This story is found in Matthew, chapters 26–28; Mark, chapters 14–16; Luke, chapters 22–24; John, chapters 13–21; and the ascension is also recounted in Acts 1:1–11.

It seems amazing that Christ Jesus, the Son of God, could be hated and feared. Yet there's no doubt that, for all his good works, there were many who felt this way about him. Some people believed that his real goal was to set himself up as a king or military ruler and to free the Jews from the Romans who ruled them. But being a military leader wasn't at all what was behind Jesus' healing, preaching, and teaching.

The religious rulers felt threatened by what Jesus taught and how he healed. Some of the rumors that were being spread about Jesus came to a head in Jerusalem at the time of the Passover. This is a Jewish holiday that began when the people of Israel were trying to gain their freedom from slavery in Egypt hundreds of years before. The connection with freedom may have made Jesus' enemies wonder if he would make a move to free the Jews at Passover.

During their Passover meal, also known as the last supper, Jesus tried to tell his twelve disciples the trouble and suffering that lay ahead. He said that he would be betrayed and that the one who would do it was at their table!

Peter, one of the most outspoken of the disciples, told Jesus that no matter what happened he would always be faithful to the Master. But, knowing the seriousness of the challenge that was to come, Jesus said that before dawn of the next day Peter would deny knowing him three times. (Later, when Peter did as Jesus had said he would, Peter wept bitterly.)

This was a solemn time. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us that after the Passover meal Jesus and the disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane, which was on a hill just across the Kidron Valley. This word Gethsemane means "oil press" and may refer to the olive trees that grew there at the time.

Jesus asked some of his disciples to watch while he went to pray. He asked God, if He was willing, to take away this cup, experience, from him; but he also affirmed his willingness to do God's will, not his own.When he returned the disciples were asleep! Jesus woke them up, but they could not stay awake. He kept praying. Luke's Gospel says that an angel appeared, "strengthening him."

Shortly after, some armed men, a servant of the chief priests, and Judas, one of the disciples, arrived. Judas came forward and kissed Jesus. This was a prearranged sign to the soldiers that this was the man they were supposed to arrest. Judas, one of the twelve, betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Matthew's Gospel reports that Judas later took his own life, maybe out of sorrow for what he had done.

At the point when Jesus was arrested, all the disciples fled. But the Gospels tell us that Peter followed at a distance to see what would happen. First, Jesus was taken before the Sanhedrin, the high council of the Jewish leaders, which was a court for Jewish laws. Here, he was accused of blasphemy—saying that he was equal with God. This was a crime that, according to Jewish law, could be punished by death. Jesus was then taken to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, for the sentence to be carried out. Even though Pilate thought Jesus was innocent, he went along with the angry crowd's desire, and Jesus was nailed to a wooden cross.

Today the cross is a symbol of salvation and is worn proudly by many Christians. But to the people of Jesus' time, crucifixion was a most degrading punishment. Some people even came and made fun of him.

On crosses on either side of Jesus were thieves. One of them mocked him. But Luke's Gospel tells us that the other thief scolded the man, saying to him that while they deserved punishment for what they had done, Jesus was innocent.

Many knew of Jesus' goodness, but they were afraid. A Roman centurion who saw what happened said, "Certainly this was a righteous man" (Luke 23:47). The Gospels mention that many women were there. Among them were Mary Magdalene, another woman named Mary, and Salome. John's Gospel says that Mary, Jesus' mother, was also present, as was "the disciple ... whom he loved" (19:25, 26). This disciple is thought to be John.

Despite all this injustice, Jesus forgave his enemies, praying to God, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

A good man named Joseph asked for permission to bury Jesus, as the Sabbath was about to begin. He put the body in a tomb that he owned, probably one cut into one of the nearby hills.

After the Sabbath, the women who had followed Jesus came to prepare his body for burial. When they got there, however, they found that the stone in front of the tomb was already rolled away, and Jesus was not inside! As they stood there, two men in shining clothes asked them, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen" (Luke 24:5, 6).

From this point on, the gospel accounts tell of the different ways that Jesus' followers learned, much to their astonishment, that he was alive. One of my favorites tells of two of the disciples, who were walking to Emmaus, a town not too far away from Jerusalem. They were discussing all that had happened and the news that the news that the tomb was empty.

They met Jesus as they were walking but didn't recognize him. When he asked them why they were sad, they told him the whole story, thinking he must be a stranger to their area. How else could he not know what had happened?

As they continued to walk along together, Jesus said to them, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken" (Luke 24:25). Then he pointed out to them all the promises—even as far back as the time of Moses—that spoke about the coming of the Christ.

When they reached the village, Jesus acted as if he were going on further. But they got him to stop for the night. When he sat down to eat, breaking bread as he had done with them so many times before, they suddenly knew who he was. At that point, he vanished, leaving them convinced that they had seen the living Jesus—so much so, that they immediately went back to Jerusalem. When they got there, they found that Peter had also seen Jesus. Then, Jesus appeared right there with them. At first they were afraid and thought he was a spirit, or ghost, but then they saw he really was their Master.

For one disciple, however, it wasn't easy to believe. Thomas had heard others say that Jesus was risen. Even though they were convinced, he told them that he would not believe until he saw Jesus himself and could actually touch the wounds on his body. A short time later, the disciples, including Thomas, saw Jesus. Thomas touched the Master's wounds. And Jesus said, "Be not faithless, but believing" (John 20:27). Now Thomas was convinced.

Jesus stayed with his disciples a while longer. The book of Acts says that he was with them forty days. Then a very holy thing happened—Jesus ascended, that is, disappeared from the disciples' sight. The writers of Mark and Luke report this event at the end of their Gospels; Acts, which is thought to have been written by the author of Luke, gives a more detailed account of what took place.

Just before he ascended, Jesus told the disciples that after he was gone they would receive spiritual power—the Holy Ghost—and that they should spread the good news of God's love for man everywhere. Then, he rose above them and a cloud hid him from view. Two men, or angels, reminded the disciples of Jesus' ministry and their part in it. Recalling the Master's instruction that they should stay at Jerusalem until they received this spiritual power, they returned there.

What happens next is the beginning of the early Christian Church and the disciples' journeys to share the gospel message—the good news Jesus brought to the world.

(This is an ongoing series. Look for an installment next month.)

Bible quiz

The descriptions of events, people, and places listed below
match the pictures in the article you've just read. Choose the
picture and title that goes with each description. Then write the
picture title on the blank line after the description it matches.
(See page 34 in this issue for answers.)

During this part of the evening Passover meal, Jesus
shared bread and a cup of wine with his disciples.
They were surprised when Jesus said one of them
would betray him. (1)—

Early on Friday morning, Jesus was taken to the
Roman governor. The governor could not find any
fault with Jesus, but still gave Jesus to his soldiers to
be beaten and nailed to a wooden cross.
(2)—

On Sunday morning (the day after the Jewish
Sabbath), women followers of Jesus, including Mary
Magdalene, went to the tomb where his body had
been buried and discovered that the heavy stone,
which had blocked the entrance, had been rolled
away. They were told that Jesus was not there—
Jesus has risen. (3)—

In this garden filled with olive trees,
Jesus asked three of the disciples to keep watch while he prayed, but
they kept falling asleep. (4)—

At this event Jesus was nailed to the cross. These
words were on his cross: "The King of the Jews." Two
thieves also suffered this punishment with him.
(5)—

After Jesus' resurrection, he tells his disciples that
they will receive spiritual power, the Holy Ghost
or Holy Spirit, and they will be eyewitnesses to all
the things that Jesus said and did. Then a cloud took
him out of their sight. (6)—

Jesus was taken to the council of Jewish leaders that
had gathered at the palace of the high priest. The
council accused Jesus of insulting God because Jesus
called himself the Son of God. Meanwhile, Peter was
waiting outside to see what was going to
happen to Jesus. (7)—

Answers to "Introduction to the Bible" quiz on pages 29–30.

(1)The last supper; (2) Pontius Pilate; (3) The resurrection; (4) Gethsemane; (5) The crucifixion; (6) The ascension; (7) Sanhedrin.