Jesus' Sacrifice and St. John: Catholic Teachings

• Jesus willingly sacrificed himself to save humanity.
• Jesus experienced the struggle of death.
• The crowd chose to free a murderer instead of Jesus.
• Jesus was too weak to carry his cross after being whipped.
• The charge against Jesus was that he was king of the Jews.
• Mary, his mother, witnessed his death.
• The cross has become the symbol of Christianity, representing victory instead of death.
• On the cross, Jesus showed his love for us by extending his arms.
• Jesus's death atoned for original sin and personal sins.
• Sin damaged our relationship with God, but Jesus restored it.
• God sent his Son to repair the relationship, and salvation is offered to everyone through the Holy Spirit.

Catholic VIP: St. John

• John and his brother James were fishermen.
• John was among the apostles present at the raising of Jairus's daughter, the Transfiguration, and Jesus's agony in the garden.
• Jesus entrusted Mary to John on the cross.
• John is believed to be the youngest, unmarried, and only non-martyred apostle.
• He is credited with writing the Gospel of John, three letters, and the Book of Revelation.
• St. John's feast day is December 27.

The Lamb of God

• During the Israelites' escape from Egypt, God instructed them to sacrifice a lamb, eat it, and mark their doors with its blood.
• Death passed over the houses marked with the blood.
• Jews celebrate the Passover meal, the Seder, during a feast called Pasch.
• Jesus offered himself as our lamb.
• The paschal mystery encompasses Jesus's suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension.

A Holy Week

• Some Jewish leaders opposed Jesus's teachings.
• Jesus entered Jerusalem for Passover on a donkey, hailed as king.
• Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
• At the Last Supper, Jesus declared the bread as his body and the wine as his blood for the forgiveness of sins.
• Jesus offered himself to the Father and established a New Covenant.
• The Triduum which includes Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, recalls Jesus's saving acts, leading to Easter Sunday.
• Jesus is called the Redeemer because he ransomed us from slavery to sin through his death.

The Suffering of Jesus

• After the Last Supper, Jesus and the apostles went to the Mount of Olives.
• Jesus prayed, expressing sorrow and submitting to God's will.
• Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, leading to his capture.
• Jesus was tried before Jewish leaders and Pontius Pilate, accused of claiming to be king.
• Soldiers whipped and mocked Jesus, placing a crown of thorns on his head.
• The crowd chose to free Barabbas instead of Jesus.
• Pilate ordered Jesus's crucifixion.
• Simon helped Jesus carry the cross to Mount Calvary.
• On the cross, Jesus said: "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing," "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", "I am thirsty," and "It is finished."

The Death of Jesus

• Roman soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross on Calvary, between two thieves.
• The inscription above his head read "Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews."
• Soldiers gambled for his clothes.
• Jesus hung on the cross for three hours while people mocked him.
• Mary, John, and some women watched.
• Peter denied knowing Jesus.
• Jesus entrusted Mary to John, giving her to us as our mother.
• Jesus promised paradise to one of the thieves who asked to be remembered.
• Jesus cried out, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit," and died.
• Joseph of Arimathea buried Jesus in a new tomb.

Scripture Link: The Bronze Serpent

• During the Exodus, the Israelites complained and were bitten by poisonous snakes.
• God instructed Moses to create a bronze serpent on a pole, so those bitten could look at it and live.
• Christians look to Jesus on the cross as the Lord of Life who rescued us from death.

From My Heart

• Stations of the Cross are crosses with pictures/statues that help us pray about Jesus's death.
• The prayer recited at each station is: "We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world."