Mark’s Gospel RevisionChapter 5: The death and resurrection of Jesus

A brief introduction•All 4 Gospel writers describe Jesus’ death

& resurrection in detail.

•3 of Mark’s 16 chapters are take up by the ‘passion narrative’ (death & resurrection).

•Jesus’ death was inevitable.

•Jesus’ death = salvation for all!

•Jesus’ resurrection showed he can defeat evil and death!

The plot against Jesus

Mark 14:1-2 Key points

Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

• Opposition had been building up for some time.

• They were now finalising their plot to kill Jesus.

• Many pilgrims from Galilee and the Diaspora (scattering of people) were present in Jerusalem for the Passover, they did not want a riot to break out.

Judas agrees to betray Jesus

Mark 14:10-11

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Key points – Judas’ betrayal

•Nobody knows why Judas decided to do this:1. For money (30 pieces of silver)?2. Did he become disillusioned with Jesus?3. Did he hope that Jesus would use the opportunity to show off his power?

•The religious leaders welcomed his proposal and waited for his chance to hand Jesus over.

The Passover meal & the Last Supper

1)When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

2)They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?” “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me.

3)The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

• Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

• Then he took a cup, gave thanks, gave it to them and they all drank from it.

• “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

• They sung a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

The Passover & the Last Supper

Key points

Every year Jews celebrate the Passover (as did Jesus).

Passover remembers the time when the Israelites escaped slavery in Egypt.

The disciples were shocked at the idea that one of them would betray Jesus – they didn’t know who would do this!

Jesus took elements of the Passover meal and made them new symbols of his death.

Mark 14:22-26

Holy Communion

•Bread = Jesus’ body.

•Wine = Jesus’ blood.

Other names: Eucharist; Mass and The Lord’s Supper.

Different understandings of Communion

Catholic Church

Celebrated daily in Mass.

Bread and wine change to become the body and blood of Christ.

Christ is present in the bread and wine.

Transubstantiation.

Protestant tradition

Bread and wine used to remember Jesus’ death.

Bread and wine do not change.

Communion means sharing and at Communion they share in Jesus’ suffering and death.

Consubstantiation.

Gethsemane Mark 14:32-41Jesus took his disciples to Gethsemane.

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, stay here and keep watch.”

“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

He found the disciples sleeping, “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Three times they fell asleep and they did not know what to say to Him.

The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Key points - Gethsemane

Peter, James and John were his closest disciples and went further into the garden with Jesus.

Jesus was clearly distraught.

Jesus’ human side and divine side can both be seen (asking for the suffering to be taken away and accepting Gods will).

The disciples did not realise the seriousness of what Jesus was going through.

Jesus had to suffer alone!

The meaning of Gethsemane for today•It comforts Christians to know that when they are suffering Jesus will understand what they are going through (he can relate to them).

•Christians should hand over their problems to God just like Jesus.

•Jesus called God ‘Abba’ (daddy), Christians can approach God with their problems like a loving father.

The arrest of JesusMark 14:42-50• Judas appeared with an armed

crowd, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

• The signal: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

• “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

Then everyone deserted him and fled.

Key points – Jesus’ arrest•Judas gave the armed crowd a sign to

make sure they arrested the right person.

•A kiss on the cheek was a common greeting.

•Judas betrayed Jesus with an act of friendship – making it even worse!

•Jesus allowed himself to be arrested but still questioned why they came at night to arrest him.

•The disciples were so shocked they ran away.

Jesus before the CouncilMark 14:53-65• They took Jesus to the high

priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.

• The chief priest and the Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus to put him to death - they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

• Some gave false testimonies against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

Jesus before Council continued…• Question 1: “Are you not going

to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

• Question 2: “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”. “I am and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

• The high priest tore his clothes.

• Guilty of blasphemy & worthy of death!

• Spat at him; blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

Key points

The council was in charge of the affairs of Jewish people.

Only the Romans could put someone to death.

Blasphemy = claiming to be God or equal to God.

Jesus’ trial was unfair:1. Not usually held in High Priests house.2. Execution trials could not be held at night.3. False witnesses could be sentenced to death

Jesus before PilateMark 15:1-20

Friday morning: Sanhedrin, made their plans. They handed Jesus over to Pilate.

Q: “Are you the king of the Jews?”A:. “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

Q: “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”A: Jesus didn’t reply & Pilate was amazed.Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

Jesus before Pilate continued…• “Do you want me to release to you the king of the

Jews?” • Chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate

release Barabbas instead.• “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king

of the Jews?”• “Crucify him!” they shouted.• Pilate asked: “Why? What crime has he committed?”• They shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”• Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released

Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus• The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace and called

together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

Key points - Jesus before Pilate• Only Pilate could sentence someone to death.

• Blasphemy was not a crime under Roman law.

• Charge became political – king of the Jews (threat to Roman Empire).

• Pilate realised Jesus was a threat to the Sanhedrin and what they were up to.

• Pilate hoped offering Barabbas would be the best solution but this backfired.

• Pilate was responsible for maintaining Roman rule in Palestine and peace.

Who killed Jesus?

1. What sort of person do you think Pilate was?

2. Do you think he was responsible for the death of Jesus?

3. Who else shared the blame?

The Crucifixion of JesusMark 15:21-32.• Simon of Cyrene forced to carry

Jesus’ cross to Golgotha (place of the skull).

• Offered him wine & myrrh but he refused.

• The soldiers divided his clothes and casts lots for them (dice).

• He was crucified at 9am between 2 criminals.

• The notice above his head read ‘King of the Jews’.

• “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!”

• “He saved others but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

Key points - Crucifixion•The most extreme form of Roman execution

reserved for the worst criminals.

•Jewish scripture described crucifixion as being ‘under Gods curse’ (Deut. 21:22-23).

•Jesus was too weak to carry his cross (badly beaten first).

•Jesus refused the painkiller.

•Crucifixion used to warn others off.

•Mark presents Jesus as the ‘suffering servant’ as described in Isaiah 53:8.

Jesus’ deathMark 15: 33-40

• 12noon – 3pm darkness covers the land.

• 3pm Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

• Onlookers thought he was calling Elijah.

• Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

Jesus’ death continued…

• With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

• The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

• The centurion said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

• Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph and Salome.

• In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

Key points – Jesus death• In Jewish scriptures darkness was often a

symbol of tragedy or judgement.

• Elijah was believed to help those in need.

• It is surprising that he had strength to cry out before he died (might have convinced centurion).

• Holy of Holies – where God was present (no one could go here except High Priest once a year).

• A human tear would have begun at the bottom!

• God is now present everywhere.

• Importance of women highlighted by Mark.

The Burial of JesusMark 15:42-47Sabbath day – no work could be done.

Joseph of Arimathea (member of the Sanhedrin) went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died.

He gave the body to Joseph who wrapped it in cloth linen and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock.

He rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

Key points – The burial of Jesus•It shows that Jesus was really dead.

•We are not sure if Joseph was a public follower of Jesus but we do know he was waiting for the coming of the K.O.G.

•Touching a dead body especially that of a criminal would make a Jewish person unclean.

• Jesus’ body should have been burned at the town dump, Joseph risked severe punishment by approaching Pilate – He obviously had great love and respect for Jesus!

Jesus’ ResurrectionMark 16:1-8•The Sabbath was over,

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices to anoint Jesus’ body.

•“Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

•They got there & saw that the large stone had been rolled away.

•Inside they saw a young man dressed in a white robe.

•“Don’t be alarmed, you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. Go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

•Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Key pointsJesus’ Resurrection

•Out of all the Gospel writers Mark’s account of the Resurrection is the shortest.

•Some copies of Mark’s Gospel end at this point emphasising the shock and strange feelings experienced by the women at the tomb.

•Some go on to summarise the Resurrection appearances (Mark 16:9-20).

What can Christians learn from the death of Jesus?

They can relate to his Suffering. The way is

now open betweenPeople & God

Shows Gods love for man

Shows that God can Defeat evil & even death

itself

Jesus paid the price for people’s sin

The meaning of the Resurrection for Christians today

Proof that Jesus is the Son of God.Jesus is alive and in the lives of his followers today.

Hope of their own Resurrection – life after death!

Hope of seeing loved ones again.God has power over death.

Possible 10 mark questions

•It is impossible to decide who was responsible for the death of Jesus.

•The story of Jesus’ death is more important than the story of His resurrection.

•Did the Resurrection really happen?

**SEE REVISION GUIDES FOR PRACTICE Q’s