Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Paschal Mystery

What comes
into your mind
when you
see this image?
 Witnesses of the great miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead told the members of the
Sanhedrin:
JOHN 11:47-53
 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.

 Conclusion: In this account, they wanted to kill Jesus.

 The Grounds and legitimate reasons of the authorities to arrest and
condemn Jesus to His crucifixion and death by Scott Hahn

 Jesus was a Jew, was faithful to the Torah of Moses. He was not
executed for he wanted to abolish the Law and Prophets; however, he
came into disagreement with the Jewish leader over 3 key issues in
authority.
 Claimed authority over the LAW
 Performed miracles on the Sabbath
 Claimed authority over the TEMPLE
 Temple’s imminent destruction
 He forbidden the buying and selling
 Stopped the sacrificial services
 EXECUTED because of SELF-CLAIMS
 He was accused of provoking who saw His Messianic claim as a
threat to political power the Roman Empire
 Accused of making himself “God” by those who rejected his
claims of Sonship.
2.1 Allegations Against Jesus
 List of violations against the Jewish religion

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 2.2 Response to the religious accusations
 Counter-arguments and insights to these religious accusations

1. Sabbath Observance
 Jesus replied “the law must be at service of the welfare, and the greatest good of man, not
the man be enslaved by the law for the sake of following it”
2. Destruction of the Temple
 His body as the temple
 The anticipation of his passion and death. For on the 3rd day, restoration of life and rebuilt
through HIS RESURRECTION.
3. Jesus’ association with sinners and other social, religious and political outcasts
 Mark 2:17; Jesus said
 “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but
those who are sick. iI came not to call the righteous, jbut sinners.”
4. Jesus’ interpretation of the law
 It went beyond legalism, and the mere adherence of the law.
 For example, the law on purity discriminated the gentiles and the sick. They
were labeled unclean and spiritually impure. However, Jesus still talked,
blessed, healed and emancipate them form the title the society has set to
them.
5. Jesus’ source of authority
 Jewish derived authority from their rabbi or from Torrah; However, Jesus rooted
from His authority from his personal intimate relationship with his father, Abba.
 These actions made them think Jesus was blaspheming God.

6. Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah

 Jesus did not declare he was the Messiah. However, it was shared and passed on
about His deeds, miracles and resurrection. In fact, Jesus forbid the disciples to
spread about him being the Messiah to avoid confusion and misconception of his
identity.
 Jesus’s accusers wanted him punished and executed
 Pilate was an important figure for the accusers because he would be the one to
deliver their wishes.
 Although Pilate found Jesus innocent, the crowd won over releasing Barabbas
instead of Jesus. And they demanded Jesus be crucified.
 Civil grounds that justified Jesus’s crucifixion:
 King of the Jews: Jesus was falsely equated as a political king against Caesar
 The “official” Roman charge against Jesus was that he had incited a revolt among the Jews
 The Jewish leaders were noted to be more responsible of his death than Pontius
Pilate who washed his hands and spared himself from the guilt of condemning an
innocent man to be crucified.
 Such impression has been abused today as anti-Semitism, a hostility toward or
discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group
 Based on a paragraph in the book by Senior, the death of Jesus was not simply a
case of pointing blame to a particular group. It was in order to fulfill the plan of God
with Jesus doing so obediently.
 New Testament scholar stated that the Romans were responsible for Jesus’s death
Jesus freely and lovingly chose to obey his
Father’s will not for his sake, but for the good
of a fallen humanity
4.1 Passion Predictions

 First Prediction: “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” (Mark 8.31)
 Second Prediction: “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”” (Mark 9.31)
 Third Prediction: “Behold, we are going up to Jeusalem, and the Son
of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and
they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles
who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death,
but after three days he will rise” (mark 10.33-4)
“His sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground."(Like
22.44)
 In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus was shown to have said: "My soul is
sorrowful even to death."(26.38)
 Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from
me, but not what I will but not you will (Luke 22.42)
 Here, we can see that Jesus with all of his humanity, was frightened
and vulnerable. But still he voluntarily subordinated his freedom to
the greater will of God.
 God patiently bore man's weaknesses and sins, and endlessly offered
His compassion. He sent instruments and witnesses to hear his love
and concern for mankind. Though mankind constantly fail Him, He
never surrendered, not even to those unworthy of his love. Out of his
gratuitous love, he sent , his only begotten son "so that everyone who
believes in him might not perish but might have an eternal life"(John
3.16) and that everyone may be reminded of his love for mankind
and their need for redemption.
 Mary and His disciples, suffered the most at the time of Jesus’ passion and death.

 Lead Mary to witness the suffering, helplessness and death of her beloved Son in
the most humiliating way.

 She persisted in her courage and faith, as she had been shown as a true exemplar
and model of discipleship.

 Disciples reacted with fear, guilt and remorse.

7.1 GOSPEL ACCOUNTS
 Beautiful story of Christian meaning and hope. (Mark16)
 Disciples on the road to Emmaus wherein the risen Jesus, unrecognized at first by
the disciples, joined them in their journey, and when it was evening, came to break
bread with them, and disappeared. Luke (24, 13-35)
 Risen Jesus’ greeting and appearance to his disciples.
7.2 DEBATE ON THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
 Often subject of much controversy in the contemporary setting; hoax or sometimes
a mere fabrication of Jesus’ disciples
 Both sides of controversy: Objections and Affirmations
 OBJECTIONS TO THE RESURRECTION

1. Theft Theory - that Jesus’ disciples stole the body, or hid it somewhere
2. Conspiracy Theory - that disciples conspired to take the dead body, left the tomb
empty, and deliberately preach about the resurrection.
3. Drugged Theory - that Jesus had taken some drug that induced temporary sleep
for a number of days
4. Coma or Swoon Theory - that there was no resurrection because Jesus did not die;
He only suffered comatose.
5. Hallucination Theory - that the disciples could not take the frustration, and
tragedy after they witnessed the humiliating death of their master on the cross,
thus, they began to show psychological signs of visual and auditory hallucinations
which they misconstrued as the revelations of the resurrected Jesus.
6. Lie Theory - that the followers of Jesus only lied about his resurrection to spare
themselves form humiliation and despair.
 AFFIRMATIONS ON JESUS’ RESURRECTION

1. Empty Tomb - that the women, and apostles who visited the tomb of Jesus found it to
be empty.

2. Appearance of an Angel - that an angel appeared to the disciples at the tomb, and
told them not to be afraid for the Lord was already risen from the dead, and intended to
see them in Galilee

3. Jesus’ Post-Resurrection Appearances - that the risen Jesus appeared to his disciples

4. Report of the Guard - that Jesus appeared to the guards of the tomb who went to the
city and reported to the chief priests of what they witnessed but was paid with a sum of
money by the chief priests, and was instructed to tell that Jesus’ disciples came by night
and stole the dead body while they were asleep.

5. Proof of Jesus’ Bodily Resurrection - that the disciples were able to touch the
resurrected body of Jesus.
 Our defense, conclusion and decision:
 First: It is not possible that the body was just stolen and then conspired about the
resurrection for it is stated from Matthew 28. that soldiers were present guarding
the tomb when the risen Jesus appeared to them. Disciples would have to fight
against those guards and what could be their desperate measure?
 Second: It could not be possible that Jesus died due to some drugs that induced
him to sleep or even suffered comatose because there was no historical evidence
to support such an unpopular claim. The gospel has already recorded the
sufferings he had to go through without having to have food and water the entire
time.
 Third: Even until the disciples death, they were still sane and cautious of what they
believed in. If disciples knew in their hearts that what they have been preaching
was based on a lie and the persecution demanded their life in exchange of their
faith in Jesus.
7.4 Resurrection: A source of Faith, Meaning, and
Hope.
 Faith is first and foremost a divine gift. Jesus, in his person, word and deed, gave his
resurrection as a precious gift by inviting us and giving us a choice to be with God.
That even in our imperfections and unworthiness we will always be loved and
more.

 Second, the resurrection of Jesus taught us a lesson on meaning. This life given to
us is all temporary and so are the miseries and pain. Therefore we must keep on
strive to become better and loving Christians, because nothing can be compared
to the eternal glory that awaits us

 Third, the resurrection of Jesus is our greatest source of hope. That is explained in 1
Corinthians 15 20-23. Adam in the book of Genesis, brought sin and death on man.
Jesus the new Adam, redeemed us from our sins and brought the gift of eternal
salvation.
SUMMARY:

1. CONSPIRACY ABOUT JESUS

2. BACKGROUND OF JESUS ARREST AND CONDEMNATION TO DEATH
3. WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR JESUS?
4. WAS JESUS FREE IN ACCEPTING DEATH?
5. GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
6. MOMENT OF TRANSITION
7. RESURRECTION OF JESUS
Reminders:

1. Right after the Zoom class is Activity in Quipper

2. Synchronous Class: May 10-15, 2021 (Quiz in Quipper. Coverage is Chapter 5-6, – No zoom class)
3. Final Exam:
50 % - Written Exam - Quipper
50 % - Activity - Quipper Essay (Chapter 7 – Deadline will be on or before May 24, 2021)
4. Coverage is Chapter 5-6
5. Items : 25