OVerview: The Paschal Mystery
"And he took a cup and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." -Matthew 26: 27-28
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http://www.morethings.com/god_and_country/jesus/crucifixion_photo_gallery11.htm
Summary
As preparations for the Passover meal are being made, Judas agrees to hand over Jesus to the chief priests. While eating at the table, Jesus foretells of his betrayal and Peter's denial. Jesus then takes his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he prays three times while his disciples sleep. Judas arrives accompanied by soldiers and elders, and betrays Jesus with a kiss. Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin, where he was found guilty of blasphemy. Around the trial, Peter denies having any affiliation with Jesus three times in the courtyard. Jesus was handed over to Pontius Pilate, the governor, but he found him not guilty. Pilate asked the crowd who they wanted to be released on the occasion of the Passover Feast. The crowd opted for the release of Barabbas, a guilty criminal, and the crucifixion of Jesus. Pilate questioned the crowds' motives, but he caved into the pressure and told the crowd that his blood was on their hands while he handed Jesus over to be crucified. Jesus was scourged and made to carry his cross to Golgotha, where he was laid on the cross and mocked by bystanders and soldiers. On the cross, Jesus asked why God had forsaken him. A man rushed to soak a sponge in wine, put it on a reed, and give it to Jesus to drink. This was the Cup of Consummation that Jesus drank right before he gave up his soul to God and died. His death darkened the land and the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two. To be sure of his death, "one thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out" (Jn 19:33-35). Jesus was wrapped in fresh cloth and buried in a new tomb. The next day, a guard stood before Pilate and said that Jesus said he would be raised in three days after his death. Pilate ordered guards to seal the tomb and guard it. As Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were visiting the tomb, they were visited by an angel who told them to go to Galilee to see Jesus raised from the dead. Jesus met them on their way and they embraced him as he told them to tell the other disciples of his coming to Galilee. The guards who witnessed the angel destroy the tomb stone were paid off to be quiet. The eleven disciples went to Galilee and met with Jesus, but they doubted. Jesus expressed all the power given to him in heaven and on earth. He told his disciples to "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit" (Mt 28:19).
http://www.morethings.com/god_and_country/jesus/crucifixion_photo_gallery11.htm
Summary
As preparations for the Passover meal are being made, Judas agrees to hand over Jesus to the chief priests. While eating at the table, Jesus foretells of his betrayal and Peter's denial. Jesus then takes his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he prays three times while his disciples sleep. Judas arrives accompanied by soldiers and elders, and betrays Jesus with a kiss. Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin, where he was found guilty of blasphemy. Around the trial, Peter denies having any affiliation with Jesus three times in the courtyard. Jesus was handed over to Pontius Pilate, the governor, but he found him not guilty. Pilate asked the crowd who they wanted to be released on the occasion of the Passover Feast. The crowd opted for the release of Barabbas, a guilty criminal, and the crucifixion of Jesus. Pilate questioned the crowds' motives, but he caved into the pressure and told the crowd that his blood was on their hands while he handed Jesus over to be crucified. Jesus was scourged and made to carry his cross to Golgotha, where he was laid on the cross and mocked by bystanders and soldiers. On the cross, Jesus asked why God had forsaken him. A man rushed to soak a sponge in wine, put it on a reed, and give it to Jesus to drink. This was the Cup of Consummation that Jesus drank right before he gave up his soul to God and died. His death darkened the land and the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two. To be sure of his death, "one thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out" (Jn 19:33-35). Jesus was wrapped in fresh cloth and buried in a new tomb. The next day, a guard stood before Pilate and said that Jesus said he would be raised in three days after his death. Pilate ordered guards to seal the tomb and guard it. As Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were visiting the tomb, they were visited by an angel who told them to go to Galilee to see Jesus raised from the dead. Jesus met them on their way and they embraced him as he told them to tell the other disciples of his coming to Galilee. The guards who witnessed the angel destroy the tomb stone were paid off to be quiet. The eleven disciples went to Galilee and met with Jesus, but they doubted. Jesus expressed all the power given to him in heaven and on earth. He told his disciples to "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit" (Mt 28:19).
similarities & Differences
The Gospels have many, many similarities in telling the story of the Paschal mystery.
- In the Last Supper, Jesus always tells the disciples how one of the twelve will betray him, and breaks and blesses the bread and wine. Jesus also foretells Peter's denials. - In the Arrest in The Garden of Gethsemane, Judas betrays Jesus in the Garden by kissing him. Peter also denies Jesus three times, before the cock crows just like Jesus said he would. This is true of all the Gospels. - In the Trial Before the Sanhedrin, the Sanhedrin accuses Jesus of blasphemy and sends him to Pilate to be sentenced. - In the Trial Before Pilate, Pilate asks if the crowd would rather prefer Jesus Christ or Barabbas, a notorious criminal, and the crowd always picks Jesus, saying "Let him be crucified!" This happens in all the Gospels. - In the story of the Crucifixion, Jesus is handed off to soldiers, who mock him. They make him carry his cross to the place where he is to be crucified. Jesus is nailed to the cross and suffers, saying "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He dies on the cross. |
Though the Gospels tell the same basic story and have several exact similarities, there are some details which vary from book to book.
"I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do." (Jn 13:15) -After Jesus is arrested in Mark, Peter the apostle follows him into the courtyard of the Sanhedrin and sits at a very patricular fire-- a charcoal fire. "Peter followed him at a distrance into the high priest's counrtyard and was seated with the guards, warming himself at the charcoal fire." (Mark 14:54) -Luke's Gospel tells of Jesus being sent by Pilate to Herod for interrogation. Herod shames Jesus, but finds him not guilty as Pilate did. -During the Crucifixion of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, one of the criminals crucified with Jesus defends him from the other one, and Jesus replies saying that his defender will join him in Paradise. -After Jesus' body is taken down from the cross in the Gospel of Matthew the chief priests ask for a guard to be posted, as they were afraid Jesus' disciples would steal his body and make false claims that Jesus rose from the dead. |