BUBENDORFF MEMORIAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ADAZI- NNUKWU
SUBJECT: CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES
TERM: THIRD
CLASS: JSS2
WEEK: 2
THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM (Matthew 21: 1-11,
Mark 11:1-11, Luke.19:28-40)
When Jesus had finished his ministry on earth, he decided to go to Jerusalem from
Galilee. Jerusalem was the capital city of southern kingdom known as Judah. The
intention of Jesus was to carry the gospel of good news to the Jews living in the
capital city. Another reason for Jesus entry into Jerusalem was to fulfil his divine
mission to die for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus made good preparation for
his entry into Jerusalem. The historic entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is known as
triumphant entry.
When Jesus and his apostles got to Beth phage, he sent two of his disciples to a
neighbouring village near Jerusalem known as Bethany. He told them that on
entering the village, they would see an ass tied which had not been driven by
anyone, he told them to bring it to him (Mk. 11:2). He then told them if
confronted, they should tell their challengers that the Lord wanted to make use of
it. Jesus said “The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately”.
When the disciples got to the village (Bethany), they saw the ass (colt) tied as
Jesus told them and brought it to Jesus. When they brought the colt to Jesus, they
saddled it. They and others who had come to listen to the teachings of Jesus put
their clothes on the ass to give Jesus comfortable ride into Jerusalem.
Matthew recorded that Jesus rode on ass to fulfil the prophecy of Zechariah, “Tell
the daughter of Zion, behold your king is coming to you humble, and mounted on
an ass and on a colt, the foal of an ass”. Jesus with a large entourage entered into
Jerusalem. People spread their clothes on the road while some cut leafy branches
and put them on the road shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the
name of the Lord. Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming,
Hosanna in the highest”. They acknowledged Jesus as a descendant of David.
Some of the Pharisees who were in the crowd were not happy and asked Jesus to
caution the people who were praising him. They said to Jesus, “Rebuke them”.
Jesus told them that if people stops, stones would praise him showing that what
was happening had been planned by God. Jesus replied and said, “I tell you, if
these were silent, the very stones would cry out”.
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BUBENDORFF MEMORIAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ADAZI- NNUKWU
SIGNIFICANCE/ MORAL LESSONS
1. Christians everywhere celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem as Palm Sunday with palm fronds.
2. Entry into Jerusalem is known as a Triumphant entry.
3. Colt is an animal used as a symbol of peace. Jesus rode on it to Jerusalem
to show the nature of his messiahship.
4. Hosanna literary means, save now or help.
5. They spread their garments and branches as signs of honour.
6. Jesus came as a peaceful messiah.
THE LAST SUPPER (Matthew 26: 17-30)
Jesus had his last supper with his disciples after his triumphant entry into
Jerusalem. He used the last supper to celebrate the feast of Passover. Passover
was a popular Jewish festival during the time of Jesus on earth. It was celebrated
by the Jews to remember the day God set them free from Egyptian oppression.
The food items used for Passover include: unleavened bread (bread without
yeast), a year old lamb without spot or blemish, bitter herb and wine.
On the first day of the Passover, the disciples approached Jesus and asked him
where he would like them to prepare for the Passover. He told them to go into the
city and they would meet a man. They would now tell the man saying “The
teacher says, my time is at hand, I will keep the Passover at your house with my
disciples. The disciples left and met the man as Jesus directed. They prepared the
Passover or the last supper.
At the evening time, Jesus sat on the table with the twelve disciples. As they were
eating, he told them that one of them would betray him. When they heard this,
they started asking him who would betray him. He however told them that the
person who would do the betrayal would suffer. Jesus said, “It would have been
better if he had not been born”. At this juncture, Judas who betrayed him said, “Is
it I, master?” Jesus replied him and said “you have said so.”
As they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it, l then broke it and gave it to
his disciples and said, “Take, eat, this is my body.” He equally took a cup and
gave thanks. After, he gave it to the disciples saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for
this is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out for the forgiveness of
sins.” He said, he would not drink the fruit of the vine until the day he would
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BUBENDORFF MEMORIAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ADAZI- NNUKWU
drink it with them in his father’s kingdom. After they sang a hymn and went out
to the Mount of Olives.
At the last supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. When he came to wash
Peter’s feet, he refused and Jesus said to them, “If I did not wash your feet, you
will not follow me.” Then Peter said to Jesus, you have to wash my whole body
and Jesus said to him, “He who has taken bath, need not another.” Later, Jesus
made them to understand that they must be humble and if the master had washed
their feet, then they should do the same to others. After, they sang a hymn and
went to Mount of Olives.
SIGNIFICANCE AND MORAL LESSONS
1. The last supper represents Christian Passover through which Jesus Christ
set us free from bondage of sin.
2. The last supper is celebrated as Holy Communion by Christians today.
3. We should be in state of grace while receiving Holy Communion to avoid
death.
4. Washing of feet represent love and humility.
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BUBENDORFF MEMORIAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ADAZI- NNUKWU
WEEK THREE AND FOUR:
THE BETRAYAL AND ARREST (Mark 14: 43-52, Matthew 47-56)
The betrayal and arrest of Jesus took place in Gethsemane. After the last supper,
Jesus took his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to his disciples,
“Sit there while I pray.” He took his three close disciples namely Peter, James
and John apart and told them that he was in sorrow. He said to them, “My soul is
very sorrowful even to death, remain here and watch.” After this, he went a little
further and fell on the ground, praying. He requested God to remove the “Cup”
from him. He however requested that the will of God should be done and not his.
When He came, he found the disciples sleeping and asked Peter why were they
sleeping. He told them to watch so that they would not enter into temptation. Jesus
further said, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
When he came back, he found them sleeping and he came the third time and met
them sleeping and he asked them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It
is enough the hour has come, the son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Rise, let us be going, see my betrayal is at hand.”
When Jesus was still speaking, Judas came in company of the crowd with swords
and club from the chief priests, the scribes and the elders. Judas had given a sign
saying, “The one I shall kiss is the man, seize him and lead under guard.”
When Judas approached Jesus, he said, “Master, and kissed him.” The crowd laid
hands on him and seized him. Peter struck Marcus, the slave of the high priest
with a sword and cut off his ear. But Jesus rebuked Peter saying, “Put back your
sword…” and Jesus put back Marcus ear. Jesus asked them why they did not
arrest him in the temple. He however said that their actions was in fulfilling of
the scriptures. Immediately Jesus was arrested, the disciples deserted him and ran
away. Then Jesus was led to the high priest where all chiefs, the elders and scribes
had gathered for the trial.
THE TRIAL AND PETER’S DENIAL OF JESUS (Matthew 20:57-68,
Matthew 26: 56-68)
When Jesus was arrested, He was taken to Caiphas who was the high priest where
he was tried. Peter followed but kept a distance. Peter went to the courtyard of
the high priest and sat with the guards waiting to see what would happen. They
laid so many false accusations on Jesus. They said that Jesus said that he would
destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. Jesus did not answer the charges
because they were false. The high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living
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BUBENDORFF MEMORIAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ADAZI- NNUKWU
God, tell us if you are the Christ, the son of the living God.” Jesus replied to the
high priest and told him that he had said so. Jesus further said, “Hereafter, you
will see the son of man seated at the right hand of power, and coming on the
clouds of heaven.” Immediately, the high priest heard this, he became furious. He
tore his robes and accused Jesus of blasphemy. They now humiliated Jesus by
spitting to his face. They covered his face. Some slapped him and gave him all
sorts of humiliating treatment. At a distance, where Peter was watching, a maid
saw him and recognized him as one of the disciples of Jesus. She said to him,
“You also were with Jesus the Galilean”, Peter denied and said that he did not
know Jesus. After, another maid saw him and said to the bystanders that Peter
was with Jesus, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth”, Peter denied Jesus again
and said, “I do not know the man.”
Again, the bystanders recognized Peter and said to him, “Certainly, you are also
one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Peter denied Jesus for the third time,
immediately, the cock crowed, Peter remembered the word of Jesus and wept
bitterly.
MORAL LESSONS
1. Christians should not imitate Judas who betrayed Jesus.
2. With prayer, Jesus accepted the will of his father, therefore we should
emulate him.
3. Lack of prayer made Peter to fall therefore Christians should pray all the
time.
It is very bad to deny people or betray
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