The Death of Jesus

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The Death of Jesus

• Intergenerational Seminary
• Session 8

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Trusting (Luke)
Triumphant (John)
Abandoned (Matthew/ Mark)
What describes Jesus on the cross abandoned,
trusting, or triumphant?
Day
Night
When did Jesus trial before the Sanhedrin take
place?
No (John day before)
Yes (Synoptics)
Was Jesus crucified on the Passover?
No (Matthew, Mark, John)
Yes (Luke)
Did one of the thieves repent on the cross?
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Seven Last Words
John
Luke
Matthew
Mark
X
X
Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani
X
Forgive them
X
Today youll be in paradise
X
I commend my spirit
X
Behold, your son
X
I thirst
X
It is finished
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Lectionary

• Palm (Passion) Sunday
• Year A Matthew
• Year B Mark
• Year C Luke
• Good Friday
• Every year John

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Gethsemane
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Jesus in the Garden

• Mark
• Resigned (doesnt respond to Judas or to the
  cutting off of the slaves ear)
• Abandoned (young man runs away naked 1451-52)
• Matthew
• Extremely similar to Mark (came back three times
  to find the disciples sleeping, etc.)
• Emphasis on Mount of Olives (2 Samuel 1530-31)
• Rebukes the one who cut off the slaves ear

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Jesus in the Garden

• Luke
• Less dramatic than Matthew/Mark
• As was his custom
• No rebuke of disciples, who only fall asleep once
• Jesus is not sorrowful to death
• Faithful to God
• An angel comes to comfort Him
• Heals the slaves ear

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Jesus in the Garden

• John
• Doesnt ask God to take the cup from Him (1227)
• Expects Judas (goes out to meet him)
• Identifies Peter as the sword-wielder

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Jesus Before the Sanhedrin, and Peters Denial
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Sanhedrin Trial

• Mark Matthew
• Witnesses give conflicting testimony
• Jesus remains silent, until asked if He is the
  Christ
• Mark I am.
• Matthew You have said so.
• Both And you will see the Son of man seated at
  the right hand of Power, and coming with the
  clouds of heaven.
• Mark only unanimous verdict
• Matthew only
• Judas returns money to the chief priests and
  hangs himself (II Samuel 1723)

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Sanhedrin Trial

• Luke
• Trial takes place the following day
• Night reserved for Peters denials
• Jesus present with Peter (only in Luke)
• No false witnesses
• Jesus composed (at peace, innocent)
• John
• Trial before Annas, Caiaphass father-in-law
• Answers are open, defiant
• Emphasis on another disciple

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Sanhedrin Trial Summary
Mark Matthew Luke John
Time Night Night Day Night
Judges High priest Caiaphas Chief priests scribes Annas
False witnesses Yes Yes No No
Jesus answers Clear Indirect Obscure Defiant
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Roman Trial
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Roman Trial

• Mark
• Second trial before Sanhedrin? (151)
• Few details (Pilate already knows the story)
• Pilate is an empty character (not ennobled), who
  caves easily to the crowds demands
• Matthew
• Only mention of Pilates wifes dream
• His blood be on us and on our children. (2725)

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Roman Trial

• Luke
• Pilate finds no crime in Jesus, sends Him to
  Herod, who mocks him and sends Him back to Pilate
• Pilate intends to set Jesus free
• John
• Involved exchange between Jesus and Pilate
• Jesus is mocked (crown of thorns, purple robe)
  before being convicted
• Behold, the man.

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Roman Trial Summary
Mark Matthew Luke John
Other Trials 1? (Sanhedrin) 0 0 1 (Herod)
Pilates wife Absent Dream Absent Absent
Pilate Empty, weak Empty, weak Noble Complex
Mocking After sentence After sentence After sentence Before sentence
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Crucifixion, Death, and Burial
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Crucifixion, Death, and Burial

• Mark
• Three-fold structure 3-fold prayer in
  Gethsemane, Peters denials, 3rd/6th/9th hours,
  three groups mock Jesus
• OT references
• Save yourself Psalm 228-9
• World plunged into darkness Amos 89
• My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
• Only thing Jesus says in Mark (and Matthew)
• Only later do we hear of onlookers
• Joseph of Arimathea was courageous
• Pilate checks to make sure Jesus is dead

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Crucifixion, Death, and Burial

• Matthew
• Only gospel that mentions
• wine mixed with gall (Psalm 6922)
• an earthquake and the dead rising when the Temple
  veil is torn
• guards at the tomb

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Crucifixion, Death, and Burial

• Luke
• Only gospel that
• Doesnt mention mocking by the soldiers
• Did the chief priests lead Jesus to His death?
• Mentions Jews who are not Jesus followers but
  are sympathetic (daughters of Jerusalem)
• Father, forgive them, for they know not what
  they do.
• Has one thief repent (and call Him Jesus,
  otherwise only done by blind beggar of Jericho)

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Crucifixion, Death, and Burial

• John
• No Simon of Cyrene (Jesus carries His own Cross)
• Women and disciples are at the foot of the Cross
• Matthew/Mark women are far away, disciples have
  fled
• Victorious Jesus mission completed
• Only mention of Nicodemus

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Crucifixion Summary
Mark Matthew Luke John
Penitent thieves 0 0 1 0
Sayings Eli, eli, lama sabachthani Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani Forgive Thief Commend Behold I thirst Finished
Final words Abandon-ment Abandon-ment Trust Triumph
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Theories of Atonement

• Satisfaction (Anselm, 11th century)
• Predominant in conservative circles
• Christus Victor (Aulen, 20th century)
• C.S. Lewis, Chronicles of Narnia
• Moral example
• Inevitable, if not necessary

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Upcoming Schedule

• NEXT Wednesday, August 17, 7 PM
• The Resurrection of Jesus
• Wednesday, August 24, 7 PM
• Who is Jesus for Us Today?