Mount Isa Baptist Church

The story of Easter

The story of Easter is a powerful journey of love, sacrifice, and hope. It tells of Jesus’ final days, his death on the cross, and his miraculous resurrection, offering a message of forgiveness and new life for all. This story continues to shape hearts and inspire lives around the world. As the time of Passover approached, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. He was greeted by crowds waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” People celebrated him as their long-awaited king. On the night before his arrest, Jesus gathered with his closest disciples for a meal. He broke bread and shared wine with them, saying they represented his body and blood, soon to be given for their forgiveness. After supper, Jesus went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew he was about to die and was deeply troubled and sorrowful. He asked God if the coming suffering could be taken from him, but ultimately said: “Not my will, but yours be done.” Meanwhile, Judas, arrived with soldiers to betray him with a kiss. Jesus was beaten, mocked, and crowned with a wreath of thorns. Weakened by the torture, he was forced to carry his cross through the streets toward Golgotha, the place of execution. Along the way, Simon of Cyrene was pulled from the crowd to help carry the heavy wood. At Golgotha, Jesus was nailed to the cross between two criminals. The soldiers divided his clothes, and people who watched hurled insults at him. Above his head hung a sign: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Darkness covered the land for three hours, and with a final cry — “It is finished” — Jesus gave up his spirit. A man named Joseph of Arimathea, asked Pilate for his body. Jesus was carefully wrapped in linen and laid in a new tomb carved into the rock. A heavy stone was rolled across the entrance, and guards were posted to prevent anyone from tampering with the body. Early on the third day, some women — Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome — went to the tomb with spices to anoint Jesus’ body. But when they arrived, they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. An angel appeared, telling them, “He is not here; he has risen!” Jesus began to appear to his disciples and followers, showing them his hands and side to prove he was alive. He met two travellers on the road to Emmaus, appeared in a locked room, and even shared a meal of fish with them. His message was clear: the Scriptures had been fulfilled, and forgiveness and new life were now offered to all. Before ascending to heaven, Jesus gathered his disciples and gave them a mission: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all I have commanded.” With a promise that he would be with them always, Jesus ascended, leaving his followers to spread the good news of his resurrection to the world.

As we draw closer to easter, let’s not forget the easter story and how it has affected and impacted our lives.