The Death of Jesus (Leaving Cert Religious Education): Revision Notes

The death of Jesus

Historical perspective on Jesus' death

The death of Jesus can be examined from both historical and faith viewpoints, providing different but complementary understandings of this pivotal event.

Historical evidence

From a purely historical standpoint, scholars acknowledge that complete historical records of Jesus' sentencing do not exist outside the Gospel accounts. However, there is strong historical consensus that Jesus was executed through crucifixion.

The historical facts that can be established include:

• Jesus was executed by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate
• The execution method was crucifixion, a Roman punishment typically reserved for political criminals
• The charge that led to his death was claiming to be the "King of the Jews"
• This claim was viewed as treasonous by Roman authorities

The Gospel accounts

While the Gospels provide our primary sources for understanding Jesus' death, they present varying narratives that are not complete historical documents in the modern sense. Despite their differences, the Gospel accounts generally agree on the following sequence of events:

• Jesus faced betrayal from within his own circle of followers
• Jewish religious authorities accused him of blasphemy
• These authorities believed Jesus deserved execution for his religious claims
• Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate for trial
• Pilate ultimately sentenced Jesus to death on charges of treason
• Jesus was crucified with the official charge being that he claimed to be "King of the Jews"

The faith response of Jesus' contemporaries

The disciples' reaction

The death of Jesus profoundly shocked and scattered his followers. Their response reveals the human struggle between faith and fear when faced with crisis.

Initial response of fear and abandonment:

The immediate reaction of Jesus' followers demonstrates the overwhelming impact of his arrest and execution on their community.

• Most disciples abandoned Jesus and fled when he was arrested
• Many followers ran away in terror when they realised the danger
• Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples, denied knowing Jesus three times before fleeing
• The majority of his followers went into hiding to avoid persecution

Loss of hope and direction:

Beyond the immediate fear, Jesus' death created a deeper crisis of meaning and purpose for his followers.

• Many disciples lost hope and returned to their previous occupations, such as fishing
• Followers were left questioning what Jesus' mission had truly meant
• They had believed Jesus would always be with them, but now faced his apparent defeat
• Some wondered what they should do next, having given up their former lives to follow him

The faithful few

Despite the widespread abandonment, a small group remained loyal during Jesus' crucifixion:

The women's faithfulness:

According to John's Gospel, only a few people remained near the cross during Jesus' death:

• Jesus' mother, Mary
• Mary's sister
• Mary, the wife of Clopas
• Mary Magdalene
• John, described as "the disciple whom Jesus loved"

Even in his suffering, Jesus showed care for others, asking John to look after his mother from that point forwards.

Events leading to the crucifixion

The last supper

On the night before his death, Jesus shared a final meal with his disciples during the Passover celebration. This gathering included several significant symbolic acts:

The foot washing ceremony:

Jesus performed the humble act of washing his disciples' feet, demonstrating servanthood. He asked his followers to remember this example and continue such acts of service in his memory.

Preparing for sacrifice:

During the meal, Jesus spoke to his disciples about the sacrifice he was preparing to make. He understood that death was approaching and wanted to prepare his followers for what was to come.

Establishing the new covenant:

Jesus used this final meal to establish what he described as a new covenant between God and humanity. This would become the foundation for Christian understanding of Jesus' sacrificial death.

The crucifixion's impact

The death of Jesus represented what appeared to be the end of the new covenant before it had properly begun. For his contemporaries, this created a crisis of faith and understanding.

Testing of faith:

Throughout his ministry, Jesus had warned his followers that they would face difficult times and that their faith in him would be tested. The crucifixion became the ultimate test of this faith.

Scattered community:

The death of their leader left the early Christian community scattered and uncertain. What had seemed like a revolutionary movement appeared to have ended in failure and defeat.