unit 6: the life of christ – part 3 section 1 – jesus’ final ministry in jerusalem

UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3Section 1 – Jesus’ Final Ministry in Jerusalem

I. PUBLIC MINISTRY (John 11:55-12:11)

• Jesus’ final week of ministry before His death brought great attention and controversy.

A. The Triumphal Entry (Mark 11:1-11; John 12:12-19)

• The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9.

• The shouts echoed the Psalmist from Psalm 118:26.

• Following His triumphal entry, Jesus went to the temple to check out what was happening.


B. The Cleansing of the Temple (Mark 11:12-25)

• Jesus had cleared the temple three years earlier (Jn 2:13-22).

• Jesus’ cleansing gives evidence of His authority over the spiritual affairs of Israel and demonstrates His eternal sovereignty.

• This cleansing (Mk 11:17) fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah 7:11.

C. The Gentiles Seek Jesus (John 12:20-50)

• Jesus’ ministry had been primarily to the Jews.


• These Greeks were perhaps proselytes who had

come to Jerusalem to worship at the feast.

• Events clearly fulfilled John 1:11-12.

D. The Arguments of the Jewish Leaders (Mark 11:27-12:40)

• Jesus’ response teaches us that our ministry and mission is greater than the problems of any situation.


Argument #1: Jesus the Messiah?

Text: Mark 11:27-33

Group: Chief priests, scribes, elders (Sanhedrin)

Argument #2: Loyalty to Rome or Israel?

Text: Mark 12:12-17

Group: Pharisees (loyal to traditions of Israel) and Herodians (loyal to Rome)

Argument #3: Resurrection or Not?

Text: Mark 12:18-27

Group: Sadducees (aristocracy)


Argument #4: Greatest Commandment?

Text: Mark 12:28-34

Group: A Scribe (overseers of the Law)

• Jesus and His disciples then left the temple and journeyed to the Mount of Olives.


II. PRIVATE MINISTRY (John 11:55-12:11)

A. Jesus’ Training the Twelve (Mark 12:41-44)

• In the days before the Passover, Jesus and the Twelve ministered in Jerusalem and spent the evenings and nights in Bethany.

• Story of the Fig Tree

(Mark 11:13-14,20-25; Luke 21:29-31)

1. Jesus came to seek spiritual fruit.

2. The Kingdom of God could be expected like summer approaches with the trees in bloom.


• The Widow’s Offering (Mark 12:41-44)

• Some believe that Jews had offerings converted to largest coins possible.

- At the heart of all Christian service and giving is the attitude by which these things are done.

• Jesus Anointed at Bethany (John 12:1-11)

• Anointing was similar to the preparation of a body for burial.

- Event foreshadowed Jesus’ death which would

take place in the next two days.


III. THE LAST SUPPER (Mark 14:12-21)

• Jesus gathered with His disciples for the traditional Passover (or Paschal) meal.

• Jesus transformed and deepened the meaning of the Passover celebration to be a lasting memorial of His death and resurrection.

A. The Passover Meal (Exodus 12:1-42)

• The feast was called “Passover” because the angel of death “passed over” the houses of the Israelites while killing the Egyptian’s first born.


• It recalled the great events of their ancestors’ freedom from slavery and the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land.

• When Jerusalem was established as the Holy city, and the temple was built there, Jews from all over the world came to celebrate the Passover (approx. 75,000 Jews).

B. The Washing of Feet (Luke 22:24-38; John 13:1-17)

• Washing feet was customarily done by the servant of the house or slave.


• Jesus’ lesson to the disciples was that just as He

washed their feet clean, they would be “washed clean” by Jesus’ death and resurrection.

• Jesus also gave them an example of what Christian greatness was: being a servant to others.

C. The Betrayal of Judas (Luke 22:1-6; John 13:18-30)

• After Jesus handed Judas the piece of bread, Judas left the room and went out into the night (darkness of sin) to set in motion Jesus’ betrayal.


• At the very point of Jesus’ betrayal, He felt that He was being glorified (Jn 13:31-33)!

• Jesus also gave them a new command (Jn 13:34).

• Jesus then predicts Peter’s denial (Jn 13:36-38).

• Even at times when we might deny Jesus by our

actions, we should never hesitate to return as Peter would (1 Jn 1:9).

D. The Memorial Meal (Matt. 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26)

• Jesus changed the meaning of the Passover.


• Passover Lamb – Deliverance from Angel of Death

• Jesus the Lamb – Deliverance from Death (Sin)

• Through His death and resurrection, Jesus would help all who believed in Him to “pass over” from death to life.

• This would be the “new” Passover. We are to celebrate in remembrance of Him (1 Cor. 11:23-26)

E. Farwell Discourse and High Priestly Prayer (John 14-17)


• John 14-16 – Farwell Discourse

• Jesus taught them:

– Not to be troubled (14:1-4)

– He is the only way to the Father (14:6)

– The promise of the Holy Spirit (14:16-17)

– The importance of abiding in Christ (15:1-17)

– A new commandment of love (15:12-13)

– Words of hope (16:33)


• John 17 – High Priestly Prayer

• Jesus prayed:

– For their protection and consecration to the truth (17:15)

– For unity (17:11,21)

– That the love of God would dwell in His disciples (17:26)

UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3Section 2 – Jesus’ Sufferings and Crucifixion

Section 2

Jesus’ Sufferings and Crucifixion

UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion

I. AGONY AND ARREST (Mark 14:32-42; John 18:1-12)

A. The Agony in the Garden

• Jesus went with Peter, James, and John to the Garden of Gethsemane.

• The “cup” that Jesus asked the Father to remove

was the cup of suffering (Mk 14:36).

• But even more important to Jesus than avoiding suffering was doing the will of His Father.

• Jesus’ prayer in the Garden gives us a model of prayer: persevere in prayer!


B. The Arrest of Jesus (John 18:1-12)

• Judas led a band of Roman soldiers and Jewish officers to seize Jesus.

• John shows that Jesus was full of authority and in control of His fate.

• Peter cut off the ear of Malchus, but Jesus said it

was not the time to resist or try to escape.

• In the end, Jesus submitted to the Father’s plan and was arrested.

• Jesus was then led through various trials.


II. THE TRIALS OF JESUS

• First two trials happened at night, on the eve of the crucifixion.

• The remaining four occurred the following morning on the day of Jesus’ death.

A. Before Annas (John 18:13-24)

• Annas had been High Priest but held no official position at the time of this trial.

• Annas became something like the Jewish “political boss” of Jerusalem.


• Annas gained sufficient power in Jerusalem to make the decision about who would be tried for a crime against Jewish law and who would not.

• Annas tried to find something he could twist into a charge of treason or blasphemy, but found nothing.

B. Before Caiaphas (Mark 14:53-65)

• Caiaphas was Annas’ son-in-law and probably gained power through corruption.

• Caiaphas presided over the Sanhedrin.


• Many Jewish leaders saw Jesus as a threat to their power.

• Caiaphas wanted to make Jesus a scapegoat by putting Him to death. This would show loyalty

to Rome and keep the Sanhedrin in power.

• Caiaphas brought false testimony against Jesus but they could not agree which led him to question Jesus himself.

• Upon questioning, Jesus’ response to Caiaphas was that He was “I am.” This caused Caiaphas to charge Jesus with blasphemy.


C. Before the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66-71)

• The Sanhedrin meeting the night before may not

have been legal because the full Sanhedrin was

not in attendance and it was held at night.

• The Sanhedrin wanted to act quickly because they would defile themselves if they convicted Jesus on the next day which was the Sabbath.

• The Sanhedrin could only carry out corporal punishment. Only the Romans could carry out capital punishment and only for a crime against Rome.


D. Before Pilate (Luke 23:1-7; John 18:28-38)

• Pilate was the Roman authority in Judea and Rome’s personal representative in Jerusalem.

• The Jewish council may have wanted to show loyalty to Rome by turning Jesus over to Pilate.

• Jews had no specific charge (Jn 18:29).

• Pilate questioned Jesus about His identity, His kingdom, and His kingship.

• When Pilate found out that Jesus was a Galilean, he shifted the responsibility to Herod.


E. Before Herod (Luke 23:7-11)

• Herod Antipas was governor of Galilee.

• Herod was curious about Jesus and wanted to be entertained by signs and miracles.

• Jesus remained silent (fulfilling Isa 53:7).

• Herod mocked Jesus and sent Him back to Pilate.

F. Before Pilate (Matt 27:13-26, Lk 23:13-25, Jn 18:39-19:16)

• The objective of the Sanhedrin was to destroy Jesus.


• The Sanhedrin hoped to pressure Pilate into carrying out Jesus’ execution.

• Pilate tried to avoid making a final decision by using the tradition of releasing a prisoner at Passover (Jn 18:39).

• The Jews wanted Barabbas freed – a hardened criminal (Lk 23:19).

• Pilate appealed to the crowd a second time and then had Jesus scourged with a whip.

• Pilate finally agreed to the demands of the Jews.


• As if to attempt to remove his own guilt, Pilate publicly washed his hands of the whole matter. (Matt. 27:24)

• The condemnation of Jesus was a blatant perversion of justice.

III. CRUCIFIXION, DEATH, AND BURIAL (Matt 27:27-56, Mk 15:16-41; Lk 23:26-49; Jn 19:17-37)

A. Carrying the Cross

• To hasten the crucifixion the Roman soldiers had Simon carry the cross for Jesus.


• Simon was probably a Hellenistic Jew from Alexandria, Egypt who came to celebrate the 50

days of Passover festival.

• There is some indication that Simon may have become a believer (Mk 15:21).

B. Crucifixion

• Arriving at Golgotha, “the place of the skull”, Jesus was crucified when the soldiers nailed Him to the cross.

• The soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothes fulfilling the prophecy of (Ps 22:18).


• Jesus was crucified with a sign written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek that read, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

• This indicated His “crime” although it was true!

• The nearby crowd mocked Jesus saying to Him that He should save Himself (Lk 22:39-41).

• The repentant thief asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus entered into His kingdom (Lk 23:39-43).

• Present at the crucifixion: John (only disciple) Jesus’ mother, her sister and Mary Magdalene.


• Jesus entrusted the care of His mother to John (Jn 19:26).

C. Death

• Jesus’ death fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 52:13-53:12.

• To ensure that Passover would not be defiled, the Jews asked that death be brought on quickly

by breaking the legs of the criminals.

• But Jesus was already dead (Jn 19:33-34).


• Events that accompanied the death of Jesus.

- The curtain in the temple being torn from top to bottom.

- The Roman centurion coming to faith in Jesus

- The earthquake causing tombs to be opened and the saints being raised from the dead.

D. Burial

• Jesus’ burial fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9.


• Jesus was buried in a rich man’s (Joseph’s) tomb by Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus.

UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3Section 3 – Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension

Section 3

Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension


I. THE RESURRECTION (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24:1-11; John 20:1-10)

• The first followers to observe the empty tomb were Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James, and Salome (Mk 16:1-4).

• They ran to tell others what they had seen.

A. Reasons for the Resurrection

• Jesus rose because of who He is – God!

• Jesus rose because the Davidic covenant promised eternal rule to David’s heir.


• Jesus rose because He was destined to become

the pattern for the believer’s resurrection.

• Jesus rose because He was destined to be the Great High Priest for all who believe in Him (Heb 2:17).

• Jesus rose and ascended so that the Holy Spirit could come and minister as the Comforter (Jn 14:26).

• The same Holy Spirit that enabled the disciples is the same Spirit that is available to us!


II. THE APPEARANCES (Lk 24:13-49; Jn 20:11-21:25)

• Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:15).

• Then He appeared to the other women at the tomb (Mt 28:9-10).

• Then to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-32).

• Jesus then appeared to seven of the disciples on the Sea of Galilee (Jn 21:1-14)

• There were many other meetings as well.


III. THE ASCENSION (Acts 1; Hebrews 9)

• Truths revealed from the ascension:

- Christ’s victory on the cross was acceptable

to the Father.

- Christ’s victory over Satan was secured.

- Christ’s ascension allowed the Holy Spirit to

descend.

- The ascension permits Jesus to be our mediator before the Father.

- Christ entered Heaven on our behalf (Heb 9)


• The final ascension took place on the Mount of Olives located just east of Jerusalem above the Garden of Gethsemane.

• Jesus fully completed His mission on earth, and know He intercedes for us in heaven!

unit 6: the life of christ – part 3 section 1 – jesus’ final ministry in jerusalem

Documents

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triumphal entry of jesus