Faith and Revelation

Knowing God Through Sacred Scripture

Chapter 6

Jesus Christ: The Fullness of Divine Revelation

Chapter Objectives
The student will be able to understand:
The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes Herod the Great Galilee and Samaria Factors which aided the spread of Christianity The Annunciation The Nativity The Epiphany The Finding in the Temple St. John the Baptist The baptism of the Lord and his temptation in the desert Christs miracles The Twelve Apostles The Last Supper The Cup of Consummation Christs trial before the Sanhedrin Pilates condemnation of Christ Judass and St. Peters betrayals, and St. Peters repentance Christs Crucifixion The Cup of Consummation Psalm 22 as a prophecy of Christs Passion The Resurrection Christ as the New Adam Christ as the New Noah Christ as the Abraham Christ as the New Moses Christ as the New David Christ as the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant

Keys to Chapter 6
God became man in the fullness of time.
Christs humanity and divinity were revealed from his youth.

Christ taught and worked miracles in his public life.

Christ was condemned to death by crucifixion.

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

In This Chapter We Will Discuss:

The religious and political situation at the time of Christ.
Mary as the New Eve and Ark of the New Covenant. The basic overview of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The meaning of the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ.

Christ as the Passover Lamb.

How Jesus fulfilled the Law and the prophets.

Jesus Christ: The Fullness of Divine Revelation

Lesson Objectives
The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes Herod the Great Galilee and Samaria Factors that aided the spread of Christianity

Jesus Christ: The Fullness of Divine Revelation

Basic Questions
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.

Jesus Christ: The Fullness of Divine Revelation

Basic Questions
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.

Anticipatory Set
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 Question
How was the time immediately preceding Christ similar to that of King Davids 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 Question
How 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 Question
How did John Hyrcanus earn the hatred of the Samaritans?
He destroyed the Samaritan temple on Mt. Gerizim, the center of Samaritan religious life.

Focus Question
When 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 Question
Why 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 Question
How did Israel lose her independence?
Herod entered into a plot with the Roman emperor to seize power.

Focus Question
What was the central power in the world at the time of Christ?
The Roman Empire was the power.

Guided 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 Question
How 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 Question
How 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 Question
How 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 Question
Why 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 Organizer
Complete the following table about the various groups in Israel in the time of Christ.
Group
Pharisees Sadducees Essenes

Brief Explanation

Focus Question
Who were the Sadducees?
They were priests who claimed to be the spiritual heirs of Zadok, King Solomons priest, whose heirs were supposed to be priests in Jerusalem forever.

Focus Question
How did the Sadducees answer the question, How can Jews be faithful to God amid pagans? They cooperated with Gentiles.

Focus Question
What were some of the Sadduceess central beliefs? They believed only the Pentateuch was canonical, denied life after death, and rejected the existence of angels.

Focus Question
Why 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.

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

What did Christ reveal about Heaven in this passage?

Focus Question
How often are the Essenes mentioned in Sacred Scripture?
They are never mentioned.

Focus Question
What 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 Question
What 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 Question
How 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 Question
Why were Galileans looked down upon by Judeans?
They were poor peasants and farmers who had a distinct accent.

Guided Exercise
Compose a bullet-point list of at least three examples of Herods tyrannical behavior and three of his crafty behavior.

Focus 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.

Focus Question
Who were the Samaritans?
These Israelites had intermarried with Gentiles during the time of the Assyrian occupation. They lived between Judea and Galilee.

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

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

Focus Question
Who are the Samaritans today?
A few hundred survive today as a persecuted minority in Palestine. Extension: They speak Aramaic, the language Christ spoke.

Focus Question
What was the Pax Romana?
It was a centuries-long relative peace the known world enjoyed under the Roman Empire.

Focus Question
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.

Focus Question
What was the Roman attitude to other religions?
The Romans generally tolerated any religion as long as its adherents did not cause problems.

Focus Question
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.

Focus Question
What was the Jewish Diaspora?
The Diaspora refers to Jews who lived outside Palestine and throughout the Roman Empire.

Focus Question
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.

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

Focus Question
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.

Focus Question
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 Assessment
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 Christ

Lesson Objectives
The Annunciation The Nativity The Epiphany The Finding in the Temple

The Infancy of Christ

Basic Questions
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 Gods presence toward the Ark of the Covenant.

The Infancy of Christ

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.

The Infancy of Christ

Basic Questions
What is the Finding in the Temple? Christs 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.

Anticipatory Set
Pray a decade of one of the three Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, using the scriptural method of praying the Rosary.

Focus Question
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 Question
What is the significance of the word overshadow in the Archangel Gabriels 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 Question
How is the Blessed Virgin Marys response to Gods call different from what might be expected in light of other divine calls from the Old Testament?

Most of the great people of Israelincluding Abraham, Moses, and Davidthough accepting Gods plans for them, had nevertheless expressed surprise, doubt, and sometimes resistance. Sarah, in fact, laughed at Gods message to her. In contrast, the Blessed Virgin Marys response was immediate belief, obedience, and acceptance.

Guided Exercise
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.

Focus Question
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.

Focus Question
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).

Focus Question
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 Gods right hand.

Focus Question
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.

Guided Exercise
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 Visitationthe Blessed Virgin Marys visit to her cousin St. Elizabethis deeply rooted in the Old Testament.

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

Focus Question
Why might Herod have been especially nervous about Balaams prophecy to Balak?
Balaams 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 Question
What 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 Christs 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 Christs Sacrifice on the Cross.

Alternative Assessment
Read aloud the Blessed Virgin Marys Magnificat (Lk 1:46-55).
Relate this prayer to the Old Testament and the history of Israel.

Focus Question
What is unique about the Finding of Christ in the Temple? It is the only story recorded in the Gospels of Christs life between his infancy and when he began his public ministry about the age thirty.

Focus Question
How does the Finding in the Temple reveal Christs 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 and Taught

Lesson Objectives
St. John the Baptist The Baptism of the Lord and his temptation in the desert Christs miracles The Twelve Apostles

What Jesus Did and Taught

Basic Questions
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. Johns baptism and fasted in the wilderness for forty days, where he was tempted by the Devil.

What Jesus Did and Taught

Basic Questions
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.

Anticipatory Set
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 Question
Who was John the Baptist?
St. John the Baptist was Christs cousin, a Levite who preached repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins to prepare the way for the Messiah.

Focus Question
How did St. John the Baptists ministry fulfill the last words of Malachi, the last prophet in the Old Testament?
Malachi prophesied God would send the Prophet Elijah to Israel to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers; thus, they would not be punished by God. continued

Focus Question
How did St. John the Baptists 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 Question
How was Christs 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 Question
What 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 Question
What 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.

Guided Exercise
Complete a paragraph shrink of the first four paragraphs under The Baptism of Christ (p. 193, through the quote from Matthew 3).

Focus Question
How 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 Question
How were St. John the Baptist and the Prophet Elijah similar in appearance?
St. John the Baptist was clothed with camels 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 Question
Why 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 Question
What 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 Question
What actions of Christ most clearly demonstrated both his human and divine natures? His miracles showed his natures.

Focus Question
What was Christs first miracle? He turned water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana.

Focus Question
How 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 Question
How were Christs 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). Christs healings and forgiveness demonstrated the arrival of the messianic age.

Focus Question
What did Christs exorcisms demonstrate? They showed his divinity and dominion over demons.

Focus Question
Why did Christ heal the paralytic? Christ wanted to heal the mans infirmity and show he has authority to forgive sins.

Graphic Organizer
Complete the following table about the various insights Sts. Matthew, Mark, and Luke had about Christs temptations.
Evangelist
St. Matthew St. Mark

Insight

St. Luke

Guided Exercise
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.

Guided Exercise
Compose a bullet-point summary of ways Christ violated the Pharisees principle of strict separation between Jews and Gentiles or sinners.

Focus Question
What 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 Question
How did Christ intend his message to spread throughout the world? He instructed his Apostles to go to all nations, teaching, and baptizing.

Focus Question
What 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 Question
Why 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 Organizer
Complete the following table paraphrasing the petitions of the Lords Prayer.
Petition
Our 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.

Paraphrase

Alternative Assessment
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, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Lesson Objectives
The Last Supper The Cup of Consummation Christs trial before the Sanhedrin

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

What was the Last Supper? Christ used the Passover meals 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.

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

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.

Anticipatory Set
Incorporate Matthew 26:1768 into prayer.

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

Focus Question
When did Christs 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 Question
What were the religious authorities planning when Christ entered Jerusalem?
They were deciding how to put him to death.

Focus Question
Why did Christ enter Jerusalem riding a donkey?
This fulfilled Zechariahs 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 Question
What were the two stages in the establishment of the New Covenant?
They were the celebration of the Last Supper and Christs sacrifice on the Cross.

Focus Question
What 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 Question
At 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 Question
What did the blood of the Passover lamb accomplish?
It saved the firstborn male of each Hebrew family from death.

Focus Question
How 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 Question
How 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 Question
What 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.

Guided Exercise
Identify the three Passovers referred to in the Catechism, no. 1340 (p. 231).

Focus Question
How many cups of wine were drunk during the Passover meal?
Four were drunk.

Focus Question
How 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 Question
Where 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 Question
What 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 Question
How did Christ leave the Passover meal unfinished?
He did not drink the fourth cup, the Cup of Consummation.

Guided Exercise
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 Question
What did Christ ask of the Father in the garden?
He asked to have his cup (his final sufferings) removed from him.

Focus Question
Why should the use of the word cup capture the readers 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 Question
Why should the use of the word cup capture the readers attention? Extension When the mother of the sons of Zebedee asked they be given the chief places in Christs Kingdom, she asked if they could drink the cup he was going to drink (cf. Mt 20:22).

Focus Question
What was the sign of Judass betrayal? He gave Christ a kiss, which was the ordinary way a disciple would have greeted his master.

Focus Question
What may have been Judass 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 Christs teachings (cf. Jn 6:64) of love for neighbor, obedience to authority, and his willingness to suffer death.

Focus Question
Why 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 Question
What did most of the Sanhedrin believe even before the trial?
Christ was a false prophet and blasphemer.

Focus Question
What kind of evidence was presented against Christ?
Evidence was produced by false witnesses who contradicted each other.

Focus Question
How did Caiaphas gain the final evidence to convict Christ?
Caiaphas asked Christ directly if he is the Messiah.

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

Guided Exercise
Read Leviticus 24:10-16, and discuss the Jewish attitude toward blasphemy.

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

The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ (continued)

Lesson Objectives
Pilates condemnation of Christ Judass and St. Peters betrayals and St. Peters repentance

The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ (continued) Basic Questions
How was Pilate unjust in his condemnation of Christ? To prompt him to execute Christ, the Sanhedrin lied to Pilate about Christs 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.

The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ (continued) Basic Questions
How did Judass and St. Peters remorse differ? Both Judas and St. Peter betrayed Christ, and both repented, but Judas despaired while St. Peter experienced true contrition.

Anticipatory Set
Incorporate Christs arrest and condemnation into prayer.

Focus Question
Why 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 Question
How 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 Question
What lie did the Sanhedrin tell Pilate?
They said Christ forbade the Jews from paying taxes to Caesar.

Focus Question
What was Pilates initial reaction to the Sanhedrins charge? He wanted nothing to do with the case.

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

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

Focus Question
How did Pilate see Christ at this point? Pilate saw Christ as innocent of any crime against Rome.

Focus Question
Why 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 Question
What was unjust about Pilates decision to flog and release Christ? Though Pilate acknowledged Christ was innocent, he still had him flogged, a terrible, lifethreatening punishment, perhaps to appease the Sanhedrin.

Graphic Organizer
Answer the following questions about Barabbas.
Christ is the Son of the Father. What does Barabbass name mean?
Why was Barabbas in custody? What kind of messiah were most Jews of Christs time expecting?

Which figureChrist 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 Question
What 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 Question
Why did Pilate finally give in to the Sanhedrins 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.

Guided Exercise
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 Question
How did Judas betray Christ? He revealed where the chief priests could arrest Christ safely.

Focus Question
How did St. Peter betray Christ?
After Christs arrest, St. Peter denied he even knew Christ.

Focus Question
What was lacking in Judass 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 Question
What was right about St. Peters 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.

The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ (continued)

Lesson Objectives
Christs Crucifixion The Cup of Consummation Psalm 22 as a prophecy of Christs Passion The Resurrection

The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ (continued) Basic Questions
How was Christs 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 Christs Passion.

The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ (continued) Basic Questions
How did the disciples first learn of the Resurrection of Christ? An angel announced Christs Resurrection to the three women who went to anoint Christs Body. Christ then appeared to St. Mary Magdalene.

Anticipatory Set
Incorporate the events from Christs being led away to Crucifixion through his burial into prayer.

Focus Question
Why did Christ need help carrying his Cross? He was weak from having been scourged.

Focus Question
Legally, 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 Question
When 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 Question
Why did someone offer Christ wine mixed with myrrh? It was a painkiller; he refused it.

Focus Question
Why 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 Question
What 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 Question
In the Roman Empire, for whom was crucifixion reserved? Crucifixion was reserved for the most heinous criminalsfor example, rebels and runaway slavesto deter others from imitating them.

Focus Question
Why is crucifixion a terrible punishment? It is both very painful and deeply humiliating.

Focus Question
Why 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 Question
Why 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 Question
What 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. Christs last drink of wine was administered by a sponge attached to a branch of hyssop.

Focus Question
What is the meaning of Christs 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 Question
What is the connection between the Eucharist and Calvary? The offering of Christs 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.

Guided Exercise
Read Psalm 22 and identify two prophecies fulfilled in Christs Crucifixion.

Focus Question
Why was Christ pierced?
He appeared to be dead. The soldier wanted to ensure it.

Focus Question
How do two Old Testament prophecies come together in Christs piercing? First, the Mosaic Law forbade the breaking of any of the bones of the Passover lamb; by not breaking Christs legs, the Gospels confirm Christ is the new Passover Lamb. continued

Focus Question
How do two Old Testament prophecies come together in Christs 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 Question
Why was Christs 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 Christs Body, and they placed it in a new tomb.

Focus Question
Why did the chief priests ask Pilate to have Christs tomb guarded?
They feared Christs followers would steal the body and claim he had risen from the dead.

Guided Exercise
Read the Catechism, no. 1851 and then write about which of the sufferings experienced by Christ you think was the worst and why.

Focus Question
What does the rending of the curtain of the Temple signify?
The separation between God and his people has ended.

Focus Question
Why did a group of women go to Christs 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 Question
Why did a group of women go to Christs 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 Christs tomb at the break of daylight the following (Sunday) morning.

Focus Question
To 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 Question
Why was St. Mary Magdalene weeping at Christs tomb?
She thought somebody had moved or stolen the Body of Christ.

Focus Question
How did St. Mary Magdalene finally recognize Christ?
He called her by name, Mary.

Focus Question
What did the disciples think of St. Mary Magdalenes announcement she had seen the Lord? It seemed an idle tale, that is, untrue gossip.

Focus Question
What does it mean to be a messenger of Christs Resurrection?
It means to tell others Christ has indeed risen from the dead.

Alternative Assessment
Read 1 Corinthian 15:3-11 and then make a list of all the messengers of the Resurrection St. Paul lists.

Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets

Lesson Objectives
Christ as the New Adam Christ as the New Noah Christ as the New Abraham Christ as the New Moses Christ as the New David

Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets

Basic Questions
How is Christ the New Adam? Through his perfect obedience to the Father, the New Adam restored mans 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.

Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets

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.

Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets

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

Anticipatory Set
Choose an Old Testament prophecy and show how it points to fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

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

Focus Question
What was the result of Adam having broken the covenant?
It resulted in spiritual and physical death for all people.

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

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

Focus Question
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 Question
How 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.

Focus Question
How was Gods covenant with Abraham partially fulfilled? Hundreds of thousands could call themselves descendants of Abraham. Abrahams descendants had dwelt and even built an empire in the Promised Land of Canaan.

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

Focus Question
How did Christ fulfill the Abrahamic covenant? Abrahams descendant, Christ, brought a universal promise of salvation available to all people.

Focus Question
What did Christs 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.

Focus Question
What did Christs 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.

Focus Question
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.

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

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

Focus Question
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.

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

Guided Exercise
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 Organizer
Complete the following table about how Christ fulfills the promises God made to David.
Title
Son of David King of Israel Christ (or Messiah) Son of God

Explanation

Guided Exercise
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?

Alternative Assessment
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.

Focus Question
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.

Focus Question
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 and the Prophets (continued)

Lesson Objective
Christ as the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant

Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets (continued)

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

Anticipatory Set
Incorporate Supplementary Reading 5 into the Opening Prayer.

Guided Exercise
Write a paraphrase of Luke 1:32-33.

Focus Question
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.

Focus Question
In Jacobs prophecy, to what does he come to refer? This refers to the man who is to come to whom the rulers staff, or scepter, belong. He will rule not only Israel but all nations.

Focus Question
What is the difference between the scope of Davids and Christs rule? David rules a small empire in the Middle East. Christs reign is unlimited.

Focus Question
What is the relationship between Samuels prophecy to King David and the Archangel Gabriels prophecy to the Blessed Virgin Mary?

Samuel said God will give Davids offspring an eternal rule. Gabriel said God will give Marys son, a descendant of David, an everlasting kingdom. Gabriel summarized the Davidic Covenant, applying its fulfillment to Christ.

Focus Question
What 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.

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

Focus Question
How 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.

Focus Question
What is the thank offering in the Church? It is the Eucharist.

Graphic Organizer
Complete the following table about how the primary features of the Davidic Covenant are fulfilled in the Church.
Feature of the Davidic Covenant
Kingdom: Davids son will have a great kingdom. Dynasty: The covenant is made with Davids dynasty forever. Gods Own Son: When the son of David is anointed, he is adopted as Gods 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, Davids son would provide a Torah for every Adam, a Law for all people based on wisdom.

Fulfilled in the Church

Alternative Assessment
Write about some aspect of this lesson or chapter you did not understand well.