Easter Sunday – Christian Holiday

Free online resources based on the Biblical story of Easter. The Easter story can be found in the Bible in all four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. See below for links to sermons, stories and entertaining sites for Easter.

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words. –  Luke 24:1-8 NIV

Easter – Summary

For Christians, there is no holiday more important than Easter. Easter is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. He had been crucified and was buried for three days. All his disciples had believed that he was gone for good. None had understood that his sacrifice was the primary purpose of his short life and the only way for us to obtain righteousness and restore our fellowship with God. No man had taken his life. There was no sin in him and no way for Satan to take his life. It was freely given for us all.

Jesus Has Risen - Easter Sunday

That first Easter morning proved beyond any doubt that Jesus was the Messiah. He had told the religious leaders and his disciples that He would give His life and on the third day rise from the grave.

The religious authorities had remembered His words and tried to prevent it with a large stone in front of the tomb, a Roman seal and guards. But none of that prevented God’s plan for that first Easter. For 40 days after Easter morning, many people were eyewitnesses to the resurrection. Satan and the religious leaders were powerless to stop the truth. And they are still powerless to stop the spread of the wonderful message of Easter!

For the secular world, Easter is about new clothes, hidden eggs, and bunnies. But to those that really understand all that was accomplished on that first Easter morning, this is the greatest day in all of history.

Easter Sunday 2012 is celebrated on April 8. The other important days of Holy Week include:

Palm Sunday – Jesus enters Jerusalem.
Maundy Thursday – The Last Supper and betrayal.
Good Friday – The arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus.
Easter Sunday – The day Jesus rose from the grave.

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” — John 20:27-29 NIV

Read the Easter story in five popular translations – AMP, KJV, HCSB, NIV, The Message:

Prelude to Easter – Last Supper and Betrayal

Matthew 26:1-75 – Mark 14:1-72 – Luke 22:1-71

John’s Gospel provides great detail on Jesus’ final moments on earth.

John 13:1-38 – Jesus washes the disciples feet and identifies his betrayer.

John 14:1-31 – The promise of the coming Holy Spirit.

John 15:1-27 – The vine & branches speech.

John 16:1-33 – The end of parables and what the future holds.

John 17:1-26 – Jesus prays for his disciples and for us.

John 18:1-40 – The betrayal of Jesus.

Trial, Crucifixion, Death and Burial Before Easter

Matthew 27:1-66 – Mark 15:1-47 – Luke 23:1-56 – John 19:1-42

Resurrection – Easter Morning

Matthew 28:1-20 – Mark 16:1-20 – Luke 24:1-53

John 20:1-31 – Jesus’ first appearance Easter morning.

John 21:1-25 – Jesus’ final appearance.

Read the Old Testament prophecies related to Easter in five popular translations – AMP, KJV, HCSB, NIV, The Message:

Psalm 41:9 – Psalm 109:7-8 – Zechariah 11:12-13 – Judas and the betrayal of Jesus.

Psalm 27:12 – Psalm 69:4 – Isaiah 50:6 – 53:7 – Trial and suffering of Jesus.

Psalm 16:10 – 22:1-31 – 34:20 – 68:18 – 69:21 – 109:4 – Isaiah 53:9-12 -  Zechariah 12:10 – Crucifixion and resurrection on Easter morning.

Check out all the wonderful Christian content linked below and learn more about Easter.

Children’s Bible Stories – Scriptures and Adaptations on Easter Sunday

The Easter Story – The story of Easter in simple language. Includes links to activities, music and lessons

Easter Bible Stories – The story of Easter from the Last Supper through Easter Morning in simple language

The Story of Easter – Easter as told in the King James Bible

The Resurrection of Jesus – Easter adapted from Matthew 28 for young children 3+ and John 20 for children under 4.

The Story of Easter – The story of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter in simple language

The Great Victory – The story of Easter in simple everyday language

The Lamb of God – The events leading up to Jesus’ death in simple everyday language

Easter Stories – The Easter story through the eyes of Mary Magdalene and Thomas

Chapter 10 – God’s Love and Justice Intersect – Excellent Chronological movie called: The Hope divided into 12 chapters

Children’s Stories – Original Fiction Based on the Easter Story

Easter Bunny, Are You for Real? – An Easter children’s story

Roxie’s Big News – The story of a little dove who waited patiently for Jesus to return Easter morning.

Evan – The Story of the Tree That Became the Cross – The Easter story through the eyes of a tree

A Whispering Pines Easter – Another installment of the Boris Kitty series. Boris and his friends celebrate the real meaning of Easter.

The Graveyard Shift – An Easter story by Rev. Bill Versteeg about the Centurions who guarded Jesus’ tomb. Best suited for older children.

Promises Mixed with Love – An Easter story written by Rev. Bill Versteeg about the criminal crucified with Jesus. Best suited for older children.

Children’s Activities, Crafts, Coloring Pages, Music, Plays & Poetry for the Easter Story

Easter Bingo – A simple game to teach children about Easter.

Easter Word Search – Easter activities for 2nd through 5th graders

Telling the Easter Story with Easter Eggs – Recommended ages – Kindergarten through 3rd grade

Easter Coloring Pages – Many printable images including some from Easter and Palm Sunday

Easter Is Really For Jesus – An Easter poem

Easter Songs – Two simple Easter songs for kids

Jesus Christ Is Coming Again – An original children’s song sung to the tune of “Santa Clause Is Coming To Town”.

Easter Puppet Plays – Several plays based on Easter for puppets

Just The Facts – A play based on the resurrection focusing on Roman soldiers investigating a grave robbery.

Children’s Sermons & Lessons on the Resurrection of Jesus and Easter Morning

The Great Exchange – A simple explanation of the substitutionary work of Christ

Easter Bible Lesson – A short lesson on Easter

Roxie’s Big News – An Easter lesson based on the children’s story, Roxie’s Big News, a parable about spreading the good news.

Paid In Full – A children’s sermon for Easter

Devotions, Discussions & Sermons and Other Resources About Easter

Celebrating a Christian Easter – Links to many helpful Easter resources

A Glorious Easter – Many links to Easter music, coloring pages and other resources

13 Eggs for 13 Disciples – A sermon for Easter Sunday by Rev. Patricia Gillespie

The Resurrection Morning – An Easter sermon based on Matthew 28 and Mark 16 by Reverend Harvey Alford Matney

Nail Prints – An Easter sermon based on John 20 by Reverend Harvey Alford Matney

Holy Week – Good Friday – This lens takes you through the events starting on Good Friday

Holy Week – Easter Sunday – This lens takes you through the events starting Easter Sunday morning

Happy Easter – A blog about the events of Easter

Easter Sunday – A blog post about Easter

A Soldier’s View of the Tomb – A fictional account of the soldiers at the cross by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

Classic Easter Sermons – Spurgeon, Luther and others on Easter

A Physician Testifies About the Crucifixion – An article by Dr. C. Truman Davis exploring the suffering of Christ.

Evidence for the Resurrection – An essay from Josh McDowell on the certainty of the Resurrection that first Easter morning.

The Agony of Love – Another Physician explores the suffering of Jesus on the cross by Dr. Mark Eastman.

Polish Easter Traditions – An overview of cultural and religious Easter customs in Poland

Easter In Slovakia – Cultural and religious Easter customs in Slovakia

Easter In Greece – An overview of Easter customs in Greece

Origins of Easter – An overview of Easter customs

Easter Hymns – Famous Easter Hymns in Midi format

Suddenly One Morning – The Shopkeeper’s Story: An Easter Narrative By Charles R. Swindoll

The Goodness of Good Friday – An unhappy celebration—isn’t that an oxymoron? Exploring the customs around Good Friday by Chris Armstrong.

Good Friday Surprises – Even on his way to die, Jesus did the unpredictable. Final acts by Jesus on the way to the cross by Leith Anderson.

The Passion of Christ In Art – Various artistic paintings for the Easter Season

Easter Dating Method – How to determine Easter dates for past, present and future Easter Sundays.

Search for Other Christian Web Sites.

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