Chapter Nine The Cross

Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem Palm Sunday

1. Last Supper Holy Thursday 2. Agony in Garden 3. Arrest

Good Friday 1. Trial/ Condemnation 2. Crucifixion/Death 3. Burial

Holy Saturday Jesus lies in the tomb

Easter Sunday Jesus rises from the dead

Sections of Chapter Nine III Good Friday I Introduction: II Holy Thursday IV Understanding the Cross “The Road to the Cross”

Jesus, a man of love and peace, seemed to cause conflict and I Introduction: A. A man of Peace How Come? “The Road to the Cross” 193 tension wherever he went.

1. Jesus’ opinions on almost every important issue conflicted with those of the people in power. I Introduction “The Road to the Cross” A. He caused conflict

2. Jesus made the outcasts of society the cornerstone of his message about the Kingdom. I Introduction “The Road to the Cross” A. He caused conflict

3. Jesus claimed for himself a position of authority above the religious and political powers of his day. A. He caused conflict

1. Passion accounts are much more extensive and detailed than the other parts of the gospels. I Introduction: B. The Literary Style of the Passion Accounts 194 (A. A Man of peace, He caused conflict)

2. The gospels seem keyed to these events -- everything seems to lead up to them. I Introduction: B. The Literary Style of the Passion Accounts 194

3. The writing style of passion accounts is different from typical stories short sayings, parables. I Introduction: B. The Literary Style of the Passion Accounts 194

4. Why did the Evangelists use a different style in the passion stories? I Introduction: B. The Literary Style of the Passion Accounts 194 Three answers:

4. Why did the Evangelists use a different style in the passion stories? 194 Three answers: Since Jesus’ death and resurrection are at the heart of the Christian story, His crucifixion had to be carefully explained to early believers. i

4. Why did the Evangelists use a different style in the passion stories? 194 Three answers: What happened to Jesus was contrary to all expectations of the Messiah, so there was an intense desire for information about his passion. ii

4. Why did the Evangelists use a different style194 for early Christians who were suffering persecution for their faith. The accounts of Jesus’ sufferings would be a source of consolation iii

5. History of the Passion accounts 195 a. The Passion accounts were probably among the first stories about Jesus to take on a consistent form.

5. History of the Passion accounts 195 b. They may well have been part of the worship of the early faith community even before they were written down.

Sections of Chapter Nine III Good Friday I Introduction: II Holy Thursday IV Understanding the Cross “The Road to the Cross”

A. The Last Supper A new covenant a. On the evening before he died, Jesus hosted a meal for his disciples. II Holy Thursday

b. The gospels tell us that this was a Passover meal (seder) A. The Last Supper A new covenant

i. The Jewish ritual meal 196 b. Passover meal commemorating the exodus

- The angel of death “passed over” the doors sprinkled with the blood of the paschal lamb 196 b. Passover meal ii the exodus

--Then God delivered the Israelites from slavery through the Red Sea to freedom. 196 b. Passover meal ii the exodus

--- In gratitude for God’s delivering them, the people of Israel pledged their loyalty to God 196 in the “Covenant.” b. Passover meal ii the exodus

c. Thus Jesus spoke of inaugurating a “new Covenant.” 196 He was linking his actions to the OT covenant that was at the heart of Jewish history. b. Passover meal A. The Last Supper 1. The New Covenant

a. The meaning of the Last Supper A. The Last Supper The Eucharist 1. The New Covenant

a. The meaning of the Last Supper 196 i. Jesus had his approaching death in mind as he gathered his disciples for that meal. 2. The Eucharist

a. The meaning of the Last Supper The Eucharist ii. Jesus made a real connection between the meal itself and his death on the cross.

b. “Do this in remembrance of ME” 196 i. When Jesus prayed the traditional prayers of blessing over the bread and over the cup, he changed the words! 2. The Eucharist (a. The meaning of the Last Supper)

b. “Do this in remembrance of ME” 196 ii. The bread and the cup were no longer to be seen as signs of the Jews’ deliverance from Egypt, but 2. The Eucharist as signs of his own death: “Do this in memory of me!”

c. The “real presence” of Christ 197 i. The various Christian churches have differing convictions about the way the risen Jesus is present in the consecrated bread and wine of the Eucharist. 2. The Eucharist

c. The “real presence” of Christ 197 i. differing convictions about … 2. The Eucharist - Protestant churches believe that the Eucharist is simply a memorial ritual, a symbol of Jesus’ giving himself to others

c. The “real presence” of Christ 197 i. differing convictions about … Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe that in this symbolic action Jesus is truly and fully present

c. The “real presence” of Christ 197 i. differing convictions about … Jesus’ body and blood are present in the consecrated bread and wine --- From the earliest days of the Church there has been an unbroken tradition that

198 Holy Thursday 3. John’s account of the last supper 2. The Eucharist 1. The New Covenant A. The Last Supper

a. Three differences from the synoptics 198 i. “The Lamb of God” 3. John: The last supper Jesus is the new paschal lamb, sacrificed to save us. John situates the last supper on the day before the Passover, i.e. on the day before the paschal lambs were sacrificed in the temple.

a. Three differences from the synoptics 198 ii. The Washing of the Feet Jesus gives us a sign of the centrality of serving others. In place of the institution of the Eucharist, John substitutes Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet.

a. Three differences from the synoptics 198 iii. The Last Supper Discourses these discourses are especially about love of God and neighbor. Chapters 14, 15 & 16 in John are a series of discourses (speeches) by Jesus. Unique to John,

B. The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane 199 A. The Last Supper Holy Thursday

B. The Agony in the Garden 199 A time of sheer terror and darkness for Jesus

B. The Agony in the Garden Jesus could read the signs - Did Jesus know he was going to die? - He could foresee the future just by looking at what was happening around him.

Jesus could read the signs Jesus knew that members of nearly every faction were opposed to him. a. The building hostility

b. The situation in Jerusalem 199 i. We can assume that his arrival caused some sort of a stir. 2. Jesus could read the signs ii. Jesus would have known that the authorities wouldn’t tolerate any civil unrest at Passover.

c. The fate of a prophet 199 i. Jesus probably recognized himself as a true prophet of Israel. 2. Jesus could read the signs ii. Since Israel repeatedly rejected prophets, Jesus would have seen it as possible or probable that he would suffer or die.

B. The Agony in the Garden Jesus could have run away a. But he stayed because he was firmly committed to doing the Father’s will. (1. Jesus could read the signs)

Jesus could have run away b. Jesus’ free acceptance of his death is central to all of Christian theology. c. He saved us only because his life was not taken by others but freely and lovingly given.

Jesus could have run away d. It seems likely that Jesus did not know with clarity and certainty that he would be raised from the dead in three days.

Jesus could have run away e. He probably foresaw his Resurrection only in the sense that he had complete trust that God would not abandon him in death.

Jesus could have run away f. Jesus felt loneliness and fear in the garden, but ultimately found consolation, strength and hope in his Father, his “abba.”

3. “Judas: Betrayer of Jesus?” a.) The widely accepted characterization of Judas is that he was a greedy, weak man who sold Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver. p. 200 B. The Agony in the Garden

b. A closer look at Judas in gospels: i) Only Matt. even mentions the 30 pieces of silver. ii) When he realizes that Jesus is likely to be executed he is filled with remorse p. 200 (a. Usual view of Judas as traitor)

b. A closer look at Judas in gospels: iii) Maybe Judas was simply trying to force a final confrontation between the Messiah and the authorities?

b. A closer look at Judas in gospels: iv) Maybe Judas miscalculated what would happen when the authorities got hold of Jesus?

v) Notice how quickly he is filled with remorse - even before Jesus is crucified!

vi) Perhaps Judas was not the purely evil, greedy monster that tradition has made him into? ?

End of Part One