The Resurrection of the Messiah A Narrative Commentary on the Resurrection Accounts in the Four Gospels Francis J. Moloney, SDB PAULIST PRESS New York / Mahwah, NJ The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the author’s own translation and the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Cover image by fotogiunta/Shutterstock.com Cover and book design by Sharyn Banks Copyright © 2013 by Francis J. Moloney All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the Publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Moloney, Francis J. The resurrection of the Messiah : a narrative commentary on the Resurrection accounts in the four gospels / Francis J. Moloney, SDB. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8091-4847-9 (alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-58768-296-4 1. Jesus Christ—Resurrection. 2. Passion narratives (Gospels) 3. Bible. Gospels— Commentaries. 4. Bible. Gospels—Criticism, Narrative. I. Title. BT482.M65 2013 226`.06—dc23 2013024105 ISBN: 978-0-8091-4847-9 (paperback) ISBN: 978-1-58768-296-4 (e-book) Published by Paulist Press 997 Macarthur Boulevard Mahwah, New Jersey 07430 www.paulistpress.com Printed and bound in the United States of America Table of Contents Preface ......................................................................................................................ix Abbreviations ........................................................................................................xv CHAPTER ONE: THE RESURRECTION OF THE MESSIAH ACCORDING TO MARK (16:1–8)........................................................................1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................1 Mark’s Passion Story ............................................................................................2 Mark’s Resurrection Story....................................................................................4 The Setting: An Empty Tomb (vv. 1–4) ..............................................................7 The Easter Proclamation (vv. 5–7)......................................................................9 The Failure of the Women (v. 8) ......................................................................13 Explanation of the Enigma of Failure ......................................................................16 An Appendix: Mark 16:9–20 ............................................................................18 The Purpose of Mark 16:9–20 ..........................................................................20 The Message of Mark 16:9–20 ..........................................................................22 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................25 Notes ....................................................................................................................26 CHAPTER TWO: THE RESURRECTION OF THE MESSIAH ACCORDING TO MATTHEW (27:62—28:20) ........................................33 Introduction ........................................................................................................33 Matthew’s Passion Story ....................................................................................36 Matthew’s Resurrection Story ..........................................................................42 Setting of the Guard (27:62–66) ......................................................................43 iii iv CONTENTS The Resurrection of Jesus (28:1–10) ................................................................44 The Guards Report to the Jewish Authorities (28:11–15) ................................48 The Risen Jesus Commissions the Eleven Disciples (28:16–20) ......................49 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................57 Notes ....................................................................................................................59 CHAPTER THREE: THE RESURRECTION OF THE MESSIAH ACCORDING TO LUKE (24:1–53) ..............................................................69 Introduction ........................................................................................................69 Luke’s Passion Story............................................................................................70 Luke’s Resurrection Story ................................................................................76 The Empty Tomb (vv. 1–12) ............................................................................79 The Journey to Emmaus and the Return to Jerusalem (vv. 13–35) ..................81 The Risen Jesus Instructs and Commissions His Disciples (vv. 36–49)............86 The Ascension of Jesus (vv. 50–53) ..........................................................................89 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................89 Notes ....................................................................................................................90 CHAPTER FOUR: THE RESURRECTION OF THE MESSIAH ACCORDING TO JOHN (20:1–31; 21:1–25) ..........................................101 Introduction ......................................................................................................101 John’s Passion Story..........................................................................................102 John’s Original Resurrection Story (20:1–31) ..............................................106 The Beloved Disciple (vv. 2–10) ....................................................................109 Mary Magdalene (vv. 1–2, 11–18) ..................................................................110 Disciples behind Closed Doors (vv. 19–23)....................................................111 Thomas (vv. 24–29) ........................................................................................113 Disciples Who See (vv. 1–29) ........................................................................114 Disciples Who Do Not See Jesus Yet Believe (vv. 29–31)................................115 John’s Additional Resurrection Story (21:1–25) ..........................................117 Jesus’ Appearance to the Disciples on a Galilean Fishing Trip (vv. 1–14) ......118 Peter, the Shepherd, and the Beloved Disciple, the Witness (vv. 15–25) ........121 Conclusion ........................................................................................................126 Notes ..................................................................................................................128 CONTENTS v CHAPTER FIVE: THE RESURRECTION OF THE MESSIAH: HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS........................137 The Resurrection of the Messiah: What Happened? ..................................138 The Resurrection of the Messiah: What Does It Mean? ............................148 What God Did for Jesus ................................................................................149 What the Risen Jesus Did for His Followers ..................................................159 Conclusion ........................................................................................................167 Notes ..................................................................................................................169 Bibliography ........................................................................................................183 Index of Names....................................................................................................199 In Memory of Raymond E. Brown, SS (1928–1998) Preface Raymond E. Brown, SS (1928–98), made a singularly outstanding con- tribution to New Testament scholarship, and especially to the study of the four Gospels, across a rich career. His life as a New Testament scholar and a teacher, initially at St. Mary’s University and Seminary in Baltimore, and subsequently at Union Theological Seminary in New York, built a bridge from the pre-critical era into the world of contem- porary biblical scholarship within and beyond the Catholic Church. His influence cannot be overestimated as his numerous publications ranged from the deeply scholarly to clear and crisp popular studies for the gen- eral reader. Not without his critics, he courageously lived his life as a scholar and a Roman Catholic priest and religious as a wonderful testi- mony to the richness of a life built on the Word of God. His work and the memory of his person remain a precious heritage for biblical schol- ars of all denominations in the United States and beyond. The title of this volume is unashamedly modeled on two of his most famous scholarly publications, both the fruit of his mature years, almost without parallel in their depth and clarity. I refer to The Birth of the Messiah: A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives in Matthew and Luke (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1977) and The Death of the Messiah: From Gethsemane to the Grave: A Commentary on the Passion Narratives of the Four Gospels, 2 vols., ABRL (New York: Doubleday,