Scene 1/25

@@Abraham Trusts God

The first mention of Jerusalem in the Bible is made under another name. Abraham is commanded to sacrifice his son, his only son, Isaac, on ‘one of the hills in the region of Moriah’. Jerusalem is built on the southern slopes of Mount Moriah. So our story of Easter begins with Abraham taking his son, his only son, to Jerusalem, where he is to die; by the grace of God replaced by a ram. Christians believe Jesus was God’s son, and is the sacrificial lamb sent to atone for our sins. By obeying God, Abraham learned what it was like to sacrifice your son; and maybe this is why he was called God’s friend. You share your deepest and hardest burdens only with your closest friends. Abraham was spared this grief once he understood it; Christians believe God did not spare Himself the same grief.

Scene 2/25

@@The City Of Jerusalem

Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world with a history spanning over 5000 years. Nicknamed "The Holy City," it is designated so by the three main religions of the region: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Its population of 971,800 people is comprised of 59.9% Jews, 37.2% Muslims, 1.7% Christians, and 1.1% unclassified. The city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.

Scene 3/25

@@The City Walls

In 1538, Jerusalem's city walls were rebuilt under Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire. Those walls define the Old City, which has been divided into four quarters--the Armenian, Christian, Jewish and Muslim quarters.

Scene 4/25

@@The Lord Has Need Of A Donkey

Matthew 21:1-5, 7 states: Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them.'"

All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Zechariah, saying:

"Tell the daughter of Zion,
Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey."

They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.

Scene 5/25

@@Entering Into Jerusalem

Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, as described in the Gospels, is seen as a fulfillment of the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, which foretold the Messiah's arrival on a donkey.

The choice of a donkey, rather than a horse, demonstrated his humility and his coming as a king of peace, not a king of war.

Scene 6/25

@@The People Wave Palm Branches

John 12:12 states: "A great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, and cried out,

"Hosanna!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!
The King of Israel!"

The crowd that assembled for this event had heard about the miracles that Jesus performed, like the raising of Lazarus from the dead, and enthusiastically welcomed Him.

Scene 7/25

@@Palm Trees

The symbolism of the palm branches with the account of Jesus entering Jerusalem has several nuances. One, victory; in the context of Jesus' triumph over sin and death. Two, joy and celebration; and three, royal authority: the crowd recognized his authority and messianic role.

Scene 8/25

@@Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Exterior

Some time afterward, Jesus went to the temple to have a look around. He and the twelve disciples who were with Him decided that since the hour was late that they would spend the night in Bethany and return tomorrow.

Scene 9/25

@@Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Interior

The next morning, Jesus and his disciples returned to the temple as planned and saw that it was being desecrated, most likely by sellers cheating people and taking advantage like setting the price much higher for the upcoming feast. Or perhaps it was the sellers' mere presence in the temple, turning it into a marketplace instead of a place of worship. Regardless of what was actually taking place, Jesus wasn't happy and threw the tables over in righteous indignation, declaring in Mark 11:17, "Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves."

Scene 10/25

@@The Mount of Olives

Jesus and his disciples can be found at the Mount of Olives the following day. This event is referred to as the Olivet Discourse. There, Jesus teaches them many things that are to come so they can be prepared. He told them Jerusalem would be destroyed in their lifetime, and also instructed them that after He left them He would return someday. Jesus emphasized the importance of prayer and always staying vigilant. The Mount of Olives was a special place for Jesus and His disciples, as they often gathered there for prayer and teaching, and would stay there for extended periods of time. Jesus would also go there to pray before His betrayal by Judas.

Scene 11/25

@@The Passover Supper

The popular image depicting the Last Supper was actually a Passover Seder. There, Jesus observed the feast with his disciples as was their custom. Any person who believes in Jesus can participate in a Messianic Last Supper Passover Seder. It's a very meaningful experience. This is the basic order:

1) Light a candle
2) Drink the cup of sanctification
3) Eat parsley dipped in salt water (depicting the tears of the Israelites in captivity)
4) Break the Afikomen (matzah). You will eat one half and wrap the other half)
5) Eat horseradish on matzah (bitter herbs)
6) Eat parsley with charoseth (apple, grape juice, and cinnamon mixture to remind ourselves that even during bitter circumstances we can find sweetness with God)
7) Drink the cup of plagues
8) Eat the Afikomen (Last Supper/communion bread)
9) Drink the cup of redemption (Last Supper/communion cup)
10) Drink the cup of praise

Scene 12/25

@@Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet

After the meal, Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with a towel. When He came to Simon Peter, Peter objected, asking him why are You washing my feet? Jesus answered, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Peter then agreed to allow his feet to be washed. Jesus later explained to his disciples the reason for the act in John 13:14-16, "If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

Scene 13/25

@@A Symbol of Humility

The towels that Jesus used to wash and dry the feet of His disciples are a symbol of humility and servitude. In the culture, people wore sandals and their feet often got dirty because their footwear was open. A sign of courtesy was to wash the feet of travelers when they arrived in your home. Not only was it practical it was also refreshing to the guest.

Scene 14/25

@@A Place to Reflect

After Judas left to betray Jesus, the remaining disciples slipped away to their favorite spot, the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. There they intended to pray together. Jesus asked Peter and the two sons of Zebedee to pray for Him while He went to talk with God about what was to come.

Scene 15/25

@@Praying in the Garden of Gethsemane

Jesus went off a short distance from the disciples and knelt in prayer, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." When He returned to His disciples and found them asleep, He said to Peter, "Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Jesus returned to His place of solitary prayer to continue to talk with God. "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done." When He finished His prayer He came and found his disciples asleep a second time, but didn't bother to wake them. He just returned to His prayer site and pleaded with God one last time. Afterward, Jesus rejoined His disciples and told them, "Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand."

Scene 16/25

@@Crown of Thorns

Judas arrived with a great multitude of people carrying swords and clubs. He told them 'whoever I kiss is the one to apprehend'. Judas then kissed Jesus, and the group of people then seized Jesus and took him away. The disciples fled in fear, fear that they might be seized next. Jesus was then taken before the Sanhedrin to be charged, where he was falsely accused. The crowd chanted he was worthy of death for blasphemy. Next He was taken to face Pilate where Jesus remained quiet before His accusers. Pilate asked the crowd what they wanted to do, and the crowd shouted for Jesus to be crucified.

Jesus was led away to be flogged by the soldiers. They put a scarlet robe on him and placed a crown of thorns on his head, mocking him saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then Jesus was made to carry His cross through the streets of Jerusalem to the place of His crucifixion.

Scene 17/25

@@Via Dolorosa

Via Dolorosa is a Latin phrase that means "sorrowful way" or "way of suffering." It refers to the path Jesus is believed to have taken through the streets of Jerusalem to Mount Calvary or Golgotha, the "place of the skull."

Scene 18/25

@@Three Crosses on Mount Calvary

The sky turned dark at noon and remained dark until the death of Jesus, about three o'clock in the afternoon. Burial customs decreed that the bodies needed to be buried by sundown. They had to ask Pilate for permission to bury Jesus according to their customs.

Scene 19/25

@@A Borrowed Tomb

After the soldiers confirmed that Jesus had actually died, Pilate released the body to Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, both members of the Jewish Sanhedrin. Joseph of Arimathea gave the disciples a tomb that had never been used for Jesus' burial. Once his body had been properly prepared, He was placed in the tomb, and it was sealed with a large stone. Because of rumors that Jesus would rise again, Pilate placed guards at the tomb, to deter his disciples from stealing the body and claiming he had risen from the dead.

Scene 20/25

@@The Tomb Is Empty

At first light, an angel came and rolled away the stone. The guards fainted at the sight. At different times of the day several women and disciples came to the tomb and discovered it empty. Some encountered angels, some encountered Jesus. Some didn't see anything and were troubled until that evening when Jesus came to the upper room where they had just celebrated Passover a few days before.
They all rejoiced at the sight of Jesus.

Scene 21/25

@@History Preserved

The disciple John wrote that there are many other things Jesus did which all the parchments in the world couldn't contain. 'But these accounts are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and that by believing you can have life through His name.'

Scene 22/25

@@Communion Elements

Communion, or the Lord's Supper, is a symbolic act that Christians engage in to remember the death of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 11:26 states: For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes."

The bread symbolizes His body and the grape juice symbolizes his blood, which were broken and shed for the forgiveness of sins. Communion allows the Christian to reflect on their faith and provides a deep connection with God.

Scene 23/25

@@Follow Me

John 10:27 states that: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."

When a person who is not the shepherd tries to call the sheep to him, they do not respond. But the sheep know the shepherd's voice and will immediately come running when he calls. That is such an incredible sight to see and pictures the relationship between Jesus and His followers.

Scene 24/25

@@The Wind Blows Where It Wishes

John 3:8 states that: "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going."

This verse is in reference to Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader of the Sanhedrin, about being "born again."

As a result of encountering Jesus, Nicodemus eventually became a follower of the Messiah. The wind of the Holy Spirit blew into his life and saved his soul.

Scene 25/25

@@A Reunion Feast

The Bible tells us there will be a reunion with Jesus someday, when He comes for all of His followers and takes them to be with Him forever. The account depicts a grand feast enjoyed by all. Those who love and follow Jesus are looking forward to that time, when all evil and sadness will be no more, and God will create a new Heaven and a new Earth where we will live forever with Jesus.

Ophelia has toured Jerusalem at Easter, but it is time to go home. This Event is over now, but there will be more events in PnF soon!