Notes for Unit IX

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Notes for Unit IX: The Passion of the Messiah

IX. The Passion of the Messiah

Background

Known as the passion narratives

The story of Jesus’ suffering and death, the climax of the Gospels

Jesus’ passion was the first part of the gospels to be proclaimed and preserved by the Church.

Although minor details differ between the Gospels, they largely agree on the timing and circumstances of the story.

Main events in the passion narratives (*required; events are shared by 4 gospels)

Judas betrays Jesus.*

The Last Supper*

Jesus’ Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane*

Jesus arrested, condemned by the Sanhedrin*

Peter’s denials*

Judas regrets his actions, commits suicide.

Trial, condemnation by Pontius Pilate*

Jesus scourged, mocked*

Jesus bears the cross.*

Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus.

Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem.

Crucifixion of Jesus*

Jesus’ promise to the good thief

Jesus speaks to his mother and the beloved disciple

Jesus dies.*

Jesus’ burial*

Guarding of the tomb by Jesus’ enemies

Jesus’ enemies

among his own people, the Jews

the Sanhedrin, Jewish temple authorities in Jerusalem

the Pharisees, laymen who strictly observed the Torah

saw Jesus as violating the Law (Torah)

condemned him as a blasphemer for declaring himself God’s son, which was the same as making himself equal to God

From the Romans

Religion and politics were very intertwined in antiquity.

When Romans hear Jesus proclaimed as the King of the Jews, they see a threat

Ultimately condemned to death by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate

important note

Some Christians have blamed the entire Jewish people—past, present, and future—for the death of Jesus.

This is a form of bigotry called anti-Semitism and is condemned by the Church.

Jesus dies because of all human sin, not those of one particular group of people.

Crucifixion

Was a horrible way to die

Victim could remain on the cross for several days.

Causes of death included asphyxiation, blood loss, exposure, starvation.

Reserved for non-citizens

Was considered too brutal for citizens

Was done in public to humiliate the victim

Designed to intimidate would-be troublemakers

Was especially repulsive to Jews for two reasons

Being executed outside the city meant you were outside God’s favor

Being executed on a tree meant you were cursed by God (Deut 21:22-23)

What does it mean that Jesus died for us?

Shows how much God loves us: his willingness to sacrifice himself (John 15:12-13; Romans 5:6-10)

Accepting the punishment for our sins (Isaiah 53:4-6)

The right consequence for sin is death, symbolized by the cross.

Jesus does not deserve to die because he is sinless, yet he willingly takes our place on the cross out of love.

This teaching is called Substitutionary Atonement.

Jesus’ passion, from the Last Supper to his resurrection, is both the terms and seal of the fifth and final covenant prophesied by Jeremiah.

By wiping our slate clean, Jesus restores the Original Grace lost by Adam and Eve.

Jesus becomes one with us so that we might become one with God.

Jesus’ destruction will destroy death, allowing us to live a new life with God.

Is God’s will that Jesus should suffer, die

It’s not as if Jesus lost one battle on Good Friday and came back to win another on Easter Sunday.

Jesus struggles with the decision but says yes to God in the end.

Remains true to his humanity until the end (Philippians 2:5-11)