Passion Week. The last days of the earthly life of Christ. Orthodox Faith - Bishop Alexander Mileant Passion Week

The events of the last week of the Savior's earthly life refer to the Passion of Christ, known in the exposition of the four canonical Gospels. The list below is based on the description of the last days of Christ's earthly life in all four Gospels.

The events of the Passion of Christ are remembered throughout Holy Week, gradually preparing the faithful for the feast of Easter. A special place among the Passion of Christ is occupied by the events that took place after the Last Supper: arrest, trial, scourging and execution. The Crucifixion is the climax of the Passion of Christ.

Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem

Before the Entry into Jerusalem, Christ declared himself as the Messiah to individuals, it is time to do this publicly. It happened on the Sunday before Easter, when crowds of pilgrims flocked to Jerusalem. Jesus sends two disciples for a donkey, sits on it and enters the city. He is greeted with singing by the people, who learned about the entry of Christ, and picks up the hosanna to the son of David, which the apostles proclaimed. This great event serves as a prelude to the sufferings of Christ, endured "for the sake of man and ours for the sake of salvation."

Supper in Bethany / Washing of the feet of Jesus by a sinner

According to Mark and Matthew, in Bethany, where Jesus and his disciples were invited to the house of Simon the leper, a woman performed an anointing, which symbolized the subsequent suffering and death of Christ. Church tradition distinguishes this anointing from the anointing that was performed by Mary, the sister of the resurrected Lazarus, six days before Easter and even before the Lord entered Jerusalem. The woman who approached the Lord in order to anoint him with precious chrism was a penitent sinner.

Washing the feet of the disciples

On Thursday morning, the disciples asked Jesus where he would eat the Passover. He said that at the Jerusalem gates they would meet a servant with a jug of water, he would lead them to the house, the owner of which must be informed that Jesus and his disciples would have Passover. When they came to this house for the supper, everyone took off their shoes as usual. There were no slaves to wash the guests' feet, and Jesus did it himself. In embarrassment, the disciples were silent, only Peter allowed himself to be surprised. Jesus explained that this was a lesson in humility, and that they should also treat each other, as shown by their Master. St. Luke reports that at the supper there was a dispute between the disciples, which of them was greater. Probably, this dispute was the reason for showing the disciples a clear example of humility and mutual love by washing their feet.

Last Supper

At the supper, Christ repeated that one of the disciples would betray him. With fear, everyone asked him: “Is it not me, Lord?”. He asked to divert suspicion from himself, and Judas heard in response: "You said." Soon Judas leaves the supper. Jesus reminded the disciples that where he would soon go they could not go. Peter objected to the teacher that "he would lay down his life for him." However, Christ foretold that he would disown him before the rooster crowed. As a consolation to the disciples, saddened by his imminent departure, Christ established the Eucharist - the main sacrament of the Christian faith.

The path to the Garden of Gethsemane and the prediction of the coming renunciation of the disciples

After supper, Christ and his disciples went outside the city. Through the hollow of the Kidron stream they came to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Prayer for a cup

At the entrance to the garden, Jesus left the disciples. Taking with him only three chosen ones: James, John and Peter, he went to the Mount of Olives. After instructing them not to sleep, he retired to pray. The premonition of death overwhelmed the soul of Jesus, doubts seized him. He, succumbing to his human nature, asked God the Father to carry the Cup of Passion past, but humbly accepted His will.

Kiss of Judas and Arrest of Jesus

Late on Thursday evening, Jesus descending from the mountain wakes the apostles and tells them that the one who betrayed him is already approaching. Armed servants of the temple and Roman soldiers appear. Judas pointed out to them the place where they could find Jesus. Judas comes out of the crowd and kisses Jesus, giving the guards a signal.

They grab Jesus, and when the apostles try to prevent the guards, Malchus, the servant of the high priest, is wounded. Jesus asks to release the apostles, they run away, only Peter and John secretly follow the guards, who lead away their teacher.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin (high priests)

On the night of Good Thursday, Jesus was brought to the Sanhedrin. Christ appeared before Anna. He began to ask Christ about his teachings and his followers. Jesus refused to answer, he claimed that he always preached openly, did not spread any secret teaching and offered to listen to the witnesses of his sermons. Anna did not have the power to pass judgment and sent Christ to Caiaphas. Jesus kept silent. The Sanhedrin, gathered at Caiaphas, condemns Christ to death.

Renunciation of the Apostle Peter

Peter, who followed Jesus to the Sanhedrin, was not allowed into the house. In the hallway, he went to the hearth to warm himself. The servants, one of whom was a relative of Malchus, recognized the disciple of Christ and began to question him. Peter disowns his teacher three times before the rooster crows

Jesus before Pontius Pilate

On the morning of Good Friday, Jesus was taken to the praetorium, which was located in the former palace of Herod near the tower of Anthony. It was necessary to get confirmation of the death sentence from Pilate. Pilate was not pleased to be involved in this matter. He retires with Jesus to the praetorium and discusses with him in private. Pilate, after a conversation with the condemned, decided on the occasion of the feast to invite the people to release Jesus. However, the crowd, incited by the high priests, demanded the release not of Christ, but of Jesus Barabbas. Pilate hesitates, but in the end sentences Christ, however, he does not use the wording of the high priests. Pilate washing his hands is a sign that he does not want to interfere in what is happening.

Flagellation of Christ

Pilate ordered Jesus to be scourged (usually scourging preceded crucifixion).

Reproach and crowning with thorns

The time is the late morning of Good Friday. The scene is a palace in Jerusalem near the tower of Anthony's castle. To ridicule Jesus, the “King of the Jews,” they put on him a red sackcloth, a crown of thorns, and put a rod in his hands. In this form, he is taken out to the people. Seeing Christ in a purple robe and crown, Pilate, according to John and the weather forecasters, says: "Behold the man." In Matthew, this scene is combined with the "washing of hands."

Way of the Cross (Carrying the Cross)

Jesus is sentenced to a shameful execution by crucifixion along with two thieves. The place of execution was Golgotha, located outside the city. The time is around noon on Good Friday. The place of action is the ascent to Golgotha. The condemned had to carry the cross himself to the place of execution. Forecasters indicate that crying women and Simon of Cyrene followed Christ: since Christ was falling under the weight of the cross, the soldiers forced Simon to help him.

Ripping off Christ's clothes and playing them with dice by the soldiers

The soldiers cast lots to share Christ's garment.

Golgotha ​​- Crucifixion of Christ

According to Jewish custom, wine was offered to those condemned to death. Jesus, having taken a sip of it, refused the drink. Two thieves were crucified on both sides of Christ. Above the head of Jesus, a tablet was affixed to the cross with an inscription in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin: "King of the Jews." After a while, crucified, thirsty, he asked for a drink. One of the soldiers guarding Christ dipped it in a sponge in a mixture of water and vinegar and brought it to his lips on a cane.

Descent from the Cross

To hasten the death of the crucified (it was the eve of Easter Saturday, which should not have been overshadowed by executions), the high priests ordered to break their legs. However, Jesus was already dead. One of the soldiers (in some sources - Longinus) hits Jesus with a spear in the ribs - blood mixed with water flowed from the wound. Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Council of Elders, came to the procurator and asked him for the body of Jesus. Pilate ordered the body to be handed over to Joseph. Another worshiper of Jesus, Nicodemus, helped bring the body down from the cross.

Position in the coffin

Nicodemus, brought the scents. Together with Joseph, he prepared the body of Jesus for burial by wrapping it in a shroud of myrrh and aloes. At the same time, Galilean wives were present, who mourned Christ.

Descent into hell

In the New Testament, this is only reported by the Apostle Peter: Christ, in order to bring us to God, once suffered for our sins ... having been put to death in the flesh, but revived by the spirit, by which He and the spirits in prison, having descended, preached. (1 Peter 3:18-19).

Resurrection of Jesus Christ

On the first day after Saturday, in the morning, women with peace came to the tomb of the resurrected Jesus to anoint his body. Shortly before their appearance, an earthquake occurs, and an angel descends from heaven. He rolls away the stone from the tomb of Christ to show them that it is empty. The angel tells the wives that Christ has risen, "... the inaccessible to any look and incomprehensible has happened."

In fact, the Passion of Christ ends with His death and the ensuing mourning and burial of the body of Jesus. In itself, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the next cycle of the story of Jesus, also consisting of several episodes. However, there is still an opinion that "the descent into hell represents the limit of Christ's humiliation and at the same time the beginning of His glory."

Viewed (3396) times

I decided to write down by day events of the last week of Christ on earth. A lot of images of doves, skies and other things from year to year of the same content. I have nothing against it, but I want to congratulate you in a different way, reconstructing the events of that week.

Hands nailed to the cross. The first drop of blood touched the dusty ground. The last breath and the last word “It is done”.
Everything good that God intended for man has come to pass. And now everything is different, we just need to accept and live in harmony with it.

This week has changed history. After her, the world was no longer the same. Let's live it together:

✅MONDAY
Jesus curses the fruitless fig tree, drives the merchants out of the temple, and returns with his twelve disciples to Bethany. He knows that only 4 days are left before the crucifixion. He spoke about it to the disciples, but they do not understand Him.
Gospel of Mark 11:12-19

✅ TUESDAY
Jesus and his disciples visit the temple, answer the provocative questions of the Pharisees, teach the people in parables, and speak about the future. In fact, these are the last instructions of Christ in the temple to the people. After that, he communicates only with students. There are 3 days left before the crucifixion and Jesus thinks about it every day.
Gospel of Luke 20:1-22:2

✅WEDNESDAY
Jesus is in Bethany in the home of the leper Simon, where Mary anoints Jesus with precious oil. Judas decides to betray Jesus. Jesus understands this, but continues to serve all the disciples, including Judas. There are 2 days left before the crucifixion.
Gospel of Matthew 26:6-16

🆘THURSDAY
The disciples prepare the upper room for supper. There Jesus washes the feet of his disciples, explaining to them that He is here precisely to cleanse them.
As they begin to eat, Jesus proclaims that one of them will betray Him. Everyone wonders if he is. Then He sends Judas to do what he has in mind.
Jesus takes the Passover bread and cup and gives it to the disciples, explaining that the bread is His body, the cup of wine is His blood.

When they were eating, Jesus took the bread and, blessing, broke it, gave it to His disciples with the words: - Take and eat, this is My body. Then He took the cup, thanked God for it and, giving it to them, said: - Drink from it all. This is My blood of the covenant shed for many people for the forgiveness of sins.”
Matthew 26:26-28

This food will no longer be a reminder of God's first deliverance from Pharaoh's outward tyranny. Now it is a covenant with God and victory over the slavery of sin.

Jesus knows that He will be crucified tomorrow. And today he will be taken into custody.

Jesus prays for His friends and for those who will come to faith in Him through them. Then Jesus and His friends go to the Mount of Olives to pray.
Jesus is taken into custody and brought to Caiaphas. Judas repents of his sin and hangs himself. Peter denies before the rooster crows. Jesus predicted this to Peter, and at the moment when he renounces for the third time, he turns to the disciple and Peter sees him. Peter weeps bitterly in repentance.

From that moment Christ is all alone. He spends the whole night until the morning, knowing that tomorrow He will be crucified. Neither the high priests, nor Pilate, nobody knows this. They only make plans and guesses. Jesus already knows everything and He has been preparing for this step for a very long time.

❌FRIDAY
The chief priests give Christ to Pilate. He does not want to give Jesus to execution, but under the pressure of the crowd he changes his mind and washes his hands with the famous words: "I am innocent of the blood of this Righteous One."

Jesus is brutally beaten by Roman soldiers. A whole regiment was assembled for this beating (1/10 of the legion, containing about 600 soldiers). According to one source, “flagellation was carried out with a whip of leather strips, to which sharpened pieces of lead or other metal were attached. The convict ... was beaten on his bare back ... until it was covered with deep wounds. Some, unable to bear the torture, died.
Then Jesus is dressed in purple. Exhausted, he carries a cross to the mountain where the robbers were crucified - Golgotha. On the way, the cross is handed over to Simon of Cyrene, Scripture does not say for what reason. Perhaps Jesus was unable to bear the cross because of the loss of blood and wounds.

At Calvary, He was nailed to the cross, where He remained for six hours until His death. Even on the cross He prays for those who beat Him and betrayed Him “Father! Forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing."

Christ hangs and understands that everything has already happened. Jesus asks for a drink, the warrior gives him vinegar, Jesus touches the sponge and says, "It's done." Bowing His head, He gives up the spirit. At that moment, what He had been waiting for and longing for happened - He died for the sins of all of us.
Gospel of Matthew 27:1-61; Gospel of John 19:29-30

➖SATURDAY
All the disciples and women who came with Jesus from Galilee remained at rest in accordance with the commandment to observe the Sabbath, the day of rest. Disappointment gradually spreads in the thoughts of the disciples, they expected something completely different - the establishment of a new kingdom.
Gospel of Luke 23:56

❤️SUNDAY
Early on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and another Mary came to see the tomb. But Christ was not there. The stone was rolled away and the angel told them that there was no Christ, He had risen and was waiting for them in Galilee.
Both women ran back to the disciples and met Jesus on the way. And then for the first time He called the disciples His brothers.

And in the evening of the same day, Jesus appeared to the disciples in a house in which the doors were locked for fear of the Jews. Jesus brought new peace to His disciples along with the words: “Peace be with you”
Mission accomplished! The victory is done. Now Jesus is in power.
Matt 28; John 20:1-15; 19-23

This week changed history forever.
CHRIST IS RISEN!

The state of things in the world has changed forever. Now you can live like a conqueror over sin.

Life has conquered death. Love has conquered hate. Righteousness has overcome sin.

And now you and I can have a new life. You just need to accept what Christ did and live with Him for real, and not plastic-superficially.

I congratulate you on this undoubtedly great holiday!
Really glad we can share it!
I hope this text will help you appreciate even more the act of Christ. When I wrote this, it became even more real and deep for me.

Shortly about myself: Entrepreneur, internet marketer, commercial writer, Christian. Author of two blogs (about texts and), head of the Slovo text studio. I have been writing consciously since 2001, in newspaper journalism since 2007, and I have been earning money exclusively with texts since 2013. I love writing and sharing what helps me in training. Became a father since 2017.
You can order training or texts by mail [email protected] or by writing in a personal in a social network convenient for you.

P.S. I started my cozy channel in Telegram “Encouragement”.

See also other useful texts.

The events of the last week of the Savior's earthly life refer to the Passion of Christ, known in the exposition of the four canonical Gospels.

The events of the Passion of Christ are remembered throughout Holy Week, gradually preparing the faithful for the feast of Easter. A special place among the Passion of Christ is occupied by the events that took place after the Last Supper: arrest, trial, scourging and execution. The Crucifixion is the climax of the Passion of Christ.

Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem

Before the Entry into Jerusalem, Christ declared himself as the Messiah to individuals, it is time to do this publicly. It happened on the Sunday before Easter, when crowds of pilgrims flocked to Jerusalem. Jesus sends two disciples for a donkey, sits on it and enters the city. He is greeted with singing by the people, who learned about the entry of Christ, and picks up the hosanna to the son of David, which the apostles proclaimed. This great event serves as a prelude to the sufferings of Christ, endured "for the sake of man and ours for the sake of salvation."

Supper in Bethany / Washing of the feet of Jesus by a sinner

According to Mark and Matthew, in Bethany, where Jesus and his disciples were invited to the house of Simon the leper, a woman performed an anointing, which symbolized the subsequent suffering and death of Christ. Church tradition distinguishes this anointing from the anointing that was performed by Mary, the sister of the resurrected Lazarus, six days before Easter and even before the Lord entered Jerusalem. The woman who approached the Lord in order to anoint him with precious chrism was a penitent sinner.

Washing the feet of the disciples

On Thursday morning, the disciples asked Jesus where he would eat the Passover. He said that at the Jerusalem gates they would meet a servant with a jug of water, he would lead them to the house, the owner of which must be informed that Jesus and his disciples would have Passover. When they came to this house for the supper, everyone took off their shoes as usual. There were no slaves to wash the guests' feet, and Jesus did it himself. In embarrassment, the disciples were silent, only Peter allowed himself to be surprised. Jesus explained that this was a lesson in humility, and that they should also treat each other, as shown by their Master. St. Luke reports that at the supper there was a dispute between the disciples, which of them was greater. Probably, this dispute was the reason for showing the disciples a clear example of humility and mutual love by washing their feet.

Last Supper

At the supper, Christ repeated that one of the disciples would betray him. With fear, everyone asked him: "Is it not me, Lord?". He asked to divert suspicion from himself, and Judas heard in response: "You said". Soon Judas leaves the supper. Jesus reminded the disciples that where he would soon go they could not go. Peter objected to the teacher that "he would lay down his life for him." However, Christ foretold that he would disown him before the rooster crowed. As a consolation to the disciples, saddened by his imminent departure, Christ established the Eucharist - the main sacrament of the Christian faith.

The path to the Garden of Gethsemane and the prediction of the coming renunciation of the disciples

After supper, Christ and his disciples went outside the city. Through the hollow of the Kidron stream they came to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Prayer for a cup

At the entrance to the garden, Jesus left the disciples. Taking with him only three chosen ones: James, John and Peter, he went to the Mount of Olives. After instructing them not to sleep, he retired to pray. The premonition of death overwhelmed the soul of Jesus, doubts seized him. He, succumbing to his human nature, asked God the Father to carry the Cup of Passion past, but humbly accepted His will.

Kiss of Judas and Arrest of Jesus

Late on Thursday evening, Jesus descending from the mountain wakes the apostles and tells them that the one who betrayed him is already approaching. Armed servants of the temple and Roman soldiers appear. Judas pointed out to them the place where they could find Jesus. Judas comes out of the crowd and kisses Jesus, giving the guards a signal.

They grab Jesus, and when the apostles try to prevent the guards, Malchus, the servant of the high priest, is wounded. Jesus asks to release the apostles, they run away, only Peter and John secretly follow the guards, who lead away their teacher.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin (high priests)

On the night of Good Thursday, Jesus was brought to the Sanhedrin. Christ appeared before Anna. He began to ask Christ about his teachings and his followers. Jesus refused to answer, he claimed that he always preached openly, did not spread any secret teaching and offered to listen to the witnesses of his sermons. Anna did not have the power to pass judgment and sent Christ to Caiaphas. Jesus kept silent. The Sanhedrin, gathered at Caiaphas, condemns Christ to death.

Renunciation of the Apostle Peter

Peter, who followed Jesus to the Sanhedrin, was not allowed into the house. In the hallway, he went to the hearth to warm himself. The servants, one of whom was a relative of Malchus, recognized the disciple of Christ and began to question him. Peter disowns his teacher three times before the rooster crows.

Jesus before Pontius Pilate

On the morning of Good Friday, Jesus was taken to the praetorium, which was located in the former palace of Herod near the tower of Anthony. It was necessary to get confirmation of the death sentence from Pilate. Pilate was not pleased to be involved in this matter. He retires with Jesus to the praetorium and discusses with him in private. Pilate, after a conversation with the condemned, decided on the occasion of the feast to invite the people to release Jesus. However, the crowd, incited by the high priests, demands to release not Jesus Christ, but Barabbas. Pilate hesitates, but in the end sentences Christ, however, he does not use the wording of the high priests. Pilate washing his hands is a sign that he does not want to interfere in what is happening.

Flagellation of Christ

Pilate ordered Jesus to be scourged (usually scourging preceded crucifixion).

Reproach and crowning with thorns

The time is the late morning of Good Friday. The scene is a palace in Jerusalem near the tower of Anthony's castle. To ridicule Jesus, the “King of the Jews,” they put on him a red sackcloth, a crown of thorns, and put a rod in his hands. In this form, he is taken out to the people. Seeing Christ in a purple robe and crown, Pilate, according to John and the weather forecasters, says: "Behold the man." In Matthew, this scene is combined with the "washing of hands."

Way of the Cross (Carrying the Cross)

Jesus is sentenced to a shameful execution by crucifixion along with two thieves. The place of execution was Golgotha, located outside the city. The time is around noon on Good Friday. The place of action is the ascent to Golgotha. The condemned had to carry the cross himself to the place of execution. Forecasters indicate that crying women and Simon of Cyrene followed Christ: since Christ was falling under the weight of the cross, the soldiers forced Simon to help him.

Ripping off Christ's clothes and playing them with dice by the soldiers

The soldiers cast lots to share Christ's garment.

Golgotha ​​- Crucifixion of Christ

According to Jewish custom, wine was offered to those condemned to death. Jesus, having taken a sip of it, refused the drink. Two thieves were crucified on both sides of Christ. Above the head of Jesus, a tablet was affixed to the cross with an inscription in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin: "King of the Jews." After a while, crucified, thirsty, he asked for a drink. One of the soldiers guarding Christ dipped it in a sponge in a mixture of water and vinegar and brought it to his lips on a cane.

Descent from the Cross

To hasten the death of the crucified (it was the eve of Easter Saturday, which should not have been overshadowed by executions), the high priests ordered to break their legs. However, Jesus was already dead. One of the soldiers (in some sources - Longinus) hits Jesus with a spear in the ribs - blood mixed with water flowed from the wound. Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Council of Elders, came to the procurator and asked him for the body of Jesus. Pilate ordered the body to be handed over to Joseph. Another worshiper of Jesus, Nicodemus, helped bring the body down from the cross.

Position in the coffin

Nicodemus, brought the scents. Together with Joseph, he prepared the body of Jesus for burial by wrapping it in a shroud of myrrh and aloes. At the same time, Galilean wives were present, who mourned Christ.

Descent into hell

In the New Testament, this is only reported by the Apostle Peter: Christ, in order to bring us to God, once suffered for our sins ... having been put to death in the flesh, but revived by the spirit, by which He and the spirits in prison, having descended, preached. ().

Resurrection of Jesus Christ

On the first day after Saturday, in the morning, women with peace came to the tomb of the resurrected Jesus to anoint his body. Shortly before their appearance, an earthquake occurs, and an angel descends from heaven. He rolls away the stone from the tomb of Christ to show them that it is empty. The angel tells the wives that Christ has risen, "... the inaccessible to any look and incomprehensible has happened."

In fact, the Passion of Christ ends with His death and the ensuing mourning and burial of the body of Jesus. In itself, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the next cycle of the story of Jesus, also consisting of several episodes. However, there is still an opinion that "the descent into hell represents the limit of Christ's humiliation and at the same time the beginning of His glory."

Innokenty of Kherson

The Last Days of the Earthly Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Chapter I: Brief Review of the Earthly Life of Jesus Christ in Relation to His Last Days of Life

In the three and a half years of the nationwide ministry of Jesus Christ as the Messiah among the people of the Jews, the significant prediction of the righteous Simeon about Him, spoken at the time when He, like the imaginary son of Joseph, was still a baby, was brought, according to the law, to the temple of Jerusalem - put Him before the Lord(Luke 2:22). From day to day it became clearer that Joy of Israel lies not only on the insurrection, but also on the fall of many in Israel - in the subject of controversy, May the thoughts of many hearts be revealed(Luke 2:34-36). The Divine Descendant of David did not yet appear in the form of a formidable Householder, Who, according to His Forerunner, came to reclaim His threshing floor (the people of the Jews) in order to burn the weeds unquenchable fire(Matthew 3:12); the best people saw in Him only the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world (John 1, 29), in all His conversations one gentle breath of the spirit of grace was revealed: but for the weeds, long decayed from the heat of passions, this heavenly breath was unbearable, they themselves they rose up and flew away from the Winnower; the incurable members of the Jewish people were harmed by the most beneficial balm that the heavenly Samaritan poured on their wounds (Luke 10:29-37). Before the end of the three-year public ministry of Jesus as the Messiah, all of Judea in relation to Him was apparently divided into two sides (John 11, 48), of which one believed in Him and revered Him, and the other was at enmity against Him (John 12, 37) with such malice that she did not hesitate to take Him to the cross.

A brief overview of this, in many respects the only phenomenon in the world, will serve for us instead of introducing into the history of "The last days of our Lord's earthly life."

At first glance, it seemed impossible that the Jewish people would not recognize their Messiah. They never expected the Messiah with such impatience as in the time of Jesus Christ: they prayed for His coming in the temple and in houses; reasoned in the Sanhedrin and synagogues; They tried to find the Messiah in all the tales of the prophets, which not only really applied, but could somehow be attributed to His person. Even the Samaritans, despised by the Jews for their heresy, firmly believed that the greatest of the prophets would soon come, who would resolve all the perplexities about the subjects of faith that then divided the people of Israel. At that time, a rumor spread everywhere among the pagans themselves about the imminent onset of an emergency. the upheaval of things, when the East again takes over the West and people come out of Judea to dominate the whole world. Some, out of frivolity and impatience, and others out of flattery, thought to see the fulfillment of universal hopes regarding the coming of the Messiah, either in Herod the Great, or in various Roman Caesars. There were even such dreamers and ambitious people who, taking advantage of popular expectation, boldly dared to pass themselves off as the promised Redeemer, and although they were soon revealed in their lies, they carried away a considerable number of followers from the people.

In order to remove any danger from themselves - not to recognize and reject the true Messiah or to accept a false one, the Jewish scribes tried for this to extract from the prophetic writings all indications of His person and time of coming. On this basis, an extensive doctrine was drawn up about signs the true Messiah, that is, about His names, origin, nature, properties, actions, inclinations, etc., which was expounded in all synagogues with refinements characteristic of rabbinic learning. The common people did not participate in such studies, which were considered the property of scribes; but, since their subject was extremely entertaining and equally important for everyone, many opinions and rumors about the Messiah imperceptibly passed from schools to the people and spread so much everywhere that, in case of need, the most low-minded commoner considered himself capable of judging the face of the Messiah. With such a universal and ardent expectation of the Messiah, with such care to protect oneself from error regarding His coming, could one think that the true Messiah would not be recognized, rejected, condemned, crucified? ... (John 12, 37.) But this happened in reality deed!..

The causes of such disastrous blindness existed among the Jewish people for a long time, although the terrible action they performed was difficult to imagine in advance in its entirety. And firstly, in order to recognize the One who came from heaven, in order to raise everyone after Himself from earth to heaven, it was necessary for the Jewish people to have - at least to some extent - a sense of heaven, a thirst for the eternal, a desire for the holy and sanctifying. But in these precious qualities, the Jews, except for a small number of the elect, had an extreme lack. Worship of the true God consisted in the performance of some rituals, it did not penetrate into the hearts and did not produce beneficial effects in morals and life (Matt. 23, 23-31). For the most part, the real god of the soul and heart was not Jehovah, but womb(John 12:17-43; Luke 12:57) and gold. And the Messiah could not help demanding, immediately after His appearance, a complete change in thoughts, feelings and in the whole way of life from those who wanted to be His followers (John 3, 3). But how could they give up their beloved prejudices and passions? After all, from childhood they have been accustomed to limiting their rights to the blessing of God by their one descent according to the flesh from Abraham, by one circumcision according to the law and observation of the rest of the Sabbath. What is most unfavorable of all, the leaders of the people of God - the elders and scribes, on whom, especially and before others, lay the duty to know the Messiah who appeared and accept Him, the first belonged to the number of people incapable, due to their spiritual impurity, to enter the Kingdom of God (Matt. 23, 24) .

Secondly, despite the endless talk about the signs of the true Messiah, there was no proper unity and precise certainty in the rabbinic teaching on this important subject. The disastrous disagreement of the sects from which the Jewish church suffered was revealed - to the greatest harm - here too: when, for example, according to some, based on the clear indication of the prophet, the Messiah should have come from Bethlehem, others, following some kind of oral tradition, asserted that He will appear from nowhere.

Finally, the misconception about the kingdom of the Messiah and the purpose of His coming completed evil and made the majority of the Jewish people little able to recognize the true Messiah.

In order to see what this miserable, perverted concept consisted of and how it was formed, one must recall to oneself the teaching of the Messiah of the ancient prophets. Depicting Him as the greatest Prophet, High Priest, Angel of the Covenant, righteous, they very often - in order to bring the concept of Him closer to the understanding of the people - represented the Messiah under the guise of a king like David, who he shall raise up the fallen tabernacle of David, he shall reign in the house of Jacob forever and ever, and shall be the Lord of all nations from sea to sea, in whose kingdom everyone will forge swords on ralas and a copy on sickles(Is. 53:10; Ezek. 38:40). The reason why the prophets depicted the future dominion of the Messiah as a kingdom similar to the kingdom of David was hidden partly in the desire to make the prediction of the Messiah as clear and comforting as possible for the Jewish people, who, suffering from various disasters, remembered with regret the times of David, and nothing more. did not desire as their return. It is undeniable that, in addition to spiritual blessings, the prophets expected from the coming of the Messiah and earthly prosperity (abundance, silence, etc.), which is why the people under the dominion of the Messiah were described as powerful, numerous, victorious, intolerant of any need.

In general, the purpose of His coming was not temporal, but spiritual and eternal bliss, consisting in redemption from sins, in the purity of morals and life in peace with God, in the restoration of the primitive god-likeness and dignity of man, and so on. If at the same time the prophets also mention the earthly prosperity of the worshipers of the Messiah, then it is not the fruit of any civil upheavals, battles and victories, but a natural consequence of their spiritual and moral perfection and the faithful fulfillment of the commandments of the new higher covenant with God through the Messiah, such as really came true over the followers of the Christian religion, who, having surpassed all other peoples in moral education, decisively surpassed them finally in earthly power, so that now the fate of all other peoples apparently depends on Christians.

Finally, promising the Jewish people a special participation in the blessings of the coming of the Messiah, the prophets promised it not unconditionally, but only with unchanging fidelity to the God of the fathers, purity of morals and labors in the kingdom of the Messiah to spread it through preaching throughout the human race. Otherwise, they threatened the Jews with even greater punishment and disasters.

The Last Days of the Earthly Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ Innokenty of Kherson

Chapter XXVII: The Last Events at the Cross of Jesus

The chief priests ask Pilate to shorten the lives of the crucified for the sake of the coming Sabbath. - Breaking the legs of the crucified. - Jesus Christ's legs are not broken because of His death. - One of the warriors pierces His rib. - Outflow of blood and water. - Testimony about this John, - For what it is especially expressive. - Fulfillment in this event of two prophecies.

While some were more or less repentant, others were stubborn, the terrible day was approaching evening, which, being important already because it was the end of the first day of Easter, was made even more sacred by the fact that Saturday was intended for them, according to the Jews, the queen of holidays (John 19:31). For the numerous celebrating people, who used to walk along the walls of the city and gather on the hills surrounding it, it would be very unpleasant if the crucified and the next day remained on the crosses in the middle of Golgotha, very close to the gates of Jerusalem. In addition, the law would have been violated, which commanded that executed criminals be buried before sunset. The high priests felt this indecency and decided to shorten the life of the crucified, so that their bodies could be committed to the earth before the Sabbath. Since the execution, now completed, depended on the procurator in everything, his consent was also necessary to shorten the life of the crucified. The chief priests were not ashamed to ask Pilate again about this deed, which was more fitting for the executioners of the people than for the first servants of the God of Israel. This shame was rewarded with malicious pleasure to inflict new torments on the crucified Jesus (the high priests went to Pilate before His death) and to have His dead body in their hands. There is no doubt that they would have buried Him together with the villains in some disgusting place, and perhaps they would have completely deprived Him of burial in order to make it an object of universal contempt, because the Jews did not abhor anything so much as unburied dead.

Pilate, without any objection, agreed to the request of the high priests, which, according to Jewish and Roman customs, was completely just. New soldiers were sent to carry out the order. St. John was still at the cross of Jesus when they came to Golgotha. His story will now serve as the only source of our story.

Both criminals, crucified with Jesus, were still alive, so the soldiers immediately broke their legs. Another thing presented itself to them when they approached Jesus Christ: a complete absence of movement and breathing, closed eyes, drooping head testified that He had already died. The Roman soldiers did not dare to torture the lifeless body and kill the dead. Only one of them, probably wanting to make sure of death, hit Jesus Christ in the side with a spear. Since there was no movement and no reaction of the nerves at this blow, and since the blow itself was (probably) strong and deadly, there was no longer any doubt either for the enemies or for the friends of Jesus that He really died. The ulcer, however, immediately bled out blood and water, or a liquid similar to water, which is usually found in the human body. Such an outflow of blood and the words spoken by Jesus Christ after the Resurrection of Thomas: “Bring your hand and put it in My side” (John 20, 27) show that the wound was deep, and the outflow of water-like moisture allows us to think that Jesus Christ was pierced in the left side, in the atrium. Since a dead body, no matter how much it is wounded, never oozes blood, some of the Fathers of the Church divinely believed that blood and water flowed from the body of Jesus Christ by the direct power of God in commemoration of the sacrament of the Eucharist.

St. John, recounting this event as an eyewitness, expresses himself with particular force and stops the reader's preliminary attention with the following words: And the one who saw (John) testified, and truly is his testimony; and the news that he speaks the truth, that you have faith"(John 19, 35).

What is the purpose of this remark? What does the evangelist want to assure his readers of? Why did the piercing of the body of Jesus on the cross with a spear and the outflow of blood and water from it need to be indicated with such expressiveness?

To explain this, even in antiquity it was believed that the thought and remark of the evangelist were directed against the heretic docets, who, considering the human body to be the product of an evil inclination, argued that Jesus Christ (in their opinion, one of the aeons) took on Himself not a true human body, but only one (ethereal) ghost of him, which, although he was nailed to the cross, did not endure any suffering. Therefore, John, as an eyewitness, wanted to assure his readers, in a warning against docets, that the body of Jesus Christ, both during His life and after His death, was completely similar to the actual human body, consisting of flesh and blood. This opinion is confirmed not only by history (for the heresy of the docets appeared in the first century and existed precisely in Asia Minor, where the Gospel of John was written), but also some places in the epistles of John, which are also very noticeably directed against docetism (1 John 4, 1– 3). It could also happen, as some suggest, that at the time of the writing of the Gospel of John there were people who doubted the reality of the death of Jesus Christ: either because He did not stay long on the cross and did not suffer the breaking of the legs, or because of the prejudice borrowed from the Jews that death is not conformable with the dignity of the Messiah. To lead such people out of error, John’s story about the piercing of Jesus’ rib with a spear served as a very powerful tool, which was supposed to convince the most unbelieving that the Son of God, out of obedience to the Father, humbled Himself not only to the cross, but also to death on the cross.

But regardless of these motives and goals, St. John could not but stop his and everyone's attention on the event we are considering, just because in it, as he himself notes, two important predictions of the Old Testament about the Messiah were fulfilled. The first of them read: the bone will not break from it, other: they will look at nan, his same probodosha.

The first of these predictions, made by Moses (Ex. 12:10), referred specifically to the Passover lamb, which the Israelites were to bake whole, without crushing or breaking a single bone in it. According to St. John, the paschal lamb was in this respect a pre-ordained representation of the true Lamb of God, now slain at Golgotha, in whom also not a single bone was broken. Without delving into the nature of the Old Testament types, of which many were fulfilled over Jesus Christ during His suffering and which, around the time of the coming of Christ, were noticed by the Jewish rabbis themselves, we will only say that the non-breaking of the bones, which is completely unnecessary in the Paschal lamb, was not only very decent, but also necessary for the true Lamb of God - Jesus Christ. St. John had to dwell on this all the more because he heard John the Baptist call Him the Lamb of God, and that the death of Jesus Christ followed on the day of Passover, when the Paschal lamb was slaughtered.

The second prediction is taken from the prophetic vision of Zechariah (Zechariah 12:10), who, describing the future deliverance of the Jewish people from the disasters surrounding them, says that at that time the repentant Israelites will look with weeping at the One whom they previously hated, offended and pierced. From the prophecy of Zechariah it is not clear who exactly was or will be pierced by the unfaithful Jews, before whom they will later repent. But the whole description is such that when reading his thoughts, one involuntarily stops at Jesus Christ perforated on the cross, especially since the history of the Jewish people does not represent a person to whom the words of the prophet could at least with a small probability be attributed.

Chapter 49 JESUS' LAST WORDS This chapter is based on Joshua 23 and 24. The wars and conquests ended, and Joshua returned to his peaceful corner in Tamnaf Sarai. “Long after the Lord had given Israel rest from all their enemies from all