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The period of Easter, also known as the Paschal Triduum, is indeed a significant time of remembrance and celebration for Christians worldwide, commemorating the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here’s a closer look at the events of the Paschal Triduum according to the Bible:
- Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday):
- Last Supper: Jesus shares a final meal with his disciples, instituting the sacrament of Holy Communion.
- Agony in the Garden: Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, experiencing anguish over his impending crucifixion.
- Good Friday:
- Betrayal and Arrest: Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus, leading to his arrest.
- Trials: Jesus faces multiple trials before Jewish and Roman authorities, culminating in his condemnation by Pontius Pilate.
- Crucifixion: Jesus is crucified at Golgotha, where he dies after enduring immense suffering.
- Burial: Jesus’s body is taken down from the cross and laid in a tomb, which is sealed and guarded by Roman soldiers.
- Holy Saturday:
- Sabbath Rest: Jesus’s body rests in the tomb on the Sabbath, while his followers mourn and observe the Sabbath.
- Easter Sunday:
- Resurrection: Jesus rises from the dead, overcoming death and fulfilling prophecies.
- Empty Tomb: Mary Magdalene and other women discover the empty tomb, encountering an angel who proclaims Jesus’s resurrection.
- Appearance to Disciples: Jesus appears to his disciples, confirming his resurrection and commissioning them to proclaim the good news.
The events of the Paschal Triduum represent the core of Christian faith, emphasizing themes of sacrifice, redemption, and hope. Jesus’s death and resurrection are central to Christian belief, symbolizing victory over sin and death, and offering the promise of eternal life to all who believe in him.