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The chocolate eggs will be in the shops before we know it,

but is that really all Easter is about?

 

Hover your cursor over the cross by each question for the answer.  Answers also appear at the bottom.

 

1. On which day is it traditional to make pancakes?

1. c) Shrove Tuesday - Pancakes were made to use up the last of the eggs and butter before the Lenten fast. People would feast on meat and other rich foods, hence the name Mardi Gras - or Fat Tuesday - in French. The absence of eggs from the fasting diet could also have some part in the association of eggs with Easter.a) Good Friday

b) Ash Wednesday

c) Shrove Tuesday

d) Maundy Thursday

 

2. What are the 40 days before Easter known as?

2. b) Lent - Lent lasts for forty days before Easter, excluding Sundays, as they are considered to be 'festival' days. It begins on Ash Wednesday, the day after Shrove Tuesday. In the Catholic Church it ends on Maundy Thursday, whereas in the Anglican Church it ends on Easter Eve. Lent is a season of restricting the diet, as opposed to strict fasting. Nowadays people give up certain foods that they enjoy; in the past they would have given up meat, eggs, butter, fish and oil, amongst other things. Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days to fast and pray before beginning his ministry.a) The Exodus

b) Lent

c) Jubilee

d) Mardi Gras

 

3. What does Palm Sunday celebrate?

3. a) Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a colt - Palm Sunday (also known as Passion Sunday) is the Sunday before Easter and is the starting-point of the passion story. In the Revised English Bible, Mark 11 v7, it says that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt: 'So they brought the colt to Jesus, and when they had spread their cloaks on it he mounted it.'a) Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a colt

b) Jesus riding into Bethlehem on a donkey

c) A traditional Jewish festival when people laid fresh palms in their homes on their floors

d) A traditional Roman festival when dates were eaten

 

4. Jesus was crucified on

4. c) Good Friday - Jesus' crucifixion is remembered on Good Friday; Easter Sunday celebrates his resurrection. In England it is traditional to eat hot cross buns on Good Friday.a) Easter

b) Passover

c) Good Friday

d) Black Friday

 

5. Easter is celebrated on

5. d) it all depends on the moon - The date of Easter Sunday is on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox on the 21st March. (This is calculated by the Church, and does not always correspond with the astronomical equinox.) In the Eastern tradition Easter is celebrated on a different day from the Western Christian Church, as the Eastern Church still uses the Julian calendar. Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25. a) the same date each year

b) the third Sunday in April

c) the fourth Sunday in April

d) it all depends on the moon

 

6. For how many pieces of silver did Judas Iscariot betray Jesus?

6. b) 30 - In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 26 verse 15 it describes how Judas went to the Chief Priests and they weighed out thirty pieces of silver for him. Judas later realized what he had done and no longer wanted the money, so it was used to buy the Potter's Field (also known as the Blood Acre) where foreigners were buried. The thirty pieces of silver as the price on Jesus' head had been prophesied by Jeremiah.a) 25

b) 30

c) 20

d) 100

 

7. What does Gethsemane mean?

7. b) press of oils - The Garden of Gethsemane is on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives, and so was planted with many olive trees (It is believed that some of those trees still produce olives today.) and had lots of olive presses as well. Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane after singing the Passover hymns, to pray. It was in this garden that they came to arrest him, following Judas' betrayal. a) place of the skull

b) press of oils

c) beautiful garden

d) olive grove

 

8. What color was the cloak that Jesus wore when he went to the cross?

8. d) Purple - In John 19 v2 and v5 it describes the cloak as purple; the soldiers put the cloak on Jesus after he had been flogged, along with a crown of thorns. Purple was an expensive color dye to produce, and so was only worn by those rich enough to afford it. It is significant that Jesus was dressed in this royal color at this time. The Romans chose this color robe because they said he claimed to be king. This could also be a reason for the soldiers drawing lots for Jesus' clothes after his death. In church now, purple is the colour of Advent and Lent, as Christians prepare for their King.a) Green

b) Black

c) White

d) Purple

 

9. Who helped Jesus carry his cross?

9. d) Simon of Cyrene - Simon of Cyrene is named as the father of Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15 v21), although it is not known who Alexander and Rufus were. As Jesus had undergone so much suffering, he was in no fit state to carry his own cross, so the soldiers pressed Simon of Cyrene into service. This may have been common practice, as a huge cross would have been very weighty for even the strongest man. a) Joseph of Arimathea

b) Saul of Tarsus

c) Simon the Zealot

d) Simon of Cyrene

 

10. Who rolled away the stone from the mouth of the grave in which Jesus had been placed?

10. a) An angel - Matthew 28 v2 says, "Suddenly there was a violent earthquake; an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone, and sat down on it." The importance of Easter exceeds that of Christmas in the minds of Christians, because of the significance of the resurrection.a) An ange

b) A soldier

c) The gardener

d) Joseph of Arimathea

 

 

11. What Jewish festival was Jesus celebrating shortly before He was arrested and sentenced to be crucified?

11. b) Passovera) Feast of First Fruits

b) Passover

c) Purim

d) Yom Kipper

 

 

12. Where was the Last Supper held?

12. b) Jerusalema) Bethany

b) Jerusalem

c) Galilee

d) Judea

 

 

13. Where was Jesus praying when he was arrested by armed men?

13. b) Gethsemane, a garden near the Mount of Olivesa) On a hill called Calvary

b) Gethsemane, a garden near the Mount of Olives

c) The temple in Bethany

d) At the Jordan River

 

 

14. What condemned prisoner did Pontius Pilate release just before sentencing Jesus to die on a cross?

14. a) Barabbas - Matt 27:26 - This man was a representation of the type of people that Christ died for... the sinners. a) Barabbas

b) Simon of Cyrene

c) Zechariah

d) Barnabas

 

15. What holy day marks the end of the 40-day period following Easter?

15. b) Ascension Daya) Annunciation

b) Ascension Day

c) Atonement Day

d) Maundy Thursday

 

 

16. What Christian festival commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles?

16. a) Pentecosta) Pentecost

b) Maundy Thursday

c) Resurrection

d) Shrove Tuesday

 

 

17. At Christ's crucifixion what did the soldiers place on his head?

17. b) Crown of Thorns - They 'plaited' a crown of thorns which means 'woven together'. A crown was worn by kings and commonly made from precious stones and metals. To ridicule the idea that Jesus was a king they probably plucked up the nearest thorn-bush and made it into something resembling a royal crown to mock him further. (Matt 27:29)a) Crown of Gold
b) Crown of Thorns
c) Crown of Jewels
d) Crown of Thistles

 

 

18. For what of Christ's did the soldiers cast lots?

18. a) Clothes - Matt 27:35 – This was a fulfillment of Ps 22:18 a) Clothes
b) Jewels
c) Donkey
d) Cross

 

 

19. How did Judas betray Christ?

19. c) With a kiss -  Perhaps Judas thought he could hide his betrayal in a sign of affection. (Luke 22:47-48)a) By pointing at him
b) Described him to the authorities
c) With a kiss
d) Shook his hand

 

 

20. Christ was led away to which high priest first?

20. a) Annas - John 18:13 - Although in Matthew's gospel record it is said that he was led away to Caiaphas, John gives us a little extra information. Annas for whatever reason was still recognised as a high priest (see Luke 3:2)a) Annas
b) Vitellius
c) Caiaphas
d) Josephus

 

 

21. What was inscribed above the cross?

21. b) King of the Jews – (John 19:19)a) Prince of the Jews
b) King of the Jews
c) Savior of the Jews
d) Captain of the Jews

 

 

22. When Jesus died, for how long was there darkness over the land?

22. c) 3 hours – (Luke 23:44)a) 3 days
b) 3 minutes
c) 3 hours
d) 3 weeks

 

 

23. What was the name of the man who requested Jesus' body for burial?

23. b) Joseph - Joseph, a rich man of Arimathaea (Matt 27:57-58)a) Nicodemus
b) Joseph
c) Philip
d) Jonathan

 

 

24. Who of these was first on the scene after resurrection of Christ?

24. d) Mary Magdalene – (John 20:1)a) Simon Peter
b) Cleopas
c) Judas Iscariot
d) Mary Magdalene

 

 

25. After Pilate found no guilt in Christ, for what reason did the Jews say that Jesus should die?

25. d) He had made himself the Son of God - The Jews considered the adoption of this title as blasphemy.  (John 19:7a) He claimed to be of heaven
b) He said he would destroy the temple of God
c) He claimed to be their King
d) He had made himself the Son of God

 

 

26. With what was Jesus' side pierced?

26. c) Spear - John 19:34 a) Sword
b) Knife
c) Spear
d) Axe

 

 

27. In what was Jesus wrapped before he was buried?

27. b) Linen clothes - Mark 15:46 a) Goat skins
b) Linen clothes
c) Sheep skins
d) Golden robes

 

 

28. Which disciple wanted to see the imprint of the nails before he would believe?

28. b) Thomas - John 20:27 a) Andrew
b) Thomas
c) James
d) Bartholomew

 

 

29. Jesus appeared to his disciples after the resurrection beside which sea?

29. c) Sea of Tiberias - Which is also called the Sea of Galilee, being situated in Galilee. (John 21:1)a) Red Sea
b) Sea of Joppa
c) Sea of Tiberias
d) Dead Sea

 

 

30. Who did Pilate send Jesus to after he had interrogated him?

30. a) Herod - Luke 23:7 a) Herod
b) Annas
c) Caiaphas
d) Caesar

 

 

31. For how long did Jesus remain after his resurrection before he ascended into heaven?

31. c) 40 days - Acts 1:3a) 7 days
b) 14 days
c) 40 days
d) 49 days

 

 

32. What is burned to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday?

32. a) Palms from the previous year's Palm Sundaya) Palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday
b) Cedar wood
c) Slips of paper on which prayers have been written
d) Scraps of fabic

 

 

ANSWERS

 

 

1. c) Shrove Tuesday - Pancakes were made to use up the last of the eggs and butter before the Lenten fast. People would feast on meat and other rich foods, hence the name Mardi Gras - or Fat Tuesday - in French. The absence of eggs from the fasting diet could also have some part in the association of eggs with Easter.

 

2. b) Lent - Lent lasts for forty days before Easter, excluding Sundays, as they are considered to be 'festival' days. It begins on Ash Wednesday, the day after Shrove Tuesday. In the Catholic Church it ends on Maundy Thursday, whereas in the Anglican Church it ends on Easter Eve. Lent is a season of restricting the diet, as opposed to strict fasting. Nowadays people give up certain foods that they enjoy; in the past they would have given up meat, eggs, butter, fish and oil, amongst other things. Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days to fast and pray before beginning his ministry.

 

3. a) Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a colt - Palm Sunday (also known as Passion Sunday) is the Sunday before Easter and is the starting-point of the passion story. In the Revised English Bible, Mark 11 v7, it says that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt: 'So they brought the colt to Jesus, and when they had spread their cloaks on it he mounted it.'

 

4. c) Good Friday - Jesus' crucifixion is remembered on Good Friday; Easter Sunday celebrates his resurrection. In England it is traditional to eat hot cross buns on Good Friday.

 

5. d) it all depends on the moon - The date of Easter Sunday is on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox on the 21st March. (This is calculated by the Church, and does not always correspond with the astronomical equinox.) In the Eastern tradition Easter is celebrated on a different day from the Western Christian Church, as the Eastern Church still uses the Julian calendar.  Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25.

 

6. b) 30 - In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 26 verse 15 it describes how Judas went to the Chief Priests and they weighed out thirty pieces of silver for him. Judas later realized what he had done and no longer wanted the money, so it was used to buy the Potter's Field (also known as the Blood Acre) where foreigners were buried. The thirty pieces of silver as the price on Jesus' head had been prophesied by Jeremiah.

 

7. b) press of oils - The Garden of Gethsemane is on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives, and so was planted with many olive trees (It is believed that some of those trees still produce olives today.) and had lots of olive presses as well. Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane after singing the Passover hymns, to pray. It was in this garden that they came to arrest him, following Judas' betrayal.

 

8. d) Purple - In John 19 v2 and v5 it describes the cloak as purple; the soldiers put the cloak on Jesus after he had been flogged, along with a crown of thorns. Purple was an expensive colour dye to produce, and so was only worn by those rich enough to afford it. It is significant that Jesus was dressed in this royal colour at this time. The Romans chose this colour robe because they said he claimed to be king. This could also be a reason for the soldiers drawing lots for Jesus' clothes after his death. In church now, purple is the colour of Advent and Lent, as Christians prepare for their King.

 

9. d) Simon of Cyrene - Simon of Cyrene is named as the father of Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15 v21), although it is not known who Alexander and Rufus were. As Jesus had undergone so much suffering, he was in no fit state to carry his own cross, so the soldiers pressed Simon of Cyrene into service. This may have been common practice, as a huge cross would have been very weighty for even the strongest man.

 

10. a) An angel - Matthew 28 v2 says, "Suddenly there was a violent earthquake; an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone, and sat down on it." The importance of Easter exceeds that of Christmas in the minds of Christians, because of the significance of the resurrection.

 

11. b) Passover

 

12. b) Jerusalem

 

13. b) Gethsemane, a garden near the Mount of Olives

 

14. a) Barabbas - Matt 27:26 - This man was a representation of the type of people that Christ died for... the sinners.

 

15. b) Ascension Day

 

16. a) Pentecost

 

17. b) Crown of Thorns - They 'plaited' a crown of thorns which means 'woven together'. A crown was worn by kings and commonly made from precious stones and metals. To ridicule the idea that Jesus was a king they probably plucked up the nearest thorn-bush and made it into something resembling a royal crown to mock him further. (Matt 27:29)

 

18. a) Clothes - Matt 27:35 – This was a fulfillment of Ps 22:18

 

19. How did Judas betray Christ?

 

19. c) With a kiss -  Perhaps Judas thought he could hide his betrayal in a sign of affection. (Luke 22:47-48)

 

20. a) Annas - John 18:13 - Although in Matthew's gospel record it is said that he was led away to Caiaphas, John gives us a little extra information. Annas for whatever reason was still recognised as a high priest (see Luke 3:2)

 

21. b) King of the Jews – (John 19:19)

 

22. c) 3 hours – (Luke 23:44)

 

23. b) Joseph - Joseph, a rich man of Arimathaea (Matt 27:57-58)

 

24. d) Mary Magdalene – (John 20:1)

 

25. d) He had made himself the Son of God - The Jews considered the adoption of this title as blasphemy.  (John 19:7

 

26. c) Spear - John 19:34

 

27. b) Linen clothes - Mark 15:46

 

28. b) Thomas - John 20:27

 

29. c) Sea of Tiberias - Which is also called the Sea of Galilee, being situated in Galilee. (John 21:1)

 

30. a) Herod - Luke 23:7

 

31. c) 40 days - Acts 1:3

 

32. a) Palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday

 

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