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Most Christians consider the death of Jesus, followed by his resurrection, the cornerstone of their faith and the most important event in history.

According to the Gospels, Jesus and his followers went to Jerusalem the week of the Passover where they were eagerly greeted by a crowd. In Jerusalem, Jesus cleansed the Temple, and predicted its destruction - heightening conflict with the Jewish authorities who were plotting his death.

After sharing his last meal with his disciples, Jesus went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane where he was betrayed by his disciple Judas Iscariot and arrested by the temple guard on orders from the Sanhedrin and the high priest Caiaphas. Jesus was convicted by the Sanhedrin of blasphemy and transferred to the Roman governor Pilate, who had him crucified for inciting rebellion. Jesus died by late afternoon and was entombed.

Christians believe that God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day, that Jesus appeared to his apostles and other disciples, commissioned his disciples to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son (Jesus) and of the Holy Spirit.”[21] and ascended to heaven. Christians also believe that God sent the disciples the Holy Spirit (or Paraclete).

The purpose of this death and resurrection is described in various doctrines of atonement. Some see Jesus as a Sacrifice or substitutionary atonement made to purify humanity like many other sacrifices described in the Old Testament. Others see Jesus’ dying and suffering on the cross as a sign and demonstration from God that he was willing to endure the sin and punishment because of his agape (parental, self-sacrificing) love for humanity. In another interpretation of Jesus’ death and resurrection, The Book of John compares the crucifixion of Jesus to the lifting up of the Nehushtan (brass serpent) saying that “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:14 - John 3:16)