Jesus Christ
The Passion
Onward to Judah and Jerusalem
by Rhawn Joseph, Ph.D.
It was time, Jesus realized, to begin the second phase of the Divine Plan. He would reveal himself to his 12 disciples. And then, at a later date, on a day of his own choosing, during Passover, he would announce himself to the world, only to be rejected, crucified, and to then rise again after three days, as had been prophecied.
"And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." -Matthew 16.
"Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ." -Matthew 16
"And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be
rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again." -Mark 8.
The fame of Jesus had continued to spead across the Middle East and to even distant lands. Multitudes of people came to be healed and to hear him speak:
"Those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, were cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them....and they glorified the God of Israel. Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting. And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was leftseven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala." -Matthew 15.
The name of Jesus was apparently coming to the attention of the Roman authorities. That he was drawing such huge crowds posed a potential danger to their rule. But as Jesus has not yet said anthing that could be construed as seditions, apparently the Roman authorities were content to let him be.
But not so the chief priests and the scribes, who Jesus well knew, were plotting to kill him. But again, as Jesus also knew, this was according to prophecy. As he explained again and again to his 12 desciples "Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again" -Mark 9.
Despite the dangers he faced, Jesus nevertheless "set his face to go to Jerusalem" during the feast of the tabernacles, and on the road that would lead to his Crucifixion.
Jesus had one more year to live, and death lurked everywhere: "Then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret...because the Jews sought to kill him." -John 7.
In the daylight, and in public, Jesus felt safe, and once in Jerusalem, Jesus began to teach and to preach in the Temple. He was purposefully drawing attention to himself and antagonizing the Jewish authorities and priests.
Standing on the precipice of announcing himself to the people, Jesus now spoke in the city of God, in the Temple of God, and with all the authority of God:
"And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people....And the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him" -John 7. But none dared lay a hand on him for fear of the people.
The next morning: "Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them."
Alarmed by his growing popularity, the priests and Pharisees again conspired to discredit him. They sought to trick Jesus into committing blasemphy, so that he might be arrested, scrouged, and stoned unto death:
"And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst. They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst." -John 8.
They were all sinners and none dared cast the first stone. Again Jesus had publically shamed the hypocrites and they slunk away, plotting revenge and his death.
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