Arrest, Trial, Crucifixion

Next Sunday (July 26) we will focus on the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus.

(Link to the gospel doctrine instructor's manual)

There is a lot of reading listed in the manual: Matthew 26.47-75 and all of chapter 27; Mark 14.43-72 and chapter 15; Luke 22.47-71 and chapter 23; John 18 and 19.


We will focus on the three following passages:

The arrest of Jesus in John 18:1-14

The trial of Jesus in Mark 15.1-15

And the crucifixion of Jesus in Matthew 27.28-51

Here are a few questions to consider about Jesus' arrest:
-How does Jesus present himself and why is this significant?
-How can what happens to the Roman soldiers be considered a scriptural pattern for encountering God?
-Compare/contrast this passage with Abraham's interaction with God in Genesis 18.
-How does Jesus respond to Peter's continued lack of understanding about His mission?

A question about Jesus's trial:
-Compare and contrast Jesus's substitution for Barabbas with his substitution for his disciples in John 18.8. What conclusion do you draw from bringing these two passages into parallel?

Finally, some questions about Jesus's crucifixion:
What appears to be the source of Christ's greatest pain on the cross?
Why do you think he goes through with it?
At the moment of Christ's death, the veil of the temple tears, symbolizing the fulfillment of the law and suggestion that access to the divine is now open to everyone through Christ. If this is true, why would we, as Christians, still have temples?