The Suffering and Death of Jesus Notes

Christ’s Passion

  • Jesus’ death was not a senseless execution, but a supernatural event that freed all humanity from the bonds of death.
  • Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection were at the center of the early Church’s first preaching.

Sunday

  • Jerusalem was the center of Jewish faith and worship.
  • When Jesus first arrived, crowds welcomed him as a triumphant king.
  • The Jewish leaders began looking for ways to kill Jesus after he cast the moneychangers out of the Temple.

Thursday Evening

  • Early Thursday evening, Jesus gathered with the Apostles to celebrate his last Passover.
  • Jesus washed their feet to show that true leadership is service.
  • He instituted the Eucharist at this meal.

Thursday Night

  • Jesus went with his Apostles to pray in the garden at Gethsemane.
  • Judas led the Temple guards to Jesus so that they could arrest him.
  • Jesus was tried and found guilty of blasphemy by the Sanhedrin.

Friday

  • The Jewish leaders took Jesus to the Roman governor and made their case against Jesus.
  • They charged Jesus with inciting rebellion against Rome.
  • A Roman execution was meant to be horrible to frighten people into obedience.
  • First, Jesus was scourged, or whipped, then publicly humiliated.
  • Jesus then carried his cross to Golgotha.

Jesus’ Death

  • Jesus died in about six hours.
  • A solar eclipse and an earthquake accompanied his death.
  • Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb.

The Jewish Leaders’ Reasons

  • They believed Jesus was undermining their authority with the common people.
  • They said Jesus committed blasphemy when he claimed he had powers that belonged to God alone.

The Roman Leaders’ Reasons

  • As procurator, Pilate was to send taxes to Rome and maintain the peace.
  • Jesus was a threat to the peace.
  • Pilate proclaimed Jesus innocent, yet he ordered the execution.

The Meaning of the Cross

  • The Father planned that his Son would die so that we might be free from death.
  • Our salvation comes through the death and Resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus, the Suffering Servant

  • The first Christians recalled the “Suffering Servant” passages in Isaiah.
  • These verses describe a servant of the Lord who suffers to save the people from their sins.

Jesus, the Paschal Lamb

  • The first Christians also recalled the Passover story.
  • The Israelites had sacrificed a Paschal, or Passover, Lamb at God’s command.
  • They put its blood on their doorposts to escape the death of the firstborn.

Jesus, the Ransom for Many

  • For Romans, a ransom was the price paid to release a slave.
  • Jesus paid God the price of our freedom; we are no longer “owned” by sin and death.

Why Did the Father Allow His Son to Suffer?

  • Our first parents’ Original Sin necessitated Jesus’ sacrifice.
  • The Father allowed his Son’s death in order to destroy the power of death.
  • Jesus Christ freely accepted his Passion and death.