1. What do palm branches symbolize on Palm Sunday?
The correct answer is they were a symbol of victory in the Roman Empire.
John 12:13 and Matthew 21:8 refer to palm branches being laid on the path as Jesus rode into Jerusalem, which can now be seen as symbolic of his victory over death.
"Let these branches be for us signs of his victory; and grant that we who bear them may always acclaim Jesus Messiah by walking the way of his suffering and cross…" – from an 'Order of Worship for Palm Sunday.'
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Read how palms relate to Ash Wednesday.
2. What was Judas paid for identifying Jesus to the Roman soldier?
The correct answer is 30 pieces of silver.
According to the Gospel of Matthew, Judas went to the chief priests and agreed to hand over Jesus to soldiers in exchange for 30 pieces of silver. Judas later felt remorse for his actions and returned the silver to the high priests. The priests didn't want to return this "tainted" silver to the treasury, so they used it to purchase the burial ground called Potter's field.
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Read more about what Christians can learn from Judas.
3. The Upper Room Chapel in Nashville displays a carved wooden representation of...
The correct answer is The Last Supper.
The altar area at The Upper Room's international headquarters in Nashville, Tenn. features a nearly life-size woodcarving of The Last Supper – the scene of Jesus and his disciples eating together during the Passover and prior to his crucifixion.
The Upper Room is a United Methodist ministry which provides publications, programs, prayer support, and other resources to help believers of all ages and denominations move to a deeper level of faith and service. The Upper Room is a part of United Methodist Discipleship Ministries.
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Read how The Upper Room nurtures a global prayer movement.
4. Which was not said by Jesus the night before he died?
The correct answer is "Physician, heal thyself."
Those words are found in Luke 4:23 (CEB): "Then Jesus said to them, 'Undoubtedly, you will quote this saying to me: Doctor, heal yourself. Do here in your hometown what we've heard you did in Capernaum.'"
The gospel writers mention the others as part of Jesus' agony in the garden of Gethsemane: "Then Jesus said to him, 'Put the sword back into its place. All those who use the sword will die by the sword.'" (Matthew 26:52 CEB); "Stay alert and pray so that you won't give in to temptation. The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak." (Mark 14:38 CEB); "But Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then they came and grabbed Jesus and arrested him." (Matthew 26:50 CEB)
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Read Why did Jesus have to die?
5. What are the Stations of the Cross?
The correct answer is moments in Jesus' journey from his trial to the tomb.
The fourteen traditional Stations of the Cross, also called Way of the Cross, is a modern adaptation of a Christian tradition dating to the fifth century. Fourteen stations depict events of Jesus' trial, execution and death, from praying alone the night before to speaking to his mother and John from the cross to his burial.
Walking the "Way of the Cross" can be used as a devotion at any time for reflection on Christ's suffering and sacrifice but is most often observed on Good Friday.
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Video: The Cross: What do YOU see?
6. What does a Tenebrae service consist of?
The correct answer is extinguishing of candles.
Tenebrae is a Latin word meaning darkness or shadows. During a Tenebrae service, usually held on Good Friday, worshipers hear readings describing Jesus' final hours from his arrest through his crucifixion, death, and placement in the tomb. After each reading, a candle is extinguished, darkening the room just a little. Before the final reading the Christ candle is extinguished or removed, leaving the room completely dark. On Easter Sunday the candle is returned, a symbol of Jesus' resurrection.
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Learn more about Good Friday.
7. What does INRI mean on a crucifix?
The correct answer is Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews.
John 19:19-23 (CEB) describes the sign put above Jesus' head on the cross: "Pilate had a public notice written and posted on the cross. It read 'Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews.' Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. Therefore, the Jewish chief priests complained to Pilate, 'Don't write, The king of the Jews' but 'This man said, I am the king of the Jews.' Pilate answered, 'What I've written, I've written.'"
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Read Why did Jesus have to die?
8. Why are eggs associated with Easter?
The correct answer is all of the above.
The eggs symbolize new life, the joy of the Resurrection, and the tomb from which Jesus rose.
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Watch a lively explanation of the symbol of the Easter egg.
9. Which of these Easter hymns did Charles Wesley write?
The correct answer is "Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies."
In 1740, Charles Wesley wrote the lyrics to Hymn #173 with the original title "A Morning Hymn." Filled with Scriptural references, the hymn personifies "Sun," "Dayspring" and "Daystar" in the person of Jesus Christ and emphasizes the differences between light and darkness. After triumphing "o'er the shades of night," Jesus scatters the singers' unbelief, leaving us to shine in "the perfect day."
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Watch Charles Wesley's Gift of Music.
10. Why do some churches hold Easter sunrise services?
The correct answer is all of the above.
As the women went to the tomb early on the first Easter Sunday morning, so too many United Methodists will gather for worship before sunrise. These Easter Sunrise Services are filled with symbolism of light, renewal, and resurrection.
There are a variety of stories about the origins of Easter Sunrise Service. Many are held near water or on hillsides, making it easier for the congregation to see the sunrise. Others are held in cemeteries, a reminder of Jesus' victory over death and the resurrection to come.
