UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 1 – Jesus’ Final Ministry in Jerusalem
I. PUBLIC MINISTRY (John 11:55-12:11)
• Jesus’ final week of ministry before His death
brought great attention and controversy.
A. The Triumphal Entry (Mark 11:1-11; John 12:12-19)
• The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem
fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9.
• The shouts echoed the Psalmist from Psalm
118:26.
• Following His triumphal entry, Jesus went to the
temple to check out what was happening.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 1 – Jesus’ Final Ministry in Jerusalem
B. The Cleansing of the Temple (Mark 11:12-25)
• Jesus had cleared the temple three years earlier
(Jn 2:13-22).
• Jesus’ cleansing gives evidence of His authority
over the spiritual affairs of Israel and
demonstrates His eternal sovereignty.
• This cleansing (Mk 11:17) fulfilled the prophecy
of Jeremiah 7:11.
C. The Gentiles Seek Jesus (John 12:20-50)
• Jesus’ ministry had been primarily to the Jews.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 1 – Jesus’ Final Ministry in Jerusalem
• These Greeks were perhaps proselytes who had
come to Jerusalem to worship at the feast.
• Events clearly fulfilled John 1:11-12.
D. The Arguments of the Jewish Leaders
(Mark 11:27-12:40)
• Jesus’ response teaches us that our ministry
and mission is greater than the problems of any
situation.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 1 – Jesus’ Final Ministry in Jerusalem
Argument #1: Jesus the Messiah?
Text: Mark 11:27-33
Group: Chief priests, scribes, elders (Sanhedrin)
Argument #2: Loyalty to Rome or Israel?
Text: Mark 12:12-17
Group: Pharisees (loyal to traditions of Israel)
and Herodians (loyal to Rome)
Argument #3: Resurrection or Not?
Text: Mark 12:18-27
Group: Sadducees (aristocracy)
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 1 – Jesus’ Final Ministry in Jerusalem
Argument #4: Greatest Commandment?
Text: Mark 12:28-34
Group: A Scribe (overseers of the Law)
• Jesus and His disciples then left the temple and
journeyed to the Mount of Olives.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 1 – Jesus’ Final Ministry in Jerusalem
II. PRIVATE MINISTRY (John 11:55-12:11)
A. Jesus’ Training the Twelve (Mark 12:41-44)
• In the days before the Passover, Jesus and the
Twelve ministered in Jerusalem and spent the
evenings and nights in Bethany.
• Story of the Fig Tree
(Mark 11:13-14,20-25; Luke 21:29-31)
1. Jesus came to seek spiritual fruit.
2. The Kingdom of God could be expected like
summer approaches with the trees in bloom.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 1 – Jesus’ Final Ministry in Jerusalem
• The Widow’s Offering (Mark 12:41-44)
• Some believe that Jews had offerings
converted to largest coins possible.
- At the heart of all Christian service and giving
is the attitude by which these things are done.
• Jesus Anointed at Bethany (John 12:1-11)
• Anointing was similar to the preparation of a
body for burial.
- Event foreshadowed Jesus’ death which would
take place in the next two days.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 1 – Jesus’ Final Ministry in Jerusalem
III. THE LAST SUPPER (Mark 14:12-21)
• Jesus gathered with His disciples for the
traditional Passover (or Paschal) meal.
• Jesus transformed and deepened the meaning
of the Passover celebration to be a lasting
memorial of His death and resurrection.
A. The Passover Meal (Exodus 12:1-42)
• The feast was called “Passover” because the
angel of death “passed over” the houses of the
Israelites while killing the Egyptian’s first born.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 1 – Jesus’ Final Ministry in Jerusalem
• It recalled the great events of their ancestors’
freedom from slavery and the beginning of their
journey to the Promised Land.
• When Jerusalem was established as the Holy
city, and the temple was built there, Jews from
all over the world came to celebrate the
Passover (approx. 75,000 Jews).
B. The Washing of Feet (Luke 22:24-38; John 13:1-17)
• Washing feet was customarily done by the
servant of the house or slave.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 1 – Jesus’ Final Ministry in Jerusalem
• Jesus’ lesson to the disciples was that just as He
washed their feet clean, they would be “washed
clean” by Jesus’ death and resurrection.
• Jesus also gave them an example of what
Christian greatness was: being a servant to
others.
C. The Betrayal of Judas (Luke 22:1-6; John 13:18-30)
• After Jesus handed Judas the piece of bread,
Judas left the room and went out into the night
(darkness of sin) to set in motion Jesus’ betrayal.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 1 – Jesus’ Final Ministry in Jerusalem
• At the very point of Jesus’ betrayal, He felt that
He was being glorified (Jn 13:31-33)!
• Jesus also gave them a new command (Jn
13:34).
• Jesus then predicts Peter’s denial (Jn 13:36-38).
• Even at times when we might deny Jesus by our
actions, we should never hesitate to return as
Peter would (1 Jn 1:9).
D. The Memorial Meal (Matt. 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26)
• Jesus changed the meaning of the Passover.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 1 – Jesus’ Final Ministry in Jerusalem
• Passover Lamb – Deliverance from Angel of
Death
• Jesus the Lamb – Deliverance from Death (Sin)
• Through His death and resurrection, Jesus
would help all who believed in Him to “pass
over” from death to life.
• This would be the “new” Passover. We are to
celebrate in remembrance of Him (1 Cor. 11:23-26)
E. Farwell Discourse and High Priestly
Prayer (John 14-17)
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 1 – Jesus’ Final Ministry in Jerusalem
• John 14-16 – Farwell Discourse
• Jesus taught them:
– Not to be troubled (14:1-4)
– He is the only way to the Father (14:6)
– The promise of the Holy Spirit (14:16-17)
– The importance of abiding in Christ (15:1-17)
– A new commandment of love (15:12-13)
– Words of hope (16:33)
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 1 – Jesus’ Final Ministry in Jerusalem
• John 17 – High Priestly Prayer
• Jesus prayed:
– For their protection and consecration to the
truth (17:15)
– For unity (17:11,21)
– That the love of God would dwell in His
disciples (17:26)
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Sufferings and Crucifixion
Section 2
Jesus’ Sufferings and Crucifixion
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion
I. AGONY AND ARREST (Mark 14:32-42; John 18:1-12)
A. The Agony in the Garden
• Jesus went with Peter, James, and John to the
Garden of Gethsemane.
• The “cup” that Jesus asked the Father to remove
was the cup of suffering (Mk 14:36).
• But even more important to Jesus than avoiding
suffering was doing the will of His Father.
• Jesus’ prayer in the Garden gives us a model of
prayer: persevere in prayer!
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion
B. The Arrest of Jesus (John 18:1-12)
• Judas led a band of Roman soldiers and Jewish
officers to seize Jesus.
• John shows that Jesus was full of authority and
in control of His fate.
• Peter cut off the ear of Malchus, but Jesus said it
was not the time to resist or try to escape.
• In the end, Jesus submitted to the Father’s plan
and was arrested.
• Jesus was then led through various trials.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion
II. THE TRIALS OF JESUS
• First two trials happened at night, on the eve of
the crucifixion.
• The remaining four occurred the following
morning on the day of Jesus’ death.
A. Before Annas (John 18:13-24)
• Annas had been High Priest but held no official
position at the time of this trial.
• Annas became something like the Jewish
“political boss” of Jerusalem.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion
• Annas gained sufficient power in Jerusalem to
make the decision about who would be tried for
a crime against Jewish law and who would not.
• Annas tried to find something he could twist into
a charge of treason or blasphemy, but found
nothing.
B. Before Caiaphas (Mark 14:53-65)
• Caiaphas was Annas’ son-in-law and probably
gained power through corruption.
• Caiaphas presided over the Sanhedrin.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion
• Many Jewish leaders saw Jesus as a threat to
their power.
• Caiaphas wanted to make Jesus a scapegoat
by putting Him to death. This would show loyalty
to Rome and keep the Sanhedrin in power.
• Caiaphas brought false testimony against Jesus
but they could not agree which led him to
question Jesus himself.
• Upon questioning, Jesus’ response to Caiaphas
was that He was “I am.” This caused Caiaphas
to charge Jesus with blasphemy.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion
C. Before the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66-71)
• The Sanhedrin meeting the night before may not
have been legal because the full Sanhedrin was
not in attendance and it was held at night.
• The Sanhedrin wanted to act quickly because
they would defile themselves if they convicted
Jesus on the next day which was the Sabbath.
• The Sanhedrin could only carry out corporal
punishment. Only the Romans could carry out
capital punishment and only for a crime against
Rome.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion
D. Before Pilate (Luke 23:1-7; John 18:28-38)
• Pilate was the Roman authority in Judea and
Rome’s personal representative in Jerusalem.
• The Jewish council may have wanted to show
loyalty to Rome by turning Jesus over to Pilate.
• Jews had no specific charge (Jn 18:29).
• Pilate questioned Jesus about His identity, His
kingdom, and His kingship.
• When Pilate found out that Jesus was a
Galilean, he shifted the responsibility to Herod.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion
E. Before Herod (Luke 23:7-11)
• Herod Antipas was governor of Galilee.
• Herod was curious about Jesus and wanted to
be entertained by signs and miracles.
• Jesus remained silent (fulfilling Isa 53:7).
• Herod mocked Jesus and sent Him back to
Pilate.
F. Before Pilate (Matt 27:13-26, Lk 23:13-25, Jn 18:39-19:16)
• The objective of the Sanhedrin was to destroy
Jesus.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion
• The Sanhedrin hoped to pressure Pilate into
carrying out Jesus’ execution.
• Pilate tried to avoid making a final decision by
using the tradition of releasing a prisoner at
Passover (Jn 18:39).
• The Jews wanted Barabbas freed – a hardened
criminal (Lk 23:19).
• Pilate appealed to the crowd a second time and
then had Jesus scourged with a whip.
• Pilate finally agreed to the demands of the Jews.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion
• As if to attempt to remove his own guilt, Pilate
publicly washed his hands of the whole matter.
(Matt. 27:24)
• The condemnation of Jesus was a blatant
perversion of justice.
III. CRUCIFIXION, DEATH, AND BURIAL
(Matt 27:27-56, Mk 15:16-41; Lk 23:26-49; Jn 19:17-37)
A. Carrying the Cross
• To hasten the crucifixion the Roman soldiers
had Simon carry the cross for Jesus.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion
• Simon was probably a Hellenistic Jew from
Alexandria, Egypt who came to celebrate the 50
days of Passover festival.
• There is some indication that Simon may have
become a believer (Mk 15:21).
B. Crucifixion
• Arriving at Golgotha, “the place of the skull”,
Jesus was crucified when the soldiers nailed
Him to the cross.
• The soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothes fulfilling
the prophecy of (Ps 22:18).
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion
• Jesus was crucified with a sign written in
Hebrew, Latin and Greek that read, “This is
Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”
• This indicated His “crime” although it was true!
• The nearby crowd mocked Jesus saying to Him
that He should save Himself (Lk 22:39-41).
• The repentant thief asked Jesus to remember
him when Jesus entered into His kingdom (Lk
23:39-43).
• Present at the crucifixion: John (only disciple)
Jesus’ mother, her sister and Mary Magdalene.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion
• Jesus entrusted the care of His mother to John
(Jn 19:26).
C. Death
• Jesus’ death fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah
52:13-53:12.
• To ensure that Passover would not be defiled,
the Jews asked that death be brought on quickly
by breaking the legs of the criminals.
• But Jesus was already dead (Jn 19:33-34).
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion
• Events that accompanied the death of Jesus.
- The curtain in the temple being torn from
top to bottom.
- The Roman centurion coming to faith in
Jesus
- The earthquake causing tombs to be
opened and the saints being raised from
the dead.
D. Burial
• Jesus’ burial fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 2 – Jesus’ Suffering and Crucifixion
• Jesus was buried in a rich man’s (Joseph’s)
tomb by Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 3 – Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension
Section 3
Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 3 – Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension
I. THE RESURRECTION (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke
24:1-11; John 20:1-10)
• The first followers to observe the empty tomb
were Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of
James, and Salome (Mk 16:1-4).
• They ran to tell others what they had seen.
A. Reasons for the Resurrection
• Jesus rose because of who He is – God!
• Jesus rose because the Davidic covenant
promised eternal rule to David’s heir.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 3 – Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension
• Jesus rose because He was destined to become
the pattern for the believer’s resurrection.
• Jesus rose because He was destined to be the
Great High Priest for all who believe in Him
(Heb 2:17).
• Jesus rose and ascended so that the Holy Spirit
could come and minister as the Comforter (Jn
14:26).
• The same Holy Spirit that enabled the disciples
is the same Spirit that is available to us!
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 3 – Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension
II. THE APPEARANCES (Lk 24:13-49; Jn 20:11-21:25)
• Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene (Jn
20:15).
• Then He appeared to the other women at the
tomb (Mt 28:9-10).
• Then to the two disciples on the road to
Emmaus (Lk 24:13-32).
• Jesus then appeared to seven of the disciples
on the Sea of Galilee (Jn 21:1-14)
• There were many other meetings as well.
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 3 – Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension
III. THE ASCENSION (Acts 1; Hebrews 9)
• Truths revealed from the ascension:
- Christ’s victory on the cross was acceptable
to the Father.
- Christ’s victory over Satan was secured.
- Christ’s ascension allowed the Holy Spirit to
descend.
- The ascension permits Jesus to be our
mediator before the Father.
- Christ entered Heaven on our behalf (Heb 9)
UNIT 6: THE LIFE OF CHRIST – PART 3
Section 3 – Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension
• The final ascension took place on the Mount of
Olives located just east of Jerusalem above the
Garden of Gethsemane.
• Jesus fully completed His mission on earth, and
know He intercedes for us in heaven!