When Jesus was in the court room, being interrogated, Jesus did not say anything. “But Jesus remain silent and gave no answer” This tells us that he was suffering in silence. Also as said in Mark 14: 53-65, the soldier mocked Jesus. “…struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.” Later on, when he was being Crucified, Jesus could have jumped off the cross, but did not. In Mark: 15, line 23, it says that soldiers offered Jesus wine mixed with myrrh to act as a pain killer, but Jesus did not accept it. When Jesus could have retaliated violently, he did not. He himself said, “But the scriptures must come true” This tells us that Jesus knew that he would die so he suffered willingly. He overcame temptation.
When he was arrested he was alone. The court hearing was done during the night so Jesus was unable to set up a defence .The judge who was in charge of the trial, was among those looking for some reason for condemning Jesus. This means it was a biased and unfair trial which meant Jesus had little chance of winning it. When he was being crucified, none of his disciples were there.
Jesus’ suffering teaches us that he had got rid of evil. He was able to live though the suffering and potentially beat the elders and priests. The original sin made us die and separated us from God. However, Jesus’ suffering brought us back closer to God.
Jesus was very unlucky to have been sent to death. In Mark 14, it says” …and the chief and priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him” They did not want to it openly so that there would be uproar; they wanted to do it quietly. That showed that they were scared and did not know what they had to do. They saw him as a religious and political threat. Instead of complimenting them, Jesus criticised them. Instead of coming into Jerusalem with a horse, he had come in with a donkey.
Mary Magdalene was the first person to have seen Jesus from the resurrection. By resurrecting, he had proved everyone wrong and he had overcome death. He defeated sin and showed that there was eternal life.
Question 2)
Everyone in the whole world suffers in some way. It is what makes us human. But some of us suffer needlessly. We complain when we cut our hands, but we do not realise somewhere else in a poorer country, another person has lost their hands. Jesus’ suffering shows us that no matter what suffering we are feeling, there is always someone suffering more. Christians have special days to remember Jesus’ suffering. Without these days, Christians would not be aware of the significance of Jesus’ suffering.
Good Friday is a holy day celebrated on the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. During this day, special prayers are held and readings from Gospels are read. The mass is at 3 O’clock because that was the time Jesus was crucified. Easter Sunday is to remember Jesus resurrection. Christians are reminded that Mary Magdalene. The reason why Easter Eggs are connected with Easter is because Christians believe Easter Eggs symbolise new life.
Christians celebrate Lent so that we can remember Jesus’ suffering in the desert for 40 days and nights. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is the day on which they faithful have their foreheads signed with ashes in the form of a Cross (see piece on Ash Wednesday). It is also a day of fast and abstinence. During Jesus’ suffering in the desert, Jesus was able to defeat temptation from the devil.
Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter. Christians remember it as the day of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as the Eucharist. The night of Maundy Thursday is the night on which Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane. The word "Maundy" comes from the command given by Christ at the Last Supper, that we should love one another. In the Roman Catholic Church, the priest washes the feet of 12 people to commemorate Jesus’ washing the feet of his disciples.
The prayer, ‘Our Father’ is said all the time in a Christian’s life. It reminds Christians of the time when Jesus said it in the last supper before he was arrested. It teaches to forgive and ask God for forgiveness.
Christians are always reminded of Jesus’ suffering. During Mass, Christians recite the Creed which reminds them of Jesus’ suffering, ‘…Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven…’ It said so people can realize that Jesus did suffer, he did die, and that he did resurrect. The Stations of the Cross reminds people of each stage of Jesus’ suffering.
Question 3
This statement has various views. I myself do not agree with it. In nowadays society, just preaching your beliefs is not enough to share your views. People will not be interested and will not be willing to listen to you. You may not need to kill yourself, but by taking big actions, people will soon wonder why you took those actions and might soon realize what you believed in.
Many people have died for their beliefs because of how strongly they believed in it. Martin Luther King was assassinated because of that fact he felt so strongly about black people and equality between races. He was not afraid of dying because of that fact he believed in it so strongly. When terrorist bombers kill themselves, they do it because they strongly believe what they are doing is the right thing.
Probably one of the most famous people of dying for their beliefs is Jesus. He was given various opportunities to take the easy way out and save himself from suffering and torture. But he decided not to because of what he believed in. He wanted to keep the future of mankind away from sin and was willing to kill himself.
However some people believe that it is not necessary to die, just for what you believe in. They believe that you can achieve more by staying alive and devote your life to what you believe in. An example of this is Mother Teresa. She devoted her life for helping lepers, sick and poor people. She became a worldwide symbol of charity and achieved a lot in her life.
They believe that some people would die for incomprehensible reasons, and would not help the world. It would only make a situation worse. For example, a war might start. They use suicide bombers as an example. Although they are dying in what they believe in, they are harming innocent people’s lives.
Despite this, I believe if you wish to share your beliefs and want people to believe what you believe, you must be willing enough to die for your religion. People will then start to realise that you strongly believe in you beliefs and they might start believing as well.