The Betrayal:

In the garden of Gethsemane, Judas identified Jesus with a kiss on the cheek. He agreed to aid the religious authorities in Jesus' arrest for thirty pieces of silver.

The Judgement of Pontius:

Pontius Pilate investigated the claims against Jesus and found no deviance involving Roman laws, so he could not be executed. King Herod also found no guilt, so Pilate suggested he be dealt with according to Jewish law.

The Choice of the Jews:

The Jewish people were adamant that Jesus be executed, so Pilate, in an attempt to save Jesus, presented a choice to the people. They could either kill Barabbas, a murderer, or Jesus, a revolutionary. They chose the latter.

The Torment of Jesus

As was typical of Roman executions, Jesus was whipped, spat at, insulted and assaulted. The most famous instance of this torment is his crown of thorns, placed on his head to mock his status as "King of the Jews".

The Crucifixion of Jesus

Eventually, after travelling with the cross on his back, Jesus was nailed to the cross. While hanging, he spoke with two other men being executed, and ultimately promised one of them a place in heaven. After several hours, Jesus spoke his last words: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). The thick temple curtain then tore in two, the sky went dark, the earth shook, and Jesus died. He was stabbed in the side by a Roman guard and pronounced dead.

The Entombment of Jesus:

The final event on Good Friday is Jesus' "burial". Jews practice same day burials, so Jesus' body was prepared and he was placed in a tomb donated by Joseph. Finally, a large stone was rolled in front of the entrance to prevent grave-robbing.

Several of these events are represented by the stations of the cross, which are displayed in the image above.

Good Friday is considered to be aliturgical, therefore the Eucharist is consecrated at an earlier date. Typically, the Veneration of the Cross is done by bowing or even kissing a cross to honour and acknowledge Jesus' sacrifice.

"The crowd shouted for Barabbas that day because truth demands certain things from us. It calls us to grow up, to stretch and reexamine our innermost motives and to make sacrifices when we’d rather not... because there’s comfort in conformity"(Goshay)

The Easter Vigil consists of four parts:

• The Service of Light

• Liturgy of the Word

• Liturgy of Baptism

• Liturgy of the Eucharist

During the Service of Light, a cross, the current year, and the signs for alpha and omega are cut into the Paschal Candle. The candle is then lit by the priest, who says, " May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds". After this, the Easter Proclamation is proclaimed. The Liturgy of the word is delivered, then the Liturgy of Baptism, and finally the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

The Liturgy of Baptism includes the blessing of the water, the baptism of new Christians and the sprinkling of water on the congregation. Then, the congregation partakes in the Eucharist.

On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the fact that Jesus died but rose again, and took away the sins of the world. He was crucified like a criminal, but rose victorious over the grave, and made it possible for peoples' sins to be forgiven and be allowed to go to Heaven.

When the rock was moved from the tomb, the disciples found that Jesus was no longer there. Originally, they thought that tomb raiders stole His body, but then an angel appeared to them and told them that He had risen.

Jesus fulfilled the need for salvation in the world, and for a saviour to save people from their sins and allow them to be forgiven. Easter celebrates the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made of His life so that this could be made possible.

• sacrifice

• resurrection

• God

• Jesus

• prayer

• miracles