Characters Of Calvary

It was an event that occurred two thousand years ago. Yet, it's impact still changes lives today. Through this study you will learn that the cross of Christ changes people today just as it changed people who witnessed the event. You will identify with Peter, John and the host of others who saw their greatest needs met and their greatest weaknesses exposed by Jesus' crucifixion. This enjoyable study will be a hit with your small group.

What if you could transport yourself back to the first century, walking the dusty streets of Jerusalem, late on Thursday night before Passover? And what if you were tagging along behind eleven men led by Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane? You'd leave the Upper Room and go deep into the Kidron Valley to the garden. There the temple police and a half-crazed crowd arrive brandishing torches. Jesus is taken to the palace of Annas and then to the High Priest Caiaphas. What insight do we gain from history, archaeology, and most importantly the New Testament about where they lived? In the morning Jesus would be sent to the Chamber of Hewn Stone. What was this place and why is it important to the Passion narratives? On to Pilate's Judgment Hall where new archaeological evidence questions its traditional location. You pick up the trail again on the Via Dolorosa and follow Jesus to Jerusalem's killing field. There you find the Savior dying on a Roman cross. In just a few hours you have followed him from the Upper Room to Joseph's tomb and have gained valuable insight into each stopover to help you on your own journey to Calvary.

In his last week on Earth, Jesus knew the end was near. He knew the finality of Friday, but did he also know the victory of Sunday? Join bestselling author and pastor Max Lucado invites you to walk with Jesus in the week leading up to the crucifixion: feeling his passion, sensing his authority, and hearing his promise that death has no power. On Calvary's Hill paints a picture of Jesus in his final week: Jesus was commonly dressed but uncommonly focused. Leaving Jericho and walking toward Jerusalem, he doesn't chatter or pause. He's on his final journey. Even the angels are silent. They know this is no ordinary walk or week--hinged on this week is the door of eternity. With excerpts from Max's bestsellers, including 3:16, He Chose the Nails, and Just Like Jesus, On Calvary's Hill will take you into Jesus' last week, from the road to Jerusalem to the resurrection. Each reading includes a timeless verse, an in-depth reading, and a thoughtful prayer designed to help you draw near to the Savior and prepare to celebrate the resurrection--the greatest miracle ever conceived. As we observe Jesus' last week, Max challenges us to face difficult questions, including: When betrayal comes, what can we do? Why is the cross a symbol of Christianity? What would it feel like to witness this scene firsthand? Let's follow Jesus on his final journey. By observing his, we may learn how to make ours.