CHAPTER 5

Chapter 5

The Passion
and Death of
Jesus Christ
Passion Narratives
There are four separate accounts of the
Passion of Christ in the four Gospels.
The passion narratives of the synoptic
Gospels follow a similar literary and
thematic plan. The passion narrative of
John’s Gospel provides an independent
account of these Paschal events.

Events Leading up to Jesus’ Passion

Emphases in Passion Narratives
Matthew: the kingship of Jesus;
how the de-facto ruling powers
(esp. Pilate & Caiaphas)
conspired to get rid of someone
they saw as a political threat
Luke: the innocence of Jesus;
how Pilate said he did not
deserve death, and others
(Herod Antipas, centurion,
repentant thief) also recognized
his innocence
Mark: the suffering of Jesus; how
he was tragically rejected, unfairly
condemned, viciously beaten,
horribly insulted, and cruelly
mistreated by multiple groups
John: the exaltation of Jesus;
how he remains in charge,
driving the all action, completing
the will of the Father, and being
glorified as he is lifted up
Events Leading up to Jesus’ Passion
Temple

• “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of
mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier things of
the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity.” (Mt 23:23)
• “You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the
outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of
filth.” (Mt 23:27)
• “Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are
filled with hypocrisy and evil- doing.” (Mt 23:28)

Events Leading up to Jesus’ Passion

 The Temple

• The temple area was about 35 acres

• Temple of Jesus’ time was rebuilt by Herod the
Great, father of Herod Antipas
• Only the priests could enter the holy areas of
the temple
• The temple as a whole was an important part of
society and culture Events Leading up to Jesus’ Passion
Events of Jesus’ Trial and Crucifixion
• Passed through Kidron Valley to pray in Garden of Gethsemane
• Jesus taken to Annas
• Jesus taken to high priest Joseph Caiaphas’ residence, where there was a
hearing
• Jesus taken before Sanhedrin, the Jewish court at the Temple
• Jesus taken to Pontius Pilate at Antonia fortress
• Jesus sent to Herod Antipas who returned him to Pilate
• Pilate handed Jesus over for scourging and ordered his Crucifixion
• Jesus carried his Cross to Golgotha outside of one of Jerusalem’s west gates

Jesus’ Passion and Death

 The Arrest
Mark
Jesus went to Gethsemane
Jesus distressed
Disciples fall asleep three
times; all flee
Jesus went to Gethsemane
Jesus distressed and troubled
Jesus takes Peter, James, and
John
Judas comes, kisses Jesus
Jesus protests arrest
All flee
Matthew
Jesus sorrowful
Disciples fall asleep three
times
All flee
Jesus went to Gethsemane
Jesus sorrowful and troubled
Jesus takes Peter, James, and
John
Judas comes, kisses Jesus
Jesus protests arrest
All flee
Luke John
Disciples fall asleep for Seize Jesus and bound him
sorrow
Jesus seized and led away
Jesus came to that place Jesus crossed the Kidron to a
garden
Jesus withdraws and prays
“let cup pass”
Judas comes, kisses Jesus Judas comes
Jesus protests arrest Says “I must drink the cup”
They seized Jesus and led him They seized and bound him
away
Events Leading up to Jesus’ Passion
Jesus goes before the Sanhedrin
• Jesus is arrested.
• He is brought before
Caiaphas the high priest,
elders, priests, and
members of the Sanhedrin.
• Peter is out in the courtyard
and denies Jesus three
times.
• Jesus is accused of
blasphemy punishable by
death.
• Those present spit at,
struck, mocked, and
Jesus’ Passion and Death
slapped Jesus.
Jesus goes before Pilate
• Only Roman appointed
official the prefect; Pontius
Pilate could give death
penalty for a non-religious
crime.
• Jesus accused of sedition
(challenging the emperor's
authority).
• Pilate knew Jesus was
innocent, but left the
judgment to the people.

Jesus’ Passion and Death

Jesus before high priests & Pilate
Mark Matthew Luke John
Jesus led to high priest; Jesus led to Caiaphas; Peter Jesus to high priest’s house; Jesus led to Annas; Peter
Peter follows follows Peter follows follows
Charged with threat to Charged with threat to Protests his arrest
destroy temple destroy temple
Peter denies Jesus three Peter denies Jesus three Peter denies Jesus three Peter denies Jesus three
times times times times

Led to Pilate Led to Pilate Led to Pilate Led from Caiaphas; house
to Praetorium
“Are you the king of the “Are you the king of the “Are you the king of the “Are you the king of the
Jews?” Jews?” Jews?” Jews?”
Jesus scourged and handed Jesus scourged and handed Jesus delivered up to their Jesus handed over to them
over over will to be crucified
Simon carries Jesus’ cross Simon carries Jesus’ cross Simon carries Jesus’ cross, Jesus carries his own cross
women of Jerusalem weep

Jesus’ Passion and Death

The Crucifixion
Mark Matthew Luke John
Came to Golgotha Came to Golgotha Came to Skull Place
Crucified Crucified Crucified him next Crucified him with two others
to criminals on either side
Passers by mock Passersby mock People watch Entrusts Mary to his beloved
disciple
Sixth hour brings darkness Sixth hour brings Sixth hour brings
darkness darkness
“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani!” “Eloi, Eloi, lama Jesus screams and ”It is finished.”
sabachthani!” prays, “Father, to Gives up his spirit
you I commend my
spirit!”
Centurion: "God’s Son!" Centurion and Centurion: "He was Passover sundown; soldiers
others: "God’s Son!" innocent!" break others’ legs, but Jesus
is speared; blood and water
discharged.
Jesus’ Passion and Death
ROMAN EMPIRE Hierarchy of Authority in Jesus’ Jerusalem
(CAESAR)
Civil Authority
Religious Authority Sanhedrin
Herod Antipas
(Client King)

High Priest
Prefect
(Pontius Pilate)

Priests Scribes
Jesus’ Passion and Death
Jesus dies by
Crucifixion
“Darkness descended on
the land from noon until
three in the afternoon, the
time of Jesus’ Death. His
last words were ‘My God,
my God, why have you
forsaken me?’” (Mt 27:46)

Jesus’ Passion and Death

Jesus buried in a sealed tomb
Pilate released Jesus’ body to
Joseph because he was
completely sure that Jesus
was dead. Joseph wrapped
Jesus’ Body in a clean linen
cloth and placed it in a new
tomb in the rock.

Christ’s Death Redeems the World

Redemption
• Christ died for the salvation of all, and all
bear responsibility for his Death.

Christ’s Death Redeems the World

Christ’s Death Redeems the World
 Journal
Question
What is something or who is
someone you would be willing
to die for? Explain your
reasoning.

Dying for Love

 Salvation Vocabulary
Atonement: Paying the penalty Sacrifice: Sinner makes amends for the sin

Reparation: Healing the relationship Justification: To be made holy, just and acceptable before God

Ransom: Money paid for freedom or the paying to free one as Christ freed humanity

Expiation: From the Latin, atonement, reparation: Expiation emphasizes that God was reconciling the world to

himself in Christ’s humanity

Satisfaction: Sinner makes amends for the sin

Redemption: The process of buying back or freeing a person by paying a ransom or removing their obligation

Christ’s Death Redeems the World

The Gift of Salvation

• By his Death, Christ liberates you

from sin.
• By his Resurrection, he opens for
you the way to a new life as a son or
daughter of God.

Christ’s Death Redeems the World

Responsibility for the Death of Christ
CCC 598 In her Magisterial teaching of Matthew 27:25 And the whole
the faith and in the witness of her saints, people said in reply, “His blood be
the Church has never forgotten that upon us and upon our children.”
"sinners were the authors and the
ministers of all the sufferings that the
divine Redeemer endured."389 Taking
into account the fact that our sins affect
Christ himself,390 the Church does not
hesitate to impute to Christians the
gravest responsibility for the torments
inflicted upon Jesus, a responsibility with
which they have all too often burdened
the Jews alone.

Christ’s Death Redeems the World

References

• http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Passion.htm
• https://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/research_sites/cjl/sites/partn
ers/cbaa_seminar/Passion_Narratives.htm