Crucifixion, Death and Burial of Jesus Christ SS3 Christian Religious Studies (CRS) Lesson Note

(MATTHEW 27:32 – 61)

After Jesus had been condemned to death, he was led away by soldiers to the place of crucifixion. Due to physical exhaustion, Jesus was unable to carry his cross. A man of Current, Simon whom they met on the way was appealled to carry the cross for Jesus to the place of his crucifixion called Golgotha which means the place of skull. There they offered him wine filled with gall which he tasted but refused to drink. 

At that place they crucified him along with two robbers, one on his right and the other on the left. They shared his garment among themselves by drawing lots. Over his head, they put a charge against him: “This is Jesus the king of the Jews.” Nailed on the cross the passerby, the Pharisees, the scribes and the chief priests mocked him, each according to his own perspective.

And about the sixth hour, there was darkness over the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli lama sachtani” which means “My God My God why has thou forsaken me”. Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. The curtains of the temple was torn into two from top to bottom; the earth shook and rocks were split; the tombs were opened and the body of the saints who have fallen asleep raised.

When those who were keeping watch over Jesus saw what happened were filled with awe and said, “truly this was the son of God”. Then so many women who were looking at the whole thing from afar were those who had followed Jesus from Galilee ministering to him, including Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and John and Mother of the sons of Zebedee.

The Burial of Jesus

In the evening of the day of crucifixion, a rich man, Joseph of Arimanthes who was also a disciple of Jesus went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate ordered it to be given to him. Joseph took the body wrapped it in clean linen and laid it in his own new tomb. He rolled over the stone at the entrance of the tomb and departed. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulcher.

Significance Of Joseph’s Action In The Burial Of Jesus

• He was a true friend (a friend in need)
• He made up for the friendship denied Jesus by his enemies.
• It would be sad to allow Jesus to be left hanging on the cross on the Sabbath day as if he were a common criminal.
• It would be worse still if it was left till the Passover night which the paschal lamb was being slain.
• He could not allow Jesus’ body to be buried in a common burial ground meant for criminals.
• As a mark of his faith in Jesus, he had to honour him by burying him in a new grave.

The Resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28:1 – 8; Mark 16:1 – 6; Luke 24:1 – 11)

Resurrection means coming back to life after death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead was to show his victory over death. The account of the resurrection appears in all the three synoptic gospels. They all stated that when the women disciples – Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of James and Salome went to the tomb to embalm the body of Jesus, they discovered that he has resurrected.

 Matthew reported that there was a great earthquake; and the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone and sat upon it. It was the angel that informed the women that Jesus had raised from the dead.

However, Luke and Mark did not report an earthquake. Mark reported that as the women were contemplating who would help them roll away the stone at the entrance of the tomb. They discovered that the stone was no more there. On entering the tomb, they were amazed. He said to them: “Do not be amazed; you seek the Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him”. (Mark 16:6)

The angel then directed them to go inform the disciples to prepare themselves and meet him in Galilee. Mark added that the women left the tomb trembling and astonished and they could not say anything to anybody. 

Luke’s account was similar to that of Mark except that he added that as the women were perplexed over what happened to the body of Jesus, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. It was these men that informed them of the resurrection of Jesus. When the women told the news to the disciples, they did not believe them.

The Significance of the Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis of Christian faith. Without his resurrection, there would be no more Christian faith. God raised Jesus from the death thereby confirming him as His son. Resurrection equally forms the basis of Christian hope of salvation. It is an assurance that as God raised Jesus from the dead, so will God raise every Christian’s hope of eternal life in the kingdom of God which is in Christ Jesus. Again, the resurrection of Jesus is the hope that the Lord we are serving is alive and this is Christian’s hope of eternal life in the kingdom of God which is in Christ Jesus. It was the resurrection of Jesus from death that helped to encourage the early apostles to preach the gospel with boldness. 

The fulfillment of all that Jesus had promised gave the disciples and early apostles much confidence and trust in him. The resurrection of Jesus is central to chirstian belief. To Christians the resurrection is an assurance of Christ’s victory over sin and death.

Christ’s resurrection day became for Christians, the day of the Lord, the day of salvation. Hence, the shift away from the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) to the Christians first day of the week, Sunday – a day of devotion to God; the most memorable day.

Appearance Of Jesus (Matthew 28:9 – 20; Luke 24:13 – 49)

After the resurrection, Jesus made several appearances to his disciples. Matthew recorded that

Jesus appeared to the women disciples. Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James while they were on their way to Galilee to inform other disciples about his resurrection. Jesus asked them to inform the disciples to meet him in Galilee.

Matthew further recorded that the chief priests and the scribes bribed the guards to falsify the resurrection story to make people believe it was the disciples that came and stole him at night. He concluded by stating that wJesus asked his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, charging them to do all that he had commanded them and that he would be with them till the close of age.

Luke recorded that Jesus appeared to the disciples. Cleopas and his friend’s on their way to Emmanus; while the disciples were still discussing about his appearance, Jesus stood among them. They were afraid and they felt it was a spirit. Jesus said to them:

“Why are you troubled and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see me; for a spirit has no flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (Luke 24:38 – 39)

While they were still expressing their surprise of joy, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat? They gave him a piece of boiled fish and he ate before them. Luke concluded by stating that he charged the disciples to preach repentance and forgiveness in the name of Jesus to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. However, the disciples should first of all wait for power (the Holy Spirit) from above.

 The Significance of the Appearance of Jesus Christ

The physical appearance of Jesus Christ helped in strengthening the confidence of the disciples.

It was during the appearance of Jesus that he told the disciples what would be their responsibilities after his departure.

It was at that period that he promised them power from high (Holy Spirit). This promise was fulfilled on the Pentecost day. When this power came, He gave the disciples the boldness to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations of the world.