lie to dismiss the reality of Jesus’ resurrection.

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CHAPTER THIRTY – TWO JESUS APPEARED TO MARY MAGDALENE

Mary Magdalene was waiting outside the tomb, weeping, when she saw two angels in white. They asked her, “Woman, why do you weep?” She said to them, “Because they have taken my Lord away and I don’t know where they have laid Him.” When Mary looked around she saw Jesus, but she thought He was the gardener until He spoke and called out her name. She said, “Rabboni,” which means Master. Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me [Do not hold me] for I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren and tell them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.” Mary Magdalene ran to tell everyone the good news. While she was on her way she ran into the other Mary. She told her that she had actually seen Jesus. Mary ran back to the tomb in hopes of seeing Him for herself, and Mary Magdalene returned with her. When they arrived at the tomb the angel that had rolled the stone away during the night was sitting on top of it. The angel told them, “Go tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus is not here, for He has risen. He shall see them in Galilee”. They left to tell the disciples, first they ran to tell Peter and the other disciple that Jesus loved, for the angel wanted Peter to know that Jesus was alive, since earlier he did not believe. They were on their way when Jesus met them, and they held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.

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CHAPTER THIRTY – THREE JESUS ASCENDS TO HEAVEN

It was on a Sunday evening when the eleven disciples and others gathered together behind closed doors. The two men that had met Jesus on the road to Emmaus also joined them. They shared their story with the disciples, telling them that it was true that Jesus had risen. As they told their story, Jesus appeared and stood in the midst of them. They were so startled that they could hardly believe their eyes. They thought that they were looking at a ghost. Jesus said, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; feel of and handle me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. They all rejoiced. “Then said Jesus to them, “Peace be unto you: as my father hath sent me, I will also send you.” And when He had said this He breathed on them, and saith unto them, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost. “Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. Wherefore He saith, when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. A-men.”

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