Chapter 10

Introduction  The Passion is the word used to describe Jesus’ suffering and death  Catholics have the image of Jesus on the Cross, known as the corpus, to help them remember what Jesus did for us.  The Stations of the Cross and the Rosary helps us reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ death.  On Good Friday, we strip the churches of statues and images to emphasize the emptiness and sorrow that the disciples of Jesus felt.

The Jewish and Roman Leaders Wanted Jesus Dead  There are natural and supernatural reasons to Jesus’ death.  The Natural or Human reasons:  Pontius Pilate was involved in Jesus’ death  Both Jewish and Roman leaders wanted Jesus to die  The Jewish leaders believed that Jesus’ challenged their religious authority and leading the people to rebel against them.

Examples:  Mark 2:23-3:-6  The Pharisees and scribes taught that no work can be done on the sabbath. Jesus ‘ disciples plucked the grain on the sabbath and Jesus healed on the sabbath.  Luke 15: 1-10  Jesus associated himself with sinners, including prostitutes and tax collectors  Luke 16:  Jesus taught that the poor are blessed; being poor is not a consequence of sin  Mark 2:1-12  Jesus claimed to have the power to forgive sins

 The chief priests charged Jesus of speaking blasphemy – speaking irreverently about God or about the faith, because Jesus claimed to have the powers of God.  This is punishable by death.

Roman Reasons  Only the Romans could put someone to death.  It is likely that the Jewish leaders convinced Pilate to execute Jesus.  Jesus was charged and crucified for sedition or inciting rebellion.  The Gospels tells us that Pilate did not want Jesus to be killed, but eventually gave in to pressure, from the Jewish leaders and the mob.

Jesus’ Death Is the Real Thing  Although Jesus is God, his experience of death was very real.  He experienced doubt, pain, and fear; he was betrayed, put through trial, tortured, and crucified -- he was not saved from human experiences.  Remember the heresy of Docetism – which taught that Jesus just “appeared” to be human.

Jesus’ Execution  Extremely brutal to frighten people to obedience.  Jesus was scourged (whipped) with a flagellum – a device that had bone and metal embellished on a whip

 Jesus carried a crossbeam on his back, stripped of his clothes, and crucified through his wrist to a crossbeam.  They elevated his legs so that he could die a slow death – suffocating in his blood.  Jesus died on the Cross because it was the will of God.