additions in Matt. 14. 22-33).
11.) =Discourse on the Bread of Life= (John 6. 24-59).
This marked a crisis in his ministry, for it
proclaimed a spiritual application of the miracle, and
not a "kingdom of meat and drink," as men were
expecting. Note the results (John 6. 60-68). Thus at
the close of his Galilean ministry--as before at the
close of his Judean ministry--the Saviour was left
alone with his few disciples.
Blackboard Outline
PART TWO
V. =Jour. Lat. Gal. Min.= 1. To. Gal. 2. Voy. Ger. 3. To. Cen. Gal.
4. Ret. Beth.
VI. =Ev. Lat. Gal. Min.=--
_Jour. 1._ 1. Wid. So. Rai. 2. Wash. Sav. Fe.
_Jour. 2._ 3. Par. Sea. 4. Still Tem. 5. Gad. Dem. Res. 6. Jai.
Dau. Ra.
_Jour. 3._ 7. Sec. Rej. Naz. 8. Sen. Twel.
_Jour. 4._ 9. Fe. Fi. Th. 10 Wal. Sea. 11. Dis. Br. Li.
Questions for Review
PART TWO
[Review the Questions with Part One.]
How many journeys are named with the later Galilean
ministry? What was the first journey of the later
Galilean ministry? The second journey? The third? The
fourth? What two events took place with the tour in
southern Galilee? What four events with the Gadarene
voyage? What two events with the tour in Central
Galilee? What three events with the retirement to
Bethsaida?
SEVENTH STUDY
The Year of Opposition
From the Retirement to Phoenicia to the Anointing by Mary
PART ONE
I. =General Aspects of the Period.=
1. =It was a year, lacking one week.= Jesus did not attend the third
passover of his ministry. We find him at this time still in Galilee, and
soon afterward leaving Galilee for "the coasts of Tyre and Sidon" (John
7. 1-3; Mark 7. 24). Nearly a year later, on the week before the fourth
passover, we find Jesus at Bethany, where the anointing by Mary took
place (John 12. 1, 2). Between these two passovers came the year of
opposition.
2. =It was a year of wandering.= During this period we notice that Jesus
was in constant motion, staying only a little while at each place, and
in succession visiting all the five provinces of Palestine. Notice the
province referred to in each of the following references: John 7. 1;
Mark 7. 31; Mark 8. 27; Luke 9. 51, 52; Mark 10. 1; John 10. 40.
3. =It was a year of retirement.= We do not find that Jesus sought the
multitudes during this year, though in new places he was sought by them
(Luke 11. 29; 12. 1). He seems to have chosen most of the time a
secluded life, preferring to be alone with his disciples. See instances
in Mark 7. 24, 32, 33, 36; 8. 22, 23, 26; 9. 30.
4. =It was a year of instruction.= He chose to be alone with his
disciples, knowing that he was rapidly nearing the close of his life on
earth; and he wished to instruct his chosen followers in the deeper
truths of the gospel before he should be taken from them. His teaching
in this period presented the spiritual side of truth and the doctrines
of the cross. Notice how often during this year he foretold his own
death (Mark 8. 31; 9. 31, 32; 10. 32-34; John 12. 7, 8).
5. =It was a year of opposition.= Nearly all the people had now
forsaken Jesus and turned against him. Note the attitude of the
Pharisees. (Matt 12. 23, 24, 38, 39; 23. 23.) The Sadducees, who were
the office-holding class, are mainly referred to in John 11. 47, 48, 53.
The attitude of the people. (John 6. 66.) Jesus was now rejected by the
rulers, the leaders of the religious class, and by the people.
II. =The Localities of the Period.= Beside the five provinces, Judea,
Samaria, Galilee, Bashan and Peræa, two other lands or districts are
named:
1. =Phoenicia=, called in the gospels "the borders of Tyre and Sidon,"
narrow strip of territory between Mount Lebanon and the Mediterranean
Sea, northwest of Palestine.
2. =Decapolis.= The word means "ten cities," and refers to a region,
partly in Bashan and partly in Peræa, wherein were ten important cities,
not Jewish but Gentile.
In addition to the above we meet with names of eight cities:
3. =Cæsarea Philippi=, at the foot of Mount Hermon, in the province of
Bashan.
4. =Bethsaida=, on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
5. =Capernaum=, on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
6. =Bethabara=, in the Jordan Valley, east of the river, south of the
Sea of Galilee.
7. =Jericho=, in the Jordan Valley, west of the river, near the head of
the Dead Sea.
8. =Jerusalem=, the capital.
9. =Bethany=, two miles east of Jerusalem, on the eastern slope of the
Mount of Olives.
10. =Ephraim=, or Ephron, fourteen miles north of Jerusalem, among the
mountains.
III. =The Journeys and Events of the Period.= The information upon this
year is meager, and it is impossible to arrange its places and facts
with absolute certainty. No other period is so uncertain in the order of
its events as this. We trace in this period nine journeys; and with each
journey call attention to the most important events connected with it.
The first journey begins at Capernaum.
1. =A Visit to Phoenicia.= (From Capernaum to Phoenicia.) (Matt. 15.
21). This was the only land outside of Palestine visited by Jesus, and
it is uncertain how far he entered within its limits. He sought
retirement and opportunity of instructing his disciples (Mark 7. 24).
On this journey was wrought the miracle on the =Syrophenician Woman's
Daughter= (Mark 7. 25, 26), in which Jesus showed his disciples that
Gentiles may have true faith.
[Illustration: _YEAR OF OPPOSITION._]
2. =A Visit to Decapolis.= Finding seclusion impossible he went around
Galilee to Decapolis, east of the Sea of Galilee (Mark 7. 31).
Here two miracles were wrought: 1.) =Healing the Deaf Man.= Notice its
peculiarities in Mark 7. 32-37. 2.) =Feeding the Four Thousand= (Mark 8.
1-9). Notice its differences from a former miracle in the preceding
period.
3. =A Visit to Cæsarea Philippi.= (Decapolis to Dalmanutha, Bethsaida,
and Cæsarea Philippi.) Trace the route from Mark 8. 10, 22, 27.
During this journey occurred four events: 1.) =Healing the Blind Man=
(Mark 8. 22-26). This was at Bethsaida. 2.) =Peter's Confession= (Matt.
16. 13-20). 3.) =The Transfiguration= (Mark 9. 2-8). 4.) =Healing the
Demoniac Boy= (Mark 9. 14-29). These three events were at Cæsarea
Philippi.
4. =A Visit to Capernaum.= (Cæsarea Philippi to Capernaum.) (Mark 9.
33). Notice that his coming was unattended by the crowds of former times
(Mark 9. 33). This visit is noteworthy as his farewell to the city which
had been his home.
On this visit took place the touching incident of the =Child in the
Midst= (Mark 9. 36, 37).
PART TWO
5. =A Visit to Jerusalem.= (Capernaum, through Samaria, to Jerusalem.)
See Luke 9. 51, 52. His visit to the capital was for the purpose of
attending the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7. 2, 10, 14) and he seems to
have remained until the Feast of Dedication, two months later.
In connection with this visit note, 1.) =The Rejection by Samaritans=
(Luke 9. 52-56). 2.) =Mary and Martha= (Luke 10. 38-42). 3.) =The Pool
of Siloam= (John 9. 1-7). 4.) =The Good Shepherd= (John 10. 1-18).
6. =A Visit to Bethabara.= (Jerusalem to Bethabara.) From the Feast of
Dedication Jesus went down to Bethabara, evidently with the purpose of
beginning a ministry in Peræa (John 10. 39, 40).
With this journey we place =Sending out the Seventy= (Luke 10. 1). These
messengers were sent out to prepare for the visit of Jesus to a new
province.
7. =A Visit to Bethany= (John 11. 1, 7.) From Bethabara Jesus was
suddenly called to Bethany, near Jerusalem (John 11. 18).
With this visit we place the =Raising of Lazarus= (John 11. 1-46), a
miracle narrated only by John, and told because it led directly to the
conspiracy against the life of Jesus (John 11. 47, 48).
8. =A Visit to Peræa.= (From Bethany to Ephraim and Peræa.) Trace the
journey from John 11. 54, and Mark 10. 1. Jesus stayed some months in
Peræa, preaching to his people.
Many events might be given with this Peræan ministry, of which we name
only, 1.) =Blessing the Children= (Mark 10. 13-16). 2.) =The Rich Young
Ruler= (Mark 10. 17-25). 3.) =Parable of the Prodigal Son= (Luke 15.
11-32).
9. =A Second Visit to Bethany.= (From Peræa, through Jericho, to
Bethany.) Notice the journey in Mark 10. 32, 46; John 12. 1.
With this journey notice the events, 1.) =The Healing of Bartimæus=
(Mark 10. 46, 52). 2.) =The Visit to Zacchæus= (Luke 19. 1-10). 3.) =The
Anointing by Mary= (John 12. 1-8). This brings the life of Christ within
one week of the Crucifixion, and completes the period.
Blackboard Outline
I. =Gen. Asp.= 1. Year. 2. Wan. 3. Ret. 4. Ins. 5. Opp.
II. =Loc. Per.= La. Ph. Dec. Cit. C. P. B. C. B. J. J. B. E.
III. =Jour.= 1. =Vis. Phoe.= 1.) Syr. Wom. Dau.
2. =Vis. Dec.= 1.) He. De. M. 2.) Fe. Fou. Thou.
3. =Vis. Ces. Phil.= 1.) Hea. Bl. M. 2.) Pet. Con. 3.) Trans.
4.) Hea. Dem. B.
4. =Vis. Cap.= 1.) Ch. Mid.
5. =Vis. Jer.= 1.) Rej. Sam. 2.) M. and M. 3.) P. Sil.
4.) G. Sh.
6. =Vis. Beth.= 1.) Sen. 70.
7. =Vis. Beth.= 1.) Rai. Laz.
8. =Vis. Per.= 1.) Bl. Ch. 2.) R. Yo. Ru. 3.) Par. Prod. So.
9. =Sec. Vis. Beth.= 1.) Hea. Bar. 2.) Vis. Zac.
3.) Anoin. Ma.
Review Questions
With what event does the Year of Opposition begin?
With what does it end? How long was it? Where was it
passed? How did it differ from the preceding year? Why
did Jesus seek retirement at this time? What was the
feeling of the people toward Jesus? What land outside
of Palestine was visited by Jesus? What miracle was
wrought during this visit? Where was the Second
Journey of this Period? What two miracles were wrought
at this time? What was the Third Journey? Name four
events connected with this journey. What was the
Fourth Journey? The Fifth Journey? Name four events
with this journey. Where did Jesus go for the Sixth
Journey? Whom did he send out at this time, and for
what purpose? What was the place and what the purpose
of the Seventh Journey? Where was the Eighth Journey?
What took place with this journey? What was the Ninth
Journey? Name three events of this journey.
EIGHTH STUDY
The Week of the Passion
From the Triumphal Entry Until the Agony in the Garden
I. =General View of the Period.=
1. Our studies have now reached the close of the Saviour's ministry and
have brought us to his =last visit to Jerusalem=. This period presents
the last appeal of Jesus to the Jewish people and his final
conversations with his disciples before his death.
2. Strictly speaking, "the week of the passion" or suffering of Jesus
should include all the events from his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on
Sunday until his burial on Friday evening. But the events of the day of
his crucifixion were so many and so important as to make that day a
period by itself, and we therefore consider at present only =five days=,
from the Sunday morning to the Thursday night of the Jewish Passover,
the night before the Saviour's crucifixion.
3. All its events took place in or =near Jerusalem=. On each morning
Jesus went from Bethany, where he remained at night with his friends,
the household of Mary and Martha; and on each evening except the last he
returned to Bethany. The days were mostly spent in Jerusalem.
II. In the study of this period we note the following =Places=:
1. =Bethany=, a small village on the eastern slope of the Mount of
Olives. It was the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (John 11. 1). Its
distance from Jerusalem (John 11. 18). The lodging place of Jesus at
this time (Matt. 21. 17).
2. =The Temple= in Jerusalem. Here Jesus passed most of the time during
the first three days of this week in discussion with the Jews (Luke 21.
37). The part of the temple in which Jesus taught (John 8. 20; Mark 12.
41). This was the Court of the Women, called "the treasury" because of
boxes for contributions upon its walls. It was inside the larger Court
of the Gentiles, and was about two hundred and thirty feet square, open
above to the sky, but with galleries around.
3. =The Supper room.= See Mark 14. 13-17. The place is unknown; but
there is on Mount Zion a locality pointed out by tradition which may or
may not be correct. This was probably the "upper room" used as a meeting
place after the Resurrection and Ascension (John 20. 19; Acts 1. 13; 2.
1).
4. =The Mount of Olives.= This is a range of hills east of Jerusalem and
separated from the Temple by the Valley of the Kedron (John 18. 1). Its
distance from the city (Acts 1. 12). Here began the Triumphal Entry
(Luke 19. 37). From this height Jesus gave his prophecy of the
destruction of the city (Mark 13. 3, 4).
5. =The Garden of Gethsemane.= The word means "oil-press," and suggests
that it was an olive orchard on the western slope of the Mount of Olives
(Mark 14. 26, 32). A garden is still shown which may be the true
locality of the Agony.
Let the student draw a map of Jerusalem and its surroundings and locate
upon it the above places, not failing to search out the references and
associate the events with their localities.
III. We draw on our map and fix in our memory the following =Journeys=:
1. =On Sunday, the First Journey; from Bethany to the Temple and
Return.= On the first day of the week Jesus left Bethany, entered in
triumphal procession into Jerusalem, looked around on the Temple, and at
evening returned to Bethany.
2. =On Monday, the Second Journey; from Bethany to the Temple and
Return.= Early in the morning, without waiting for breakfast, Jesus left
Bethany (Mark 11. 12), and crossed the ridge of the Mount of Olives, on
the way cursing the barren fig tree. He cleansed the Temple of its
traders, and at evening returned again to Bethany (Mark 11. 19).
3. =On Tuesday, the Third Journey; from Bethany to the Temple and
Return.= This was the last day of Christ's public teaching, closing with
a terrible denunciation of the Scribes and Pharisees. Toward evening he
went out of the Temple for the last time, sat upon the Mount of Olives
with his disciples, and gave to them his prediction of the destruction
of the city (Mark 13. 1-4).
4. =On Thursday afternoon, the Fourth Journey; from Bethany to the
Supper room.= Take notice that no journey or event is named by any
evangelist as taking place on Wednesday. Probably the day was passed in
seclusion and meditation, for no conversations with disciples are
recorded. On Thursday afternoon Jesus with his disciples left Bethany
and walked over the mountain and the valley to Jerusalem (Mark 14. 16,
17), where they celebrated the passover and partook of the Last Supper
together. Afterward came the long conversations recorded in John 13 to
17.
5. =On Thursday, at about midnight, the Fifth Journey; from the Supper
room to Gethsemane.= The Saviour and his eleven disciples went from the
supper room into the silent streets of Jerusalem, through the gate, and
into the valley of Kedron. They crossed the brook and entered the Garden
of Gethsemane, where the Agony took place, and immediately after it the
Arrest (John 18. 1).
IV. We now pass in order the =Events= of these five days:
1. =The Triumphal Entry.= (Sunday.) (Mark 11. 1-10.) Compare the
accounts and note the additions made by John. (John 12. 12-16.)
2. =The Barren Fig tree.= (Monday.) (Mark 11. 12-14.) This was not a
wanton or petulant act of cursing. The tree was a vivid picture of the
Jewish state, bearing leaves but no fruit, and the miracle was wrought
as a warning of impending doom.
3. =Cleansing the Temple.= (Monday.) (Mark 11. 15-17.) Once before, in
the beginning of his ministry, Jesus had purged the Temple (John 2.
13-16). But the former abuses had crept in again, and Christ again
proclaimed his authority in his Father's house.
4. =The Last Discourses.= (Tuesday.) (Mark 11. 27; 12. 44.) On this day
Jesus met and vanquished in debate successively the rulers (Mark 11.
27-33); the Pharisees (Mark 12. 1-12; Matt. 21. 45); the Herodians (Mark
12. 13-17); the Sadducees (Mark 12. 18-27); and the scribes (Mark 12.
28-37). He closed his ministry with a rebuke to the scribes and
Pharisees (Matt. 23. 1-39); and after commending the gift of the widow
(Mark 12. 41-44) went out of the Temple, never to return (Mark 13. 1,
2.)
5. =The Prophecy of the Last Things.= (Tuesday.) In the afternoon of
that day Jesus sat with his disciples on the Mount of Olives, and
looking down upon the city gave a prophecy to his disciples, mingling
the predictions of the city's overthrow and of the end of the world
(Mark 13. 1-37). In Matthew are added two parables--the Ten Virgins
(Matt. 25. 1-13), and the Talents (Matt. 25. 14-30), and also the
description of the Last Judgment (Matt. 25. 31-46).
6. =The Retirement at Bethany.= (Wednesday.) Inasmuch as none of the
gospels mention any event of Wednesday we assume that the day was passed
in retirement.
7. =The Last Supper.= (Thursday.) On the afternoon of Thursday Jesus
went to Jerusalem with the Twelve, partook of the Passover, and at its
close instituted the Lord's Supper (Mark 14. 12-31).
8. =The Last Conversation.= (Thursday evening.) (John 14 to 18.) After
the Supper the long conversation took place recorded in full by John,
and scarcely mentioned in the other gospels.
9. =The Agony in the Garden.= (Thursday, midnight.) Late at night Jesus
crossed the brook Kedron and entered the Garden of Gethsemane, where the
Agony came upon him (Mark 14. 32-42).
Blackboard Outline
THE WEEK OF THE PASSION
I. =Gen. Vi.= 1. La. Vis. Jer. 2. Fi. Da. 3. Ne. Jer.
II. =Pla.= 1. Beth. 2. Tem. 3. Sup.-ro. 4. Mo. Oli. 5. Gar. Geth.
III. =Jour.= 1. (Sun.) Be. Tem. Re. 2. (Mon.) Be. Tem. Re. 3. (Tu.)
Be. Tem. Re. 4. (Thu.) Be. Sup.-ro. 5. (Thu.) Sup.-ro. Geth.
IV. =Events.= 1. Tri. Ent. (Sun.) 2. Bar. Fig. tr. (Mon.) 3. Cl.
Tem. (Mon.) 4. La. Dis. (Tue.) 5. Pro. La. Th. (Tue.) 6. Ret.
Beth. (Wed.) 7. La. Sup. (Thu.) 8. La. Con. (Thu.) 9. Ag.
Gar. (Thu.)
Questions for Review
Where did the events of this period take place?
Between what days did they occur? In what village did
Jesus pass most of the nights of this week? Where was
the Last Supper partaken? Where did Jesus begin his
triumphal entry into the city? What journey took place
on the Sunday of this week? On Monday? On Tuesday? On
Thursday afternoon? Name the events of Sunday. Of
Monday. Of Tuesday. Of Wednesday. Of Thursday.
NINTH STUDY
The Day of the Crucifixion
From the Betrayal to the Burial of Jesus
I. =General View of the Period.=
1. This period embraces the events of but =one day= in the life of
Jesus. It was the day following the Passover Day, and therefore the
fifteenth of the month Nisan, in the Jewish year. See Num. 28. 16.
The betrayal of Jesus took place a little after midnight, on Friday
morning, and the burial about sunset on the same day; so that the
transactions of the period include about eighteen hours.
2. It was, however, =an eventful day= in the life of Jesus. No day in
all Bible story is narrated with the fullness of this day. Nearly
one-twelfth of the matter in the four gospels is occupied with the
account of this one day. If the whole story of Christ's life were
written out with equal completeness to this one day's record it would
require more than four hundred volumes as large as the New Testament.
3. It was an =important day=; the most important in the history of the
world. Notice in the epistles how much more is said of the death of
Christ than of his life. See 1 Cor. 2. 2; Gal. 6. 14; 1 John 1. 7.
Because of its eventfulness and importance we should give it careful
study and place in order its events as a separate period in the life of
Jesus Christ.
II. =The Places.= All these are in or near Jerusalem; but none of them
can be identified with certainty. Yet it is well to know the traditional
localities and to fix them upon the map of the city. There are five
places named in the story of this day.
1. =The Garden of Gethsemane.= Here Jesus was arrested, immediately
after the agony (Mark 14. 43). See the mention of this locality in the
last study.
2. =The High Priest's House= (Mark 14. 53, 54). The high priest at that
time was Caiaphas, but his father-in-law, Annas, who had been deposed by
the Romans, was still regarded by the Jews as the legitimate priest,
and possessed great authority. There was no special "palace" of the high
priest, and Annas and Caiaphas may have lived in the same group of
buildings. The place is located by tradition on Mount Zion, near that of
the supper room.
3. =Pilate's Palace= (Mark 15. 1-16). The Roman capital of Judea was not
in Jerusalem, but at Cæsarea, where the procurator resided (Acts 23. 23,
24). But it was customary for the governor to visit Jerusalem at the
time of Passover, in order to quell any disturbance at that time, when
the city was thronged. Pilate may have made his headquarters in
Jerusalem either in the castle of Antonia, north of the temple (referred
to in Acts 21. 34, and elsewhere), or in the palace of Herod the Great
on the northwest corner of Mount Zion, the place now occupied by the
(so-called) Tower of David. The latter locality is accepted by the best
of the recent authorities. Here Jesus was brought for his trial and
sentence by Pontius Pilate.
4. =Herod's Palace.= At that time Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and
Peræa (Luke 3. 1), the slayer of John the Baptist, was present in
Jerusalem attending the Passover, and to him Jesus was sent by Pilate
(Luke 23. 7). His abiding place was probably the old Maccabean palace,
about midway between the temple and Pilate's headquarters.
5. =Calvary or Golgotha.= See Luke 23. 33 and Mark 15. 22 for the two
names, one of which is Greek, the other Hebrew, both meaning
"skull-like" or "the place of skulls." All positively known about this
place is that it was outside the wall, but near the city (John 19. 20).
Two localities are given: the traditional one, north of Zion and west of
the temple, now occupied by the Church of the Holy Sepulcher; the other,
recently coming into notice and accepted by many scholars, a hill on the
north of the city, containing a great cave known as the "Grotto of
Jeremiah." We adopt the latter place as Calvary, although the evidence
is by no means certain. The place of the cross and that of the burial
were in the same locality (John 19. 41, 42).
It would be well for the student to draw a rough diagram showing these
places in their general relation to each other, as above.
III. We notice the =Journeys of Jesus= on the day of his crucifixion.
1. =From Gethsemane to the High Priest's House.= From the Garden of
Gethsemane Jesus was taken to the high priest's house for examination
before Annas and Caiaphas (Luke 22. 54.)
2. =From the High Priest's House to Pilate's Palace.= After examination
before the high priests and the Jewish council Jesus was led to Pilate
for another trial (Luke 23. 1).
[Illustration]
3. =From Pilate's Palace to Herod's Palace and return.= Pilate sent
Jesus to Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee; but Herod was unwilling to
pass judgment upon him and sent him back (Luke 23. 7-11).
4. =From Pilate's Palace to Calvary.= At this second appearance before
Pilate Jesus was condemned to death, and was taken to Calvary, outside
the wall. Here he was crucified and after his death was buried (John 19.
16, 17, 41).
Let the student draw on the diagram a line representing each of these
journeys and recall the events associated with them.
In Jerusalem, at the present time, there is a street known as Via
Dolorosa, "the Sorrowful Way," over which Jesus is believed to have
carried his cross from Pilate's judgment hall to Calvary. But in our
view both Pilate's judgment hall and Calvary are wrongly located by
tradition, and therefore this path cannot be the true "way of the
cross."
IV. =The Events.= We may group all the transactions of this momentous
day around eleven leading events:
1. =The Betrayal= (Mark 14. 43-50). This was in the Garden of
Gethsemane, a little after midnight, and, therefore, on Friday, the 15th
of Nisan. See the more detailed account in John 18. 1-11.
2. =Jesus before Annas= (John 18. 12, 13). This was a preliminary
examination, and not official in its character.
3. =Jesus before Caiaphas= (John 18. 24). Read the account of the event
in Mark 14. 53-72. By comparing the four accounts we find that there was
first an examination before the high priest and such of the council as
could be gathered (Mark 14. 55), and then later a trial before the
entire Sanhedrin, or body of the elders (Luke 22. 66), at which Jesus
was condemned to death. Peter's denial took place in the house of the
high priest (John 18. 24, 25).