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In the fall of 2004 and early spring 2005, our students took a journey during our weekly Wednesday Bible study, FUEL. We together studied the last 48 hours of Christ's life. We peered into the agony and the ultimate determination that Jesus experienced on the way to the cross. During this study we watched selected clips from The Passion of the Christ while studying Dawson McAllister's popular curriculum "A Walk with Christ to the Cross". Below is a comprehensive look at the notes, slides and follow-up to each lesson. We keep these here because we feel it can continue to affect teen lives and we often refer to it as we witness to friends.
Here's the deal. There's way too much stuff to cover in our studies. It's about to drive me crazy because I can not share it all in one night. We could study this for months! But because we are committed to a 10-week study, I have provided this blog-like page where I will share very interesting extras and bonus materials. Some of this stuff will come from McAllister's study, while other bits will be from my personal study. Questions or issues that you students ask me following the night's study will be covered too. I'll do my best to keep it simple but interesting. Give feedback or follow up with questions at bdawson@fbclj.org. So enjoy.
OCTOBER 27 - MAN'S WORST, GOD'S BEST AT THE CROSS
STRONG CAUTION
I simply want to remind everyone that currently at FUEL (since 10/20/04), the graphic scenes of the crucifixion are being shown. Even though I have sent multiple reminders to parents, I simply want to caution you as you come to FUEL. The agony and excruciating pain on the cross is made evident in these scenes we are watching. Come with reverence and with an attitude of worship. Four students prayed to receive Christ last week during FUEL. Our effort and care in this series is paying off with eternal rewards! Praise the Lord!
OCTOBER 20 - CONDEMNED BY A COWARD
Click for Lesson Seven PowerPoint Notes
A REALLY GOOD QUESTION
After services tonight, two girls wanted to know more about Jesus' statement in John 19:10-11 when he declares to Pilate "...the one who handed me over to you is guilty of the greater sin." The girls pointed out that a sin is a sin no matter how big it is. Well, that may be true when eternity is concerned. One sin, big or little, is enough to send anyone to hell. However, earthly consequences are different based upon the sin. Telling a white lie may not bring the same consequence as a murder. Both sins are enough to send someone to hell because heaven is an absolute perfect place and God won't allow the smallest of sin into His home. Earthly speaking, our little sins can have little consequences right here on earth (and vice versa!).
DREAMS IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
We talked about Pilate's wife having a dream that scared her and worried Pilate. His wife's name was Claudia Procula and she was highly superstitious. In the ancient world, dreams were taken very seriously because it was believed that the gods often spoke to people in dreams. It indeed has happened in scripture before, but we do not know whether or not Claudia's dream was from God.
JESUS' BONES EXPOSED?
Jewish historian Josephus reports a similar incident that occurred during the Roman siege on Jeruselem in which a peasant prophet was "whipped until his bones were laid bare." Jesus was whipped very severely and it is very possible that Jesus' bones were visible. Several other factors that we know from scripture and history indicate that this was probable.
WHAT HAPPENED TO PILATE?
According to one tradition, the riot Pilate feared actually happened and it led him to commit suicide by falling on his sword. Another tradition says a riot occurred and Tiberius exiled Pilate and his family to a lonely island where he died a bitter old man.
OCTOBER 13 - QUESTIONED BY PILATE AND HEROD
THANKS TO DAVID CATOE
A special thanks to David Catoe and his youth group from Fresh Springs Baptist Church in Angleton. David taught in my absense and brought his students with him. We had another great attendance! David's group will be back with us on November 3.
STUFF ABOUT HEROD ANTIPAS
"Herod" was the surname of a family that ruled during the time of the New Testament. It is like the Windsor family that has been the royal family in Great Britain for many generations. Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great, the king who tried to kill Jesus when he was a baby by executing all the babies up to two years of age in the vicinity of Bethlehem. Now the son of Herod the Great, Herod Antipas, is going to be a bit player in the Crucifixion of this same Jesus.
OCTOBER 6 - FRENZY AT DAYBREAK (AND WHAT HAPPENED TO JUDAS)
Click for Lesson Five PowerPoint Notes
THE FATE OF JUDAS
As promised, here is the quote from John McArthur in addition to those I gave you from Dawson McAllister and Billy Graham:
Conviction must have been on him (Judas) so that it pounded in his head, "He repented," it says. Now that might sound good to you, but that's not the Greek word for repentance, that's the word for wanting to change your feelings. He felt bad. He regretted it." - John MacArthur
His point is that Judas did not repent, he simply had remorse. A believer would not be possessed by Satan, but Judas was - Luke 22:3 and then John 13:37. Jesus himself called Judas a devil to his face! John 6:64,70 (not merely "demon," the Greek always for the evil spirit possessing a body, but "devil," used only of Satan himself to whom Judas was now yielding himself). Jesus goes on to say that it would have been better if Judas had never lived...not the hope and victory we know that comes to a believer (see Matt. 26:24). With what we have to go on from the Bible, I would say that Judas was not saved.
SEPTEMBER 29 - THE INJUSTICE– RELIGIOUS TRIALS (CONT. FROM PREVIOUS WEEK)
Click for Lesson Four PowerPoint Notes
MORE ABOUT ISAIAH 50
I've heard some ask why some things from the real Bible account did not show up in Mel Gibson's movie. I have to admit that I was impressed with all he WAS able to get into the movie. I have mentioned that several shots in the movie were not just "extra" cool stuff, but instead great factual insight into the real story. Mel did his homework!
However, there is one thing that I wish was included. Based upon Isaiah 50:6, Jesus probably had chunks of his beard pulled out by those abusing him sometime during that awful night. Don't get me wrong, I'm don't desire to see a more graphic portrayal just to make a great movie. I just felt it would have completed all the graphic depiction as the Bible describes it. The point is, Jesus went through unbelievable agony before and during the crucifixion.
SEPTEMBER 22 - THE INJUSTICE– ARREST & RELIGIOUS TRIALS
Click for Lesson Three PowerPoint Notes
TEARING CLOTHES
Some of you had blank looks on your face when the question was asked about why Caiaphas tore his clothes. Just to let you know, there are many examples in scripture of where this happened (see Gen. 37:29-34, Judges 11:34-35). Although I answered it, here's more detail according to Dawson McAllister...In that day, when something horrible happened Jewish people would traditionally go out in public and tear their clothes for all to see... They were saying, in effect, “I don’t ever want to wear these clothes again, for these are the clothes I was wearing when I heard the news.”
I AM DECLARATION
To the Jews in Jesus’ day, the words “I AM’ meant one thing, “I am God.” When God sent Moses down to Egypt to tell Pharaoh to release the Israelites, Moses asked God, “Who should I tell them sent me?” And God answered from the burning bush, “tell them I AM WHO I AM sent you” (Exodus 3:14). From that time on in the nation of Israel, “I AM” meant “I am God.” So, you can see why Jesus’ “I AM,” was so revered by the Jews that they would not write it or speak it. In written sentence, instead of writing it they would leave it blank.
WHY DIDN'T THEY ARREST JESUS IN THE TEMPLE?
Jesus spent all day, every day during the week of his arrest, teaching in the temple. Why didn’t the religious leaders arrest Him then? He asked this question Himself at His arrest, although He already knew the answer. Jesus was very popular among the masses. His teaching makes sense and His healings were miraculous. Then, as now, the political climate in Palestine was very volatile. The religious leaders knew that they would have to be very secretive in the arrest and trial of Jesus or riots could easily break out – particularly during Passover week. So, a public arrest in the temple would have been disastrous.
HOMES OF ANNAS AND CAIAPHAS
In the movie, Annas and Caiaphas were both present in the interogation of Jesus. In the Bible, they seem to be in two different locations, so what's up? It think the following probably helped Mel Gibson make two scenes into one. His research is very good! McAllister points out...When those who arrested Jesus and “led Him away first to Annas,” they probably took Jesus to an apartment on the temple grounds. Caiaphas most likely had an apartment in the same building.
SEPTEMBER 15 - IN AGONY IN A GARDEN
Click for Lesson Two PowerPoint Notes
CLEARING UP THE MAP - First of all, some of you thought I was referring to the city of Jeruselem when I said that it was about 150 miles from top to bottom (especially since I had the Jeruselem map showing when I said it). What I meant is that ISRAEL is about 150 from top to bottom and roughly 50 miles across. This was confusing to some of you since you were thinking that Jesus had to walk a long way to get to Gethsemane. Jeruselem is only about 750 YARDS wide (east to west) and 1000 YARDS (north to south) tall. Sorry for the confusion. I'll clear up on next Wednesday too! By the way, check out this really, really cool map that shows the footsteps of Jesus before and during the 48 hours we are talking about.
JESUS BATTLED SATAN - The word translated “agony” is the Greek word agonia. This is the only place this word is used in the entire New Testament and it signifies a struggle, trial or contest. This is the same word that was used in reference to the athletes that competed in the Greek games, the ancient Olympics. In the garden, Jesus competed against Satan and sin. The prize was your soul and my soul. The good news is that Jesus won the contest! The scene in "The Passion" with the Satan tempting Jesus in the garden may be very accurate according to scripture (not just artistic liberty on Mel's part).
SWEATING BLOOD - Although I covered this at length, I figured some of you might want to have more detail for good reading. Luke’s Gospel mentions that Jesus’ “sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.” There are two explanations of this verse. Either Luke was employing a figure of speech (a simile) or, as a physician, he was describing an actual medical condition from which Jesus suffered in the garden. Both interpretations are viable. Hematidrosis is an actual, although rare, medical condition. There are other known cases of hematidrosis on record. On the other hand, he may have simply used the simile of great drops of blood to indicate the emotional turmoil that Jesus was undergoing.
MORE BLOOD - There are other known cases of hematidrosis. In each case, the patient had experienced extreme stress or shock to their systems. One young girl had a fear of air raids in World War 1 developed hematidrosis after a gas explosion occurred in the house next door, thinking that an air raid had occurred. In another case, a nun developed the condition after she was threatened with being stabbed to death. She became extremely terrified, began bleeding profusely through her skin and died right in front of her attackers.
THE FLINT VERSE - In attempting to finish on time last week, I simply referred to the scripture that talked about Jesus' determination in his decision to go to the cross. Here's the info in detail...Isaiah 50:5-7 is a prophecy concerning the sufferings Jesus endured on the cross. The theme of this passage is that Jesus was completely obedient to God’s will. Unlike rebellious Israel (and us), Jesus was determined to complete the task God gave him, despite whatever personal suffering He would have to endure. Flint is a very hard stone. It can be used to cut other stones, in fact. Jesus set his face like flint towards the goal of total obedience to the Father. Nothing could alter His course once He committed Himself to the task.
SEPTEMBER 8 - A BETRAYER IS REVEALED
Click for Lesson One PowerPoint Notes
WHAT HAPPENED TO JUDAS? The first question a student asked me was, "Did Judas go to hell for betraying Jesus?". Hold tight! I will be covering that issue in a couple of weeks (Sept. 29 or Oct. 6). A great question! We must first see the rest of the story before we can make any conclusions, so make sure you are there each week!
JUDAS CONTROLLED BY SATAN There are only two times in Scripture in which Satan himself has possessed a human - and in both cases the person was Judas. Check out Luke 22:3 and then John 13:37. Jesus himself called Judas a devil to his face! John 6:64,70 (not merely "demon," the Greek always for the evil spirit possessing a body, but "devil," used only of Satan himself to whom Judas was now yielding himself). Whoa!
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