Outline the events, which lead up to the crucifixion of Jesus.

 The next event is when Jesus goes to the Temple. (Mk 11: 15 – 19) When Jesus and his disciples arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus went to the temple and immediately started to drive people out and was overturning tables and causing havoc to the people selling in the temple. Then Jesus started teaching the people that you shouldn’t turn the temple into “a hideout for thieves!” the chief priests heard this and immediately labelled Jesus as a threat and were already plotting ways to kill him. This event is the only time we see Jesus get really mad and use physical violence. The chief priests would have felt an immediate hatred towards Jesus because of this violence and decisive teaching. Over the next couple of days Jesus was telling parables and teaching in a different perspective never seen before, the chief priests didn’t like this because Jesus’ method of teaching was very different to their teaching, Jesus’ teaching also seemed to be more popular as it was different and unique. So the Chief priests and elders would observe and try and catch him out, but every time Jesus would make the elder’s and priest look weak and feeble in their knowledge. As the Passover beckons, the chief priests and the teachers of the law are looking for a way to arrest Jesus and put him to death, but they are fearful that they must not do it during the festival as it might make a riot. Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus (Mk, 14: 10 - 11) possibly because he disagreed with Jesus’ method of preaching and his non-violent pacifist views on things, or even it might be just sheer greed of the prospect of having money. Jesus eats the Passover meal on Holy Thursday, an event that is recreated at every celebration of the Eucharist.

After this Jesus goes to Gethsemane he takes his three favourite disciples (Peter, James and John) to keep watch while he prays, while Jesus was praying Jesus experienced pain, distress and anguish and he asked God to “Take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want but what you want” Although he thinks this, he is willing and accepts the fact that he is going to die.  

Soon after this Jesus was arrested (Mk 14:1 43 – 51), Jesus was still speaking when Judas came up and kissed Jesus on the cheek, which is a sign of greeting normally but in this case betrayal. A crowd armed with swords and clubs sent by the high priests arrested Jesus and Jesus let them willing as he said, “ the scriptures must come true”. The fact that Jesus knew that he would be arrested and betrayed didn’t deter him in anyway as he knew that it had to happen and wasn’t put off with the fact that he was going to die. (Mk 14:1 53 – 65) Jesus was taken to the high priest’s house where all chief priests and elders and teachers of the law were gathering. They were all trying to find some evidence to order Jesus to his death. They were all making up lies and all their stories conflicted with one another, when Jesus said he was the Messiah they claimed blasphemy upon Jesus and voted that he should be sentenced to die. This strength shown by Jesus is contrasted with the weakness of Peter who denied him. (Mk 15:1 – 5) The chief priests and elders handed Jesus over to Pilate to be tried. Pilate is unsettled by Jesus. He doesn’t feel able to sentence him to death and washes his hands to symbolise that he did not want to be held responsible even though he agrees to the death sentence. The teachers of the laws and the chief priests didn’t like how Jesus taught and preached and showed up the laws and customs, so all these people were immediately against Jesus and were thinking desperately of some way to sentence him to death. But you have to think that what did Jesus do to deserve to be crucified? All he did was preach and make people think and give his own point of view on a harsh society with harsh rituals and harsh laws.