Passion

A Ransom for Many

-"You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers...with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot, He was made manifest at the end of the times for you sake" -God "shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us"

INRI

-Isesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum -Latin for "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews"

Jesus Being a Threat: In John

-Jesus claims that he is "I AM" he calls God his Father -better for one man to die than for the whole people to be destroyed

The Trail (Jewish Authority)

-Jesus is found guilty of blasphemy -the word "blasphemy" in ancient Greek literally means "insulting or saying bas things about God" -the punishment prescribed in the Hebrew Bible for blasphemy is to be stoned to death -Jesus directly admits than he is "the Christ, the Son of the Blessed"

Anointing Main Point

-Jesus is prepared for burial -this event then foreshadows and prepares Jesus for his crucifixion and burial

Jesus the Paschal Lamb

-Jesus is the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world -the Gospel of John clearly points to this theology as John the Baptist points to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, also, Jesus dies at the same time as the Passover Lambs are being slaughtered

The Blood and Water John

-Jesus legs are not broken because he is already dead and to fulfill prophesy of the Paschal Lamb, after the lance is thrust into Jesus blood and water flow from his side, Catholics have pointed to the symbloism of the saving grace of the Eucharist and baptism through blood and water -the Lamb of God with no broken bones

Theology of Jesus' Death

-Jesus physical suffering is great, however; he also experience a much greater spiritual suffering by taking on the sins of the word -by his loving obedience to the Father, "unto death, even on a cross," Jesus fulfills the atoning mission of the Suffering Servant, who will "make many righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities

The Last Supper

-Jesus sends some disciples into Jerusalem to prepare for his last meal; in all three Synoptics -all three Synoptics show Jesus speaking the blessing prayers, and saying the bread and wine is his own body and blod

Jesus Taken Down from the Cross

-Joseph of Arimathea, takes the body of Jesus to his tomb -However, because of the time of day they had to do so speedily as the Sabbath was near -Jewish custom would not allow work on the Sababbath as to anoint the bosy

Matthew and Mark with Psalm 22

-My God My God why have you forsaken me? -in Mark and Matthew these are the words of Jesus on the Cross, however; they need to be taken in the context of the Psalm -it starts in suffering but ends praising God

The Passion

-Passion Narrative -an important part of the Paschal Mystery -as Jesus suffered and died for the atonement of humanities sin

The Cenurion

-a Roman centurion who witnessed the scene declares, "Truly this man was the Son of God" or "...was innocent or righteous" -the theological importance depends on the Gospel

The Temple Curtain is Torn in Two

-after Jesus death we read that the curtain is torn in two -this is the establishment and widening of the covenant to all people of the world, the event makes the words of the centurion all the more fitting

Eucharist

-also called the Mass or Lord's Supper, and based on a word for "thanksgiving" it is the central Christian liturgical celebration established by Jesus at the Last Supper -in this the sacrificial death and Resurrection of Jesus are both remembered and renewed -the term sometimes refers specifically to the consecrated bread and wine that have become the Body and Blood of Christ

We Now Share in the Passion

-as Pope John Paul II wrote: "In bringing about the Redemption through suffering, Christ raised human suffering to the level of the Redemption. Thus each man, in his sufferings can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ.:

Back to Pilate for Sentencing

-at Jesus sentence Pilate is hesitant to condemn him to death -however, in John the crowd points out how Jesus was considered King of the Jews, so not executing him would be an act opposing Caesar -Matthew has the quote, which has added to much anti-Semitism over the centuries, '"I am innocent of this man's blodd; see to it yourselves.' Then the people as a whole answered, 'His blood be on us and o our children."'

Simon Carried Jesus' Cross

-because Jesus was badly beaten, Simon was forced to carry his cross -in John, Jesus is in control and there is no mention of Simon

Jesus Being a Threat: Synoptic Gospels

-in Matthew's Infancy Narrative Jesus is already seen as the King of the Jews -Jesus questions the religious leaders authority and claims authority of his own -he breaks Jewish Laws

Jesus Anointed By a Woman

-in all four Gospels a woman anoints Jesus during a meal; but the woman;s identity and the time and location of the event are very different -in Mark and Matthew, two days before the Passover, in the house of Simon the leper in Bethany an anonymous woman anoints Jesus' head with expensive ointment -in Luke, it is in sinner, feet, Galilee -in John, in the house of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

Judas Plans to Betray Jesus

-in all three Synoptics, Judas Iscariot agrees to betray Jesus to the chief priests but only Matthew specifies that is was for "thirty pieced of silver" and only Luke mentions the influence of Satan on Judas -John's Gospel also mentions Satan's influence on Judas but does a not say Judas met with the high priest

The Witnesses of Jesus Death

-in the Synoptics, many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee were "looking on from afar" -however, John included John with the women at the foot of the cross

Jesus, the Suffering Servant

-look to Isaiah to see how Jesus is Suffering Servant -because of his affliction be shall, see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear...because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; and he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses

The Importance the Last Supper in Luke

-only Luke has Jesus explicitly say, "Do this in remembrance of me" -only Luke gives evidence of the Passover tradition of blessing multiple cups of wine -only Luke has much more dialogue during the Last Supper, including Jesus' prediction of Peter's denial

Washing the Apostles Feet

-only in John -during this final meal in John;s Gospel, Jesus washes all of his disciples feet -then he tells them, "I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you"

The Trial (Herod)

-only in Luke do we read that Jesus was sent to Herod -after mocking Jesus he sends him back to Pilate

The Trial (Roman)

-the Jews brought Jesus to Pilate because they could not execute Jesus -Pilate was hesitant to execute Jesus, however; after some pressure from the crowd hands him over for execution

The Agony in the Garden

-the agony shows a very human Jesus -Jesus prays that this cup should pass but is still obedient to God -Jesus is betrayed by Judas with a kiss -Matthew has Jesus calming the violence with a statement about his power to call upon legions of angels -Luke is very different in that it has angels ministering to Jesus and Jews sweat became like great drop of blood falling down on the ground

Crucifixion

-the cross was usually T-Shaped, with the cross beam placed on top of an upright post already set in the ground -the victim might be tied and or nailed to cross beam and to the upright post only John excplicity mentions "nails" and "nail marks" while Jesus may well have been tied to the cross, based on the Synoptics -crucified persons had to be guarded by soldiers, to prevent family or friends from rescuing them before they died -the charge would be affixed over the head of the condemned criminal, to serve as a warning to any onlookers: INRI

Plot to Kill Jesus

-the religious leaders, upset after the cleaning of the Temple and the Parable of the Tenants plot to kill Jesus, however; they cannot do so openly -the Passover is near -they fear the people

Last Supper Background

-this was not just any meal it was the Passover Seder, which commemorates the events of the Exodus from Egypt -the Passover Lamb was used to save the Hebrews from the Angel of Death now Jesus becomes the Paschal Lamb to save humanity from sin

Final Words in John

-to his mother: "Woman, here is your son," and to the beloved disciple: "Here is your mother." -in order to fulfill scripture: "I am thirsty." -after receiving a drink of vinegar: "It is finished."

In Luke: Last Words

-to those crucifying him: "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." -to the repentant thief: "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." -As Jesus is dying: "Father, into your hands I command my spirit."

Jesus Speaks with the Women

Luke is the only Gospel that records the words of Jesus to the women, some theologians point to Jesus compassion for the women, however; Luke has strong prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem, this is Jesus final warning to the people of Jerusalem about the future destruction of the city

redemptive love

love that is willing to give everything, even one's own life, for the sake of redeeming, saving, or setting free another person

Theological Importance: Eucharist

sacrifice because it represents the sacrifice of the cross, because it is its memorial and because it applies its fruit...the forgiveness of sin

Mocking

since Jesus was condemned for claiming to be "King of the Jews," the soldiers mock him with the symbols of royal power and authority, including a scarlet cloak, a crown, and a reed

redemptive suffering

suffering willingly taken on for the good of others

Death of Judas

the death of Jesus is only recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, however; it is also recorded outside of the Passion Narrative in the Acts of the Apostles

John's Passion

the exaltation of Jesus, how he remains in charge, driving the all action, completing the will of the Father, and being glorified as he lifted up

Luke's Passion

the innocence of Jesus, how Pilate said he did not deserve death, and others also recognize his innocence

Matthew's Passion

the kingship of Jesus, how the defacto ruling powers conspired to get rid of someone they saw as a political threat

Mark's Passion

the suffering of Jesus, how he was tragically rejected, unfairly condemned, viciously beaten, horribly insulted, and cruelty mistreated by many groups

The Passion Narrative

the sufferings of Jesus during his final days in this life: his agony in the garden at Gethsemane, his trial, and his crucifixion