HRE2O1 - Religion UNIT 3 Notes
Unit 3: Jesus’ Passion, Death, and
Resurrection
Chapter 1: Triumphant Entry into Zion
What is the Passion of Christ?
The Passion refers to the suffering of Jesus, which could start as early
as his triumphant entry into Jerusalem or as late as the agony in the Garden.
It can end as early as his death or as late as his resurrection. Here we start the
passion with his triumphant entry into Jerusalem and conclude it with his
death. His death is the most significant element of The Passion.
The passion starts when he prays before he’s arrested. When his human
suffering starts. The moment he re-enters Jerusalem after 40 days, his divine
suffering, being ridiculed and ignored. Concludes with his death.
The Triumphant Entry into Zion
Zion is another name for Jerusalem. The great Temple was built on the
mountain in Jerusalem known as Mt. Zion. After his teaching ministry, Jesus
triumphantly entered Jerusalem to complete his mission. With a band of
followers, he challenged the religious authorities knowing that they would kill
him in the end. What began as a great week ended in his death.
We celebrate Jesus’ final entry into Jerusalem every year on Palm
Sunday. When he entered Zion for the last time, he had gained a reputation
as the messiah through his parables, miracles and other teachings. In addition
to his own band of disciples, he had many other followers. On the tenth day of
the Hebrew lunar month of Nisan, Jesus entered into Jerusalem riding a
donkey from Bethphage. The city was filled with thousands of pilgrims who
had come for the Passover festival. Crowds lined the street with palm
branches and their own coats (the most expensive piece of clothing) as a sign
of respect and joy for the arrival of the messiah. They shouted, “Hosanna to
the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna
in the highest!” (Mt 21:15)
,Activity
Learning How to Be an Exegete: Ask Questions about Details You Can't
Explain
1. Why a donkey? (VIDEO)
a. Jesus told his followers that you will see two donkeys, one has a
saddle and the other doesn’t. He wants the one with the saddle.
Now go to Zechariah 9:9 for an additional reason.
b. “Your messiah will come into Zion, Jerusalem, on a donkey.” It is
symbolic as it fulfills a prophecy from the old testament. It is
brought to life and came true.
2. Is there additional symbolic value to a donkey? Read the top paragraph
on p. 3 (p. 76) in Lessons from a Donkey.
a. In Jesus’ time, horses were a symbol of war, not a good symbol. A
donkey was seen as a proper symbol if they had to ride on
something.
3. Why is when (10th of Nisan) and where (Bethphage) significant? For the
answer, read the interpretation of verse 1 (first five paragraphs) in Jesus'
Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. You may have to enter "Jesus'
Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem" in the search bar at the bottom of the
page.
a. It was on the Mount of Olives (Bethphage) when he prays with
the disciples and he is betrayed by Judas. Full circle. The place
where Jesus came to start his passion is the exact same place
where it comes to a halt/stops/ends.
4. What does Hosanna mean? Go to Hosanna Defined to find out.
a. A Hebrew shout of joy and triumph from the psalms. Chanted
daily by priests. In exaltation of joy. Twice proclaimed in the
sanctus. Distribution of palms and on Palm Sunday. “Jesus, save
us, we pray.”
5. Consolidate your learning: in one short paragraph, explain why riding
into Zion on a donkey from Bethphage on the 10th day of Nisan while
the crowd shouts "hosanna" tells us a deeper story than meets the eye.
6. 6. 3-2-1 Activity. Watch the following video, which traces the probable
route of Jesus' journey from Bethany to Jerusalem. Jot down three new
points of learning, 2 questions you have from the video, and 1 thing you
enjoyed.
7. Route from Bethphage to Jerusalem
, 🛈 Much of the topography of the land outside the walls of Old Jerusalem has
not changed for millenia. When we read about features such as the Kidron
Valley (e.g. 2 Sam 15:23; Jn 18:1), one can see those same places today. In fact,
some of the pathways and roads around certain parts of the topography
haven’t changed for millenia. In all likelihood, one can walk over the same
footsteps of Jesus and even King David, who lived about 1000 years before
Jesus.
Chapter 2: Cleansing the Temple
The synoptic gospels agree that, shortly after entering Jerusalem on a
donkey, Jesus provoked the religious authorities when he disrupted their
trade business at the Temple, God’s home in Jerusalem. In order to worship at
the Temple, one had to pay a Temple tax using a special coin minted by the
Temple. In order to obtain the coin, money changers were needed to convert
Roman currency into Temple currency. The money changers operated on the
Temple ground and they paid a portion of their excessive profits to the High
Priest and the chief priests at the Temple. In addition, only specific animals
could be sacrificed to God. Those animals were sold at the Temple for
tremendous profit and a portion was also given to the priests. Jesus was
justified in declaring that the Temple had become a “den of thieves.”
Activity
1. Watch the following video clip. Is Jesus' reaction to the traders in the
Temple consistent with your image of Jesus as the Son of God? Why or
why not? Jesus Cleanses the Temple
2. The gospel of John explains Jesus' reaction to the traders with a quote
from Psalm 69:9. Do you think it explains Jesus' reaction adequately?
Why or why not? “For zeal for thy house has consumed me, / and the
insults of those who insult thee have fallen on me.”
a. Jesus uses the old testament, quoting it, to get the people back
to the way they were before. They are coveting money, paying
higher respect to the emperor, king, priests rather than God.
3. How do you think the priests will react to Jesus' actions?
a. The priests did nothing at that moment. They didn’t stop him.
They didn’t think he was right but knew that what they were
doing was wrong. Then decides to kill him after.
Unit 3: Jesus’ Passion, Death, and
Resurrection
Chapter 1: Triumphant Entry into Zion
What is the Passion of Christ?
The Passion refers to the suffering of Jesus, which could start as early
as his triumphant entry into Jerusalem or as late as the agony in the Garden.
It can end as early as his death or as late as his resurrection. Here we start the
passion with his triumphant entry into Jerusalem and conclude it with his
death. His death is the most significant element of The Passion.
The passion starts when he prays before he’s arrested. When his human
suffering starts. The moment he re-enters Jerusalem after 40 days, his divine
suffering, being ridiculed and ignored. Concludes with his death.
The Triumphant Entry into Zion
Zion is another name for Jerusalem. The great Temple was built on the
mountain in Jerusalem known as Mt. Zion. After his teaching ministry, Jesus
triumphantly entered Jerusalem to complete his mission. With a band of
followers, he challenged the religious authorities knowing that they would kill
him in the end. What began as a great week ended in his death.
We celebrate Jesus’ final entry into Jerusalem every year on Palm
Sunday. When he entered Zion for the last time, he had gained a reputation
as the messiah through his parables, miracles and other teachings. In addition
to his own band of disciples, he had many other followers. On the tenth day of
the Hebrew lunar month of Nisan, Jesus entered into Jerusalem riding a
donkey from Bethphage. The city was filled with thousands of pilgrims who
had come for the Passover festival. Crowds lined the street with palm
branches and their own coats (the most expensive piece of clothing) as a sign
of respect and joy for the arrival of the messiah. They shouted, “Hosanna to
the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna
in the highest!” (Mt 21:15)
,Activity
Learning How to Be an Exegete: Ask Questions about Details You Can't
Explain
1. Why a donkey? (VIDEO)
a. Jesus told his followers that you will see two donkeys, one has a
saddle and the other doesn’t. He wants the one with the saddle.
Now go to Zechariah 9:9 for an additional reason.
b. “Your messiah will come into Zion, Jerusalem, on a donkey.” It is
symbolic as it fulfills a prophecy from the old testament. It is
brought to life and came true.
2. Is there additional symbolic value to a donkey? Read the top paragraph
on p. 3 (p. 76) in Lessons from a Donkey.
a. In Jesus’ time, horses were a symbol of war, not a good symbol. A
donkey was seen as a proper symbol if they had to ride on
something.
3. Why is when (10th of Nisan) and where (Bethphage) significant? For the
answer, read the interpretation of verse 1 (first five paragraphs) in Jesus'
Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. You may have to enter "Jesus'
Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem" in the search bar at the bottom of the
page.
a. It was on the Mount of Olives (Bethphage) when he prays with
the disciples and he is betrayed by Judas. Full circle. The place
where Jesus came to start his passion is the exact same place
where it comes to a halt/stops/ends.
4. What does Hosanna mean? Go to Hosanna Defined to find out.
a. A Hebrew shout of joy and triumph from the psalms. Chanted
daily by priests. In exaltation of joy. Twice proclaimed in the
sanctus. Distribution of palms and on Palm Sunday. “Jesus, save
us, we pray.”
5. Consolidate your learning: in one short paragraph, explain why riding
into Zion on a donkey from Bethphage on the 10th day of Nisan while
the crowd shouts "hosanna" tells us a deeper story than meets the eye.
6. 6. 3-2-1 Activity. Watch the following video, which traces the probable
route of Jesus' journey from Bethany to Jerusalem. Jot down three new
points of learning, 2 questions you have from the video, and 1 thing you
enjoyed.
7. Route from Bethphage to Jerusalem
, 🛈 Much of the topography of the land outside the walls of Old Jerusalem has
not changed for millenia. When we read about features such as the Kidron
Valley (e.g. 2 Sam 15:23; Jn 18:1), one can see those same places today. In fact,
some of the pathways and roads around certain parts of the topography
haven’t changed for millenia. In all likelihood, one can walk over the same
footsteps of Jesus and even King David, who lived about 1000 years before
Jesus.
Chapter 2: Cleansing the Temple
The synoptic gospels agree that, shortly after entering Jerusalem on a
donkey, Jesus provoked the religious authorities when he disrupted their
trade business at the Temple, God’s home in Jerusalem. In order to worship at
the Temple, one had to pay a Temple tax using a special coin minted by the
Temple. In order to obtain the coin, money changers were needed to convert
Roman currency into Temple currency. The money changers operated on the
Temple ground and they paid a portion of their excessive profits to the High
Priest and the chief priests at the Temple. In addition, only specific animals
could be sacrificed to God. Those animals were sold at the Temple for
tremendous profit and a portion was also given to the priests. Jesus was
justified in declaring that the Temple had become a “den of thieves.”
Activity
1. Watch the following video clip. Is Jesus' reaction to the traders in the
Temple consistent with your image of Jesus as the Son of God? Why or
why not? Jesus Cleanses the Temple
2. The gospel of John explains Jesus' reaction to the traders with a quote
from Psalm 69:9. Do you think it explains Jesus' reaction adequately?
Why or why not? “For zeal for thy house has consumed me, / and the
insults of those who insult thee have fallen on me.”
a. Jesus uses the old testament, quoting it, to get the people back
to the way they were before. They are coveting money, paying
higher respect to the emperor, king, priests rather than God.
3. How do you think the priests will react to Jesus' actions?
a. The priests did nothing at that moment. They didn’t stop him.
They didn’t think he was right but knew that what they were
doing was wrong. Then decides to kill him after.
