The Death and Resurrection of Jesus

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

Jesus is predicted to be betrayed by one of his disciples in Matthew 26:21-25. The disciple is revealed as Judas Iscariot.
The act of betrayal takes place in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus was arrested. Judas identifies Jesus to the crowd with a kiss.
During the arrest, a disciple cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant, to which Jesus responds by healing the servant’s ear and rebuking the disciple’s use of violence.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin

Jesus is taken before the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin, for trial (Matthew 26:57-68). He remains silent to the accusations until directly questioned about his messianic claims.
When asked if he is the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus responds affirmatively, leading to charges of blasphemy, which was punishable by death under Jewish law.
Pendant on the council’s decision, Jesus is sent to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, as the Sanhedrin had no authority to execute a death sentence.

Crucifixion of Jesus

Pilate, after questioning Jesus, washes his hands of the situation and gives the crowd the choice to release one prisoner. Stirred up by the chief priests and elders, the crowd chooses Barabbas over Jesus (Matthew 27:11-26).
Jesus is handed over for crucifixion, sporting a crown of thorns and a purple robe. He carries his cross to Golgotha, where he is crucified between two thieves.
At Jesus’ death, there are several miraculous signs: an earthquake, the temple veil is torn in two, and tombs open and the dead are resurrected (Matthew 27:51-54).

Resurrection of Jesus

After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and another Mary go to the tomb. An angel tells them that Jesus has risen and instructs them to tell the disciples (Matthew 28:1-10).
The tomb is found empty, except for an angel who rolls away the stone, shakes the earth, and frightens the guards.
Jesus appears to his disciples in Galilee and commissions them to make disciples of every nation and assures them of his presence until the end of the age (Matthew 28:16-20). This commission is known as the Great Commission.

These events underscore the core Christian belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus, embodying sacrifice, redemption, and the promise of eternal life. It is essential to note that each of these accounts in the Gospel of Matthew possesses theological and spiritual significance extending beyond their historical context.