Introduction to the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ

							 Introduction to the
Passion and Death of
    Jesus Christ


Jesus’ Prediction of
   His Passion
         Some background…
• The Kingdom was not of this world…should not
  have been a political threat
  – But went against established customs of Jewish
    traditions:
     • Ate and drank with tax collectors &
       those outside the law
     • Friendly to all
     • Cured during Sabbath
     • Attacked hypocritical lifestyle of
       Pharisees
     • Reached out to Gentiles & Pagans
         The Case of John the B!
• John was killed because of
his fearless criticism of King
Herod
• Jesus was aware of His
own dangerous situation
YET He preached a more
radical message and held a
more uncompromising
position than John
          Two Choices for Jesus
1. Abandon the mission
   given by His Father and
   live an “easier” life that did
   not anger the Jewish
   leaders
2. Continue proclaiming the
   Truth of the Kingdom of
   God that reversed much
   of the established order of
   Jewish society
         The Choice of Jesus
Jesus chose to fully
  carry out His mission,
  to do the will of His
  Father—to love us
  completely so that we
  may be re-united with
  God—even to the
  point of suffering and
  death.
        The Choice of Jesus
Jesus gradually grew in
  understanding His
  unique mission.
He was not focused on
 His human enemies or
 their hatred towards
 Him, but on His
 Heavenly Father—His
 will & His Love for all
        The Three Predictions
• Jesus was sensitive to the effects of His
  teachings (even to His enemies)
• Jesus had an inkling of what would happen to
  Him because of the hatred of His enemies in
  high places.
• The Gospel of Mark reports three occasions
  when Jesus predicted His own passion, death, &
  resurrection.
• In these prophecies, Jesus tried to explain to His
  followers that the Son of Man must suffer and
  die.
 First Prediction: Mk 8:31-33

“He began to teach them that the Son of Man
must suffer greatly and be rejected by the
elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be
killed, and rise after three days. He spoke about
this openly. Then Peter took Him aside and
began to rebuke Him. At this [Jesus] turned
around, and looking at His apostles, rebuked
Peter and said, ‘Get behind me Satan. You are
thinking not as God does, but as human beings
do.”
        First Prediction: Mk 8:31
• Announced that He would
  suffer, die, and rise again after
  three days
• No other details were given
• Jesus sternly rebuked Peter
  (who advised Him strongly not to say these
  things)
   – Jesus faithfulness to His Mission
   – Something similar to Jesus’
     temptation at the desert
Second Prediction: Mk 9:31-32

“He was teaching his disciples and telling
them, ‘The Son of Man is to be handed
over to men and they will kill him, and
three days after his death, He will rise.’ But
the [apostles] did not understand the
saying, and they were afraid to question
Him.”
 Second Prediction: Mk 9:31-32
• The mood was more
  intense.
• There was a hint of
  betrayal:
  “The Son of Man is to be
  handed over to men …”
• The apostles were
  dumbfounded—they didn’t
  get it, and so they were
  quiet.
  Third Prediction: Mk 10:32-34
“They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and
  Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were
  amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And
  again He took the twelve aside and began to tell
  them what was going to happen to Him, saying,
  "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son
  of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the
  scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will
  hand Him over to the Gentiles.
"They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him
  and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again."
  Third Prediction: Mk 10:32-34
• Jesus was walking ahead.
  – Intensity of His desire to fulfill
    His mission
  – Apostles were bewildered
    YET they continued to follow
    their teacher whom they
    believed in and loved dearly
• Specific details of Jesus’
  suffering: mocking, spitting,
  and scourging
                Summary
1. Like the prophets (i.e. John the Baptist)
   that had come before Him, Jesus knew
   the fate that awaited Him as He fulfilled
   His mission.
2. He predicted three times that:
  a. He (the Son of Man)
  b. Would suffer/be handed over and killed
  c. But will rise after three days
      Give It Some Thought
• How has Jesus shown you an
  extraordinary example of faithfulness?
  – Why is this important in your life now as a 2nd
    Year student of SHS-J?
• We say “life is so kapoy!” because it’s not
  always easy and fun, but does it give us
  an excuse to stop working hard and be
  tapulan?
       What’s the point, Bro?
• Jesus indeed died with much violence and
  humiliation, with great dishonor and
  scandal. Jesus could have toned down a
  little bit to avoid the hatred of authorities
  and so have died peacefully of old age.
  Yet the Gospels tell us that He went on to
  Jerusalem, never changing nor
  compromising His message and
  consequently, meeting His violent end.
       What’s the point, Bro?
• Being Filipinos, we are almost always
  inclined to avoid the sometimes
  confrontational (in-your-face-TRUTH)
  dimension of the Word of God for the sake
  of good social image and practical
  relations (i.e. utang na loob & pakikisama).
  In cases involving close relatives and
  friends, we are likely to remain blind, deaf
  and mute before blatant transgressions
  against the gospel ideals.
        What’s the point, Bro?
BUT what Jesus is telling us now is that:
• If we are really His followers (His Disciples
  worthy to be called CHRISTIANS)
   – then we must be willing to RISK (and suffer)
   – Then we must be faithful to the Gospel values
     (Beatitudes)
   – We must Love     as He has Loved us


         At ALL COST!