The Real Jesus of the Four Gospels Part 4

In Mark the two disciples are sent into the city to meet a man "bearing a pitcher of water." They are to follow him into whatsoever house he shall go in, and there secure the guest chamber. This was done, "and they made ready the Pa.s.sover" (Mark XIV:12-16).

While they are eating, Jesus tells them that one of them shall betray Him--"one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish," but does not specify which one it is. The other incidents of the evening follow (Mark XIV:17-42) as in Matthew.

Luke recounts the pa.s.sing of the bread and wine, and the saying of Jesus that one of the twelve should betray Him, without specifying which one (Luke XXII:22).

He then relates a new incident (that is, at this feast), a strife among the apostles as to which should be greatest. Jesus rebukes them, telling them not to imitate the Gentiles, but that he that is chief should be as he that serveth (Luke XXII: 24-30).[37]

The prediction of Peter thrice denying his master takes a little different form. Instead of saying to the apostles, "All ye shall be offended because of me this night," Jesus addresses Himself to Peter alone. Evidently, having some doubt of his constancy, He says: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." Peter then a.s.serts, "Lord, I am ready to go with Thee, both into prison and to death." Jesus then predicts that Peter will deny Him thrice before the c.o.c.k crows (Luke XXII:31-34).

There follows a pa.s.sage very difficult to understand, in view of the fact that a short time later Jesus rebukes one of His followers for cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant. He reminds His apostles of the time when He sent them forth without purse or scrip, and they lacked for nothing. He then tells them that now they should take both purse and scrip, "and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one." "And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords.

And He said unto them, It is enough" (Luke XXII:35-38).

The visit to the Mount of Olives and the prayer offered there is described more briefly than in Matthew or Mark. There is no mention of the garden of Gethsemane, but Luke adds that an angel from heaven appeared, "strengthening Him" (Luke XXII:39-46).

John's version of the Last Supper is quite different from that of the other three evangelists. He omits any description of the selection of the place for the feast. He places the supper before the Pa.s.sover, apparently correctly, instead of its being the celebration of the Pa.s.sover, as in the other three Gospels (John XIII:1). He omits any mention of the blessing and pa.s.sing of the bread and wine. He alone of the evangelists relates that, after the supper, Jesus took a basin of water and a towel, and washed the apostles' feet, impressing on them a lesson in humility (John XIII:4-17). Jesus says to the apostles that one of them shall betray Him. Peter and John ask Him, "Who is it?" Jesus answers, "It is the one to whom I shall give a sop." He then gives the sop to Judas, and says, "What thou doest, do quickly." Judas goes away at once, although none of the apostles (unless Peter and John) understand that He is accused (John XIII:18-30). After his departure, John has Jesus delivering a long discourse, covering four chapters and part of another, none of which appears at this time in the other three Gospels. After this is finished, Jesus goes with His disciples over "the brook Cedron," into a garden, but there is no mention of the praying there, which appears in the other Gospels (John XVIII:1).

THE BETRAYAL

On Tuesday or Wednesday of this Pa.s.sover week the "chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people" came together unto the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest, and determined on Jesus' death (Matt.

XXVI:3). Judas Iscariot then comes to them and promises to deliver Jesus to them in consideration of thirty pieces of silver (Matt. XXVI:14-16).

Previous to this last visit to Jerusalem, Jesus had predicted His death and betrayal, but without indicating that His betrayer would be one of the apostles (Matt. XVI:21; XX:18-19). At the last supper Jesus indicates Judas as His betrayer, but somewhat equivocally, since the other apostles, if they had understood he was the traitor, would undoubtedly have cast him out of their society. So far as appears, he continued to take part in the supper (Matt. XXVI:21-25). Just after Jesus had finished His prayer in the garden, Judas comes with a great mult.i.tude of the chief priest's servants, carrying swords and staves. In accordance with a pre-arranged plan, Judas kisses Jesus, and thereupon the servants of the priests lay hands on Him and take Him (Matt.

XXVI:47-50). One of those with Jesus draws his sword and strikes off the ear of one of the high priest's servants. Jesus rebukes him, saying, "For all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword" (Matt.

XXVI:51-54). "Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled" (Matt.

XXVI:56). But Peter followed "Him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants to see the end" (Matt.

XXVI:58). Then follows the fulfillment of Jesus' saying that Peter should deny Him thrice before the crowing of the c.o.c.k (Matt.

XXVI:69-75).

Judas, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, brought the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priest in the temple, saying, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." The chief priests tell him, "What is that to us? See thou to that." Thereupon Judas cast down the money in the temple, went away and hanged himself (Matt. XXVII:3-6).

Mark tells of the conspiracy of the chief priests and scribes, and that Judas went to them and offered to betray Jesus. "They were glad and promised to give him money" (Mark XIV:1, 2, 10, 11). Before this, Jesus had predicted His approaching death to the apostles, but had said nothing of any betrayal (Mark IX:31; X:33). At the last supper Jesus says that one of the twelve shall betray Him, but does not identify in any way which one it is (Mark XIV:18-21). Mark then relates, as in Matthew, the kissing of Jesus by Judas (Mark XIV:43-45), the cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant (Mark XIV:47), the desertion of Jesus by all the apostles (Mark XIV:50), Peter's following Him afar off to the palace of the high priest (Mark XIV:54), and denying Him thrice before the c.o.c.k should crow twice (Mark XIV:66-72). What subsequently happened to Judas, Mark does not state.[38]

According to Luke, the chief priests and scribes had formed their conspiracy to kill Jesus at a somewhat earlier date than in the other Gospels (Luke XX:19). They watched and sent forth spies to listen to His words and obtain material for their charges (Luke XX:20). Jesus had already predicted His suffering and death at Jerusalem, but did not mention His betrayal (Luke XVIII:31-33). But the apostles "understood none of these things; and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken" (Luke XVIII:34).

As the priests and scribes are planning the time of killing Jesus (Luke XXII:2), "then entered Satan into Judas," and he went to Jesus' enemies and offered to betray Him (Luke XXII:3, 4). "And they were glad and covenanted to give him money" (Luke XXII:5). At the supper Jesus says that one of those at the table shall betray Him, but does not indicate which one (Luke XXII: 21-23). At the Mount of Olives Judas came at the head of a mult.i.tude and "drew near unto Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the _Son of Man_ with a kiss?"

(Luke XXII:47-48). Jesus then heals the servant, whose ear was cut off (Luke XXII:50, 51). Peter followed Him to the house of the high priest, and denied Him thrice before the c.o.c.k crew (Luke XXII:54-62). Nothing is said about Judas' subsequent fate.

According to John, Jesus knew from the beginning "who should betray Him"

and at an early date told the apostles, "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?" (John VI:64, 70).

At or before the last supper the devil put it into Judas' heart to betray his Master (John XIII:2, 27). Jesus tells the apostles that one of them shall betray Him (John XIII:21). Peter and John desire to know which one of them He means, and Jesus tells John that it is the one to whom He shall give a sop. He then dips a sop and gives it to Judas, with the remark, "What thou doest, do quickly" (John XIII:22-27). "Now, no man at the table knew for what intent He spoke this unto him" (John XIII:28). John alone says that Judas immediately went out into the night (John XIII:30).

After Jesus had finished His discourse at the supper, and gone into the garden, Judas appears with a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees (John XVIII:1-3). Jesus then "went forth and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas, also which betrayed Him, stood with them" (John XVIII:4, 5). Simon Peter then cuts off the right ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest, and Jesus rebukes him (John XVIII:10, 11). Peter and another disciple, who was known to the high priest, follow Jesus to the palace, and there Peter makes his denial three times before the c.o.c.k crows (John XVIII:15, 16, 17, 18, 25-27).

The subsequent fate of Judas is not related.[39]

THE TRIAL

Immediately after His arrest, Jesus is taken away to "Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were a.s.sembled" (Matt.

XXVI:57).[40]

The council seek "false witnesses" against Jesus and at first have some difficulty in finding any. "At the last came two false witnesses, and said: This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of G.o.d, and to build it in three days" (Matt. XXVI:59, 60, 61). Interrogated as to this charge, "Jesus held His peace" (Matt. XXVI:62, 63). The high priest then adjures Him to tell them whether He is "the Christ, the Son of G.o.d"

(Matt. XXVI:63). "Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the _Son of Man_ sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven" (Matt. XXVI:64).

The high priest accepts this as a confession of blasphemy, and, on appeal to the council, they say, "He is guilty of death" (Matt. XXVI:65, 66). They then indulge their spite against Jesus by spitting in His face and striking Him with their hands (Matt. XXVI:67, 68).[41]

In the morning (Friday) the chief priests bind Jesus and bring Him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman "governor" or procurator (Matt. XXVII:1, 2).

Pilate asks Him, "Art Thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest" (Matt. XXVII:11).[42] He persists in maintaining His position of silence or non-negation against all the accusations of the chief priests, "insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly" (Matt.

XXVII:12-14). Pilate's wife, having been warned in a dream, sends word to him, "Have thou nothing to do with that just man" (Matt. XXVII:19).

It being a custom of the feast of the Pa.s.sover that the governor should release one prisoner to the people, and Pilate, knowing that the chief priests had delivered Jesus to him out of "envy," asks the mult.i.tude whom he shall release unto them, Barabbas or Jesus (Matt. XXVII:15, 16, 17, 20, 21). The mult.i.tude demands the release of Barabbas, and, on Pilate's asking them what he shall do with Jesus, "they all say unto him, Let Him be crucified" (Matt. XXVII:22). "And the Governor said, Why, what evil hath He done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let Him be crucified" (Matt. XXVII:23). Pilate then washed his hands before the mult.i.tude, "saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person; see ye to it. Then answered all the people and said, His blood be on us, and on our children" (Matt. XXVII:24, 25). Thereupon Pilate released Barabbas, and after he had scourged Jesus, delivered Him to be crucified (Matt. XXVII:26).

In Mark the charges before the Sanhedrim are the same as in Matthew with some slight verbal changes (Mark XIV:53-66). To the question, "Art Thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Jesus answers directly, "I am."

The proceedings before Pilate are substantially the same as in Matthew (Mark XV:1-15).

According to Luke, the session of the Sanhedrim was held "as soon as it was day," instead of in the night, immediately after Jesus' arrest (Luke XXII:66). The only charge here is, "Art Thou the Christ?" Jesus, after a few words, recognizing the futility of any defense, says, "Ye say that I am" (Luke XXII:66-71).

Luke's account of the proceedings before Pilate is more detailed than, and somewhat different from, that of Matthew and Mark. The charge is maliciously distorted so as to offend the political susceptibilities of the Romans. "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King"

(Luke XXIII:2). Pilate, after questioning Jesus, says at once, "I find no fault in this Man" (Luke XXIII:4). This makes the chief priests the more fierce, and they press again their charges, mentioning that Jesus comes from Galilee (Luke XXIII:5). Galilee being in Herod's jurisdiction, and Herod being then in Jerusalem, Pilate sends Jesus to him, probably hoping thus to rid himself of the whole trouble (Luke XXIII:6, 7).[43] Herod questions Jesus, who answers him nothing, and then with his men of war mocks Jesus, arrays Him "in a gorgeous robe,"

and sends Him back to Pilate (Luke XXIII:8-11). Pilate then calls together the "chief priests and the rulers and the people," and tells them that both he and Herod have examined Jesus, and lo, "nothing worthy of death is done unto Him" (proved against Him) (Luke XXIII:13-15). "I will, therefore, chastise Him and release Him" (Luke XXIII:16). "And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this Man, and release unto us Barabbas" (Luke XXIII:18). Twice more Pilate urges that Jesus be released, but they insist that He be crucified. Pilate finally yields and "gave sentence that it should be as they required" (Luke XXIII:20-24).

Neither Mark nor Luke nor John mentions that Pilate publicly washed his hands of responsibility for Jesus' sentence.

John's account of the trial is very indefinite. Jesus was first taken to Annas,[44] the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest, and Annas sent Him bound unto Caiaphas (John XVIII:13, 14). There was probably a session of the Sanhedrim, though this is not clear, and it was probably at the house of the high priest (John XVIII:15). No specific charges against Jesus are mentioned, but the high priest asked Him "of His disciples, and of His doctrine" (John XVIII:19). Jesus replies that He has spoken openly, and said nothing in secret, and that the priest should ask those who had heard Him (John XVIII:19, 20, 21, 23). No formal condemnation of Jesus is related, nor is it said who was present except the high priest.

Then "they" bring Jesus to Pilate "unto the hall of judgment," but "they cannot enter in, because it would defile them for the eating of the Pa.s.sover that night (John XVIII:28). Pilate then comes out to them and asks what accusation they have against Jesus (John XVIII:29). They evade the issue by saying, "If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up to thee" (John XVIII:30). Pilate very aptly tells them to take Him and judge Him according to their Law, but they reply, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death" (John XVIII:31). Pilate thereupon goes back to the judgment hall, and, after an examination of Jesus, comes out and says, "I find in Him no fault at all" (John XVIII:33-38). He then suggests that, according to custom, he release Jesus unto them. "Then cried they all again, saying, Not this Man, but Barabbas" (John XVIII:39, 40).

Upon this Pilate has Jesus scourged, a crown of thorns put on His head, and a purple robe about Him, and has the soldiers hail Him as King of the Jews (John XIX:1-3). He once more brings Jesus before the people and states that he finds no fault in Him.[45] The Jews still insist that by their law He ought to die, "because He made Himself the Son of G.o.d"

(John XIX:4-7). Pilate goes back into the judgment hall, and talks further with Jesus, evidently hoping to find some way out of his dilemma (John XIX:8-11). "And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release Him; but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this Man go, thou art not Caesar's friend" (John XIX:12). Pilate makes one more effort to save Jesus, but, failing, delivers Him over to be crucified (John XIX:13-16).

THE CRUCIFIXION

The soldiers, taking Jesus, at first mocked Him, putting on Him a scarlet robe and a crown of thorns, spitting on Him and smiting Him (Matt. XXVII:27-30). They then put His own raiment on Him, and took Him to the place of Crucifixion, on the way impressing a "man of Cyrene, Simon by name," to carry His cross (Matt. XXVII:31, 32). When they reached Golgotha, they gave Him vinegar to drink, mixed with gall, but, on tasting it, Jesus refused to drink (Matt. XXVII:33, 34). They then crucified Him with two thieves, one on each hand, and parted His raiment, casting lots (Matt. XXVII:35, 38). Over His head they set up "His accusation written: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews" (Matt.

XXVII:37). The pa.s.sers-by and the chief priests and the two thieves mocked and reviled Him on account of His prophecies and His failure to save Himself (Matt. XXVII:39-44). The Crucifixion was apparently at the sixth hour, and darkness was over the land until the ninth hour (Matt.

XXVII:45). Jesus then cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani" (Matt. XXVII:46). Some of them who stood there thought that He called for Elias; one of them took a sponge filled with vinegar and gave it to Him to drink (Matt. XXVII:47, 48). "Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost" (Matt. XXVII:50). Then was the veil of the temple rent in twain, and "the earth did quake and the rocks rent" (Matt. XXVII:51). Graves were opened, and bodies of the saints which slept arose, "and came out of the graves after His resurrection," and appeared to many in the "holy city" (Matt. XXVII:52, 53). When the centurion and the soldiers saw these things done, "they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of G.o.d" (Matt. XXVII:54).

There were many women from Galilee, "beholding afar off," including Mary Magdalene, Mary, Jesus' aunt, and also the mother of the apostles James and John (Matt. XXVII:55, 56). "When the even was come" Joseph, a rich man of Arimathaea, takes Jesus' body, Pilate, at his request having delivered it to him, wraps it "in a clean linen cloth," and lays it in his own new tomb, "hewn out in the rock." He rolls a great stone to the door of the sepulchre and departs (Matt. XXVII:57-60). On the following day the chief priests come to Pilate and tell him of Jesus' prophecy, that after three days He would arise again. They express their fears that the disciples may steal the body and claim that He was risen from the dead. Pilate gives them a watch, and "they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone and setting a watch" (Matt.

XVII:62-66).[46]

Mark follows closely the narrative of Matthew, except he says that they offered Jesus wine mingled with myrrh to drink,[47] instead of vinegar and gall (Mark XV:23). Mark omits the supernatural happenings at the death of Jesus, except that the veil of the temple was rent in twain (Mark XV:38).

He also omits any account of the sealing of the sepulchre, or the setting of a watch over it (Mark XV:46, 47).

Luke omits the ill-treatment of Jesus by the soldiers before starting on their march (Luke XXIII:25, 26). "And there followed Him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented Him (Luke XXIII:27). Jesus delivers a short address to the women, which does not appear in the other Gospels (Luke XXIII:28-31). They bring Him to Calvary and crucify Him and the two "malefactors" (Luke XXIII:33). "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke XXIII:34). The superscription over Him was written in letters of Greek, Latin and Hebrew (Luke XXIII:38). Luke alone relates that, when one of the "malefactors" railed at Jesus, the other rebuked Him, and asked Jesus to remember him, when He should come into His kingdom; Jesus says to him: "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke XXIII:39-43).

The sun was darkened and the "veil of the temple was rent in the midst"

(Luke XXIII:44, 45). The centurion acknowledges Jesus to be a righteous man, and "all the people that came together to that sight" smote their b.r.e.a.s.t.s (Luke XXIII:47, 48), "and all His acquaintance and the women that followed Him from Galilee stood afar off, beholding these things"

(Luke XIII:49). Joseph of Arimathaea obtains Jesus' body from Pilate, and lays it in a new sepulchre, hewn in stone (Luke XXIII:50-53), "and the women also, which came with Him from Galilee, followed after and beheld the sepulchre, and how His body was laid. And they returned and prepared spices and ointments" (Luke XXIII:55, 56). No mention is made of any guard over the sepulchre.