This book is great for personal devotions, Bible Study, or preparing sermons. It features a Harmony of the passion and resurrection of Jesus. It is compiled from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It tells the story of our Lord from the events before Palm Sunday to the Easter resurrection and beyond. It includes Paul's references to the appearances of Jesus after his resurrection, the ascension into heaven and Mark's Longer Ending.

Also included are some notes on various questions that arise when you try to make a Harmony of the passion and resurrection. Not everything fits together that easily. Scholars have long puzzled about some parts of our story. This book will talk more about this. The paradox here is that the four Gospels were not originally written to be harmonized and blended together. They are each unique, distinct, and special. They each show us something different about Jesus and reveal important insights. The Holy Spirit designed them this way, and that is what makes Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John so powerful.

However, and this is the other side of the paradox, it is also powerful when you read the whole story of the passion and resurrection all at once. That is why the "Harmony of the Passion" is read aloud at Good Friday services. When you hear about everything Jesus did for our salvation, you are awestruck and filled with wonder.

Also included in this book are several sermons which explain many of these events and apply them to our spiritual life. That is the whole point of the passion and resurrection narratives - they tell the story about the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. His death and resurrection are what the Bible is all about. It's all about Jesus the Messiah and his saving work.

The four Gospels of the New Testament tell the story of Jesus of Nazareth. They describe real events and actual people. The Gospels are not fiction. Here we are dealing with historical truth. All of these events really occurred, and all of these words were truly spoken. As we look at the story of the passion and resurrection of our Lord, we will examine some key points where people ask questions. It can be a bit confusing trying to match up the sequence of events.

This is especially true on Easter morning, when there is a lot going on, and people are running back and forth all over the place. Also, during Palm Sunday, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the trial of Jesus, where there is so much that is occurring. One important point to remember is that the Gospel writers are not strictly chronological when they describe the many events in the life of Jesus. The Gospels often structure their stories around major themes and patterns. They are often topical in their presentation. What Jesus did is more important than when he did it. These stories may jump around a bit. And sometimes a story is split up and something else is inserted inside of it to make an important point. The Gospels are not like a modern biography, which are very linear. They tell the story of the ministry of Jesus, and they explain it to us in their own manner and style.

Reading and studying the events of the passion of the Christ and his resurrection is highly rewarding. There is so much here for us to reflect upon and take to heart. And Jesus the Messiah stands at the center of it all. Our Lord fulfills the Old Testament promises and he ushers in God's new covenant with all of humanity. Read now once again the greatest story ever told, and you will be richly blessed.