(v) Jesus said in the book of Luke, that anyone who puts hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the
kingdom of God. This highlights the need for unwavering focus and dedication to the mission without
looking back or regretting the decision.
(vi) Jesus reiterates the concept of bearing one's cross, symbolizing the willingness to endure suffering and
persecution for His sake.
5b. Outline three characteristics expected of a potential disciple.
(i) Willingness to surrender: A disciple must be willing to surrender their life, possessions, and desires to
follow Jesus.
(ii) Commitment to follow: A disciple must be committed to following Jesus, even when the journey is
difficult or uncertain.
(iii) Self-denial: A disciple must be willing to deny themselves and take up their cross, embracing the
challenges and hardships of discipleship.
(iv) Humility: A disciple must be humble, recognizing their need for Jesus and their dependence on Him.
(v) Faithfulness: A disciple must be faithful, persevering in their commitment to Jesus and His teachings,
even in the face of obstacles and opposition.
6a. Describe how Jesus was pronounced guilty before Caiaphas, the High Priest.
Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane by the temple guards and elders. He was brought first to
Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, and then to Caiaphas, the current High Priest.
During the hearing before Caiaphas and the assembled council (Sanhedrin), many false witnesses were
brought forward to testify against Jesus. However, their testimonies were inconsistent and did not provide
a solid basis for a charge. Finally, two witnesses came forward with a consistent testimony, claiming that
Jesus had said, "I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days". This statement was
interpreted as a threat against the temple, a serious offense in Jewish law.
Caiaphas then directly questioned Jesus, asking if He was the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus affirmed this,
stating, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand
of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven". Caia phas reacted dramatically to Jesus' affirmation,
tearing his robes and declaring, "He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have
now heard his blasphemy". This act of tearing his robes was a traditional sign of outrage and mourning,
signifying the severity of the accusation.
Following Caiaphas' declaration, the members of the Sanhedrin agreed that Jesus was guilty and
deserving of death. They pronounced Him guilty of blasphemy, which, according to Jewish law, was
punishable by death. After the verdict, Jesus was subjected to mocking, spitting, and physical abuse by
those present. They blindfolded Him, struck Him, and demanded that He prophesy who had hit Him,
further humiliating Him.
6b. State two lessons that can be drawn from Jesus' trial.
(i) Injustice and corruption can lead to false accusations and wrongful convictions
(ii) Standing up for one's beliefs and values can lead to persecution and suffering
(iii) Despite the false testimonies against Him, Jesus remained truthful, demonstrating the power and
importance of truth in the face of lies.
(iv) God's plan and purpose can be fulfilled even through unjust and painful circumstances
(v) The actions of Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin highlight how human judgment can be flawed and
influenced by fear, jealousy, and the desire to maintain power.
7a. Give an account of the events that led to the appointment of the seven deacons.
In the early days of the church in Jerusalem, there was a bit of a problem. Some people felt that the
Greek-speaking widows were not getting their fair share of food compared to the Hebrew-speaking widows.
This caused some arguments and complaints among the people.
The apostles, who were the leaders of the church, knew they had to fix this problem to keep everyone
happy. So, they came up with a plan. They decided to choose seven good, wise men to take care of making
sure everyone got their food fairly. This way, the apostles could focus on praying and teaching the Word of
God.
The people agreed with the apostles' plan, so they chose seven men: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor,
Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas. These men were known for being honest and filled with the Holy Spirit.
The apostles prayed for them and put their hands on them to show that they were now in ch arge of this
important task. From then on, these seven men made sure that everyone, whether Greek -speaking or
Hebrew-speaking, got their food fairly and no one felt left out.
This helped to keep everyone happy and united in the early church, showing how im portant it is to take
care of each other and solve problems together.