OUTLINE
Chapter 7: Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus
Paschal Mystery
Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection (or simply referred as the Paschal Mystery)
were written by the evangelists from the perspective of faith in recognition and appreciation
to the truth of Jesus’ identity and destiny as the Suffering servant Messiah.
1. Conspiracy against Jesus
● Based on John's account, some of those who witnessed the great miracle of
raising Lazarus from the dead went to the members of the Sanhedrin, and
told them about the incident.
● They planned to kill Jesus(John 11. 47-53)
● Simply, the authorities intended to kill Jesus - a plot also affirmed by the
Synoptic gospels (Luke 22.1-6, Mark 14. 1-2, and Matthew 26.1-5)
[Link] of Jesus’ arrest and Condemnation to Death
● First ,he claimed authority over the Law by healing on the Sabbath.
● Second, He claimed authority over the temple.
● Third and finally, Jesus was executed because of his self-claims.
2.1 Allegations against Jesus
● Violation of the Law on the Sabbath
● Plan to destroy the temple
● Jesus’ association with sinners and other social, religious and political
outcasts
● Question on the interpretation of the Jewish law
● Question on Jesus’ Source of Authority, god as his Abba
● Jesus’ Claim as Messiah
2.2 Response to the Religious accusation
➔ First, ‘the law must be at the service of the welfare, and the greatest good of
man, not that man be enslaved by the law for the sake of following it.
➔ Second, what Jesus meant as the destruction of the temple referred not to
the physical, structural temple of Jerusalem but alluded to his body as the
temple- an anticipation of his passion and death, but on the third day,
restored to life and rebuilt through his resurrection.
➔ Third, Jesus’ once said: “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the
sick do. I do not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Mark 2:17).
➔ Fourth, Jesus intended that the Mosaic law, which was intended as a guide
for man’s affair, and source of meaning, may serve the greatest benefit of
man and his needs.
➔ Fifth, Jew rabbis at that time of Jesus derived their authority from their former
rabbi, or from citing the TORAH while Jesus rooted his authority from his
intimate relationship with his Father, his Abba.
➔ Sixth, perhaps the greatest reason that angered the authorities against Jesus
was the idea that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah of the Jews.
2.3 Pilates’ Sentence
➔ The trial done by the Sanhedrin ( Mark 14.53-65)
➔ They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate (Mark 15.1)
➔ John 18.38 (“I find no guilt in him”).
➔ “Not this one but Barabbas! Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!”
(John 18.40,19.15).
➔ Then, Pilate had Jesus condemned to be crucified ( John 19.16)
3. Who was responsible for Jesus’ Death
● Jewish leaders were more responsible for the death of Jesus than Pontius
Pilate
- impression has been abused today: anti-semitism
- Opinion of Donald Senior about anti-semitism
● Roman were responsible for the death of Jesus and not the Jews.
4. Was Jesus Free in Accepting his Death?
● Students opinion according to Jesus Death and acceptance
4.1 Passion Predictions
First,” 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)
● After the first prediction, the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration (Mark 9.2-8)
followed
Second, “ 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, “ Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, 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).
● Through his passion predictions, Jesus instructed the disciples about the fate
that awaits him and his [Link] the disciples failed to understand.
4.2 Last Supper
➔ The day before the Passover while the Synoptic gospels had it on the day of
Passover itself.
➔ Washing the feet of his disciples (John 13.1-11)
➔ ‘To fulfill all righteousness’ (Matthew 3. 15)
4.3 Agony of Jesus in the Garden
➔ An angel appeared to strengthen him for he was in deep agony “his sweat
became like drops of blood falling on the ground” (Luke 23.43-4)
➔ ‘Abba,Father, all things are possible to [Link] this cup away from me, but
not what I will but what you will’ (Luke 22.42)
➔ Jesus had all the selfish excuses to spare himself from this agony but he
voluntarily subordinated his freedom to the greater will of God.
5. Understanding Atonement,the Paschal Lamb, and the suffering servant
Messiah
➔ The Jews believed in the concept of atonement or redemption.
➔ Scott Hahn’s explanation on this central concept (John 1.29)
➔ Here, we find the true fulfillment of the prophecy by Isaiah about the Suffering
Servant Messiah in the person of Jesus (Isaiah 53.4-7)
➔ The passion narrative of Jesus is for us to incarnate a habit and character of
loving obedience to Jesus’ Abba, and to seek his will, not our own selfish
agenda, in living out our Christian vocations - an example set by Jesus
himself.
6. God’s Unconditional Love
At the core of Jesus’ death on the cross is God’s love and forgiveness for
man. God patiently bore man’s weaknesses and sins, and endlessly offered his
compassion.
God sent his human instruments and witnesses throughout history. He even
called prophets so that his love and concern for mankind can be heard, and be
responded with repentant hearts but to no avail.
7. Moment of Transition
No other person suffered the most at the time of Jesus’ passion, and death than
Mary, his mother, and the disciples.
“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your
word” (Luke 1.38)
8. Resurrection of Jesus
The most fundamental truth of the resurrection of Jesus, and its meaning and
relevance to all persons.
8.1 Gospel Accounts
The gospel the road of Luke to Emmaus (24.13-35) wherein 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! It was only at the
gesture of the breaking of bread that the disciples were reminded of Jesus during the
last supper, and remarked: "Were not our hearts burning while he spoke to us on the
way and opened the Scriptures to us?"
8.2 Debate on the Resurrection of Jesus
Objections to the Resurrection
1. Theft Theory: that Jesus’ disciples stole and hid the body
2. Conspiracy Theory: that the disciples conspired to take the body, left the
tomb, and deliberately preached about resurrection
3. Drugged Theory: that Jesus had taken drugs that induce temporary sleep for
a number of days
4. Coma or Swoon Theory: that here was no resurrection because Jesus did
not die, as he only suffered comatose
5. Hallucination Theory: that the disciples began to show psychological signs
of visual and auditory hallucinations which they misconstrued as the
revelations of the resurrected Jesus
6. Lie Theory: that Jesus’ followers only lied about the resurrection to spare
themselves from humiliation and despair
Affirmations on Jesus’ Resurrection
1. Empty Tomb: that the women and apostles who visited Jesus’ tomb found it
to be empty
2. Appearance of an Angel: that an angel appeared at the tomb and told them
not to be afraid for the Lord was already risen from the dead
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
5. Proof of Jesus’ Bodily Resurrection: that the disciples were able to touch
the resurrected body of Jesus
6. Transformation of the Disciples: that the disciples who lacked courage and
dedication to stand for Jesus were transformed into fearless and dedicated
followers
7. Stories of Conversion: that Jesus was converted and became a glorified
God; that Saul encountered the risen Jesus, then converted to Christian faith,
and became the greatest Christian missionary
8.3 In Defense of Jesus’ Resurrection
First → It is not possible that the Jesus’ body was stolen by his disciples and then
conspired to preach about resurrection, as soldiers were present and guarding the
tomb when Jesus appeared to them
Second → It is not possible that Jesus took sleep-inducing drugs nor suffered
comatose, as the gospels have recorded that Jesus was arrested midnight, put into
trial, crowned with thorns, mocked by soldiers, made to carry the wooden cross, and
nailed on the cross without food and water the entire time.
Third → it is not possible that the disciples were suffering from a psychological
disorder in the form of visual and auditory hallucinations.
8.4 Resurrection: A Source of Faith, Meaning, and Hope
The Resurrection of Jesus has always been a source of faith, meaning and
hope for all Christians.
9. Conclusion: Moment of Invitation and Decision
The author ended the book with the words of John Paul II, exhorting the young
people to live and decide for Jesus.
The words of John Paul II was an excerpt from a book, entitled Private Prayers of
Pope John Paul II.
Along with his words, Pope John Paul II quoted two bible verses which were Acts
3:6 and Romans 8:38.
