Bible Verses About Easter

When I think of Easter two passages come to mind. The first one gives me chills because of the let down and the second one gives me chills because of the hope it projects.

Both of the passages I used came from the NIV Bible.

Luke 22:54-62

Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."

But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them.""Man, I am not!" Peter replied.

About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Gallilean."

Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.

Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Good Friday - the Friday before Easter Sunday - is the traditional date for the most dramatic moments of the Biblical Passion story and the day that makes Easter even more important. In the early hours of the morning, Jesus Christ was arrested, condemned by Caiaphas, denied three times by Peter, brought before Pilate, sent to Herod, brought back before Pilate, passed over in favor of Barabbas by the crowd, (the same crowd that had worshiped him the week before) flogged, made to carry his cross to Golgotha, crucified, suffered the Three Hours of Agony, said "It is finished", died, was pierced in the side by a soldier's sword, taken down from the cross, and buried in a tomb. The story doesn't stop there, but before we finish it let's reflect on Peter for a minute.

There Are Different Ways to Deny Christ

Peter knew Jesus personally. He'd already cut a man's ear off to protect Jesus and Jesus had told him before the cock crows you will deny me three times. Peter like me, could never believe he would do such a thing. I don't know that I have ever openly denied knowing Jesus, but when I miss opportunities to tell people about him I feel like that's a form of denial. I empathize with Peter and every time I read that verse I get chills.

This Easter there will be many people denying Christ, but there will also be many who will be celebrating his resurrection. Easter is the perfect time to invite people to your special services. The perfect time to share the Passion Story.

Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you."

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

This was the first Easter. The day that God resurrected his son. He was dead yet now he lives. On Easter Sunday people across the United States will be singing, "Up from the grave he arose, with a mighty triumph o'er his foes." Death was the final foe and Jesus conquered it and we celebrate risen Christ on Easter.

I Live in Hope

Every year I go to a lake for Easter Sunrise Services and as I watch the dark turn into daylight, I feel awed. I can see these three women huddled together, making their way to the tomb. They thought of the obstacle that would hinder them, but they didn't stop. The three loved the Lord so much they knew they would find a way. I pray that I can be an example to others just as they were an example to me.

I can imagine the fear they felt when they saw the stone rolled away. Who had opened it? The angel startled them, but they didn't run.

They immediately ran back to the disciples and yelled, "He has risen!"

My heart rejoices. He has risen! He rose on Easter Sunday. Jesus Christ is alive and just as he promised, he has gone ahead and prepared a place for me.