1. PROJECT 4:4 EVENTS LEADING TO JESUS’ DEATH

2. Notable Events from Our Reading The resurrection of Lazarus Jesus blesses little children The rich young ruler comes to Him James and John and their mother’s request Zacchaeus climbs a tree Bartimaeus is healed Mary anoints Jesus

3. Notable Teachings from Our Reading On marriage and divorce On the love of money and how hard it is for the rich to enter heaven On humility and service On the coming of the kingdom

4. Events and Teachings from the Week of His Crucifixion The Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem The Cursing of the Fig Tree Parable of the Two Sons Parable of the Wedding Banquet Question about Taxes Question about the Resurrection The Greatest Commandment The Good Samaritan The “Scolding” of the Pharisees and Scribes The Prophecy of the Destruction of Jerusalem Parable of the Talents The Teaching on the Last Judgment

5. Central Thought: Growing Hatred and Fear of Jesus In Perea, Jesus seems still to have some support among the Pharisees: (Lk. 13:31) At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”

6. But in Judea the opposition is strong. By the time Jesus is called from Perea back to Bethany in Judea, the disciples are afraid for his safety. “Then he said to his disciples, Let us go back to Judea. But Rabbi, they said, a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?” (Jn. 11: 6 – 7)

7. Following the resurrection of Lazarus, the opposition reached a critical level. John 11: 45 – 53: “ 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” 49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

8. Some months later, as Passover nears, the opposition was to the point the Pharisees were planning his arrest. (John 11: 55 – 57) 55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

9. The week before the last week Opposition quickly escalates to the point that Lazarus also becomes a target. John 12:9 – 11 9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

10. On Sunday of the last week John 12: 17 – 19: 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

11. On Monday of the last week Jesus again cleanses the temple. Though they would have loved to take him right then, the Pharisees have to wait. Mk. 11:18 & Lk. 19: 47-48 18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. 47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

12. Later Monday Jesus shares his anxiety over his approaching death. A voice is heard from heaven. After this, and the exchange that follows, Jesus hides from them. Jn. 12:36—”When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.”

13. On Tuesday of the last week The religious leaders question his authority. His “answer”, given in a parable of the murdering tenants, upsets them. Note Matthew 21:45-46 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

14. Later on Tuesday Efforts to trap him: 1.The woman taken in adultery? (Jn. 8:1-11) 2.Pharisees question about taxes. Mt. 22:15-22 3.Sadducees question about afterlife. Mt. 22:23-33 4.Pharisee Lawyer question about the greatest command. Mt. 22:34-40 At that point, a different approach must be made. Mt. 22:46 “No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.”

15. Late Tuesday After the “scolding” of Matthew 23, the die is cast, and the leaders plot the best way to carry out their scheme. Note Matthew 26: 3-5: 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

16. As the end nears……. John 12:37— “Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.” John 12:42-43— “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.”

17. Big Question: WHY????? 1.If he “went about doing good” (Acts 10:37), why would they want him dead? 2.If he “healed all man of disease among them” (Matthew 4:23), why the opposition? 3.If he has power over death, what makes them think they could be successful? 4.WHY DO MEN NOT LIKE GOD????