Daniel Darling - The Characters of Easter: The Villains, Heroes, Cowards, and Crooks Who Witnessed Historys Biggest Miracle

Dan Darling is such a delight to read! With eloquence and clarity, he gives us a tour of the many characters who witnessed the most important event in human historyJesus resurrection. Readers will be blessed to pick up this book!

JONATHAN PENNINGTON

Professor of New Testament at Southern Seminary; Spiritual Formation Pastor, Sojourn East

How often do we know the style and traditions of Easter, pastel colors, spring dresses, and seersucker suits, more than we know the actual characters involved in the story of our Lords resurrection? The ultimate importance of Easter is that the tomb is empty, but there is so much more to the story that Dan Darling unlocks to help us see the significance of all those involved in the story leading up to the Super Bowl of Christianity, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Im looking forward to using The Characters of Easter as a primary reference for preaching a sermon series leading up to Easter, and Im thankful he wrote this book.

DEAN INSERRA

Author of The Unsaved Christian; founding pastor of City Church Tallahasee

How fitting that a book about the resurrection makes the characters come alive! In The Characters of Easter, Dan Darling manages to make the most important theological event in history equally accessible to the person whos learning the story for the first time and the seasoned theologian who has studied it carefully for years. Filled with thoughtful and practical insights, this book will fuel the readers passion for the passion story.

HERSHAEL W. YORK

Dean of the School of Theology and Professor of Preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Senior Pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church

I dont know how it happened. But somewhere along the way, I became numb to the wonder of Easter. I still believed that Jesus rose from the grave, but the miracle no longer moved and amazed me the way it once did. The Characters of Easter was the perfect antidote for my spiritual stupor. Darlings vivid portraits of the people present at the first Easter brought the momentous event to life for me. I learned fascinating details about the ancient world and received fresh insights about Jesus friend and enemies. In the end, The Characters of Easter renewed my gratitude for Christs sacrifice and resurrection and left me worshiping in the light of the empty tomb. I know it will do the same for you.

DREW DYCK

Editor; author of Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science

2021 by
DANIEL DARLING

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible, copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible and CSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.

Published in association with the literary agency of Wolgemuth & Associates.

Edited by Elizabeth Cody Newenhuyse

Interior design: Puckett Smartt

Cover design: Thinkpen Design

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Darling, Daniel, 1978- author.

Title: The characters of Easter : the villains, heroes, cowards, and crooks who witnessed historys biggest miracle / Daniel Darling.

Description: Chicago : Moody Publishers, [2021] | Includes bibliographical references. | Summary: In The Characters of Easter, youll become acquainted with the unlikely collection of ordinary people who witnessed the miracle of Christs death and resurrection. Enter their stories and ultimately draw closer to Christ Himself as you encounter His Passion through their experiences-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020036953 (print) | LCCN 2020036954 (ebook) | ISBN 9780802423641 (paperback) | ISBN 9780802499721 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Jesus Christ--Friends and associates. | Jesus Christ--Crucifixion. | Jesus Christ--Resurrection. | Jesus Christ--Ascension. | Jesus Christ--Appearances.

Classification: LCC BT590.F7 D37 2021 (print) | LCC BT590.F7 (ebook) | DDC 232.96--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020036953

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020036954

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This book is dedicated to my wonderful wife, Angela, who kept the home fires burning while I spent day and night working on this manuscript on a short deadline and during a global pandemic.

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