The Last Days of Jesus' Life (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B)

The Last Supper

The Passion

• ‘The Passion’ is the phrase used by Christians to describe the last few days of Jesus’ life

  • ‘The Passion’ is made up of a number of key events including The Last Supper, The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus, The Crucifixion, The Resurrection and the Ascension

The Last Supper

• The Last Supper was the final meal that Jesus shared with his disciples, the night before his crucifixion

  • During the meal, Jesus predicted that one of his disciples would betray him

  • At the end of the meal, Jesus broke bread and shared it with his disciples, telling them to ‘do this in remembrance of me (Luke 22:19)

  • Jesus offered wine to his disciples, saying to them:

• This quote shows that, through the sacrifice Jesus was about to make, a new relationship would be formed between God and humanity

The Last Supper holds a special significance for Christians as it forms the basis of the Eucharist, a key Christian church service

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

• After the Last Supper, the bible says that Jesus was betrayed by one of his disciples

  • Jesus was talking to some of his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane

• Judas (one of Jesus’ disciples) arrived, leading the chief priests and their guards to Jesus

• Jesus’ disciples wanted to defend their leader, but Jesus told them to put their swords away

• Peter, Jesus’ closest disciple, cut off the ear of the High Priest’s servant

• Jesus healed it and ordered that there should be no violence

• He was led away to the house of the High Priest

Trial & Crucifixion of Jesus

The Trial of Jesus

• Jesus was put on trial by the Sanhedrin who considered Jesus’ claims to be the son of God blasphemy and found him guilty of this charge

  • The next morning, Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor

  • Pilate did not think that Jesus was guilty so he gave the assembled crowd a choice

  • He would release either Jesus or a Jewish freedom fighter, Barabbas

  • The crowd chose Barabbas to be released, and this meant Jesus was to be crucified

The Crucifixion of Jesus

• The crucifixion of Jesus is an important event for all Christians and is remembered during the festival of Easter

• The bible describes the events leading up to the crucifixion which starts with Jesus making his way to the place of his crucifixion carrying the cross

• The soldiers mocked Jesus and placed a crown of thorns on his head

  • The crown of thorns represents both Jesus’ suffering and the fact that he was mocked by his persecutors

• Jesus was crucified on a Friday alongside two robbers, one on each side of him

  • A sign above his head read “King of the Jews”

  • As he was being crucified, Jesus cried out: ‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’ (Luke 23:34)

  • One of the robbers confessed to Jesus that he had sinned and said that he and the other robber deserved to die for their crimes

    • The robber also acknowledged that Jesus was innocent

    • Jesus told this robber that they would meet again in Paradise

• Christians believe that Jesus’ crucifixion was a crucial moment in his life as this act brought humans salvation from sin

Resurrection & Ascension of Jesus

The Resurrection of Jesus

• The events following the crucifixion of Jesus are central to Christian belief

  • After the crucifixion, Jesus’ body was buried in a tomb guarded by Roman soldiers

  • Early on the Sunday morning, three days after the crucifixion, some of Jesus’ female followers went to anoint his body with spices but the tomb was empty

  • Two men in gleaming white clothes appeared and told the women that Jesus had risen from the dead

• The women informed Jesus’ disciples that the tomb was empty

• For most Christians, the resurrection is the most significant event

• It is the ultimate miracle which proves the divinity of Jesus as well as indicating that death is not the end

The Ascension of Jesus

• Following the resurrection of Jesus, Christians believe that Jesus was in contact with his followers

  • The Gospel of Luke states that 40 days after his resurrection, Jesus told his disciples that they must stay in Jerusalem and that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit

  • Then, Jesus was taken up into a cloud

• Two men in white appeared and told the disciples that Jesus had gone to Heaven

• The ascension reminds Christians that Jesus has gone to Heaven to prepare a place for them, so they do not need to fear death

• As Jesus is no longer restricted by time, he is always with them

• Christians also believe that because Jesus didn't die again before ascending to heaven, the Ascension shows Jesus’ divinity