The Easter Story

Biblical Figures, Places, and Important Dates

Encyclopaedia Britannica

The principal festival of Christianity, Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ after his betrayal and his death by crucifixion. All four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) depict a heartbreaking drama that culminates in the hope of eternal life through God’s plan of salvation. Easter is the climax of a story that depicts the apparent victory of evil as the awaited Messiah is betrayed and brutally executed. As Jesus dies a humiliating, public death, all seems lost to his confused and grieving followers. But the story does not end with death. After three days Jesus appears—his wounds still visible—to his bewildered disciples in a miraculous and jubilant Resurrection.

Key People, Events, and Sacred Objects

Jesus

Last Supper

Giotto: The Arrest of Christ (also called Kiss of Judas)

Judas Iscariot

Gethsemane

St. Mary Magdalene

The 12 Apostles

Crown of Thorns

Matthias Stomer: Pilate Washing His Hands

Pontius Pilate

Barabbas

Passion of Jesus

Cima da Conegliano, Giovanni Battista: Saint Helena

True Cross

Crucifixion

Golgotha

Holy Lance

Giovanni Girolamo Savoldo: Christ with Joseph of Arimathea

St. Joseph of Arimathea

Shroud of Turin

Mary

From Ashes to Resurrection: The Lenten Season

The joy of Easter is preceded by the penitential season known as Lent. For most of Western Christianity (Roman Catholics and Anglicans, Lutherans, and certain other Protestants), Lent is a 40-day period of fasting and reflection that begins on Ash Wednesday. In Eastern Orthodox churches, Lent is slightly longer and more rigorous, beginning seven weeks before Easter (Pascha). The week before Easter, known as Holy Week, is punctuated with sacred days that commemorate key moments in Christ’s final week. Christian communities around the world observe these dates with a myriad of rich traditions that anticipate the sorrowful death and glorious Resurrection of Jesus.

What is Palm Sunday? Palm Sunday is celebrated by Christian communities on the Sunday before Easter.

Shrove Tuesday

Mardi Gras

Ash Wednesday

Lent

Palm Sunday

Holy Week

Maundy Thursday

Good Friday

Holy Saturday

Easter

The Story of Salvation

According to Christian belief, Easter is an intimate demonstration of the depths of God’s love for humankind and the basis of redemption. Theologically, the mystical events of Easter are seen as the fulfillment of prophecies and promises made to the Jewish people. Christ is the Messiah, but he ushers in a new spiritual kingdom rather than the earthly one many expected. Most Christians understand his death as the blameless Son of God to have been a sacrifice to atone for human sin. His triumphant Resurrection brings the hope of eternal life to his followers.

Theology to Know

sin

Sin, moral evil as considered from a religious standpoint. Sin is regarded in Judaism and Christianity as the deliberate and purposeful violation of the will of God. See also deadly sin. The concept of sin has been present in many cultures throughout history, where it was usually equated with an

Titian: Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

messiah

Messiah, (from Hebrew mashiaḥ, “anointed”), in Judaism, the expected king of the Davidic line (e.g. a descendant of King David) who would deliver Israel from foreign bondage and restore the glories of its golden age. The Greek New Testament’s translation of the term, christos, became the accepted

faith

Faith, inner attitude, conviction, or trust relating human beings to a supreme God or ultimate salvation. In religious traditions stressing divine grace, it is the inner certainty or attitude of love granted by God himself. In Christian theology, faith is the divinely inspired human response to

grace

Grace, in Christian theology, the spontaneous, unmerited gift of the divine favour in the salvation of sinners, and the divine influence operating in individuals for their regeneration and sanctification. The English term is the usual translation for the Greek charis, which occurs in the New

atonement

Atonement, the process by which people remove obstacles to their reconciliation with God. It is a recurring theme in the history of religion and theology. Rituals of expiation and satisfaction appear in most religions as the means by which religious people reestablish or strengthen their relation

resurrection

Resurrection, the rising from the dead of a divine or human being who still retains their own personhood, or individuality, though the body may or may not be changed. The belief in the resurrection of the body is usually associated with Christianity, because of the doctrine of the Resurrection of

Juan de Flandes: Christ Appearing to His Mother

salvation

Salvation, in religion, the deliverance of humankind from such fundamentally negative or disabling conditions as suffering, evil, finitude, and death. In some religious beliefs it also entails the restoration or raising up of the natural world to a higher realm or state. The idea of salvation is a