LESSON 22: Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus

(John 19:17-37, 20:1-10)

“Have you heard of anyone in the history of the world, who died and rose again from the dead?” No, Jesus, the Son of God, is the only one who has done that. The Jews crucified Jesus with the help of the Roman authorities. The Son of God gave himself up to death. The reason is that Jesus, who was without sin, was sacrificed on the cross for our sins. Even though Pilate and Herod tried Jesus individually, they could not find any fault in him. Why did they kill the faultless Jesus? God planned this to save us from our numerous sins. When Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished,” and then gave up his life, it showed the ultimate love God has for us.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus buried Jesus in a new tomb where no one had ever been buried. They put a big stone in front of the tomb. Early in the morning on the third day, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and was astonished to see that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance and the tomb was empty. She went running to Peter and John and informed them. They too ran to the tomb and saw what Mary had told them was true and went back. But Mary Magdalene stood there crying and looked into the tomb for Jesus. She mistook the angel who appeared there to be the gardener and asked for Jesus’s body. Then Jesus revealed himself to her. She immediately went back to the disciples and told them about the risen Jesus.

Jesus had told the disciples earlier that he would be killed and would rise again on the third day. But they had not believed his word completely. Jesus appeared many times before the frightened disciples when they were together. Jesus proved to them that he had risen from the dead and still lived and was without death, by performing many miracles and signs during the next forty days. Forty days after his resurrection, at the Mount of Olives, he raised his hands and blessed his disciples and was taken into heaven to His Father’s side. We celebrate this as the Festival of Ascension.