WEEK2: PASSION OF CHRIST

                      CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES                          

THIRD TERM JSS2

WEEK 2:                  PASSION OF CHRIST

a.     The Triumphant entry Matt: 21 1-11, Mark 11: 1-11, Luke 19: 28-44

b.     The last supper Matt 26: 57-68

The triumphant Entry into Jerusalem.

A.When Jesus had finished his ministry in Galilee he decided to go to Jerusalem, the purpose was to carry the Gospel massage to the religious capital of the Jews. Jesus and his disciples travelled through Samaria and entered Jericho from there they came to Bethpage, a village near Jerusalem that was situated on the slopes of the mount of Olives from Bethpage Jesus sent two of his disciples to Bethany another village near Jerusalem to bring back a colt of an ass which had never been driven by anyone. If they were challenged they were to say that the Lord wanted to use it and would send it back. The disciples found the colt at Bethany and brought it to Jesus.

The disciples and other people who had gathered, threw their garment on the colt to make a comfortable seat for Jesus, who afterwards sat on it. The people formed a procession and they began to move slowly towards Jerusalem. The people paid homage to Jesus by spreading their garments and palm fronds on the road for Jesus to ride over with the colt.

According to Matthew, Jesus ‘riding on the colt of an ass into Jerusalem fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9

“Tell the daughters of Zion behold your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass.”

The people, who had gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, were delighted at the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and cried out.

Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest”

The word Hosanna originally meant “save” or Help” but later it came to mean “Praise” so, the people were saying “Praise to the Messiah Jesus Christ.”

The Significance of the Triumphant Entry:

     1.            It show the whole world that Jesus is the Messiah of peace, who hand come to bring peace into the world.

     2.            It encourage Christians to live peaceful lives and to promote peace in the world.

B. The last Supper (Matt 26: 57-68)

Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples in Jerusalem. It was the last supper he had with them before his crucifixion on the cross. When the time came for the celebration of the feast, the disciples came to Jesus and asked of the place where they would celebrate the Passover. He directed them to a certain house to inform the landlord that he would celebrate the Passover in his house. The disciples went and made preparations for the feast. The would feed by unleavened bread (that is bread without yeast), a year old lamb without any defect, bitter herbs and wine and arrange the tables in the room for the feast.

In the evening, Jesus sat at table with his disciples for his last meal with them. As they were eating he told them that one of them would betray him. And they asked him to tell them the name of the betrayer. He replied that the one who would dip his hand together with him into the dish was the one to betray him.

As they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to the disciples and said

“Take, eat, this is my body”.

After supper, Jesus took the cup and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and said

“Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Jesus told them he would not drink of the wine again until they all drank it new in God’s kingdom. After the supper Jesus and the disciples sang a hymn to mark the end of the supper.