1. The Passion and Death of Christ
“The Cup of Consummation”

2. Plot Against Jesus - Judas betrays Jesus; 30 pieces of silver
Matthew 26:1-5
- Caiaphas was high priest
- Arrest Christ after Passover
Matthew 26:14-16
- Judas betrays Jesus; 30 pieces of silver
(30 pieces of silver = the price of a slave)
- “The one who has dipped their hand in the dish with me, will betray me”

3. The Last Supper
Jews traveled to Jerusalem in order to celebrate the Passover
Night of remembering the “passing over” of the Angel of Death prior to the Israelites Exodus of Egypt.
What do we know about the Passover meal?

5. Washing of the Disciples Feet
John 13
Feet = the dirtiest part of body
What part of the person might be dirtier than the feet?
Peter “you will never wash my feet”
Washing of feet is the job of a servant
Jesus shows great humility and charity. The God of the entire UNIVERSE is washing the feet of fisherman and tax collectors!

6. Washing of the Disciples Feet
Identifies a betrayer.
Jesus told Judas to betray him quickly.
What does Judas do with the morsel?
What time of day is it?

7. Meditation Monday
The food that endures for eternal life. (John 6:27) In J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, a group of characters sets out on a dangerous quest. At one point, they are given a special kind of bread called lembas, one bite of which had the power to sustain someone for an entire day. Now that’s “food that endures” (John 6:27)! In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of another “food that endures”—his own Body and Blood in the Eucharist. Like the lembas, it’s a gift freely given to us. But unlike lembas, it’s not a magical food. It’s Jesus himself. That’s why we call it “Communion.” When we receive Communion, we are receiving a Person, not a thing, and this Person longs to have a relationship with us. This is the “enduring” marvel of the Eucharist. Every time we receive Communion, Jesus invites us to join our hearts with his. Every time, we can tell him how much we love him—and let him say the same to us. Every Communion contains the grace to deepen our bond with Jesus so that we can experience even more of his presence, his love, and his mercy. How can we tell that our union with Jesus is deepening? How can we tell that it’s making a difference in our lives? We can tell by the way our lives are changing. When we find it easier to be patient or compassionate—even just a bit—that’s Jesus enduring in us. When we feel a prompting to help an annoying co-worker or to reach out to a lonely neighbor, that’s Jesus. When we ask our spouse for forgiveness or find it easier to forgive them, it’s because of our communion with the Lord. It’s a sign that our relationship with him continues to deepen. But Communion is not only a matter of our becoming better people. Every time we feel joyful, that’s Jesus rejoicing with us. When we find ourselves thanking God for answering a prayer or for the beauty of a new day, that’s Jesus. When we find ourselves reflecting his love to someone, that’s Jesus reaching out. The Eucharist is far more than magic bread. It’s the Bread of Life. It’s the food that endures to eternal life. And Jesus loves to share it with you! “Lord, give us this day our daily bread. Give us more of you, the Bread of Life.”

8. The New Commandment
“Love one another as I have loved you this is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”

9. The Last Supper Discourses John 14-17
Read John 15
JC = vine
Father = vinedresser
Humanity = branches
Branch is fruitful = pruned by Father
Branch is dead = cut off and burned in fire (hell)
Branch can’t bear fruit by itself, must be part of the vine = we must be part of Christ in order to cultivate
Read Mt. 26:26-30

10. OTTB
Melchizedek
Genesis 14:17-20
--Melchizedek is the first man in the Old Testament to be called a priest. It is the pre- Levitical form of the priesthood.
--Melchizedek’s offering  bread and wine, NOT goats or sheep or doves which were the common offering at that time
--Melchizedek is the King of Salem
Salem  Jerusalem

11. Passover Celebrated with 4 cups
After blessing, 1st cup was drunk followed by bitter herbs that symbolized the bitterness of captivity in Egypt
Passover story read from Exodus 12, Psalm 113 sung and 2nd cup drunk
Main meal of lamb and unleavened bread, after which the 3rd cup, “cup of blessing” was drunk
Psalms were sung and Passover came to its climax when the 4th cup the “cup of consummation” was drunk
Read Mt. 26:26-30

12. JESUS CHANGES IT UP!
Jesus changed 3rd cup!!!
“this is my body… Drink from it all of you for this is my blood, which will be shed for the my blood of the covenant forgiveness of sins. ”
“Then he took the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the people saying “This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.” Exodus 24:8”

13. Ratification of covenant between Israel and God  Jesus introduces new covenant ratified by His blood
Jesus is the Passover lamb of the new covenant
He establishes a new covenant from His body and blood  this anticipates his death on the cross
V. 28 references Isaiah 53 “The Suffering Servant”

14. New Testament
“Take and eat, this is my body, drink from it all of you for this is my blood of the covenant which will be shed for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I shall not drink from the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father” “Testament” in Greek = diatheke Diatheke (Greek) = berith (Hebrew) = covenant Jesus is using the term “New Testament” before the New Testament is even written!

15. Remember Covenant?
Covenant: an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified. A bond of sacred kinship
A covenant was normally marked by a solemn ritual oath, sealed with a blood sacrifice and often with a shared a meal.
Jesus is establishing a “new and everlasting covenant”

16. What about the 4th cup? Matthew 26: 30-46
4th cup: “Cup of consummation”
- sung psalms but then left to mount of Olives
- Gethsemane “olive press”
- took Peter, James, and John to keep watch
Where else did he take them?
Matthew 26: 29 – “if possible let this cup pass form me”
4th cup = his death on the cross, the consummation of his Passover sacrifice.

17. Teambuilding Tuesday
Come up with one appropriate and fun “would you rather” question.
Ask your entire group
Listen to everyone’s answer.
(Don’t make them about death/pain) sickos…

18. Agony in the Garden Luke 22:39-46 Greek – Agonia Location
Agonia refers to the “warm up” sweat that athletes work up before a game or event.
Location
Why is a garden important?
Echoes Genesis (Garden of Eden)
Full of life  contrasts death
Place for lovers
Sweats blood – actual condition hematidrosis. Body essentially becomes a giant bruise.
At this moment Christ is bearing ALL sin that was, is and will be.
Immense spiritual battle.
Apostles sleeping because of sorrow.

19. Gethsemane = olive press Oil = anointing of kings, used by priests, brings light (menorah)

21. Jesus is Arrested
Matthew 26:42-67 Jesus betrayed by a kiss. Annas sent JC to son-in-law, Caiaphas - charged with blasphemy - blasphemy = crime of insulting God or of claiming Godlike attributes.

22. Jesus is Denied
- Peter denied Him three times - Judas hanged himself Peter’s and Judas sin is the same- both betray Jesus. What is the difference between the two? John 18:18 What is Peter standing next to?

23. Pontius Pilate Matthew 27:11-44
- Pilate was persuaded JC was threat to Rome
- sent to King Herod Antipas because Galilee was under his jurisdiction
John 18
- “What is truth?” Who is Pilate speaking to?!
- custom of releasing one man, Barabbas
- Barabbas= “Son of the Father”

24. Crowning of Thorns John 19 Mockery of Christ Crown – Kingship
Purple – Royalty
Reed – Authority (scepter)
“Hail King of the Jews!”

25. Crucifixion of Christ - Read Psalm 22
Each member reads one of the Gospel Accounts of Jesus’ Crucifixion
Take notes, close Bible when done
Share with group. Comparing and contrasting what happens.
Matthew’s Crucifixion Account 27:33-56
Mark’s Crucifixion Account 15:22-41
Luke’s Crucifixion Account 24:33-44
John’s Crucifixion Account 19:16-37

26. Crucifixion of Christ John 18 & 19 Golgotha = place of the skull
“Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”
“Jesus of Nazareth, this man said I am King of the Jews”
Tunic – seamless garment, same as a Jewish high priest wore; cast lots
Veronica – wiped face with veil, left image
Gesmas – bad thief
Dismas – good thief

27. On the Cross Christ was on the cross for 3 hours
Offered Jesus sour wine on a branch of a hyssop --- same used for sprinkling blood of the Passover lamb in Exodus
“It is finished” = the 4th cup he said he wouldn’t drink until the time came
Veil of Temple was torn
tearing pre-figured end of Old Covenant; outer curtain was decorated with pictures of whole creation = Old creation now finished
Broke knees of criminals before Sabbath
Psalm 22 – The Crucifixion Psalm

28. Mary at the Cross John 19:25-27
“Woman, behold your son…” “Behold your mother”
John took Mary into his home – Ephesus
Jesus is talking to John. Who else is he talking to?

29. With your group
Identify and write down all of the things that Christ says while on the Cross.
There are 7 different quotes
First to find all 7 gets candy
You must look through all of the Gospels.

30. Last words of Christ
1. "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." 2. "This day you shall be with me in Paradise.“ 3. "Woman, behold your son. Son behold your Mother" 4. My God, My God why have you forsaken me? 5. "I thirst." 6. "It is finished." 7. "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit."

31. Passover Jesus Christ He is unblemished lamb
No broken bones during crucifixion
Blood was on the cross
Flesh of Christ is eaten under form of bread and wine in the Eucharist.
Hosts is made of unleavened bread
Last Supper- Jesus makes memorial feast
1. Mass reenacts Last Supper
2. we truly believe we are part of the original event
- Mass = Last Supper (meal), Crucifixion (sacrifice), Resurrection (God’s saving blessing)
Palm Sunday
One yr. old lamb w/o blemish
No broken bones
lamb’s blood smeared on doorposts
Lamb’s flesh would be eaten
Unleavened bread was to be eaten
Memorial feast is established.
1. when event is reenacted
2. participants are truly part of the original event.
Passover = sacrifice, meal, God’s saving blessing
If Israelites don’t eat lamb’s flesh, then they are not saved
Entering of lambs

32. Isaac Jesus Christ Miraculous birth (Virgin Mary) Only Son
Calvary- SAME MOUNTAIN!
Arrived on a donkey
Carried cross (wood) on his back
Christ was laid on cross before being nailed
Christ was arrested
wore crown of thorns
Christ, while on cross cries, “Father”
Miraculous birth (Sarah)
Only Son
Mt. Moriah “up a hill and sacrificed”
Arrived on a donkey
Carried wood on his back
“laid him upon the wood”
Bound Isaac
Sacrificed ram instead; stuck in thistle
Isaac called for Abraham, “My Father”