Jesus Crucifixion and Death. Religion & Theology Term Paper

Jesus Crucifixion and Death
Methods Used: Redaction Criticism
Text: Luke 23: 1-43.
A Critical Interpretation of Luke 23: 1-43 Using Redaction Criticism
Introduction
All the canonical gospel books have documented the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. These accounts have their difference and similarities and they have been the source of heated debates amongst historians and theology scholars. A contradictory account about the same events can cast doubt on Christianity. It is one of the issues that Muslims have faulted the bible for citing that the incoherent accounts of Jesus crucifixion amount to work of fiction. The people who have been looking to discredit the existence of Jesus or his ministry have been pegging their arguments on the conflicting or different accounts of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The four gospels have many differences especially stemming from the version of the chronological order of the events that led to the death of Jesus. The differences become more pronounced as a person compares the four crucifixion narratives. Most people wondering how the events in the passion narratives could be so different, resort to developing a mashed version which is commonly propagated mixing details from the canonical gospels and Acts. But the differences beg the question; if the bible is the word of God inspired by God, how would the different accounts of the most important moment of Jesus life on earth be contradicted? One of the best accounts of the life and death of Jesus is told by Luke because he is credited to writing a more orderly and “scholarly” account of the stories of Jesus than any of the other gospel writers. Luke authored his works with the sole goal of providing an orderly account of the life and death of Jesus. The book of John and Luke were authored about the same time; 90 years CE. It is expected that they relied on secondary information to write their book and they also had different goals they envisioned to achieve with their works.[Steele, Myron E. 2011. Bible 101: Basic Bible For Beginners. Xlibris Corporation.]
A critical analysis of the version and chronological order of the events surrounding the death of Jesus from the gospel of Luke and John highlights key differences. In some instances, there are some events which they skip entirely in the account. For the skipped events, these are less controversial than the versions that are clearly contradictory. These accounts are often contradictory in the other gospel versions. For example, in Luke, soldiers compel Simon to carry the cross (23:26) while in John Jesus carries the cross (19:17). This can appear as a subtle difference but has huge implications. In another explicit difference of the accounts of Jesus trial and crucifixion are the details written on the cross. In Luke 23:38 The inscription: “This is the King of the Jews.”, while in John 19:19, the inscription is “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” These are some of the differences found in Luke and John about the trial and death of Jesus. The other accounts comparatively also have other differences that describe the same events.
This essay will explore how the trial, crucifixion and death of Jesus from the Luke gospel differs from the other canonical gospel accounts using redaction method and why his account helps advance his overarching theme.
In Luke 22:66, Jesus is brought to council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together in the morning. They start interviewing him and directly ask him if he is the messiah. They also ask if he is the son of God to which he confirms. They use his answer to express their interest to sentence Jesus claiming that he has confirmed that he is the son of God. According to the elders, this was blasphemous and it was punishable by death.
In chapter 23, the whole assembly leads Jesus to Pilate and accuses him of crimes against Rome. They accuse him of opposing payment of taxes to Caesar and claims that he is the promised Messiah and King. When Pilate interviews him, he confirms to him that he is the King od Jews. Pilate does not find any sin committed by Jesus but after learning that he was born in Galilee, he sends him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at the time. Herod is thrilled to finally meet Jesus to whom he expects to perform a miracle. Herod and the teachers of the law continue accusing and mocking him but he also finds no fault in Jesus and orders that he be returned to Pilate.
When he is returned to Pilate, who still does not find anything wrong with Jesus he asks the crown whether he should release Barabbas or Jesus. The crowds call for the release of Barabbas and call on Pilate to crucify Jesus. Luke notes that Barabbas had been throw into jail for an insurrection in the city and murder. When Pilate does not find fault in Jesus for a third time and calls for his release, the crowds intensify their demand to have Jesus crucified. Pilate finally surrenders to their will.
Enroute to his crucifixion, Luke notes that Jesus meets Simon from Cyrene whom the soldiers compel to help Jesus to carry his cross. Luke also notes that he addresses the people who were mourning for him and advised them that they should cry for themselves and their children rather than him. Luke also notes that Jesus was crucified with two other criminals. He also details that the soldiers cast lots for his clothes. Some of the people present mocked him and sneered at him. The crucifiers also pinned a notice above him written: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Luke also details how one of the criminals gets saved while they have been crucified while the other condemns Jesus.
Luke notes in (23:44) that darkness came over the land. Luke notes that the veil in the temple breaks into two; top to bottom and Jesus gave his spirit. Luke also notes that a centurion acknowledged that Surely Jesus was a righteous man. He also notes that women stood at a distance watching these things.
There are many instances where the accounts of the gospel redactors differed on what happened to Jesus during trial and crucifixion. First, did Jesus really carry his own cross? In Mark 15:21, Matthew 27:32 and Luke 23:26, all these authors claim that Jesus got help from Simon of Cyrene. Simon is a person who they met on the way as Jesus was heading to Calvary. In some versions, they claim that Simon of Cyrene was compelled by the soldiers to help Jesus carry the cross. At this point event Luke talks to other women and tells them not to mourn for him. On the other hand, John gives a completely different account and does not mention Simon of Cyrene. In John 19:17, Jesus carried his own cross the whole way.
In another account where the passion narrative differs according to the different canonical gospel authors is in what Jesus was handed or fed when he said he was thirsty on the cross. When Jesus was on the cross and requested for something to quench his thirst, the gospels give contradicting accounts of what he was given. According to Mark 15:23, Jesus was given a mixture of wine and Myrrh which he refused to take. Matthew and Luke (27:48 and 23:36) respectively, Jesus was offered vinegar and he did not drink it. In the book of (John 19:29-30) Jesus was offered Vinegar and he drank it. Thus, in all the gospels except John, Jesus was offered something and he did not drink it. On the other hand, in all gospel accounts of what happened on the cross when Jesus was thirsty, he was offered vinegar except in the book of Mark.
Some romans witnessed the death of Jesus and they had their own opinions about who he was. One of them is the centurion who spoke when he witnessed the events that happened when Jesus died. In Mark 11:39, the centurion is cited saying that Jesus was truly the son of God. In Matthew 27:54, the centurion is also heard acknowledging that Jesus was the son of God. However, in Luke 23:47, the words of the centurion do not reference that he was the son of God. Rather, he says ‘Truly this man was innocent.’ Additionally, John does not mention anything about the presence of a...