CHRISTIAN FAITH EDUCATION NOTES
The Suffering and Death of Jesus
Christ’s Passion
-Jesus’ death was not a senseless execution.
- It was a supernatural event that freed all humanity
from the bonds of death.
- Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection were at the center of
the early Church’s first preaching.
Christ’s Redemptive Death
-Jesus’ redemptive Death and Resurrection is the high
point of human history, promised from the time of
Adam and Eve’s sin.
Triumphal Entry of Jesus in Jerusalem
-Jerusalem was the center of Jewish faith and worship.
- When Jesus first arrived, crowds welcomed him as a
triumphant king.
- The Jewish leaders began looking for ways to kill Jesus
after he cast the moneychangers out of the Temple.
The Last Supper
-Early Thursday evening, Jesus gathered with the
Apostles to celebrate his last Passover.
- Jesus washed their feet to show that true leadership is
service.
- He instituted the Eucharist at this meal.
- Jesus went with his Apostles to pray in the garden at
Gethsemane.
- Judas led the Temple guards to Jesus so that they could
arrest him.
- Jesus was tried and found guilty of blasphemy by the
Sanhedrin.
Who is responsible for Jesus Death?
-Roman authorities: The Roman prefect, Pontius Pilate,
gave in to the pressure of the crowd because he viewed
Jesus as a threat to Roman authority and peaceful
relations between Jewish and Roman authorities.
- Certain Jewish officials wanted Jesus condemned for
many reasons: Jesus’ association with sinners His
exorcisms Jesus’ teaching on dietary and ritual laws His
teaching with authority His claims to be the Messiah
and even God His forgiving sins
• A Roman execution was meant to be horrible to
frighten people into obedience.
• First, Jesus was scourged or whipped, then
publicly humiliated.
• Jesus then carried his cross to Golgotha.
• Jesus died in about six hours.
• A solar eclipse and an earthquake accompanied
his death.
• Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb.
The Jewish Leaders’ Reasons
-They believed Jesus was undermining their authority
with the common people.
-They said Jesus committed blasphemy when he claimed
he had powers that belonged to God alone.
The Roman Leaders’ reasons
-As procurator, Pilate was
to send taxes to Rome and maintain the peace.
- Jesus was a threat to the peace.
- Pilate proclaimed Jesus innocent, yet he ordered the
execution.
Why would it be wrong to say that Pilate or Jews are
entirely to blame for Jesus’ death?
-Blaming Jews for the Death of Christ is a form of anti-
Semitism and is contrary to the love of Christ.
Ultimately, all people bear responsibility for Jesus’
Death since he died for the sins of us all.
The Meaning of the Cross
-The Father planned that his Son would die so that we
might be free from death.
- Our salvation comes through the death and
Resurrection of Jesus.
Overview of the Passion Narratives
The Evangelists agree on essential details of the events
of the Passion:
-Jesus’ arrest Questioning by the high priest
- Trials before Sanhedrin and Pontius Pilate
- Condemnation Crucifixion
- Death
- Burial
However, each shaped the events of Christ’s Passion in
order to emphasize certain theological points.
Matthew and Mark
-Stress Jesus’ abandonment
- Judas’s betrayal
- Disciples falling asleep in the garden
- Peter’s denial
- Disciples flee upon arrest Jesus mocked by soldiers
- Vindication in the end
- Temple veil torn in two Roman centurions confesses,
“Truly this man was the Son of God!”
Luke
-Portrays apostles more favorably:
- Disciples fall asleep only once (because of grief)
-Emphasizes Jesus’ compassion during his Passion:
Jesus healing servant’s ear in the garden Comforts
women on the way to Calvary
- Promises paradise to Good Thief Prays for forgiveness
for his executioners
John
-Portrays Jesus in control of events: “I lay down my life
in order to take it up again” (Jn 10:17)
- When asked about his identity, Jesus says “I AM” (the
divine name), causing the soldiers to fall to the ground
- Jesus tells Peter to put the sword away
- He entrusts Mary to John His last words: “It is finished”
(Jn 19:30)
Tracing the Events of Our Salvation
The Paschal Mystery of Christ’s Passion, Death, and
Resurrection are the central part of God’s eternal plan
and are revealed in each of the Gospels. Matthew 26-27
provides an especially descriptive account of these
events:
1. Jesus arrives in Jerusalem during the week of
Passover, the Jewish feast celebrating God’s delivery of
the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
-He sends two disciples ahead to retrieve a colt for him
to ride.
- People lay down palms as he enters the city.
- Jesus chases moneychangers out of the Temple.
- Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (Mt 21:1-13)
2. Conspiracy against Jesus (Mt 26:1-5)
-Jewish authorities scheme how to arrest Jesus without
causing a riot.
3. Jesus’ anointing at Bethany (Mt 26:6-13)
- Woman anoints Jesus’ with expensive oil
- Disciples criticize the waste, but Jesus commends the
woman for anointing him for burial
4. Judas’s betrayal (Mt 26:14-16)
- Betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver
- His actions were influenced by Satan
5. Last Supper (Mt 26:17-35)
- Jesus plans the meal (shows he is in control)
- At the meal Jesus foretells his betrayal
Jesus celebrates the Passover meal and institutes the
Eucharist as the memorial of his sacrifice
6. Agony in the garden and Jesus’ arrest (Mt 26:36-56)
- Jesus prays that the cup pass from him yet resolves to
obey God’s will
- Disciples fall asleep three times
- Judas leads the armed crowd and betrays Jesus with a
kiss
- Jesus reprimands Peter for drawing his sword
7. Jesus before the Sanhedrin and Peter’s denial (Mt
26:57-27:10)
- Hearings before former high priest Annas, current high
priest Caiaphas, and Sanhedrin
- False witnesses brought against Jesus
- Jesus convicted of blasphemy in the end
- Meanwhile, Peter denies Jesus three times
8. Jesus before Pilate (Mt 27:11-31)
- Jesus brought to Pontius Pilate on charges of sedition
- Pilate sends Jesus to Herod Antipas, who sends Jesus
back without condemning him
- Pilate gives the crowd the choice to have Jesus or
Barabbas released—Barabbas is chosen
- Pilate gives in to the crowd’s chants to crucify Jesus
- Soldiers mock and abuse Jesus
9. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (Mt 27:32-56)
- Simon of Cyrene was forced to help carry the cross
because Jesus was so weak
- Jesus refuses wine mixed with gall (painkiller) soldiers
cast lots for Jesus’ garments
10. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
- Jesus is crucified between two criminals Inscription
placed above his head: “King of the Jews”
- Before dying Jesus recites a line from Psalm 22: “My
God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
- Jesus dies and the Temple veil is rent
- Jesus’ mother Mary, apostle John, and some other
disciples present at the cross
11. Burial (Mt 27:57-66)
- Joseph of Arimathea goes to Pilate to ask for Jesus’
body
- The body is hurriedly prepared since Sabbath began at
sundown
Jesus, the Suffering Servant
-The first Christians recalled the “Suffering Servant”
passages in Isaiah.
- These verses describe a servant of the Lord who suffers
- to save the people from their sins.
Jesus, the Paschal Lamb
-The first Christians also recalled the Passover story.
- The Israelites had sacrificed a Paschal, or Passover,
Lamb at God’s command.
- They put its blood on their doorposts to escape the
death of the firstborn.
Jesus, the Ransom for Many
-For Romans, a ransom was the price paid to release a
slave.
- Jesus paid God the price of our freedom; we are no
longer “owned” by sin and death.
Why did the Father allow his son to suffer?
-Our first parents’ Original Sin necessitated Jesus’
sacrifice.
- The Father allowed his Son’s death in order to destroy
the power of death.
- Jesus Christ freely accepted his Passion and death.