Introduction to the NT, Week 6, Page 1 of 4. Record on 10/07; Post on 10/10 Lecture 1. Passion Narrative, Jesus & the Jewish Leaders

Introductory Remarks: Liturgical Cycle Palm Sunday: Year A, Matthew; Year B, Mark, Year C, Luke Good Friday: Gospel of John, every year

18:1-11, Arrest (Synopsis § 331) 18:1 Arrival in Gethsemane Agony in the Garden? 18:3 Arresting Party: cohort! ONLY evangelist to mention Romans In Mark, Luke, & Matthew: Temple Police

High Christology Synoptics: Jesus is prostrate (Mark 14:32-36) John: Arresting party is prostrate (John 18:4-6)

“I AM” as the divine name Isa 51:12 (the LORD is speaking--see also 43:25; 45:19) Egō eimi egō eimi the one who consoles you. It is I, it is I who console you. I am, I am the one who consoles you. Punctuate differently: I am “I-am” who comforts you. [Not recorded. Now we see one of the weaknesses of the Strong’s Number system. It will not allow you to find information like this from the Greek OT. However, if one has about 1 semester of Greek, good software programs such as BibleWorks & Logos will enable this information to be found.]

Flight of Disciples? Mark: 14:51. Not in John! John 18:8-9; Jesus "saves" disciples Jesus is in full control ("glorious crucifix")

Ear of High Priest’s Servant 18:10, Peter does the whacking (At end of scene, servant still bleeding!) Mark—anonymous bystander Matthew & Luke—one of Jesus’ men Only in Luke is servant healed

18:11, More High Christology contrast “cup” saying with the Synoptics! “Father, let this cup pass away! . . .” Johannine Jesus: “Shall I not drink the cup?” (Greek syntax expects answer of “Yes I will!”)

18:12-14, How Many Trials Did Jesus Have? Mark & Matthew – 2 Trials: A Jewish trial at night, A Roman trial the next day Luke & John – 1 Trial. No Jewish Trial, Only a Roman Trial Jews: only an informal inquest. No Jewish Verdict of Condemnation Introduction to the NT, Week 6, Page 2 of 4. Record on 10/07; Post on 10/10

18:15-17, Peter’s First Denial Part of "sandwich.” Denial “frames” faithful testimony of Jesus All Gospels have 3 denials by Peter Details differ concerning questioners, etc.

18:19-24, The High Priest Questions Jesus 18:22-23, Jesus response to being slapped Contrast with Paul, Acts 23:1-5

Lecture 2. Passion Narrative, Jesus & Pilate

18:19-24 (§336), Trial before Pilate In Synoptics, Jesus is Silent (Mark 15:5) In John, Jesus is Eloquent Confounds Pilate (18:28-38) Pilate is put on trial (19:8-11)

18:28-38a (§334), Jesus before Pilate 18:28 Directly to Pilate! 18:28 They have not yet eaten the Passover so the last supper was not a passover meal in John (In John, Jesus is going to be killed at the same time as the Passover lambs) Jesus is the true Passover lamb. 18:32 Refers to Jesus' prophecy: LIFTING UP 18:33-38 Pilate on trial How likely is this dialogue historically? What language would it have been conducted in? Would there have been an interpreter? 18:38a, Pilate declares Jesus innocent (first time)

19:1-16 (§340), Jesus Sentenced to Die 19:1, Scourging, precedes condemnation! 19:2-3, mockery of the soldiers Johannine irony 19:4, Pilate declares Jesus innocent a second time 19:6, Pilate declares Jesus innocent a third time 19:7, "son of God" In the 30’s this would have been synonymous with “king of Israel” For John’s community in the 90’s it means: the pre-existent Word, come into the world 19:8, Pilate's fear 19:9, "where are you from" 19:13 Pilate “sat down?” or “seated him?” Who is in the judge’s seat, Pilate or Jesus? . . . he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat (KJV) . . . he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat (RSV) . . . he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge's bench (NAB) Introduction to the NT, Week 6, Page 3 of 4. Record on 10/07; Post on 10/10 . . . Pilate had Jesus brought out, and seated him on the chair of judgement (NJB) 19:14, Paschal Lamb "Behold your king"

Lecture 3. Passion Narrative: Way of the Cross, Crucifixion, Death

19:17-27 (§343), Way of the Cross, Crucifixion No Simon of Cyrene 19:17, Jesus bears his own cross Cf. 10:18, Jesus lays down his own life. John translates the "Hebrew” (Golgotha is actually Aramaic) Many of his readers were Gentiles

19:18-22 (§344), Sign over the Cross All evangelists report I.N.R.I. (cf. Mark 14:26) Only John sees dramatic possibilities: Jesus is proclaimed king in all languages! Note: I.N.R.I is the abbreviation for the Latin words. Ancient Latin had no “J”, so “I” had to do double duty. Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, Jesus Nazarene King of-the-Jews.

19:23-24, The Garments of Jesus The synoptics allude to Ps 22:18 John quotes it Note: theology, not pathos! How much “ink” for scourging? (19:1). Count number of Words! (9, in Greek) How much “ink” for garments? (19:23-24). Count number of words! (69, in Greek) Fulfillment of Scripture Give a new meaning to an old text The “new meaning” comes from the Christian experience of Jesus Christ

19:25-27 (§344), Witnesses Mark: Women watch from afar (15:40-41); Male Disciples had fled (14:50) Luke: 23:49, disciples "rehabilitated.” Men at back of crowd, with women John: Cross is beginning of Church. Community present at foot of cross!

19:28-30 (§347), Death of Jesus Death = handing over Spirit to the Church (19:28-30) para-didomi = “hand over” Contrast Mark 15:34 (and Matthew) Contrast Luke: handing over spirit to his Father, para-tithēmi = “hand over” [See also John 20:24 for another Johannine tradition of gift of Spirit] Hyssop (19:29) Jesus as Paschal Lamb, cf. Exod 12:12 Not recorded: “It is finished.” John high Christology portrays Jesus as in complete control, even of his death. He chooses the moment when he will die.

19:31-37 ( §349), Piercing of Side 19:31 "preparation day” (i.e. for Passover!) Introduction to the NT, Week 6, Page 4 of 4. Record on 10/07; Post on 10/10 at Last Supper they did not eat paschal lamb. For John, Jesus is paschal lamb! localizes sign on person of Jesus contrast Matt 27:45-56 (§350) darkness, curtain torn tombs open, centurion water = spirit

No Broken Bone (Passover Lamb, Exod 12:10)

Crown of Thorns Only John has Jesus still wearing crown he leaves Pilate In Mark (15:17-20) & Matthew, it is not clear if Jesus is still wearing it. Luke deliberately omits this story (Synopsis § 342). Jesus is clearly wearing it when Pilate says “Behold the man” (19:5) and when he says, “Behold your King,” “Shall I crucify your king” (19:14-15). Part of the theme of Jesus reigns as king from the Cross.

Lecture 4. Passion Narrative: Burial, Summary Jesus as Pascal Lamb sentenced at noon (19:14, §340) hour of slaughter of lambs contrast Mark 15:25, 33 [The Marcan Jesus is crucified at 9:00 a.m., 6 hours on cross.] hyssop, 19:29 (Exod 12:12) no bone broken, 19:36 (cf. Exod 12:10) recall JB, John 1:29: “Behold the Lamb of God . . .”

19:38-41, Burial of Jesus 19:38, Joseph is a disciple! Synoptics: Hasty burial, no preparation Mark 15:42-16:1 John: Royal burial! Jesus as King mockery of soldiers (ironically true!) Pilate's question, "Shall I crucify your king?” INRI (ironically true!) Crucified wearing crown of thorns Nicodemus. Jesus has prophesied, “When I am lifted up I will draw all people to myself” (12:32). Now that he has died, this prophecy begins to be fulfilled.

Summary, Jesus is: Pascal Lamb King who Reigns from the Cross (Pre-existent) Son of God who returns to the Father after Victory!