Year 11 Christianity GCSE Last lesson The crucifixion

Year 11 Christianity GCSE Last lesson The crucifixion Today’s lesson Next lesson Resurrection and ascension Other links (subjects, KS or last year) GCSE: Practices in Judaism, death and the afterlife Resurrection and Life after death Starter / Fact / Key Words Key words: crucifixion, resurrection, ascension

26 February 2021 What do Christians believe about the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension? Lesson Launch – in your books How? Why? Where? Who? What? When? Challenge: Explain why this is a significant event in Christian history. Learning objective: to understand the meaning and significance of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

Learning Purpose • To describe why Jesus was put to death • Explain what Christians believe about the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. • Reasoning and justifying to evaluate what is the most important thing that Christians believe about Jesus.

The Resurrection of Jesus

Resurrection: 1. rising from the dead. 2. Jesus rising from the dead on Easter Sunday. An event recorded in all four gospels and the central belief of Christianity. Ascension: the event, 40 days after the resurrection, when Jesus returned to God, the Father, in heaven. Heaven: a state of eternal happiness in the presence of God; the place of eternal peace ruled over by God.

Research task The four stories of the resurrection are in: Matthew 28: 1 -10 Mark 16: 1 -18 Luke 24: 1 -12 John 20: 1 -9 Read each story using the attached the resurrection of Jesus Bible verses - and note down some of the main similarities and differences on the – resurrection of Jesus worksheet-. Challenge: Can you explain why you think there are differences between the stories?

The resurrection of Jesus Using the textbook pages 20 -21, make notes on what happened during the resurrection of Jesus. Make sure you include the following: • • When it happened • • Who was there Why it happened in that way (how the day of the week made a difference) What happened to Jesus afterd Luke 24: 13 -35 and write an account of the story as if you were Cleopas or complete a comic strip with the title: The journey to Emmaus

What happened next? For the next few days or weeks, Jesus appeared to several people, including Mary Magdalene and the disciples, telling each that he had risen from the dead as he had predicated to them when he was alive. This ensured the story spread quickly an that there were several different witnesses to the claim that he had risen.

Why is the resurrection so important? • 1 Cor 15: 13 -19 If Christ has not been raised then your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

Did Jesus rise from the dead? Draw the table below in your book and put the following information slides 30 -31 under the correct heading. Evidence for the resurrection Evidence against the resurrection Can you be a Christian and not believe in the physical resurrection?

Point #1 Jesus of Nazareth was crucified under Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem, can this be verified by other sources of history other than the Bible?

Josephus AD 38 -100 About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing amongst us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not give up their affection for him. The prophets of God had prophesied these and countless other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared. Antiquities 18: 3: 3

Cornelius Tacitus approx. AD 114 To squelch the rumor [that he had started the Great fire in Rome], Nero created scapegoats and subjected to the most refined tortures those whom the common people called ‘Christians, ’ [a group] hated for their abominable crimes. Their name comes from Christ, who, during the reign of Tiberius, had been executed by the procurator Pontius Pilate. Annals 15. 44

Talmud- Jewish text (1 st and 2 nd Century AD) On the eve of Passover they hung Yeshu Babylonian Sanhedrin 43 a-b

Point #2 From the very beginning, the church unanimously claimed that Jesus was resurrected Acts 2: 24 But God raised him from the dead… The Christian church grew tremendously after this event

A modern interpretation- Liberal Christians • • Jesus’ resurrection was a symbolic one, a restoration of his spirit of love and compassion to the world, as members of some more liberal brands of Christianity hold What Jesus’ rising from the dead means : That life is eternal, and that we are a part of that eternal life even now, in this life we are living. Jesus spoke often of such life eternal. And his disciples continued to try to proclaim this mystery, using the image of his rising from the dead in order to proclaim a truth too big for human language or understanding. Jesus spoke of eternal life. This was a complictated idea. So the disciples proclaimed that he had risen so that people could understand it better

Point #3 The tomb was empty If not….

Question: What is the most reasonable explanation of the facts? 1. Jesus’ body was taken from the tomb. 2. Jesus did not actually die (swoon theory). 3. Jesus was bodily resurrected from the dead.

The Stolen Body Theory • Who would have stolen the body? • • • The Jews? The Romans? The disciples? • Could they have stolen the body? • Did they, in fact, steal the body?

What did the Priests ask the soldiers to do? • 12’And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 and said, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep. ' 14"And if this should come to the governor's ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble. "… Matthew 28: 12 -14

The Swoon Theory • Beaten to the point of near death. • No food or water for more than two days. • Crucified and died. • Pierced with a spear. • Separated blood and “water” (plasma)

The Mass Hallucination Theory They were all deluded; the appearance of Jesus was wishful thinking • The women at the tomb. • Peter and John. • The twelve apostles, including doubting Thomas. • Many other appearances. • Over 500 witnesses. • Do hallucinations eat fish?

Arguments for: Women were the first to see the resurrected Jesus! • The women went to the wrong tomb • Women were the first to see the resurrected Jesus. Jewish custom used to never recognise women as credible or reliable witnesses. • A hoax would not have listed women to be the first witnesses

The Resurrection of the Messiah was prophesied �“A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here” (Matthew 12: 38 -41).

What other New Testament evidence is there of people being raised from the dead? John 11: 1 -53 • • Jesus is the resurrection and the life Jesus will raise those who put their faith in him. The raising of Lazarus • • Hundreds present The smell of death was strong Lazarus came out Look at the responses. There are only two rational responses to Jesus the miracle-worker. Other examples: The widows son, Jairus' 12 -year-old daughter

A CRITICAL QUESTION Would eleven men die for a lie if they knew it was a lie? Blaise Pascal: ‘They went through the test of death to determine their veracity’.

The decider for Christians • • • For many Christians the transformation of the disciples especially Peter is what convinces them When Jesus was arrested, Peter ran away in terror and three times he denied all knowledge of Jesus- from then on he was in hiding Yet, just a few weeks later; he was proclaiming to anyone who would listen that Jesus was sent by God and was risen from the dead Peter was eventually martyred in Rome Christians think that Peter would not have done this for something he knew to be a lie or as a result of a delusion Only something that actually happened could explain the transformation

The transformation of Saul who became Paul • Watch the following video and add this example to your notes

What does Paul say about the importance of the resurrection? • The Resurrection of the Dead • 12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. • 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. Summarise the points in your own words.

The ascension of Jesus Just as the resurrection Is a matter of faith and interpretation, so is the ascension. There are other explanations but if Jesus had the special power of God to rise from the dead, it is equally possible that this same power means he was able to leave the earth physically and return to heaven. Only Mark’s and Luke’s gospels finish off their story by telling their readers that, after meeting his disciples and asking them to carry on his good work, Jesus left them for the last time. What does Acts 1: 3 -11 tell us? What does the fact that this event is called the ascension tell you about where Jesus went? Explain why. Challenge: How else might Jesus’ final disappearance be explained?

Acts 1: 3 -11 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. ” • 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? ” • 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. ” • 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud him from their sight. • 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee, ” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. ”

‘The ascension is just a made up story to show Jesus was special’ For- Liberal and Progressive Christians Against- Fundamentalists

Exam Question ‘The crucifixion is more important to Christians than the resurrection. ’ Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should: • • refer to Christian teaching • give developed arguments to support a different point of view • reach a justified conclusion. Using the attached sheet use the ideas to help you to formulate your answer. Write a complete 12 mark response in your book. Don’t forget your line of argument. give developed arguments to support this statement Bible Prophecy: Isaiah 53: 7 says, "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. "

What do Christians believe about the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension ? How did Jesus die? Jesus angered the Jewish authorities with his teachings. They were alarmed when they heard people call Jesus the Messiah. Jesus was arrested and tried. He was then crucified on a cross. “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. ’ When he had said this, he breathed his last. ” (Luke 23: 46) This is why the Christian symbol is in the shape of a cross. • The impact of the crucifixion for Christians today. It gives Christians confidence that if they accept Jesus’ sacrifice, sin can no longer destroy their lives because God forgives those who faithfully ask forgiveness. They believe that suffering is a part of life, just as it was a part of Jesus’ life and that, having also experienced it, God understands what the sufferer is going through. The resurrection of Jesus After being crucified on Friday and buried in a tomb, The Gospels say that Jesus rose from the dead on what is now known as Easter Sunday. The resurrected Jesus appeared to several people, including Mary Magdalene and the disciples, telling them he had risen from the dead as he had predicted when he was alive. The ascension of Jesus 40 days after the resurrection, Jesus returned to God in heaven. This is known as the ascension. “While he [Jesus] was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. ” (Luke 24: 51) • • • The significance of the resurrection and ascension for Christians today The resurrection shows the power of good over evil Without the resurrection there would be no Christian faith. Resurrection shows the divine nature of Jesus. That he truly was the Son of God. By accepting Jesus, they can also be resurrected in some way. Therefore they have no need to fear death. The resurrection assures Christians that God will forgive their sins if they follow the teachings of Christianity. The ascension shows that Jesus is with God. It paves the way for the coming of the Holy Spirit to provide comfort and guidance.

Answer the following questions exam responses: • Give two reasons why the disciples believed Jesus was alive after his resurrection. (2 marks) • Explain how belief in the resurrection impacts the lives of Christians today. (4 marks) • Explain two contrasting beliefs about the resurrection of Jesus. (4 marks) • Explain two Christian beliefs about the significance of the ascension (5 marks)

Homework • To consolidate your learning please complete slides 28 -30 of your green Christian beliefs work book. • Due 23 rd October 2020