The Passion Story - Exam 3

What is the passion story?

to the final week in the mortal life of Jesus through the crucifixion but not including the resurrection

What are the events (in order) of the passion story?

Palm Sunday → cleansing the Temple → the upper room → Judas' betrayal → the illegal trials → crucifixion

What is Palm Sunday?

1. Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey

2. crowds gather to welcome him, celebrating his arrival and expressing hope that He is the promised Messiah

3. the crowd yells out "Hosanna"

Why does Jesus ride a donkey? (Palm Sunday)

it symbolizes peace

What does Hosanna mean? (Palm Sunday)

save us now

What were the five major groups in Israel? (Palm Sunday)

1. Pharisees

2. Sadducees

3. Essenes

4. Zealots

5. the people of the land

Who were the Pharisees? (Palm Sunday)

- religious law keepers → believed that obeying God's commandments was the most important part of living a holy life

- they wanted to appear more holy than anyone else

- they looked down on everyone who didn't follow the law

- believed that the dead would be raised to life (live on)

- did not like Jesus

Who were the Sadducees? (Palm Sunday)

- held positions of influence and authority in Jewish society (politically connected)

- wealthy and influential members of society

- did not believe people would be resurrected after death

- wanted to preserve their religious and political influence

- did not like Jesus

Who were the Essenes (Palm Sunday)

- "mystics"

- spent a lot of time praying, reflecting, and seeking a deeper connection with God

- some lived in isolated communities in the wilderness to avoid the corrupted society

- they looked down on wealthy and powerful people

Who were the Zealots? (Palm Sunday)

- "warriors"

- they wanted to end Roman control over Israel

- hoped God would send a powerful leader, like King David, to defeat their enemies and restore Israel's independence

- skilled at killing people

- might have expected Jesus to become a military leader

Who were the people of the land? (Palm Sunday)

- 70% of the population of Israel

- the general public → shepherds, winemakers, parents, carpenters, merchants

- went to church but didn't think about religion too in-depth

- loved Jesus

What is the cleansing of the Temple?

1. takes place during the final week of Jesus' life

2. Jesus enters the Temple in Jerusalem and becomes angry because people are using a sacred place of worship to make money and take advantage of religious followers

3. most people were sacrificing doves → poor street vendors would be outside of the temple selling doves to be sacrificed

4. sacrificies had to be perfect → vendors would often run scams and tell people that their doves were imperfect to force them to buy another, more expensive dove

5. this made Jesus angry → vendors were taking advantage of the people

6. Jesus drives out the people involved and overturns the tables

7. Jesus accused the people of turning the house of God into a "den of thieves"

8. this is when the Pharisees decided Jesus had to be killed by the end of the week

What is the upper room?

1. Jesus washes His disciples' feet

2. Jesus commands his disciples to love one another as he has loved them

3. Jesus teaches them that the greatest expression of love is being willing to lay down one's life for others

4. ate the seder meal

What is the seder meal? (the upper room)

a ritual meal celebrated during the Jewish Passover

Who was Judas? (the betrayal)

- a Zealot

- he was the disciples' treasurer

- was Jesus' guest of honor in the upper room

- the betrayer of Jesus

How did Judas betray Jesus?

1. Judas approached the religious authorities and agreed to hand Jesus over for 30 pieces of silver

2. Judas led an armed group to the Garden, where Jesus was praying

3. Judas said the person he would kiss was the person they should arrest

4. Judas approached Jesus and kissed him, allowing the authorities to identify and arrest him

Why did Judas betray Jesus?

1. for money → 30 pieces of silver ($12)

2. he was a Zealot

Why would Judas have betrayed Jesus because he was a Zealot?

- he did not think he was selling him out → he thought he was giving Jesus an opportunity to show who He really was

- he thought he was giving Jesus an opportunity to demonstrate His power

What did Judas do after he betrayed Jesus?

- he went to the Pharisees holding Jesus' trial and gave back the 30 pieces of silver

- he pleaded that Jesus was innocent

- because of the trail and his betrayal, he commited suicide

What is the order of the illegal trials?

Caiaphas → Pilate → Herod → Pilate again

What was the Caiaphas trial? (illegal trials)

1. the first trial

2. Caiaphas was the Jewish high priest

3. Jesus was taken to Caiaphas' residence after his arrest

4. Jesus was questioned about His identity, teachings, and religious authority

5. Caiaphas legally couldn't kill Jesus, so he brought Him to Pilate

What was the Pilate trial? (illegal trials)

1. the second trial

2. Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea

3. Pilate questioned Jesus whether He was the King of the kings

4. Pilate declared Jesus innocent multiple times (finding no fault or treason)

5. Pilate doesn't release Jesus because he is more concerned about avoiding political trouble

6. Pilate learns that Jesus is from Galilee → Galilee was under Herod's rule

7. Pilate sends Jesus to Herod

What was the Herod trial? (illegal trials)

1. the third trial

2. Herod was the ruler of Galilee

3. Herod and his soldiers mocked Jesus and dressed Him in an elegant robe

4. Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate

What was the second Pilate trial? (illegal trials)

1. the fourth trial

2. Pilate releases Barabbas instead of Jesus

3. Pilate condemns Jesus to crucifixion

What happened to Jesus after He was condemned to crucifixion?

- He was deemed an enemy of the state and a traitor to Rome (an insurrectionist)

- Jesus was flogged

- Jesus wore a crown of thorns

What was flogging? (crucifixion)

a torturing method of beating → using a whip with tied knots to the back

What was the crown of thorns? (crucifixion)

- Roman soldiers placed a crown made of thorns on Jesus' head

- this was used to mock Jesus

- it was pushed over His head and lacerated His scalp

Who was crucified beside Jesus?

insurrectionists → criminals/bandits/rebels

What was crucifixion?

- hands, wrists, and crossed ankles were nailed to a cross → nails would often tear through the entire wrist by the end

- there were lines and lines and lines of crosses

- the crosses were set at eye level so people passing would look into the eyes of those crucified and dying

- the huge amounts of blood loss would lead to flies and bugs becoming attracted to your body → can't swat them away, limbs are bound

What were Jesus' seven last words?

1. I thirst

2. why have you forsaken me?

3. mother, behold your son

4. today you will be with me in paradise

5. Father forgive them, for they know not what they do

6. it is finished

7. I commit my spirit

What does "I thirst" mean? (last words)

- only thing spoken about Himself

- Jesus was thirsty

- He was given bitter wine in a sponge → kind of wine that retains moisture better than other wines

What does "why have you forsaken me" mean? (last words)

- words about others

- Jesus is taking humanity's place and experiencing the consequences of sin

- He felt the same as we feel when we walk away from God

What does "mother, behold your son" mean? (last words)

- words about others

- He is asking John to take care of His mom

- He is telling His mom that she is in good hands

What does "today you will be with me in paradise" mean? (last words)

- words about others

- Jesus promises one of the men next to Him that he will be with Him in paradise

- we will go to heaven and be with God one day

What does "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" mean? (last words)

- words about others

- Jesus asks God to forgive those responsible for his suffering

What does "it is finished" mean? (last words)

- words about God

- what Jesus came to do is complete

- Jesus had done what He was sent to do

What does "I commit my spirit" mean? (last words)

- words about God

- Jesus is trusting His spirit to God

- Jesus is telling God He is coming home