faith & revelation bb jc-sjc ch.6

Knowing God Knowing God Through Sacred Through Sacred

ScriptureScripture

Faith and Revelation

Jesus Christ: The Fullness of Divine

Revelation

Chapter 6Chapter 6

Chapter Chapter ObjectivesObjectives

• The Pharisees, The Pharisees, Sadducees, and EssenesSadducees, and Essenes

• Herod the GreatHerod the Great• Galilee and SamariaGalilee and Samaria• Factors which aided the Factors which aided the

spread of Christianityspread of Christianity• The AnnunciationThe Annunciation• The NativityThe Nativity• The EpiphanyThe Epiphany• The Finding in the The Finding in the

TempleTemple• St. John the BaptistSt. John the Baptist• The baptism of the Lord The baptism of the Lord

and his temptation in the and his temptation in the desertdesert

• Christ’s miraclesChrist’s miracles• The Twelve ApostlesThe Twelve Apostles• The Last SupperThe Last Supper• The Cup of The Cup of

ConsummationConsummation

• Christ’s trial before the Christ’s trial before the SanhedrinSanhedrin

• Pilate’s condemnation of Pilate’s condemnation of ChristChrist

• Judas’s and St. Peter’s Judas’s and St. Peter’s betrayals, and St. Peter’s betrayals, and St. Peter’s repentancerepentance

• Christ’s CrucifixionChrist’s Crucifixion• The Cup of The Cup of

ConsummationConsummation• Psalm 22 as a prophecy of Psalm 22 as a prophecy of

Christ’s PassionChrist’s Passion• The ResurrectionThe Resurrection• Christ as the New AdamChrist as the New Adam• Christ as the New NoahChrist as the New Noah• Christ as the AbrahamChrist as the Abraham• Christ as the New MosesChrist as the New Moses• Christ as the New DavidChrist as the New David• Christ as the fulfillment Christ as the fulfillment

of the Davidic Covenantof the Davidic Covenant

The student will be able to understand:

Keys to Chapter Keys to Chapter 66

• God became man in the fullness of time.God became man in the fullness of time.

• Christ’s humanity and divinity were revealed Christ’s humanity and divinity were revealed from his youth.from his youth.

• Christ taught and worked miracles in his Christ taught and worked miracles in his public life.public life.

• Christ was condemned to death by Christ was condemned to death by crucifixion.crucifixion.

• He rose from the dead, fulfilling the He rose from the dead, fulfilling the covenants and the words of the prophets.covenants and the words of the prophets.

In This Chapter We Will In This Chapter We Will Discuss:Discuss:

• The religious and political situation at the time of The religious and political situation at the time of Christ.Christ.

• Mary as the New Eve and Ark of the New Mary as the New Eve and Ark of the New Covenant.Covenant.

• The basic overview of the life and teachings of The basic overview of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ.

• The meaning of the Death, Burial, and The meaning of the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ.Resurrection of Christ.

• Christ as the Passover Lamb.Christ as the Passover Lamb.

• How Jesus fulfilled the Law and the prophets.How Jesus fulfilled the Law and the prophets.

Jesus Christ: The Jesus Christ: The Fullness of Divine Fullness of Divine

RevelationRevelation

Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives•The Pharisees, Sadducees, and The Pharisees, Sadducees, and EssenesEssenes•Herod the GreatHerod the Great•Galilee and SamariaGalilee and Samaria•Factors that aided the spread of Factors that aided the spread of ChristianityChristianity

Jesus Christ: The Fullness of Jesus Christ: The Fullness of Divine RevelationDivine Revelation

Who were the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes?•The Pharisees were zealous and learned laymen who believed in separation from Gentiles and adherence to their interpretation of the Mosaic Law. The Sadducees were politically connected priests who believed in accommodating to Gentile rule. The Essenes withdrew to the desert to live a form of purified Judaism.

Who was Herod the Great?•Herod the Great was a crafty, murderous king who got the Romans to conquer Judea for him and brought prosperity to Israel, rebuilding the Second Temple.

Basic Questions

Jesus Christ: The Fullness of Jesus Christ: The Fullness of Divine RevelationDivine Revelation

How did Judeans view the Jews of Galilee and the Samaritans?•Galilee was a region of poor, backward farmers; the Samaritans were a mixed population of Jews and Gentiles whom Judeans considered heretics and with whom they had no contact.

What factors aided the spread of Christianity in the Roman world?•The spread of Christianity was aided by the Pax Romana the spread of Greek philosophy, the Jewish Diaspora, and the proselytes of the Gate.

Basic Questions

Anticipatory Anticipatory SetSet

Examine the objectives (p. 181, “In This Chapter We Will Discuss”) and then free write for two minutes about the following:

What do you already know about one or more

of the objectives?

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow was the time immediately preceding Christ similar to that of King David’s reign?

•Israel had regained her old borders, Jerusalem was the capital, the Temple was purified and reconsecrated to God, and the king was both the religious and political leader of the nation.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did John Hyrcanus “Judaize” Israel?•He required every man to be circumcised or leave. Being circumcised implied obeying the whole Mosaic Law with all its rituals and requirements.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did John Hyrcanus earn the hatred of the Samaritans?

•He destroyed the Samaritan temple on Mt. Gerizim, the center of Samaritan religious life.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhen the high priest Aristobulus proclaimed himself king, why did this not fulfill the promises of the covenant?•Though Israel was again whole and there was a king in Jerusalem, Aristobulus was a Levite, not a descendant of David (Tribe of Judah).

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy was Israel doomed to be conquered again?

•Israel had splintered into numerous battling factions, and, as Christ said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand” (Mt 12:25).

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did Israel lose her independence?•Herod entered into a plot with the Roman emperor to seize power.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat was the central power in the world at the time of Christ?

•The Roman Empire was the power.

Guided ExerciseGuided Exercise

Read Matthew 23:1-39, and then discuss the following question:

Why was a speech like this certain to earn the Pharisees’

hatred?Why might Christ have adopted such a harsh

approach to them?

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did the Pharisees answer the question, “How can Jews be faithful to God amid pagans”?•The best way was to build a cultural wall around themselves to keep out Gentile and pagan influences. Pharisee comes from the word perushim, which means separated.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow was the practice of Judaism under the Pharisees?

•Besides refusing to associate with Gentiles, the Pharisees thought everyone should follow the complicated ritualistic regulations they developed in their interpretations of the Mosaic Law.

continued

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow was the practice of Judaism under the Pharisees?

Extension:•The Pharisees basically took the rules and regulations Moses gave to the Levitical priests to follow when they were serving in the Temple and applied them to all Jews in their everyday lives. The Pharisees were laymen, not priests.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy could the Pharisees justifiably claim they were right in separating themselves from the rest of the world?•Whenever Israel had allowed herself to be influenced by outside cultures and religions, she had met with disastrous consequences.

Graphic OrganizerGraphic OrganizerComplete the following table about the various groups in Israel in the time of Christ.

Group Brief Explanation

Pharisees

Sadducees

Essenes

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWho were the Sadducees?

•They were priests who claimed to be the spiritual heirs of Zadok, King Solomon’s priest, whose heirs were supposed to be priests in Jerusalem forever.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did the Sadducees answer the question, “How can Jews be faithful to God amid pagans?”•They cooperated with Gentiles.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat were some of the Sadducees’s central beliefs?•They believed only the Pentateuch was canonical, denied life after death, and rejected the existence of angels.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy did the Pharisees hate the Sadducees?•The Sadducees cooperated with the Romans rather than separate themselves from them. As a consequence, the Sadducees had political power, which was denied to the Pharisees.


Read Luke 20:27-40, and then free write about the following:

What did Christ reveal about Heaven in this passage?

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow often are the Essenes mentioned in Sacred Scripture?

•They are never mentioned.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat were the basic beliefs of the Essenes?•They held the Law of Moses and Jewish customs in high esteem; rejected the animal sacrifices of the Temple; kept the Sabbath; placed much value in ceremonial purity, washing frequently, and practicing baptism; and believed in the immortality of the soul.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat were some of the laudable moral practices of the Essenes?•They cared for the sick, practiced hospitality, treated all men equally, prohibited slavery, held goods in common, and practiced pacifism. Many also lived celibately.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow were the Galileans distinct from the inhabitants of Judea?•Most of the Hebrews who had returned from the Babylonian Exile settled around Jerusalem. Those who settled in Galilee came in contact with Israelites who had not experienced the Babylonian Exile and could trace their heritage back to the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy were Galileans looked down upon by Judeans?•They were poor peasants and farmers who had a distinct accent.


Compose a bullet-point list of at least three examples of Herod’s tyrannical behavior and three of his crafty behavior.

Focus QuestionFocus Question

Who were the Zealots?

•They were Jewish nationalists who sought to overthrow the Romans and reestablish the Kingdom of Israel as a sovereign nation. Eventually, their efforts to throw off the Romans resulted in the complete destruction of Israel.


Who were the Samaritans?

•These Israelites had intermarried with Gentiles during the time of the Assyrian occupation. They lived between Judea and Galilee.


Where did the Samaritans worship?•They worshiped on Mt. Gerizim, a site of worship for Israelites before the capture of Jerusalem.


How did Judeans regard the Samaritans?•They considered them unclean heretics and so had nothing to do with them.


Who are the Samaritans today?

•A few hundred survive today as a persecuted minority in Palestine.

Extension:•They speak Aramaic, the language Christ spoke.


What was the Pax Romana?

•It was a centuries-long relative peace the known world enjoyed under the Roman Empire.


How did the Pax Romana and Roman rule facilitate the spread of Christianity?•There was an extensive network of roads, one currency, one law, no borders to cross, and relative safety when traveling.


What was the Roman attitude to other religions?

•The Romans generally tolerated any religion as long as its adherents did not cause problems.


Was Rome completely pagan?

•No. Under the influence of Greek philosophy, some had reasoned their way to a monotheism with God as the First Cause.


What was the Jewish Diaspora?

•The Diaspora refers to Jews who lived outside Palestine and throughout the Roman Empire.


How many Jews lived outside Palestine, and where could they have been found?•It is estimated they comprised seven percent of the population of the Roman Empire with Jewish communities in every major town.


How did Christianity spread through the Diaspora?•It rooted itself in Jewish communities before spreading to the larger population.


What are the proselytes of the Gate?•These Gentiles were attracted to Judaism and believed in the one, true God. They worshiped in synagogues and studied the Scriptures yet refrained from converting, which required circumcision and dietary laws. They were eager converts to Christianity.


What two groups was St. Paul addressing when he began, “Men of Israel, and you that fear God…” (Acts 13:16)?•He was referring to the Jews and the proselytes of the Gate, respectively.

Alternative Alternative AssessmentAssessment

Write about the following question:•If you had to choose only one, which would you choose to be, and why: a Pharisee, a Sadducee, an Essene, a Galilean, or a proselyte at the Gate?

The Infancy of The Infancy of ChristChrist

Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives•The AnnunciationThe Annunciation•The NativityThe Nativity•The EpiphanyThe Epiphany•The Finding in the TempleThe Finding in the Temple

The Infancy of ChristThe Infancy of Christ

What is the Annunciation?•The Annunciation refers to the announcement of the Archangel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary she would be the mother of the Savior, the Son of the Most High, and this would be accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit overshadowing her was described using the same word as God’s presence toward the Ark of the Covenant.

Basic Questions


What was the Nativity?•In accord with the Prophet Micah, Christ was born in Bethlehem, the city of David. He was born in poverty, and angels announced to shepherds he was “a Savior… Christ the Lord.”

What is the Epiphany?•Magi from the East were the first Gentiles to adore the Christ.

Basic Questions


What is the Finding in the Temple?•Christ’s wisdom was revealed in the Finding in the Temple when he was twelve. During his “hidden years,” from his infancy until he began his public ministry, Christ lived an ordinary life, sharing the condition of the vast majority of human beings.

Basic Questions


Pray a decade of one of the three Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, using the scriptural method of

praying the Rosary.


What was betrothal in the time of Christ?•In Jewish custom, it was a contract similar to marriage. The couple did not yet live together, but their promise could not be broken.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat is the significance of the word overshadow in the Archangel Gabriel’s greeting?•The word is an unusual one in Greek, not used anywhere else in the New Testament. It is used in the Old Testament: “The cloud overshadowed the Tabernacle when the Ark of the Covenant had been placed in it.” Thus, to overshadow implies the presence of God.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow is the Blessed Virgin Mary’s response to God’s call different from what might be expected in light of other divine calls from the Old Testament?•Most of the great people of Israel—including Abraham, Moses, and David—though accepting God’s plans for them, had nevertheless expressed surprise, doubt, and sometimes resistance. Sarah, in fact, laughed at God’s message to her. In contrast, the Blessed Virgin Mary’s response was immediate belief, obedience, and acceptance.


Choose one of the titles of Mary from the Litany of Loreto (p. 188) and explain it, writing

from the perspective of the Old Testament.


Why did Joseph travel from Nazareth, where he lived, to Bethlehem?•St. Joseph traveled to Bethlehem with his pregnant wife to register in the Roman census.


What prophecy did the journey to Bethlehem fulfill?•The Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem as the prophet Micah prophesied; from Bethlehem “shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel” (Mi 5:2).


What did the angels tell the shepherds about Christ?•The child was the Savior, the anointed successor of David, and the Lord, the one who sits at God’s right hand.


Why is it surprising the first people to know about the birth of the Messiah were shepherds?•Shepherds were poor outcasts in Jewish society, avoided by many Jews as unclean; yet, David had been a shepherd who tended his flocks in those very same fields.


Conduct a think/pair/share using the following prompt:

Based on the sidebar “Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant” (p. 189)

and your own background knowledge, explain in one or two sentences how the Visitation—the Blessed Virgin Mary’s visit to her

cousin St. Elizabeth—is deeply rooted in the Old Testament.


Who were the Magi (or wise men?)•They may have been Persian astrologers.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy might Herod have been especially nervous about Balaam’s prophecy to Balak?•Balaam’s prophecy spoke of a rising

star, which represented a son of Jacob, who would dispossess an Edomite. The new king whom the Magi sought was born in Bethlehem and thus a son of Jacob. Herod himself was from Edom, so he could have been afraid the infant king the Magi came to visit would overthrow him or his descendants.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat is the significance of the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh?•Gold and frankincense are gifts Isaiah

prophesied would be brought by all the nations to the God of Israel. Gold indicates Christ’s royalty. Frankincense refers to his priesthood and spiritual divinity. Myrrh is an oil used both to anoint the priests of Israel and to anoint a dead body for burial, so it also suggested Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross.


Read aloud the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Magnificat (Lk 1:46-55).

•Relate this prayer to the Old Testament and the history of Israel.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat is unique about the Finding of Christ in the Temple?•It is the only story recorded in the Gospels of Christ’s life between his infancy and when he began his public ministry about the age thirty.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow does the Finding in the Temple reveal Christ’s divine and human natures?•By age twelve, the Christ child displayed an amazing command of the Scriptures and was able to discuss them with the most educated men in Jerusalem. At the same time, Christ was a boy, he grew up, he worried his parents, and he practiced his faith.

What Jesus Did What Jesus Did and Taughtand Taught

Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives•St. John the BaptistSt. John the Baptist•The Baptism of the Lord and his The Baptism of the Lord and his temptation in the deserttemptation in the desert•Christ’s miraclesChrist’s miracles•The Twelve ApostlesThe Twelve Apostles

What Jesus Did and What Jesus Did and TaughtTaught

Who was John the Baptist?•St. John the Baptist, the final prophet, was a New Elijah who preached a baptism of repentance to prepare people for the Messiah.

Why was Christ baptized, and why did he undergo temptation?•Christ received St. John’s baptism and fasted in the wilderness for forty days, where he was tempted by the Devil.

Basic Questions

What Jesus Did and What Jesus Did and TaughtTaught

Why did Christ perform miracles?•Christ performed miracles out of love and to show his divinity.

Who are the Twelve Apostles?•Christ chose Twelve Apostles to carry on his work.

Basic Questions


Complete a focused reading of Acts 10:34-43 using the following

question:

What does St. Peter teach to be the basic outline of the story of

Christ?

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWho was John the Baptist?

•St. John the Baptist was Christ’s cousin, a Levite who preached repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins to prepare the way for the Messiah.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did St. John the Baptist’s ministry fulfill the last words of Malachi, the last prophet in the Old Testament?

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did St. John the Baptist’s ministry fulfill the last words of Malachi, the last prophet in the Old Testament?•St. John the Baptist preached and baptized to encourage people from all walks of life to repent and amend their lives.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow was Christ’s preparation like that of Elijah and Moses?

•He fasted in the wilderness for forty days, the same time Elijah and Moses had fasted in the wilderness of Sinai.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat is significant about the number forty in this context?

•Forty is the number of years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land, and it was the number of days and nights it took to flood the world so it could be created anew through Noah.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat does it mean to say Christ was tempted by the Devil?

•The word tempted means tested. Though Christ and his Mother did not sin, it was necessary for him to have overcome temptations that cause all other people to sin.


Complete a paragraph shrink of the first four paragraphs under “The Baptism of Christ” (p. 193,

through the quote from Matthew 3).

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did Christ identify St. John the Baptist with the Prophet Elijah?•He said St. John the Baptist was the second coming of Elijah prophesied by Malachi.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow were St. John the Baptist and the Prophet Elijah similar in appearance?•St. John the Baptist was clothed with camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist, whereas Elijah wore a garment of haircloth with a girdle of leather about his loins.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy did St. John the Baptist worry many Jewish priests and officials?•He told them the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. This meant the Messiah was coming. To some priests and those in authority, this meant St. John the Baptist was another false prophet who could spark a rebellion, which could only end badly for them and for Israel.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat did most Jews expect from the Messiah, and what did they get?•Most Jews expected an anointed prophet-king who would bring the covenants with Israel to their fulfillment. They received God himself incarnate in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat actions of Christ most clearly demonstrated both his human and divine natures?•His miracles showed his natures.


What was Christ’s first miracle?

•He turned water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow does the miracle at Cana relate to the Last Supper?

•At Cana, Christ turned water into wine as an act of charity. At the Last Supper, he turned wine into his Blood to manifest the ultimate act of charity (love), his Death on the Cross.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow were Christ’s healings messianic?•Under the promised Son of David, “No inhabitant will say, ‘I am sick;’ the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity” (Is 33:24). Christ’s healings and forgiveness demonstrated the arrival of the messianic age.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat did Christ’s exorcisms demonstrate?•They showed his divinity and dominion over demons.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy did Christ heal the paralytic?•Christ wanted to heal the man’s infirmity and show he has authority to forgive sins.

Graphic OrganizerGraphic OrganizerComplete the following table about the various insights Sts. Matthew, Mark, and Luke had about Christ’s temptations.

Evangelist Insight

St. Matthew

St. Mark

St. Luke


Read the relevant scriptural passage(s) from one of the

miracles of Christ (p. 195) and then draw an illustration of the

miracle without labeling it. Then try to identify each

miracle based on the illustration and the sidebar.


Compose a bullet-point summary of ways Christ

violated the Pharisees’ principle of strict separation between Jews and Gentiles or sinners.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat is paradoxical about the Beatitudes?•Those suffering misfortunes are actually blessed because of the rewards they will receive. For example, those who are poor in spirit will inherit the Kingdom of God, so they are blessed.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did Christ intend his message to spread throughout the world?•He instructed his Apostles to go to all nations, teaching, and baptizing.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat is significant about the number twelve?•It signifies perfection in governance and hearkens to the Twelve Tribes of Israel. On the foundation of the Twelve Apostles united under St. Peter, their head, Christ established the New Israel, his Church, which he promised would last until the end of time.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy did some of the Apostles have two names?

•Like many Jews, some of the Apostles had two names; a Jewish name, by which they were known to family and friends, and a Greek or Roman name, which was useful in the Gentile world.

Graphic OrganizerGraphic OrganizerComplete the following table paraphrasing the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer.

Petition ParaphraseOur Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.


Choose one of the miracles listed in this lesson and write a new account of the miracle told from the point of view of the recipient of that miracle.

The Death, Burial, The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of and Resurrection of

Jesus ChristJesus Christ

Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives•The Last SupperThe Last Supper•The Cup of ConsummationThe Cup of Consummation•Christ’s trial before the SanhedrinChrist’s trial before the Sanhedrin

The Death, Burial, and The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus ChristResurrection of Jesus Christ

What was the Last Supper?•Christ used the Passover meal’s Cup of Blessing as the occasion to institute the Sacrament of the Eucharist, which he called the Blood of the Covenant.

What is the Cup of Consummation?•Christ refused to drink the Cup of Consummation during the Passover meal. In Gethsemane, he asked the Father to let him be spared the cup. He drank it to the full in his Passion and Death.

Basic Questions

The Death, Burial, and The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus ChristResurrection of Jesus Christ

Why did the Sanhedrin condemn Christ to death?•The Sanhedrin tried to convict Christ of crimes against the Jewish religion using false testimony. When they asked if he is the Son of God, he said he is; for this reason they convicted him of blasphemy.

Basic Questions


Incorporate Matthew 26:17-68 into prayer.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWas Christ surprised by his arrest, Passion, Death, and Resurrection?•No; moreover, he frequently made reference to this inevitable reality.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhen did Christ’s “popularity” reach its height?

•In the third year of his public ministry, upon his entering Jerusalem, the crowd proclaimed him the Messiah, the son of David.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat were the religious authorities planning when Christ entered Jerusalem?•They were deciding how to put him to death.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy did Christ enter Jerusalem riding a donkey?

•This fulfilled Zechariah’s prophecy, in which the people of Jerusalem would be filled with joy because their king is approaching, humble and riding on a donkey (cf. Zec 9:9).

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat were the two stages in the establishment of the New Covenant?•They were the celebration of the Last Supper and Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat was the Passover meal?

•It was the commemoration of the passing of the Israelite people out of slavery, their reception of the Law, and the establishment of Israel as a nation set apart.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionAt the first Passover, what did the Jews do with the blood of the slaughtered lamb?•They took hyssop, dipped it in the blood, and touched the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat did the blood of the Passover lamb accomplish?

•It saved the firstborn male of each Hebrew family from death.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did the Jews celebrate this ritual meal each year?

•God had instructed them to celebrate it annually to remember what he had done for them.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did Christ change the Passover meal during the Last Supper?•He transformed the Passover ritual into the celebration of the New Covenant, the Mass.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat is the relationship between Christ and the Passover Lamb?

•Christ became the spotless Passover Lamb, and, through his Blood shed on the Cross, man is freed from slavery to sin, and the People of God are transformed into the New Israel.


Identify the three Passovers referred to in the Catechism,

no. 1340 (p. 231).

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow many cups of wine were drunk during the Passover meal?

•Four were drunk.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did Christ change the ritual at the time of the third cup?

•He identified the cup of blessing with his Blood of the New Covenant; the bread and wine were his Body and Blood.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhere did the phrase “Blood of the Covenant” originate?

•It appears in Exodus 24:8. With these words, God ratified the Mosaic Covenant with Israel at Mt. Sinai, making them his Chosen People. The people were sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat did Christ mean by “Blood of the Covenant?”

•He declared he was establishing a New Covenant, but, instead of the animal blood spilled at Mt. Sinai, it would be his own Body sacrificed and his own Blood to seal the promise between God and man.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did Christ leave the Passover meal unfinished?

•He did not drink the fourth cup, the Cup of Consummation.


Read Exodus 24:8. Write a paragraph explaining what is the Blood of the Covenant and what Christ likely meant when

he said, “My blood of the covenant” (Mt. 26:28).

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat did Christ ask of the Father in the garden?

•He asked to have his cup (his final sufferings) removed from him.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy should the use of the word cup capture the reader’s attention?•This cup of suffering is identified

with the Cup of Consummation Christ did not drink earlier that evening at the Last Supper; he was to drink it in his Passion and Death.

continued

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy should the use of the word cup capture the reader’s attention?Extension•When the mother of the sons of Zebedee asked they be given the chief places in Christ’s Kingdom, she asked if they could drink the cup he was going to drink (cf. Mt 20:22).

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat was the sign of Judas’s betrayal?•He gave Christ a kiss, which was the ordinary way a disciple would have greeted his master.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat may have been Judas’s motivation to betray Christ?

•Judas may have been a Zealot who hoped for a political messiah, a great military leader who would defeat the Roman occupiers. Judas may have become frustrated with Christ’s teachings (cf. Jn 6:64) of love for neighbor, obedience to authority, and his willingness to suffer death.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy was Christ first brought to Annas?•Though Annas was deposed by the Romans, most Jews still considered him the legitimate high priest. His son-in-law Caiaphas, the current high priest, seemed to defer to him as well.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat did most of the Sanhedrin believe even before the trial?

•Christ was a false prophet and blasphemer.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat kind of evidence was presented against Christ?

•Evidence was produced by false witnesses who contradicted each other.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did Caiaphas gain the final evidence to convict Christ?

•Caiaphas asked Christ directly if he is the Messiah.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did Christ respond?

•“I am; and you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mk 14:62).

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat legitimate point did Caiaphas have to condemn Christ?•Christ identified himself with the Son of God, which would have been blasphemy were he not the Son of God.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did Caiaphas violate the Mosaic Law?•Upon hearing such blasphemy, he tore his robes, which the high priest was not supposed to do.


Read Leviticus 24:10-16, and discuss the Jewish attitude

toward blasphemy.


Search the Internet to read about how modern Jews celebrate the Passover.


Jesus Christ Jesus Christ (continued)(continued)

Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives•Pilate’s condemnation of ChristPilate’s condemnation of Christ•Judas’s and St. Peter’s betrayals and St. Judas’s and St. Peter’s betrayals and St. Peter’s repentancePeter’s repentance

The Death, Burial, and The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ Resurrection of Jesus Christ

(continued)(continued)

How was Pilate unjust in his condemnation of Christ?•To prompt him to execute Christ, the Sanhedrin lied to Pilate about Christ’s crime. Pilate was convinced Christ was innocent but wanted to appease the Sanhedrin. He tried to avoid the problem by sending Christ to Herod Antipas for judgment, but he met with no success. When the Sanhedrin accused him of not being a friend of Caesar, Pilate finally agreed to execute Jesus and let an insurrectionist go free.

Basic Questions



How did Judas’s and St. Peter’s remorse differ?•Both Judas and St. Peter betrayed Christ, and both repented, but Judas despaired while St. Peter experienced true contrition.

Basic Questions


Incorporate Christ’s arrest and

condemnation into prayer.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy did the Sanhedrin have to ask the Roman governor to put Christ to death?•They were not allowed to carry out a death sentence, so they had to persuade the Roman authorities Christ was guilty of some secular crime deserving death.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did the Sanhedrin try to convince Pilate Christ should be put to death?•They said Christ was a leader among the revolutionary Zealots, who sought to reestablish the Kingdom of Israel.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat lie did the Sanhedrin tell Pilate?•They said Christ forbade the Jews from paying taxes to Caesar.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat was Pilate’s initial reaction to the Sanhedrin’s charge?•He wanted nothing to do with the case.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat reason did Christ give Pilate he would not let his followers fight for him?•His Kingdom is not of this world.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat reason did Christ give Pilate for his having come into the world?•He bears witness to the truth.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did Pilate see Christ at this point?•Pilate saw Christ as innocent of any crime against Rome.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy did Pilate send Christ to Herod Antipas?•Herod Antipas ruled Galilee, Jesus’ home district. Pilate hoped Herod would make a ruling so he would not have to.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat was unjust about Pilate’s decision to flog and release Christ?•Though Pilate acknowledged Christ was innocent, he still had him flogged, a terrible, life-threatening punishment, perhaps to appease the Sanhedrin.

Graphic OrganizerGraphic OrganizerAnswer the following questions about Barabbas.Christ is the Son of the Father. What does Barabbas’s name mean?

Why was Barabbas in custody?

What kind of messiah were most Jews of Christ’s time expecting?

Which figure—Christ or Barabbas–-was closer to the image of the messiah most Jews were expecting?

Pilate was afraid of being thought of as allowing rebellion. What kind of man did he release from jail, thereby tolerating rebellion?

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat custom did Pilate invoke to persuade the Sanhedrin to change its mind about Christ?•He invoked his custom of pardoning one criminal at Passover. He gave them the choice between Barabbas and Christ.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy did Pilate finally give in to the Sanhedrin’s demands?•If he released Christ, they said he would be no friend of Caesar. Pilate knew if he were to allow a rebel to live, he would be in trouble with Caesar.


Read the Catechism, no. 598 and then review the paragraph “The role that Judas…” (p. 207). Then

answer the question:

Some have blamed the Jews for killing Christ and have used

this as a basis for anti-Semitism. According to the

Church, who is responsible for killing Christ?

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did Judas betray Christ?•He revealed where the chief priests could arrest Christ safely.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did St. Peter betray Christ?

•After Christ’s arrest, St. Peter denied he even knew Christ.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat was lacking in Judas’s repentance?•When he tried to return the money the Sanhedrin had paid him, they refused his offer. He despaired of forgiveness and killed himself.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat was right about St. Peter’s repentance?

•Christ prophesied St. Peter would deny him three times before the cock crowed. At the third crow, St. Peter wept bitterly out of sorrow fueled by love.


Jesus Christ Jesus Christ (continued)(continued)

Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives•Christ’s CrucifixionChrist’s Crucifixion•The Cup of ConsummationThe Cup of Consummation•Psalm 22 as a prophecy of Christ’s PassionPsalm 22 as a prophecy of Christ’s Passion•The ResurrectionThe Resurrection



How was Christ’s Crucifixion?•Christ was crucified as King of the Jews.

How did Christ complete his Passover?•Christ died, thus drinking the Cup of Consummation.

How is Psalm 22 related to the Crucifixion?•Psalm 22 provides a prophetic description of Christ’s Passion.

Basic Questions



How did the disciples first learn of the Resurrection of Christ?•An angel announced Christ’s Resurrection to the three women who went to anoint Christ’s Body. Christ then appeared to St. Mary Magdalene.

Basic Questions


Incorporate the events from Christ’s

being led away to Crucifixion through

his burial into prayer.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy did Christ need help carrying his Cross?

•He was weak from having been scourged.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionLegally, how did the soldiers press St. Simon of Cyrene to carry the Cross?•Soldiers could press a person into service to carry baggage for one Roman mile.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhen Christ said, “If any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles (Mt 5:41), to what was he referring?•He referred to the same Roman law as in the previous question.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy did someone offer Christ wine mixed with myrrh?

•It was a painkiller; he refused it.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy did the Jewish religious authorities object to the sign Pilate had placed above Christ?

•The sign identified Jesus as King of the Jews. They said it should read, “This man said, “I am King of the Jews” (Jn 19:21).

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat kind of mockery did Christ experience on the Cross?

•He was mocked both by passersby and by one of the thieves crucified with him.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionIn the Roman Empire, for whom was crucifixion reserved?

•Crucifixion was reserved for the most heinous criminals—for example, rebels and runaway slaves—to deter others from imitating them.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy is crucifixion a terrible punishment?•It is both very painful and deeply humiliating.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy does breaking the legs of a crucified man hasten his death?

•The crucified has to use his legs to push himself up to breathe. If the legs are broken, he dies more quickly of asphyxiation.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy is this not a cry of despair: “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachtahani?”

•This lamentation begins Psalm 22, which ends in a triumphant delivery by God.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat is the connection between the sponge soaked in sour wine on a branch of hyssop and the Passover?•During the Passover, a branch of hyssop was used to sprinkle the blood of the Passover lamb. Christ’s last drink of wine was administered by a sponge attached to a branch of hyssop.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat is the meaning of Christ’s last sip of wine and his declaration, “It is finished”?•It meant he was drinking the Cup of Consummation, completing his own Passover. He was the New Lamb sacrificed for mankind.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat is the connection between the Eucharist and Calvary?•The offering of Christ’s Blood on Calvary will be offered until the end of time in the Eucharist. Each time the followers of Christ gather to share in the meal of their salvation, they share in the Blood of the New Covenant established by Christ.


Read Psalm 22 and identify two prophecies

fulfilled in Christ’s Crucifixion.


Why was Christ pierced?

•He appeared to be dead. The soldier wanted to ensure it.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow do two Old Testament prophecies come together in Christ’s piercing?•First, the Mosaic Law forbade the breaking of any of the bones of the Passover lamb; by not breaking Christ’s legs, the Gospels confirm Christ is the new Passover Lamb.

continued

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow do two Old Testament prophecies come together in Christ’s piercing?•Second, at the time of Christ, wine was drunk after mixing in water. The Blood and water spilling from the side of Christ refers to the Eucharist, and the Church continues to mix water and wine to prepare the chalice in the celebration of the Eucharist.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy was Christ’s Body placed in a tomb rather than a common grave like most crucified criminals?•Two secret followers of Christ were St. Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin, and St. Nicodemus, a Pharisee. They received permission from Pilate to take Christ’s Body, and they placed it in a new tomb.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy did the chief priests ask Pilate to have Christ’s tomb guarded?•They feared Christ’s followers would steal the body and claim he had risen from the dead.


Read the Catechism, no. 1851 and then

write about which of the sufferings

experienced by Christ you think was the worst and why.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat does the rending of the curtain of the Temple signify?

•The separation between God and his people has ended.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy did a group of women go to Christ’s tomb early Sunday morning?•They went to anoint the body of Christ properly, as it was done in haste Friday afternoon due to the approach of the Sabbath.

continued

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy did a group of women go to Christ’s tomb early Sunday morning?Extension:•The Jewish day was calculated from sunset to sunset; in the case of the Sabbath, it lasted from sunset Friday evening to sunset Saturday evening. The women, then, went to Christ’s tomb at the break of daylight the following (Sunday) morning.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionTo whom was the Resurrection first announced?

•An angel, dressed in white, announced the Resurrection to St. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhy was St. Mary Magdalene weeping at Christ’s tomb?

•She thought somebody had moved or stolen the Body of Christ.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow did St. Mary Magdalene finally recognize Christ?

•He called her by name, “Mary.”

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat did the disciples think of St. Mary Magdalene’s announcement she had seen the Lord?•It seemed an “idle tale,” that is, untrue gossip.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat does it mean to be a messenger of Christ’s Resurrection?•It means to tell others Christ has indeed risen from the dead.


Read 1 Corinthian 15:3-11 and then

make a list of all the “messengers of the

Resurrection” St. Paul lists.

Fulfilling the Fulfilling the Law and the Law and the

ProphetsProphetsLesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives

•Christ as the New AdamChrist as the New Adam•Christ as the New NoahChrist as the New Noah•Christ as the New AbrahamChrist as the New Abraham•Christ as the New MosesChrist as the New Moses•Christ as the New DavidChrist as the New David

Fulfilling the Law and the Fulfilling the Law and the ProphetsProphets

How is Christ the New Adam?•Through his perfect obedience to the Father, the New Adam restored man’s place in Paradise lost by the First Adam.

How is Christ the New Noah?•Christ made water an instrument of salvation and founded a Church; it was not just to fill the earth with people but to make disciples of all nations.

Basic Questions


How is Christ the New Abraham?•Christ became the Savior of the world through whom all the families of the earth are blessed.

How is Christ the New Moses?•Christ is the prophet Moses prophesied would arise in Israel who gave the perfect Law and was the saving Lamb of God.

Basic Questions


How is Christ the New David?•Christ is the Only-Begotten Son of God whose universal rule is through the Church.

Basic Questions


Choose an Old Testament prophecy

and show how it points to fulfillment in

Jesus Christ.


What covenant did God make with Adam?•Adam was made a son of God who would have everlasting life if he obeyed God.


What was the result of Adam having broken the covenant?

•It resulted in spiritual and physical death for all people.


How did Christ fulfill the covenant with Adam?•He was the Son who perfectly obeyed God and so restored life to fallen humanity.


Which Sacrament did the early Church connect with the Flood?•They saw Baptism in the Flood.


What covenant did God make with Noah?•Noah would be the father of a new humanity, purified by water, and God would never again destroy the whole human race by flood.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow does Baptism fulfill the covenant with Noah?•As forty days of rain prepared the world for a new creation, forty days of fasting and penance (the season of Lent) prepares a person to become a new creation in the waters of Baptism. People are to be fruitful and multiply the number of Christians on the earth.


How was God’s covenant with Abraham partially fulfilled?•Hundreds of thousands could call themselves descendants of Abraham. Abraham’s descendants had dwelt and even built an empire in the Promised Land of Canaan.


What part of the Abrahamic Covenant was unfulfilled?•The promise of universal blessing was unfulfilled.


How did Christ fulfill the Abrahamic covenant?•Abraham’s descendant, Christ, brought a universal promise of salvation available to all people.


What did Christ’s disciples not understand about him even to the time of his Death?•They did not understand how God was to bring about the salvation of mankind.


What did Christ’s followers likely think he meant when he said he had come to fulfill the Law and the prophets?•They thought he meant he would re-establish the temporal, Davidic Kingdom.


What did Christ really mean to fulfill the Law and the prophets?•He meant he would fulfill the Scriptures by suffering and dying as Isaiah had foretold.


What did Moses foresee at the end of Deuteronomy?•He prophesied a new prophet like himself.


When did that prophet come?•He came about 1500 years later in the Person of Jesus Christ.


How did Christ fulfill the Mosaic Covenant?•Christ is the new Moses who gave a perfected Law and personified the Passover as the Lamb of God.


When did the rabbinic tradition expect the Messiah to come?•It expected the Messiah to come on Passover night.


Conduct a think/pair/share using the paragraph “When Moses

came down..” (p. 214) and the following question:

What is the meaning of the veil in this passage?

Graphic OrganizerGraphic OrganizerComplete the following table about how Christ fulfills the promises God made to David.

Title Explanation

Son of David

King of Israel

Christ (or Messiah)

Son of God


Review the table “Jesus, the New Moses” (p. 216) and then answer the following question:

Which similarity between Moses and Christ do you find most striking, and

why?


Christ fulfilled the four titles of the Davidic

Covenant. Review this chapter and invent as many new titles as you can for Christ based on these five covenants.


What about Christ dissatisfied some Israelites during his time?•Christ did not proclaim himself a Messiah who would inaugurate the political restoration of the Kingdom of Israel to establish a temporal power protected by God.


What is the Kingdom Christ came to establish?•Christ established the Church, the New Israel. This kingdom is not restricted by temporal domain; it includes the communion of faithful everywhere, living and dead, and so is not of this world.

Fulfilling the Law Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets and the Prophets

(continued)(continued)Lesson ObjectiveLesson Objective

•Christ as the fulfillment of the Davidic Christ as the fulfillment of the Davidic CovenantCovenant

Fulfilling the Law and the Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets (continued)Prophets (continued)

How does Christ fulfill the Davidic Covenant?•Christ and his Church fulfill the primary and secondary features of the Davidic Covenant.

Basic Questions


Incorporate Supplementary

Reading 5 into the Opening Prayer.


Write a paraphrase of Luke 1:32-33.


How does the promise of a universal ruler in the line of Abraham predate David, Solomon, and even Moses?•Jacob told his sons a descendant of Judah would be obeyed by “the peoples.”


In Jacob’s prophecy, to what does he come to refer?•This refers to the man who is to come to whom the ruler’s staff, or scepter, belong. He will rule not only Israel but all nations.


What is the difference between the scope of David’s and Christ’s rule?•David rules a small empire in the Middle East. Christ’s reign is unlimited.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat is the relationship between Samuel’s prophecy to King David and the Archangel Gabriel’s prophecy to the Blessed Virgin Mary?•Samuel said God will give David’s offspring an eternal rule. Gabriel said God will give Mary’s son, a descendant of David, an everlasting kingdom. Gabriel summarized the Davidic Covenant, applying its fulfillment to Christ.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionWhat is the key difference between the kingdom that came and the one many expected?

•Many expected an earthly king who would rule Israel and to whom all the nations of the world would show homage and obey. Instead, Christ established a heavenly Kingdom with the Church as its earthly component.


In the Church, who is the queen mother?•She is the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Focus QuestionFocus QuestionHow is St. Peter the prime minister in the Church?•According to Isaiah, the prime minister (or chief steward) of the royal government received the key of the House of David to open and shut exclusively. Christ gave Peter the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven with the power to bind and loose. As in the Davidic Kingdom, the office continues with his successors, the Popes.


What is the thank offering in the Church?•It is the Eucharist.

Graphic OrganizerGraphic OrganizerComplete the following table about how the primary features of the Davidic Covenant are fulfilled in the Church.

Feature of the Davidic CovenantFulfilled in the

ChurchKingdom: David’s son will have a great kingdom.

Dynasty: The covenant is made with David’s dynasty forever.

God’s Own Son: When the son of David is anointed, he is adopted as God’s own son. This anointing will make him the messiah, or christ.

Everlasting: The covenant is unlimited in time and space. It will last forever and extend to the whole world.

Jerusalem: Mt. Zion eclipses Mt. Sinai; Jerusalem is now the spiritual center of the world.

Temple: All the peoples of the world were invited to worship the God of Israel in the Temple of Jerusalem.

Wisdom: Instead of a particular Law for Israel alone, David’s son would provide a Torah for every Adam, a Law for all people based on wisdom.


Write about some aspect of this lesson

or chapter you did not understand well.

faith & revelation bb jc-sjc ch.6

Documents

god amid pagans

baptists ministry

blessed virgin

focus questionwhat

christ give

focus questionwhat

focus questionwhat

word cup capture