The Passion of The Christ Group Study

Week 3

1. The fruit of the flesh and the fruit of the spirit.

18: But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. 19: Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20: idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, 21: envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:18-21)

The fruit of the flesh led to the suffering of the Flesh of Christ.

22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23: gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. 24: And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25: If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Gal 5:22-25)

By God's mercy, the fruit of the Spirit will lead us to eternal life

2. From the Gospel of John:

1: Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2: And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3: Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4: rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. 5: Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. 6: He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" 7: Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand." 8: Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part in me." 9: Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" 10: Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every one of you." 11: For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "You are not all clean." 12: When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13: You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14: If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15: For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16: Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. (John 13:1-16)

Why should women not be included in this ceremony on Holy Thursday?

The washing of the feet of chosen men which, according to tradition, is performed on this day [Holy Thursday], represents the service and charity of Christ, who came 'not to be served, but to serve.' This tradition should be maintained, and its proper significance explained. (Congregation for Divine Worship, "Preparing and Celebrating the Paschal Feasts," January 16, 1988.)

3. Obedience to men (Pilate) versus obedience to God (Jesus).

25: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and rapacity. 26: You blind Pharisee! first cleanse the inside of the cup and of the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 28: So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. (Matt 23:25-28)

4. Comment on Mary as New Eve. Please refer to my previous study on Mary in Scripture

5. Recall that Pontius Pilate lacked the courage to release Jesus when he knew that Jesus had commited no crime worthy of death.

6. Why do we, as Catholics, embrace suffering? Because, if we offer our sufferings up to God, in his Divine Mercy, he allows us to experience our own passion for our fellow man. Jesus himself tells us to expect suffering in our walk with Him, and the Apostles were overjoyed to have suffered for Christ.

27: And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28: saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us." 29: But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. 30: The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31: God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32: And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." 33: When they heard this they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34: But a Pharisee in the council named Gama'li-el, a teacher of the law, held in honor by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a while. 35: And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you do with these men. 36: For before these days Theu'das arose, giving himself out to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was slain and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37: After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38: So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail; 39: but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" 40: So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41: Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42: And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. (Acts 5:27-42)

7. An obvious chose of artistic license, especially given the fact that the director, Mel Gibson, was trying to create a work of art reminiscent of great painters such as Caravagio. However, regardless of how the cross looked upon the shoulders of Christ, we must always remember His words concerning our own crosses:

37: He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38: and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39: He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matt 10:37-39)

23: But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men." 24: Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25: For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26: For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? (Matt 16:23-26)

Disclaimer: I do not wish to present myself as an expert in either theology, history, or scriptural interpretation. I am merely someone who is attempting to answer the call of Christ. The ultimate authority and interpreter of scripture is our Holy Catholic Church. If at any point I deviate from the teachings of the Church, please correct me, alfredo@nevarez.net, as this is my shortcoming and in no way meant to be an expression of my views superceding those of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

San Jose Bible Study
Alfredo Nevarez
512-916-4755 (Evening)
512-602-0388 (Daytime)
alfredo@nevarez.net
http://www.nevarez.net/alf/catholic/bible_study/