Objectives: By the end of this subtopic learners should be able to:
Retell the crucifixion of Jesus.
Narrate the burial of Jesus by Joseph Arimathea.
Give an account of the resurrection of Jesus.
Narrate the story of the walk to Emmaus.
Explain the significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Explain the significance of Peter's denial.
1.0 Jesus on the way to the cross (Luke23 vs. 26-32)
On their way they seized Simon of Cyrene who was in the country and laid on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.
A great crowd followed him and the women were lamenting and bewailed he turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem do not weep for me but weep for yourselves and your children, for behold days are coming when they will say, "Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never gave suck,
Then they will begin to say to the mountains, fall on us and to the hills cover us and will not, for if they do this when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?"
1.1 Comments:
Simon of Cyrene was the father of Alexander and Rufus (probably had come for the Passover feast in Jerusalem all the way from Africa).
Sympathetic women and others joined the procession.
Jesus comforted them as those without children and poor were considered to be under a curse but in the kingdom will be the happiest of them all.
If Jesus an innocent man can suffer such, how about the ordinary people who are guilty, full of sins).
It was a Roman custom for one condemned to carry his own cross to the place of execution.
Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry the cross possibly because Jesus was tired of the beatings he suffered.
1.2 Crucifixion: Luke23vs32-43
Two other criminals were led away to be put to death with Jesus.
When they came to the place which is called The Skull there crucified him and the criminal's one, on the right and the other on the left.
Jesus said, "Father forgives them for they know not what they do."
Lots were cast out to divide his garments.
People stood by watching, rulers scoffed at him saying, "He saved others let him save himself if he is the Christ, son of God, his Chosen One."
The soldiers came and mocked him offering him vinegar saying, "If you are the king of the Jews save yourself."
There was an inscription over him, "This is the king of the Jews."
One of the criminals said to Jesus, "Are you not the Christ save yourself and us."
But the other one rebuked him saying, "Do you not fear God since we are under the same sentence of condemnation and we indeed justly for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds but this man has done nothing wrong, and said to Jesus, Remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Jesus said, "Truly I say to you today you will be with me in paradise".
1.3 Comments:
The robber was promised to be with Jesus in paradise because he had shown the acts of charity and then was accepted and rewarded.
Paradise was the place where souls of the righteous were thought to be waiting for the judgment in the second coming of Jesus.
Clothes and sandals of the accused man became the property of the execution squad of the soldiers and were to be shared by casting out of lots.
Jesus prayed, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Just the same as in Genesis 50 vs21 Joseph who was sold by his brothers but he prayed and forgave them their evil deeds.
Jesus was crucified at 9:00am. (Zimbabwean time)
The robbers were thought to be Jewish terrorists of the Zealot party who were to die with Jesus.
Jesus was considered, "King of the Jews "and this reveals Jesus as a suffering messiah.
Women had followed Jesus from Galilee and their presence was important as they showed love and ministered to him and were generally at less risk of being persecuted by Jews.
1.4 The death of Jesus (Luke 23:44-49)
It was about the sixth hour, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
The suns light failed, the curtain of the temple was torn into two.
He then cried with a loud voice, "Father into thy hands I commit my spirit "having said this he breathed his last.
When the centurion saw this he praised God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent."
All the multitudes who assembled to see the sight, when they saw what had taken place returned home beating their breasts.
All his acquaintances and the woman who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things.
1.5 Comment:
Jesus died on Friday when the Passover was about to start at 1500hrs that is Zimbabwean time.
Darkness over the whole land was a sign that the powers of evil were at work.
Tearing of the Temple curtain witnessed that people could approach God directly a Jew or a Gentile not through the high priest.
The curtain was torn from top to bottom which covered the Holy of Holies which again signified that God had abandoned it at the time of Jesus' death in order to build a spiritual temple for the believers.
"My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?" Jesus felt abandoned or forsaken by God because he was taking the sin of the world on himself which separated men and God.
1.6 The burial of Jesus: Luke 23:50-56
Now there was a man named Joseph from the Jewish town of Arimathe'a.
He was a member of the council a good and righteous man.
He had not consented to their purpose and deed and he was looking for the kingdom of God.
This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
He then took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever yet been laid.
It was the day of preparation and the Sabbath was beginning.
The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid; then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.
1.7 Comments:
The Roman law gave the crucified no right of burial, his body could be left to rot or eaten by vultures as a warning to others.
Joseph as a sympathetic and courageous man did not want to defile the Sabbath and the land then asked permission from the governor then buried him as Sabbath was approaching.
1.8 Resurrection: Luke 24vs 1-11
On the first day of the week at early dawn they went to the tomb taking the spices which they had prepared.
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb but when they went in they did not find the body.
While they were perplexed about this behold two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.
As they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground the men said to them "why do you seek the living among the dead?"
Remember how he told you while he was still in Galilee that the son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.
The woman remembered his words and returned from the tomb and told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.
These words seemed to them an idle tale and they did not believe them.
1.9 Comments:
The women had gone to the tomb to wash and anoint the body as it was a customary law.
Jesus had remained in the tomb for 36 hours from sunset on Friday to Sunday at dawn.
1.10 The walk to Emmaus: Luke 24:13-32
That very day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus seven miles from Jerusalem talking to each other about what had happened.
While discussing Jesus appeared to them and joined them but their eyes failed to recognize him.
He said, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk."
They stood still looking sad.
Cleopas said, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened in these days but we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.
Yes, and besides all this it is now the third day since this happened.
The women had found nothing in the tomb but angels saying he was alive.
Jesus said, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.
Was it not necessary that Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?''.
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
So they drew near to the village to which they were going.
He appeared to going further but they constrained him saying, "For it is towards evening and the day is now far spent''.
So he went in to stay with them at table he took bread and blessed it then broke and gave them and their eyes were opened and recognized him and he vanished out of their sight.
They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road when he opened the scriptures."
They rose and went to Jerusalem and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them said "the Lord has risen indeed and has appeared to Simon!''
1.11 Comments:
Resurrection is the central message to the Christians today because they believe that they don't die but sleep then resurrects on the second coming of Jesus.
There is new life after death as this was proved by Jesus when he resurrected on the third day.
1.12 The risen Christ appears: Luke 24 v 36-49
As they were saying this Jesus himself stood among them and were startled and frightened and supposed that they saw his spirit.
He said to them, "Why are you troubled and why do such questionings rise in your hearts?
See my hands and my feet that it is I myself, handle me and see for a spirit has no flesh and bones."
And while still disbelieved for joy and wondered then said, "Have you anything here to eat?"
They gave him a piece of broiled fish and he ate before them.
Jesus then told his disciples that they were going to be his witnesses as thus it is written that the Christ should suffer many things and on the third day rise from the dead and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem and I will send the promise of my father upon you but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.
The disciples had seen what had happened.
Their work to witness to all nations after being clothed with the Holy Spirit.
1.13 The Ascension: Luke 24 v 50-53
Then he led them out as far as Bethany then lifting up his hands he blessed them while parting away from them and was carried up into heaven.
The apostles returned to Jerusalem with great joy and continued in the temple blessing God.
1.14 Comments:
While Jesus parted he blessed them, it shows that it was a continuous mission though he left the disciples were to live under his constant benediction.
His ascension was the crowning act of his victory.
