God’s Plan of Salvation is Fulfilled

1. God’s Plan of Salvation is Fulfilled Suffering and Death The Meaning of the Cross Pages 95-110

2. The Events of the Passion • Passion and Resurrection were the center of the early church’s preaching and teaching • Entrance to Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) • Last Supper (Holy Thursday) • Praying in the Garden at Gethsemane • Betrayal by Judas • Trial • Sanhedrin, ruling group of religious leaders • Pilate, Roman governor of the region • Scourging • Crucifixion (Good Friday) • Death • Doubt, pain, fear

3. Entrance to Jerusalem • Jesus comes to Jerusalem • Center of faith, especially during Passover • Jesus’ presence too much of a challenge • Jesus was consistently butting heads with religious leaders • Crowds welcome him • People see him as a king • Casts out the money changers • Religious leaders let profit become intertwined with faith • Religious leaders look for a way to kill Jesus • Send spies • Arrange for betrayal

4. Last Supper • Gathers with closest friends to celebrate the Passover meal (Seder) • Jesus washes their feet • Leadership is service • Identifies himself with the paschal lamb • Lamb whose blood was shed and flesh was eaten • Instructs the apostles to “Do this in memory of me” • Institution of the Eucharist • Refers back to the command of God to the Israelites • When we celebrate the Eucharist we make Jesus’ sacrifice present

5. Passion • Praying in the Garden at Gethsemane • Accepts his Father’s will • Obedience in the garden v disobedience in the garden • Arrested by the religious leaders • Brought before the Sanhedrin • Guilty of blasphemy • Trial before Pilate • Accused of treason • Claims to be the “King of the Jews” • Pilate believes Jesus is innocent • Scourging, crowning with thorns • Release of Barabbas • Sentenced to death • Handed over to the soldiers for crucifixion

6. Crucifixion • Brought to the hill at Golgotha • Carries his own cross • Walked through the streets • Stripped of his clothes • humiliation • Mounted on the cross • Nailed and tied • Dies of suffocation • Fulfillment of prophecy • Isaiah’s “Suffering Servant” • Last words

7. Matthew 27:46“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Here, Jesus was expressing His feelings of abandonment as God placed the sins of the world on Him – and because of that, God had to “turn away” from Jesus. As Jesus was feeling that weight of sin, He was experiencing a separation from God for the only time in all of eternity. This was also a fulfillment of the prophetic statement in Psalm 22:1.(2) “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Those who crucified Jesus were not aware of the full scope of what they were doing because they did not recognize Him as the Messiah. While their ignorance of divine truth did not mean they deserved forgiveness, Christ’s prayer in the midst of their mocking Him is an expression of the limitless compassion of divine grace. (3) “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). In this passage, Jesus is assuring one of the criminals on the cross that when he died, he would be with Jesus in heaven. This was granted because even at the hour of his death, the criminal had expressed his faith in Jesus, recognizing Him for who He was (Luke 23:42).(4) “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). Here, Jesus is willingly giving up His soul into the Father’s hands, indicating that He was about to die – and that God had accepted His sacrifice. He “offered up Himself unblemished to God” (Hebrews 9:14).

8. (5) “Dear Woman, here is your son!” and “Here is your mother!” When Jesus saw His mother standing near the cross with the Apostle John, whom He loved, He committed His mother’s care into John’s hands. And from that hour John took her unto his own home (John 19:26-27). In this verse Jesus, ever the compassionate Son, is making sure His earthly mother is cared for after His death.(6) “I am thirsty”(John 19:28). Jesus was here fulfilling the Messianic prophecy from Psalm 69:21: “They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.” By saying He was thirsty, He prompted the Roman guards to give Him vinegar, which was customary at a crucifixion, thereby fulfilling the prophecy.(7) “It is finished!” (John 19:30). Jesus’ last words meant that His suffering was over and the whole work His Father had given Him to do, which was to preach the Gospel, work miracles, and obtain eternal salvation for His people, was done, accomplished, fulfilled. The debt of sin was paid.

9. Who Killed Jesus? • Jewish Leaders • Jesus challenged their authority • Charged him with blasphemy, (speaking irreverently about God) • Claimed to be the Messiah • Telling the Truth • Roman Leaders • Procurator’s job was to keep the peace • Jesus was accused of treason • To stop the threat to the authority of the Roman government • Brings the kingdom of God to fulfillment

10. The Meaning of the Cross • Jesus was delivered up by a set plan • Fulfills the promise made to the first humans • Jesus, the Suffering Servant • Growing messianic hope • Passages in Isaiah • Romans 5:19 • Jesus, the Paschal Lamb • Exodus • Blood of the lamb liberated from death and slavery • Jesus, the Ransom for Many • Original sin necessitated Jesus’ sacrifice • Price paid to release a slave • We are no longer owned by sin • Freely accepted by Jesus

11. Passion Narrative • Accounts of the passion and death of Jesus • Matt. 26: 1 -27: 66 • Mk. 14: 1- 15: 47 • Lk. 22: 1- 23:56 • Jn. 12: 12- 19: 42 • Choose and read one of the passion narratives and identify at least 5 participants and their actions relating to Jesus.